Costa Rica is a destination that offers something for everyone. Love adventure? Check. Want to relax on the beach? check. Hiking obsessed? Check. There’s almost too much to do!
While you could spend months traveling around Costa Rica, you can get a great taste of the country in 7 days. This 7 day Costa Rica itinerary covers adventures in the jungle, relaxing in hot springs, exploring cloud forests and hitting the beach.
Is one week in Costa Rica enough?
Costa Rica is a pretty big country. Since you only have a week I recommend sticking with one geographical area to avoid extra flights. This 7 day Costa Rica itinerary covers 3 towns that are all driving distance. No destination is farther than 4 hours away from the previous.
For a one week timeframe, I love north west Costa Rica. This area is close to one of the country’s largest airports in San Jose, and it provides easy access to mountains, jungles and the beach.
Costa Rica 7 day itinerary breakdown
3 nights in La Fortuna
2 nights in Monteverde
2 nights in Peninsula Papagayo
La Fortuna Waterfall
Tabacon Hot Springs
Sunset at The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo
All about Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the ideal location for someone seeking a mix of adventure and relaxation. It’s located in Central America with a hot, tropical climate all year round. Certain areas experience more rain and clouds than others, due to elevation and the rainforest.
Even though it’s a relatively small country, Costa Rica accounts for nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity. It’s one of the world’s most biodiverse countries due to its shifts in terrain- mountains, rivers, rainforests, cloud forests, volcanos, arid plains.
Costa Ricans call themselves “Ticos” and are considered to be one of the happiest populations. While the predominant language in Costa Rica is Spanish, almost everyone speaks English as well. Most places also accept American dollars.
A phrase you’ll hear and see all over Costa Rica is “Pura Vida.” This is the country’s motto and way of life. Essentially it means “pure life” and is a term used all the time- to say hello, goodbye, or that everything’s going well.
Getting to Costa Rica and getting around
Costa Rica has many airports and two are international, San Jose and Liberia. If you are flying from the US, it’s likely your trip will start in one of these locations. This 7 day Costa Rica itinerary focuses on the north west of the country, which is easily reachable by both airports. The town you want to hit first will determine the best airport to fly into. On my recent trip, I flew into San Jose and out of Liberia which is a great option.
You will need a rental car for this itinerary. While most of the roads in Costa Rica are in great condition, I recommend getting an SUV. We encountered some steep hills and unpaved roads on our journey. I traveled to Costa Rica with another female travel blogger, and as two girls traveling alone we felt completely safe. But there are some precautions you need to take. I recommend planning to drive during the daylight rather than at night, as many of the roads wind around mountains and are steep. It’s also important to ensure you have an updated and working GPS system. Look up directions before you leave so if you lose service you’ll have a general understanding of where you should be heading.
Prior to my trip, I heard that there are frequent car breaks ins in parking lots. I didn’t experience this, but recommend backing into parking spaces and being mindful where you park. Choose a spot closest to a ticket booth or security station, and don’t leave valuables in sight.
Hot springs at Tabacon
Arenal Volcano
La Fortuna Waterfall
7 Day Costa Rica Itinerary- La Fortuna (3 nights)
La Fortuna is a one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and my recommended first stop on your itinerary. It’s in the Costa Rican rainforest and is home to the country’s most famous volcano, Arenal. La Fortuna is also known for its hot springs, which contain geothermal water warmed by the volcano. Another popular draw in La Fortuna is the La Fortuna Waterfall, one of the country’s most visited waterfalls.
La Fortuna is a great town to participate in activities. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to hike, ATV and horseback ride around Arenal. If spa treatments and relaxation are more your speed, you can spend days exploring the area’s lush hot springs. I dedicated 3 nights to La Fortuna, the longest amount of time in one place on this itinerary, because there is so much to see and do.
Where to stay in La Fortuna
My hotel recommendation in La Fortuna is Tabacon. This resort with a hot spring (more on that later) is centrally located just outside of the “downtown” area and in easy access to main points of interest. Tabacon is a sprawling resort with beautifully landscaped grounds that give nod to the area’s rainforest setting. Tabacon’s interior design and furnishings highlight the natural, tropical setting with an open air lobby and wood furniture. The guests rooms are very large and had spacious bathrooms and comfortable beds.
