4 Week Itinerary Costa Rica

This itinerary is based off of my personal experience in the beautiful country. I have spent over a year of my life in Costa Rica, when I was both 13 and 19. 


Costa Rica

Everything You Need to Know About Costa Rica

When booking transportation please keep in mind a few things:

Official taxis (yellow or red) are often the most expensive transportation. These trips can cost upwards of $1 per minute because of the roads and demand. If you are traveling with a group it can be a good option.

Collectivos are a local form of Uber Pool which are cheap and indirect. You can find collectivos parked outside busy areas or while you're walking they may honk to ask if you need a ride. They often times drop you off at your destination a few blocks away if you're off the main road as you are with numerous other people on their routes. These rides cost anywhere from 1000 colones ($2) to 5000 ($8) depending on your length of ride. 

Private shuttles are offered through most hostels / hotels. These shuttles host 10-15 people from one city to another and are $50-$60 per-person. These are great options if you're traveling to a city a few hours away and want a direct ride.

Local buses are pretty common but some cities may only offer routes once or twice a day. Bus stops are more tricky to find as there are no signs, usually just a bench with a sun cover. This is a great way to see local areas and you can purchase little snacks on the ride as well. Many buses don't have a/c and are packed, they can sometimes have a few stops in route to destination meaning you must change buses and pay again. Expect to pay $2 roughly for each bus ride, comparable to collectivos. 

Rental cars are a great option if you find a good deal. Many spots like EuroRental Car in Tamarindo have $40 a day and you can use it to see the coast for a week or so with a small deposit. Spots do offer long-term discounts if you plan on renting a car for upwards of a month!

Below I have put in my recommended form of transportation between each city for both time, convince and price. 

Average $50 with a ride length of an hour.

Average $50 with a ride length of an hour and a half.

The ferry from Paquera to Puntarenas is $1.50 with a ride length of two hours. You are able to bring cars and motorcycles onto the vessel for an additional cost. Getting from the ferry to your Jaco Beach Stay is a ride length of an hour and a half. There are numerous taxis to take or the local bus as well. The shuttle I have linked below is $54 per-person.

Jeep-Boat-Jeep - La Fortuna

Private shuttle is average of $40 with a ride length of an hour and a half, or there is a direct bus leaving each hour for $10 with a ride length of two and a half hours.

Terminal 7-10 offers departures to Puerto Viejo with tickets available for purchase within the terminal. These tickets are average $10 and the ride length is roughly four and a half hours. There is also the option of shuttles that are $60 with a ride length of two and a half hours. 

Option of day trip by ferry to Bocas del Toro Panama.

Bus tickets are average $10 and the ride length is roughly four and a half hours. There is also the option of shuttles that are $60 with a ride length of two and a half hours. 

If you are leaving from LIR Airport you have lots of options on how to return. This also depends on how much time you have to return to the airport as well. If you are able you can take a night stop if San Jose the capital for ease of travel as this is a long journey. 

Bus to Limon from Puerto Viejo $5 with a ride length of an hour and a half. Then you will fly from Limon airport to LIR Airport which roughly costs $100 with a flight length of an hour and a half.

Shuttle from Puerto Viejo to San José $50 with a ride length of two and a half hours, spend the night and leave on another shuttle the next day $100 with a ride length of five hours.

Jungle Raves and Full Moon parties are main attractions. Ask your stay how to get there!

Optional day trip or weekend trip to Montezuma which I highly recommend! You can take the local bus for $2 with a ride length of an hour.

Santa Teresa and Montezuma together I recommend a week total between the two or four days if you plan on doing a day trip vs a few days in Montezuma. For example purposes day 5 through 10 would be spent here.

Tamarindo is a great spot to be for a long weekend or even just a couple days. For example purposes day 1 through 5 would be spent here.

Jaco is a great spot to hangout for 5 days. Lots of things to see and great social aspects here. For example purposes day 10 through 15 would be spent here. I recommend booking an airbnb in the area as hostels and hotels are roughly the same price!

Monteverde is somewhere you can spend 5 days to a week, given all the tours and hikes to be done here. For example purposes day 15 through 20 would be spent here.

Fortuna can be done in 3 days as it is a smaller town and is often raining. For example purposes days 20 through 23 would be spent here.

The Caribbean coast is amazing, and I recommend 10 days here. Lots of different beaches to bike to, along with chocolate and coffee tours. For example purposes days 23 through 30 would be spent here.

Tamarindo to Santa Teresa - Shuttle Bus - $50 | Tropical Tours Shuttles

Puntarenas Ferry to Jaco Beach - Shared Shuttle Transportation Services

Jaco to Monteverde Shuttle Bus | Transportation in Costa Rica

Rides from La Fortuna to San Jose

San Jose/Puerto Viejo | Caribe Shuttle | Transportation in Costa Rica

From Puerto Viejo | Caribe Shuttle | Transportation in Costa Rica, Panama & Nica

$35 Shuttle and Boat to Bocas del Toro from Puerto Viejo

Top 10 Hostels Fortuna

Expect with 30 days the average cost will be $2,000 total. This can be broken down by an average nightly stay of $30, and spending of $30 a day. Most likely you will have days you spend no money but other days where you book tours. 

Catamaran Tours are available at many tour kiosks around town. Tickets online are often double the price.

Sodas are the most common places to eat. These can be compared or described as ma and pa restaurants. I have included a few of my favorites throughout the itinerary.

Explore the surrounding beaches on ATVs, which can be rented at multiple locations.

Sun Country Airlines offers affordable flights and vacation packages to destinations across the U.S. and in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Everything You Need to Know About Costa Rica

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