A detailed 14-day Costa Rica Travel itinerary, sharing all my favorite places, experiences, and knowledge from 7 different trips to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Travel Guide Itinerary: 14 Days of Pura Vida Paradise

Bienvenido a Costa Rica!  I'm Alexander Ayling and in this guide, I'll be sharing my detailed travel itinerary to help you have the best vacation possible in Costa Rica. Hopefully, this will give you a taste of the "pura vida" or the pure life, as they say in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is one of Central America's premier tourism destinations and a global leader in wildlife conservation. 

I've been lucky enough to visit Costa Rica seven times in my life, and I can't get enough of this beautiful little country. If you want a more comprehensive overview of Costa Rica, make sure you check out my other video, "12 Essential Travel Tips for Costa Rica."

Once you arrive, it's time to pick up your rental car. Most rental agencies are conveniently located near the airport, and shuttle services are provided. Just be cautious of last-minute insurance fees. 

I'll be brutally honest here,  San Jose is not my favorite part of visiting Costa Rica.  Sure one could argue it is worth a visit, but I'm going to assume you're not headed to Costa Rica to see San Jose. 

From San Jose, drive about two hours to Playa Hermosa or Jaco on Highway 27. The road is windy and single-lane, so stay alert.  

Playa Hermosa is one of the best surf beaches in the country,  where wild jungle mountains meet an endless black sand beach.

12 Essential COSTA RICA TRAVEL Tips | WATCH BEFORE YOU GO!!!

 But for now, let's focus on the central and southern areas of the Pacific coast, which, in my opinion, are the most notable regions to explore.

**Arriving in Costa Rica: San Jose to Playa Hermosa**

Your Costa Rican adventure begins at San Jose International Airport (SJO), located in Alajuela, just outside the capital city of San Jose. I suggest booking flights that arrive in the early morning to maximize your vacation time and keep flight costs down.

I suggest staying 2 nights in either Playa Hermosa, one of the best surf beaches in the country but not a beginner's beach, and not that great for swimming either,  so if you're not a surfer and want to be closer to the bigger city then consider nearby Jaco. 

Get Your Rental Car Here

I used my United Mileage Plus Explorer Card which already has rental car insurance included.  If you need a great new credit card that earns airline miles check out the United Mileage Plus Explorer Card here.

United Credit Cards | Chase.com

You'll probably be starving by now so stop into Restaurante Nidia for your first taste of the local "Tico" cuisine. 

Along the way, make a stop at the famous Crocodile Bridge over the Rio Tarcoles. Although tempting, do not feed the crocodiles. 

 Jaco is the large hub town in the region, full of hotels, restaurants bars, and nightclubs.  It’s not my favorite spot, and the nightlife is kind of seedy.  There are lots of ladies of the night, who are ready and willing to take your money,  be aware.

Over 28% of the country is protected land, either national parks, state parks, or wildlife preserves. The country is located between the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east, with borders shared with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. 

With a population of around 5 million, divided into seven provinces, Costa Rica offers a diverse and vibrant experience.

Having a credit card that covers car rental insurance can help avoid unnecessary charges.  Check your credit card terms and conditions to see if you're already covered.

I recommend stocking up on groceries, snacks, and other supplies before leaving the capital city. There's a Walmart near the airport where you can purchase everything you need for your trip. The last time I visited I stayed at Airbnb's and a beachfront apartment, so having groceries as well as drinks really helped keep my costs down.

A few quick tips before we start.  I highly recommend you get an e-Sim card for Costa Rica, this will give you data and cellular connection while traveling throughout the country.   You can grab one with the link below.

Costa Rica eSIM, from $9 | World’s first eSIM store · Airalo

If you haven't booked your flight yet.  You can do so with the link below.

Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets & Airfares - Find Deals on Flights at WayAway.io

Most of the rental car agencies here will try to get you to sign onto an additional insurance fee, which is often more expensive than the rental itself. 

ALSO BE AWARE PEOPLE DRIVE FAST AND PASS OFTEN IN COSTA RICA - DRIVE SAFE

Costa Rican cuisine is known for its simplicity, freshness, and reliance on locally sourced ingredients. The country's cuisine reflects its diverse ecosystems, with influences from indigenous cultures, Spanish colonial heritage, and other global cuisines. 