Tabacon is considered a luxury resort and the service is exemplary. Golf carts are available to take guests around the large property and the staff was readily available to answer questions or help with a problem. My room came with a breakfast buffet that offered a good selection of standard brunch items. In addition to breakfast, I also had lunch at the hot springs pool bar (a portobello sandwich) which was delicious and better than I was expecting for a pool restaurant. The food at Tabacon is very good, but the cocktails are outstanding. Tabacon’s lobby bar is worth visiting even if you aren’t staying at the hotel. The mixologists are very skilled and use local, fresh ingredients to bring the drinks to life.
The main draw at Tabacon is the hot springs, which are located a very short drive down the road (complimentary shuttle is available). These are my recommended hot springs in La Fortuna. Even if you aren’t staying on property, a visit to the resort’s hot springs is a must-do. I dig into Tabacon’s hot springs experience further down under ‘what to do in La Fortuna.’
Where to eat in La Fortuna
La Fortuna has a small “downtown” area that consists of many restaurants, bars and tourist shops. It’s a great area to unwind after a day of activities. The dining options range from typical Costa Rican food, Mexican, seafood, Italian and more. There are some high end restaurants but most are casual.
Restaurante Don Rufino is the nicest restaurant in town. It has a great reputation and it really lives up the the hype. The menu focuses on traditional Costa Rican dishes with a modern spin and seafood. In addition to delicious food, Don Rufino has an expansive wine menu and a great cocktail list. This meal was a highlight and is a not-miss in La Fortuna. Reservations are recommended.
Marisquerias Snapper House is a casual and delicious restaurant in the downtown that focuses on fresh seafood.
Spectacolar Cantina is a lively, and small, taco spot downtown. It’s a great option for a casual lunch or dinner.
What to do in La Fortuna
La Fortuna Hot Springs
La Fortuna is known for its hot springs that have water warmed from the active Arenal volcano. There are so many different hot spring options to choose from. As mentioned above, my favorite hot springs in La Fortuna are at Tabacon. The resort has a large hot springs area that’s complimentary for guests and also offers day passes.
Tabacon has the largest naturally flowing thermal mineral springs in Arenal. The grounds are massive and it really looks like a tropical oasis. The water at Tabacon is true thermal water, heated by the Arenal volcano and mineralized (some of the other hot springs don’t have water truly mineralized by the volcano). Guests of Tabacon have complimentary access to the hot springs. The springs also open for guests a few hours before day trippers are allowed to enter, which was a major plus. Also, there is an area within the hot springs that remains adult only and only for Tabacon guests. There are different options for day passes and a full day pass plus lunch costs $85.
I recommend setting aside one full day to enjoy the hot springs. It’s such a unique and relaxing experience, you’ll want to fully immerse and enjoy yourself before you take on the more strenuous activities in La Fortuna! An important note is that many of the hot spring pools have natural ground and water shoes are recommended if you have sensitive feet.
Arenal Volcano
One of the main draws to La Fortuna is the country’s most famous (and still active) volcano, Arenal. Until recently, Arenal was Costa Rica’s most active volcano with 41 daily eruptions. The eruptions ended in 2010 and Arenal is currently in a resting phase but still considered active.
Arenal looms over the town of La Fortuna. While its presence is always felt, it isn’t always visible. Unfortunately La Fortuna is a cloudy part of the country so it’s very likely that the volcano will be in a cloud covering. But you could get lucky and have a clear day!
There are many activities tourists can take part in around the volcano. The almost 30,000 acre Arenal Volcano National Park is a great place to start for volcano related activity. Here you’ll find hiking trails, horseback riding, ATV-ing, camping and other activities. A popular hiking destination is the Arenal 1968 Trail. This is a series of trail routes that go through lava fields and forest. The trails have great views of the volcano (if it’s a clear day) and offer the unique opportunity to walk over old lava flow.
La Fortuna Waterfall
Costa Rica’s most famous waterfall is located in La Fortuna. The appropriately named La Fortuna Waterfall is situated in a biological preserve and is accessible via a short but strenuous hike. Tours are available to access the waterfall but it’s a very straightforward hike and can easily be done alone.
