10 Day Itinerary for Visiting Costa Rica
Volcanoes, Beaches & Pura Vida
Traveling to Costa Rica? You’re in for an unforgettable mix of adventure, nature, and relaxation. Costa Rica was one of my first destinations, especially as a solo traveler so many years ago. Costa Rica was the trip for me with the most “firsts.” It’s a beautiful country and I can honestly say it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding places to travel -safe, friendly and full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Costa Rica has some of the nicest people I’ve ever met while traveling.
Below I have mapped out my must see places, from the Arenal Volcano to the beaches of Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio. Here’s my perfect 10-day Costa Rica travel guide and itinerary with tips on where to go, what to do and how to make the most of your trip.
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🛬 Day 1: Arrive in San José
Touch down in San José and ease into your trip. The capital city isn’t a long-term destination for most, but it’s a great place to rest and enjoy your first Costa Rican meal. If you’re ready to go with all the excitement you’ve built up, you can stroll through the Central Market, see the museums and visit the National Theater, otherwise you can relax and get ready for the next days ahead.
Solo tips:
Uber is safe and cheap for getting around.
If you’re nervous about the city, consider joining a free walking tour to explore with others.
🌋 Day 2: Head to La Fortuna
Take a shuttle or rent a car and head to La Fortuna, home of the Arenal Volcano. This town is a perfect start- super walkable, safe and full of adventure.
Use the afternoon to cool off and enjoy nature at La Fortuna Waterfall, where you can hike and swim. In the evening, soak in the Tabacón Hot Springs, one of Costa Rica’s most famous hot springs. I took a mud bath for the first time in addition to the springs and it was amazing. I would definitely recommend it.
🚶♀️ Day 3: Arenal Volcano Hiking & Adventure
Start your day with a hike through Arenal Volcano National Park, where you’ll walk through lava fields and rainforest. Don’t miss the Mistico Hanging Bridges, it’s a great way to see the canopy from above. I went zip lining for the first time and I still remember all these years later that it was one of the greenest places I had ever seen. Then I did a little repelling and rock climbing. After, I went white water tubing for the first time. This day was packed with adventures for me. If you’re not into the adventure type things, there are plenty of other ways to spend your time relaxing in the park.
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🏄♀️ Day 4: Travel to Tamarindo
You can take a shuttle or rent a car to Tamarindo, a laid-back beach town on the Pacific Coast known for surfing and sunsets. It was recommended to me as a good place to try surfing as a complete beginner. The town has a relaxed vibe and is full of solo travelers, digital nomads and backpackers, so it’s easy to make friends if you’re up for socializing. Enjoy the sunset over the ocean and eat some amazing seafood on the beach.
🌊 Day 5: Surf, Sunset & Sea Turtles
Starting out the day I took a surf lesson with a local school — super fun, even if I wasn’t any good. I’m down for trying just about anything. Tamarindo is known for its gentle waves so perfect for first time surfers. Afterward, I relaxed, had lunch at a beach café and joined a sunset catamaran cruise (open bar, snorkeling, new friends!).
If you’re visiting between October and March, check out Las Baulas National Marine Park to see leatherback turtles nesting. I remember walking down the beach in the dark with the guides who had ultra red lights so we could actually see the turtles burying the eggs they just had. It was amazing. The size of the turtles took my breath away.
🌿 Day 6: Head to Monteverde Cloud Forest
I traveled to Monteverde, one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on the trip. It’s about 3 hours from Tamarindo driving or by shuttle. This misty mountain town is perfect for nature lovers — cool climate, misty forests and great hikes. You can spot hummingbirds, monkeys and unique plants in the park. This is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see the biodiversity of the cloud forest. In the evening you can do a guided night tour and see the animals that creep out in the dark.
⚡ Day 7: Explore Monteverde
Start exploring early since there is so much to do. Walk the Sky Walk Hanging Bridges through the mist and explore the gardens. I decided to go ziplining again, I mean, it’s a different place with different views, right? Ziplining through the trees is something that will just never get old. It is exhilarating and no experience is necessary. It was also the first time I tried superman zip lining where you are hooked on the zip line by your back and flying through the sky. Then I jumped off a metal landing bridge, feels like you’re flying through the sky while riding a swing. Amazing!
🌴 Day 8: Journey to Manuel Antonio
From the mountains, I made my way to Manuel Antonio (about a 4.5-hour ride) to one of Costa Rica’s most famous beach towns. It’s known for its gorgeous national park and wildlife. You can stay in a hilltop hostel with ocean views. Amazing scenery and meet great friends along your way.
🐒 Day 9: Explore Manuel Antonio National Park
The park is the best place to spot monkeys, sloths, toucans and iguanas in the wild. I hired a guide at the entrance to guarantee the sights of some monkeys in order to check another thing off my bucket list, seeing monkeys in their natural habitats, another first for me.
In the afternoon you can swim, kayak or paddle board at Playa Manuel Antonio. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen with lists of things to do. A boat tour to explore the Damas Island Mangrove Estuary is an excellent choice. Certain times of the year you can also take dolphin and whale watching tours. On my last evening, I joined a sunset sailing tour, another great solo-friendly activity.
✈️ Day 10: Back to San José & Departure
Depending on your flight time, make your way back to San José (about 3 hours). If you have time, stop in Sarchí for beautiful, hand-painted souvenirs — especially the famous hand painted oxcarts.
🌺 Final Thoughts
Costa Rica offers a little bit of everything: jungle, beach, volcanoes, adventure, and peace, making it an ideal travel destination. Whether you’re surfing in Tamarindo, soaking in hot springs in Arenal or spotting sloths in Manuel Antonio, you’ll leave with amazing memories and maybe even plans to come back. This travel guide is here to help you plan the perfect itinerary for a 10 day trip.
Top solo tips:
*Book shared tours to meet people
*Stay in hostels or social eco-lodges
*Use shuttles (like Interbus or Caribe Shuttle) for safe and easy travel
Whether you’re looking for adventure, connection, or a little inner peace, Costa Rica delivers. I left with a full heart, a ton of memories and plans to go back.
Pura vida, always. 💚
Another post I recommend if you’re looking for a country with diverse things you can do and see is my itinerary for Thailand. I spent 2 weeks in Thailand and loved it!