Here are some key aspects of Costa Rican cuisine: Rice and Beans known as Gallo Pinto is a traditional Costa Rican dish made with rice and black beans, often cooked with onions, garlic, and bell peppers. It is commonly served as a breakfast staple.

Plantains: Plantains are large cousins of bananas, although they need to be cooked and can't be eaten raw.  They make a significant part of Costa Rican cuisine and are often served fried as a side dish or snack. They can also be mashed or used in soups and stews.

Fresh Seafood: Costa Rica's abundant coastline offers an array of fresh seafood options. Ceviche, a dish made of raw fish or seafood marinated in lime juice and mixed with onions, cilantro, and peppers, is a popular choice.

Casados: Casado translates to "married man" in Spanish and represents a typical lunchtime meal. It typically consists of rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a choice of protein such as chicken, fish, beef, or pork.  This is one of my favorite things to eat in Costa Rica!

Salsa Lizano: This condiment is an essential part of Costa Rican cuisine. Salsa Lizano is a slightly sweet and tangy sauce used to enhance the flavor of various dishes.  It's not spicy but it is damn delicious.  Give it a try, it's great on everything!

Corn-based Dishes: Corn is a staple ingredient in Costa Rican cuisine. You'll find dishes like tamales, which are made from corn dough filled with meats and vegetables, then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

Tres Leches Cake: A popular dessert, Tres Leches Cake is a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk (evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream) and topped with whipped cream and fruit.

Chayote: A vegetable commonly used in soups and stews, chayote is a type of squash that is widely grown in Costa Rica.

Coffee: Costa Rica is famous for producing high-quality coffee. Coffee is a significant part of the culture and is enjoyed throughout the day.

Overall, Costa Rican cuisine offers a delightful blend of flavors and textures that reflect the country's rich cultural heritage and abundant natural resources. When visiting Costa Rica, be sure to try the local dishes to fully experience the country's culinary delights.

Costa Rica is home to so many delicious tropical fruits, including one of my all-time favorites called Guanabana (order it "con leche" for the most delicious smoothie you'll ever have).   You can buy fruit from roadside vendors, don't be afraid to try new fruits, they are so good!

Now that you've filled up the tummy with some delicious Costa Rican food, keep driving down towards Playa Hermosa.

If you're wondering what my Tropical Packing Essentials are check out my gear list above!

Alexander Ayling's - Tropical Travel Clothing & Gear Essentials

Personally, though, I much prefer Playa Hermosa, it's much less developed and is wildly beautiful with a really laid-back atmosphere that's perfect for relaxing on the beach, plus if you need to, it's a quick 10-minute drive into Jaco. 

That being said it's getting nice each time I visit, and the last time I was there a newly opened commercial development, called the Jaco Walk Shopping Center, which had lots of great little businesses, restaurants, and even a craft brewery. 

Jaco is a great place to learn to surf as the beach is much less exposed than Playa Hermosa,  so consider taking lessons and learning to surf!

And if you want to sample some great locally grown coffee then grab a coffee in town at Jet Fuel Coffee Shop.

Puntarenas Province, Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

San José Province, San José, Costa Rica

Drive from Dominical to the Osa Peninsula,  this is a long day of driving with some off-roading, ferry crossings, and a bit of an adventure but highly worth it.   Take Highway 2 south from Dominical until you reach a town called Piedras Blanca, where you turn right onto Highway 245, which takes you out into the Osa Peninsula, which is home to the Corcovado National Park.  

On Day 11 it’s time to head north but we can’t leave Costa Rica without a relaxing hot spring soak, so it’s time to hit the road early (I’m talking at dawn) and cover some serious miles back up into the Central Highlands to the Volcano Arenal. I did this 500km drive in about 10 hours, it was a lot and in retrospect, I’d suggest cutting Pavones if you’re not a surfer and heading back from Dominical or the Osa Peninsula, but this is what I did and I feel like after this trip I got a full understanding of the beauty of Costa Rica.

If you're a experienced surfer then check the swell forecast and see if there are waves at Pavones, if so, then it’s time to drive further south.