It costs $18 to enter the waterfall area, and you’ll be met with 500 stairs to climb to reach the bottom of the falls. Going down is easy, hiking up all those stairs can be hard! I did see people of all ages and sizes doing this hike, but bring water and take it slow.
I highly recommend this activity, and suggest you arrive as soon as the waterfall opens, 8:00. We were the first people at the waterfall and had it to ourselves for about 20 minutes before crowds and tours arrived. It’s a beautiful waterfall with a small pool at its base that was open for swimming when I visited (April 2021).
Hotel Belmar
Rio Celeste
Hanging Bridges
7 Day Costa Rica Itinerary- Monteverde (2 nights)
After your time in La Fortuna, drive the three hours east to Monteverde. This is where Costa Rica’s famous cloud forests live.
Monteverde is 4,662 feet above sea level and is similar to the Pacific Northwest in the US. It’s a very wet, rainy and green area due to frequent cloud cover. Monteverde’s cloud forests are considered one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the country with 2,500 types of plants, over 400 varieties of birds and 100 different kinds of mammals.
Due to the unique ecosystem in Monteverde, it’s famous for sustainable tourism. You’ll find many eco-lodges, organic gardens and environmentally minded restaurants.
In addition to lush forests and an interesting ecosystem, Monteverde is known as an adventure destination. Zip-lining, hiking on hanging bridges and jungle walks are popular activities.
But before you get to Monteverde, there’s an important stop along the drive from La Fortuna- a turquoise waterfall in the middle of the jungle called Rio Celeste.
Rio Celeste
Stopping at Rio Celeste turns the three hour drive into four hours, but it’s a worthwhile stop that’s basically along the way.
Rio Celeste is a waterfall and river located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. The water is famous for its bright turquoise color and it really is something special.
To reach Rio Celeste there is a 3.7 mile round trip hike through the jungle. This is a relatively easy hike until you get to the waterfall and are met with 150 steep stairs to climb down and back up. Bring water and take breaks.
Entrance to the national park costs $12 and it costs 2000 Costa Rican colones to park a car. The trail can get muddy and mud boots are available to rent for $5.
Where to stay in Monteverde
Many hotels in Monteverde are eco-lodges and focus on sustainability. In general hotels in this area tend to be more rustic and simple. I tend to prefer a more upscale experience. After some research, I discovered Hotel Belmar, a luxury but still eco-friendly hotel in Monteverde’s mountains.
Hotel Belmar is located in Monteverde’s cloud forest, and one of the main draws here are the incredible views overlooking the mountains and treetops. Hotel Belmar offers guests a very comfortable experience while shining a light on environmental conservation. The hotel is slightly outside of Monteverde’s small downtown and a short drive away from many of the area’s best activities.
Hotel Belmar knows its view is spectacular and guest rooms have balconies that look out to the forest. The hotel’s restaurant also has a large balcony for dining. The food at Hotel Belmar was outstanding. The property has an organic garden where many ingredients are sourced. The farm to table food was delicious and I looked forward to breakfast on the balcony each morning. Breakfast was included in our reservation and a true standout. Avocado toast and banana bread french toast were two menu highlights.
In addition to the onsite garden, Hotel Belmar also has a brewery. Cervezas Artesanales Belmar was founded in 2014 and makes a variety of beer using water from a spring in the cloud forest. The tap room on property is a great place to end the day.
Where to eat in Monteverde
The food in Monteverde focuses on fresh, farm to table ingredients. Everything was delicious and it’s a great spot for clean eating enthusiasts.
Restaurant Celajes located in Hotel Belmar is a great dining destination, even if you aren’t staying on property. The food focuses on produce from the hotel garden and they also have an expansive wine list. We ate dinner here our first night and I had a salad filled with fresh vegetables from the garden and a delicious pasta with homemade pesto.
Taco Taco Taqueria is a colorful spot in the downtown area for tacos, burritos and margaritas. It’s a casual place with a good margartia happy hour.
What to do in Monteverde
Zip-lining
Zip-lining is a popular adventure activity in Monteverde, in fact it was founded here! There are many tour companies to choose from, but Selvatura Park is the only zip-line built entirely inside the cloud forest. This tour offers over 2 miles of total cable length for zip-lining. I’m personally not into zip-lining, but my travel companion, Taylor, went and had a great experience.
