There’s something electric about landing in Costa Rica. Maybe it’s the way the air smells half jungle, half ocean. Maybe it’s the way your pulse picks up as you scan the horizon and see mountains draped in clouds. Or maybe it’s just that this country doesn’t whisper adventure it shouts it.
I spent 10 days zigzagging across this soul-shaking sliver of Central America, from misty highlands to black-sand beaches. Here’s what I lived. And maybe what you’ll live too. Your Costa Rica Itinerary 10 Days from Cloud Forests to Crashing Waves
🗓️ Day 1: Arrival in San José – City Lights, Coffee Nights
San José might not be love at first sight. It’s loud, chaotic, gritty. But give it a night—just one—and it grows on you. I landed late, half asleep, half alive with nerves. After checking in at a cozy guesthouse near Barrio Escalante (Casa 69 is a solid pick), I found myself sipping cinnamon-spiced horchata under fairy lights at Al Mercat.
Highlight: The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum—oddly beautiful and weirdly moving.
💰 Budget Tip: Airport shuttle + taxi combo ≈ $35. Affordable Airbnb in San José: $45/night.
🚌 Getting Around: Uber works well here and is cheaper than taxis.
📲 Essential App: Moovit for buses, Uber, and Waze (Ticos love Waze).
☀️ Day 2–3: Monteverde – Cloud Forest Magic & Zipline Screams
The drive to Monteverde is like climbing into the clouds. Literally. My shuttle weaved through hills so green they looked photoshopped. Once you reach Santa Elena town, the air gets cooler, wilder.
On Day 2, I hiked the hanging bridges at Selvatura Park. Mist wrapped around the trees like whispers. Hummingbirds zipped by. I cried a little. Blame it on the altitude.
Day 3? Ziplining. Longest cable in Latin America. Midair, flying across ravines, I yelled something that sounded like freedom.
🏠 Stay: Cabinas Eddy – family-run, cheap, warm-hearted. $55/night.
🍴 Must Eat: Taco Taco—casual, fresh, unforgettable.
🎟️ Entry: Hanging bridges park ≈ $35, Zipline tour ≈ $50–60.
🚐 Transportation: Shuttle from San José to Monteverde ≈ $55. Public bus? $6, but bumpy and slow.
🌿 Essentials: Rain jacket. Trust me.
📲 App: Maps.me (offline hiking trails).
☀️ Day 4–5: La Fortuna – Waterfalls, Hot Springs & Volcanic Awe
La Fortuna is dramatic. A towering volcano. A roar of howler monkeys at dusk. Waterfalls falling like curtains from a green stage.
Day 4, I hiked to the base of Arenal Volcano. The path is all lava rock and quiet dread. The volcano doesn’t erupt much anymore, but it looms like it remembers how.
Day 5 was pure bliss. I swam under La Fortuna waterfall, muscles aching. Later, I soaked in a natural hot spring behind Tabacón for free. Just ask the locals where to slip in. They’ll smile knowingly.
🏠 Stay: Arenal Hostel Resort – budget rooms, beautiful grounds. $65/night.
💦 Entry: La Fortuna waterfall ≈ $18. Free hot springs? Priceless.
🚌 Transport: Shuttle from Monteverde ≈ $55. DIY with public bus takes nearly 7–8 hrs.
🍲 Eat Here: Soda La Hormiga. $5 casado and you’ll never go hungry.
📸 Don’t Forget: Swimsuit, water shoes, waterproof phone pouch.
☀️ Day 6–7: Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano – The Blueness That Broke Me
The color of Río Celeste isn’t real. It can’t be. It’s sky, glacier, and magic colliding in one river. I stared at it for 20 minutes, unmoving.
The hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park is muddy, lush, a bit exhausting. But then the falls appear. And you stop. And something inside you shatters in the best way.
🏡 Stay: Casitas Tenorio B&B – sustainable, soulful, $75/night.
🚗 Getting There: Rent a 4WD car from La Fortuna ($65/day). Or take a local bus to Bijagua (long, but doable).
🌋 Park Entry: $12.
🍽️ Eat: Restaurante Tilapiera for grilled tilapia straight from the pond.
🎒 Tip: Start early. The river can turn gray with too much rain.
☀️ Day 8–10: Playa Samara – Surf, Sunsets & Saying Goodbye
After days of hiking, sweating, marveling, I craved the sea. Samara isn’t fancy. It’s real. Salty. Human. I rented a board, wiped out a hundred times. Laughed. Got sunburned. Watched sunsets bleed gold over the Pacific.
Final night, I sat on the sand, toes buried, thinking—how do I go back to “normal” after this?
🏖️ Stay: Hostel Matilori – simple and social, $45/night.
🧉 Eat Here: Falafel Café and Gusto Beach. Pure love in every bite.
🚐 Transport: Shuttle from Río Celeste or La Fortuna ≈ $60. Directo bus from San José ≈ $10.
🌊 Must Try: Beginner surf lesson ≈ $40.
🧳 Essentials Before Leaving
- Travel Insurance: SafetyWing or World Nomads ($50–80 for 10 days)
- Sim Card: Kolbi or Claro at airport or in San José ($10–15)
- Currency: Colones and USD both accepted, but carry small bills.
- Footwear: Hiking shoes and flip-flops. No in-betweens.
- Pack Light: Laundry is cheap and local. Trust the 30-liter backpack life.
- Flights: Fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José. Direct flights are available from many U.S. cities, making travel convenient.
💡 Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
Dry season: December to April. Crowds? Yep. But also blue skies and crisp mornings.
Green season (May to November) has moody skies, wild storms, fewer tourists. Personally? I adored the rain. It gave the country rhythm.
💸 Total Budget Breakdown (10 Days)
| Item | Cost (USD) |
| Accommodation | $450 |
| Transportation (shuttles + car rental) | $250 |
| Food & Drinks | $200 |
| Activities & Entry Fees | $180 |
| Travel Insurance | $70 |
| Sim Card & Data | $15 |
| Misc (Tips, souvenirs) | $50 |
| Total | ~$1,215 |
Final Words
Costa Rica didn’t change me. That sounds too clean, too tidy. But it did something. It reminded me what it feels like to be awed. To be small. To be alive in the way that only travel, real travel, makes you feel.
Go. Just go. And when you’re standing under a waterfall or zipping through the fog with your heart in your throat, think of this moment. Of the promise you made to yourself—to live wide open.
Pura vida, friend.
Also Read This:
- 14 Days Italy and Switzerland Itinerary Guide for Unforgettable Adventure
- 10 Days Unforgettable Switzerland Itinerary All you Need This Year!
- Japan Itinerary Two Weeks: Explore, Embrace, and Experience the Land of the Rising Sun
- 4 Day Barcelona Itinerary: Immerse Yourself in Culture and History
- 3 Day Rome Itinerary: Experience, Explore, and Embrace the Eternal City
- Best Time to Visit Rome: Unlocking the Eternal City’s Charms
- 7 Day Scotland Itinerary: Castles, Countryside, and Coastal Adventures
- 27 Things to Do in Scotland: A Traveler’s Ultimate Guide