Get up early and Hightail it out of the Osa Peninsula and drive around the Bay of Pavon to get Pavones, named after the wild turkeys that frequent the area.  You’ll have to drive back to Piedras Blancas and merge back onto Highway 2 heading south towards the Border with Panama. 

If you're not a surfer or there aren't waves in the forecast then I'd suggest leaving the Osa Peninsula and driving North.

 Use Googles Maps to mark the route and save the directions for offline use as chances are you won’t have wifi or cell reception for most of the drive. 

Pavones is a world-class cobblestone bottom river mouth left point break, it is one of the best waves in Costa Rica and one of the longest lefts in the world,  but it is always notoriously fickle, only breaking occasionally from March to October when the swell is right, so you want to check the forecast before deciding to drive down there.   

The town is a very frontier-like fishing village,  the area is home to the Boruca indigenous people complete with people riding horses to the one grocery store in town, it’s rustic.  

 Like the Osa there is not a lot out there, there aren’t a lot of restaurants or tourist activities, just an incredible wave.   It’s essentially a fishing village, near the border with Panama.  If it sounds remote,  it is, but that’s the beauty of it.   It’s a chance to really turn off and disconnect. 

 There's a great Airbnb we stayed at in Pavones called "Casa Azul" ,  if you’re not signed up with Airbnb yet make sure you do! It’s definitely my preferred method of travel accommodation.

There is a Spa in the area as well as some guided meditation studios if you want to up your relaxation.

Drive from the Osa Peninsula North back along the coast to Monteverde.  The six-hour drive is worth it because we're going to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.  This will take you the majority of the day, so I recommend getting an early start.  

Find a nice hotel in Monteverde and book it for two nights.  

  Stock on up food and drink and other supplies you may need there.  Then continue driving to the end of the Peninsula to stay by Matapalo Beach.   

A word of caution though,  The Osa Peninsula is wild, and there are some stories of sketchy people doing bad things at night, so if you’re going to visit, I recommend planning your drive well in advance and getting to your hotel as early as possible, before the sun goes down. It can be muddy, and there are water crossings involved so don’t start this drive late in the day.

DAY 4-   after you’ve stayed in Playa Hermosa for a few days...Drive south along the Carretera 34 to the town of Dominical.   This 107km drive is incredibly scenic, full of beautiful unspoiled beaches and forested mountains tumbling into the sea.   

Along the way you could stop at the “Rainmaker” a tourist attraction of hanging bridges and elevated platforms in the rainforest canopy.  It’s a great way to get a feel for the jungles of Costa Rica and their incredible Biodiversity. 

Juan Santamaría International Airport

Walmart

Restaurante Nidia

Crocodile Bridge

Playa Hermosa

Jaco

Jacó Walk Shopping Center

Jaco Surf School

Jet Fuel Coffee Shop

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

Rainmaker

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

Nauyaca Waterfalls

Dominical

Dominical Beach

Uvita

Matapalo Beach

Parque Nacional Corcovado

Pavones

Cafe de la Suerte

Terraza del Pacifico

Surf Inn Hermosa

Graffiti Restro Cafe & Wine Bar

Lemon Zest

Tacobar JacoWalk

Green Room Cafe Bar

https://tripadvisor.tp.st/pEuxdj4r

Oxygen Jungle Villas

Cascada El Pavón

Drake Bay

Bijagual Waterfall CR

Parque Nacional Carara

Monteverde Butterfly Gardens

Jardín de Orquídeas Monteverde

Mirador Sendero Murcielago

Tree House Restaurante

Taco Taco Monteverde

Soda La Cocinita de Lety

Finca Lindora Hot Springs & Horses

Book Your Stay Here

Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa

Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

La Fortuna

Sámara

Nosara

Guiones Beach

Tamarindo

Playa Grande

Playa Negra

Nauyaca Waterfalls/Cataratas Nauyaca

Playa Guiones

Honest, to the point, informative review! Can’t wait to go!!

This is a very thorough, beautifully-done itinerary that’s really going to help me plan my 1st trip to Costa Rica!

Costa Rica Travel Guide Itinerary: 14 Days of Pura Vida Paradise

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