Hanging bridges
Another popular adventure activity is walking over the cloud forest on hanging bridges. You’ll trek through the jungle and come across a variety of hanging bridges miles above the ground and jungle below. The bridges slightly sway which is thrilling, and the view is gorgeous.
The trail is 1.9 miles and consists of 8 hanging bridges, between 170 feet and 560 feet in length. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete the walk and costs $39 for adults. I’m not a big fan of heights, but this was a highlight activity and highly recommended!
Hike the cloud forest
You’re in the land of cloud forests, so you may as wall hike in one. These forests are dense, lush and filled with moss, mist and tropical plants. It kind of feels like you’re in a fairytale when you walk through. There are three cloud forests in this area, and the most popular is Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It’s a 9,884 acre private reserve and visitors can hike themselves or take a guided tour.
Coffee Tour
Due to Monteverde’s high elevation and wet climate, it’s the perfect environment for growing coffee. Many coffee farms offer tours. I did not have a chance to do this on my recent visit, but I’ve heard great things about the Cafe Monteverde Farm and Roastery Tour.
The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo
Beach at The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo
The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo Trail of Giants
7 Day Costa Rica Itinerary- The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo (2 nights)
After two days of adventure in the cloud forest, drive three hours west towards the coast to Peninsula Papagayo. This is the beach portion of your trip and after all the hiking and activity you’ll be ready for relaxation.
Peninsula Papagayo is located on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, surrounded by the Gulf of Papagayo. It’s a 1,400 acre private peninsula that’s hilly and full of gorgeous views and beautiful beaches. There isn’t much to do on the peninsula, but that’s ok because you won’t want to leave your resort, The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo.
Dinner at Bahia
Hot tub at The Four Seasons
Four Seasons guest room
All about The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo
The Four Seasons is located on the peninsula and it’s the premier luxury resort in Costa Rica. The resort has 182 rooms, many of which come with balconies. The rooms are beautifully appointed with massive bathrooms, extremely comfortable beds and high end toiletries.
There are four restaurants on the property, and the food was truly outstanding. It was one of the best resort dining experiences I’ve ever had!
Bahia is an all-day restaurant that centers around a wood-fired open kitchen.
Anejo offers sophisticated all-day dining with a focus on Latin food and tapas. At night a DJ spins music, making this a great spot to hang.
Pesce is the resort’s Italian restaurant with a menu that focuses on wine, local seafood and fresh pasta.
Nemare is located in the resort’s golf clubhouse and the menu centers around steak and meat.
The resort also has a robust pool and beach food and beverage program. I order poke one day on the beach and it was delicious!
In addition to great dining there is a lot to do at The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo. The resort offers guests three pools (including one adult only pool) and two beaches. One beach has the sunrise and the other has the sunset. Trust me, you don’t want to miss sunset on the beach!
The Four Seasons had plenty of activities going on throughout the day like morning yoga and coffee tasting. Guests can also participate in a variety of water-sports like stand up paddle boarding and even surf lessons.
Golf fanatics can practice their game at the resort’s 18-hole par-72 golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. I’m not a golfer and was still blown away by the beautiful course. It’s set among the peninsula’s rolling hills with dramatic cliff views and plenty of local flowers and vegetation. The golf course offers a “Trail of Giants” guided tour around the grounds on a golf cart. The guides point out native plants and animals, including monkeys!
If you’re looking to really relax and soothe your body after all the activity, The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo has a massive spa on property. The spa is a true wellness sanctuary that was reimagined as part of a $35 renovation in 2018. It boasts large and modern changing facilities, a serene hot and cold hydrotherapy pool area and a dreamy post-service relaxation room. The spa menu incorporates traditional Costa Rican plants and ingredients in its offerings. A visit to the spa is a not-miss at this resort.
If you’re looking to explore outside the resort, The Four Seasons staff can arrange a variety of activities including zip-lining, hikes, and even a day trip to Rio Celeste if you didn’t make it there earlier.
The Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo was one of the best tropical resorts I’ve ever stayed at. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Costa Rica, and it makes for the perfect location to end a trip touring this beautiful country!
Check out my friend and travel companion, Taylor’s, blog post on our time in Costa Rica here to get another perspective!
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