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The grand tour in 21 days

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Make it your own trip

Choose when you go and with how many, change the nights at each stop (0 skips it) and tick the tours you want. The route, the kilometres and the costs follow.

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Day by day

Map view
LIR Day 1 · 40 km · 1 h Day 3 · 50 km · 2 h Day 5 · 100 km · 1 h 30 min Day 8 · 110 km · 2 h 40 min Day 10 · 180 km · 4 h 10 min Day 13 · 320 km · 6 h 40 min Day 15 · 70 km · 1 h 30 min Day 18 · 110 km · 3 h 10 min Day 20 · 110 km · 2 h 50 min Day 21 · 10 km · 10 min 1Rincón de la Vieja 2Bijagua 3La Fortuna 4Monteverde 5Santa Teresa 6Manuel Antonio 7Uvita 8San Gerardo de Dota 9Alajuela

Big map and driving plan →

Map: Natural Earth (public domain) · roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Day 1 Land at Liberia (LIR), drive to Rincón de la Vieja About 40 km, 1 h

  2. Rincón de la Vieja, Guanacaste

    Days 1–2 · 2 nights

    Rincón de la Vieja, Guanacaste

    The mud pots and fumaroles of Rincón de la Vieja

    Highlights

    • Las Pailas in the national park
    • Oropéndola waterfall
    • Hot springs and mud baths

    Another night here? With an extra night: tubing on the Río Negro, or on horseback through the dry forest.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Rincón de la Vieja

  3. Day 3 Rincón de la Vieja, drive to Bijagua About 50 km, 2 h

  4. Bijagua, Alajuela

    Days 3–4 · 2 nights

    Bijagua, Alajuela

    The sky-blue water of Río Celeste

    Highlights

    • Río Celeste waterfall
    • Los Teñideros, where the river turns blue
    • Sloths in the gardens around Bijagua

    Another night here? With an extra night: tubing on the Río Celeste, or a night walk looking for frogs and tapirs.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Bijagua

    Cabaña Montezion Bijagua Cabaña Montezion Bijagua ★★★★★ · 10.0 Paradise Rio Celeste 2 Paradise Rio Celeste 2 ★★★★★ · 10.0 Yarumo Lodge Río Celeste Black Chalets Yarumo Lodge Río Celeste Black Chalets ★★★★★ · 10.0 Mei Tai Cacao Lodge Mei Tai Cacao Lodge ★★★★★ · 9.9 Casitas Tenorio B&B Casitas Tenorio B&B ★★★★★ · 9.8

  5. Day 5 Bijagua, drive to La Fortuna About 100 km, 1 h 30 min

  6. La Fortuna, Alajuela

    Days 5–7 · 3 nights

    La Fortuna, Alajuela

    The cone of Arenal volcano

    Highlights

    • Lava trails in Arenal National Park
    • La Fortuna waterfall
    • Hanging bridges through the rainforest
    • Hot springs at the foot of the volcano

    Another night here? With an extra night: canyoning or rafting on the Balsa, or a day along Lake Arenal.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in La Fortuna

    Alojamientos N&S Alojamientos N&S ★★★★★ · 10.0 Cabañas Litos Cabañas Litos ★★★★★ · 10.0 Jarabacoa Family Hostel Jarabacoa Family Hostel ★★★★★ · 10.0 Natural Green Lodge Natural Green Lodge ★★★★★ · 10.0 Fortuna Retreat Fortuna Retreat ★★★★★ · 9.8

  7. Day 8 La Fortuna, drive to Monteverde About 110 km, 2 h 40 min

  8. Monteverde, Puntarenas

    Days 8–9 · 2 nights

    Monteverde, Puntarenas

    Walking in the cloud forest

    Highlights

    • Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
    • Hanging bridges through the canopy
    • Hummingbirds at the Hummingbird Café

    Another night here? With an extra night: the Santa Elena reserve, or a coffee and chocolate tour.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Monteverde

    El Nido Lodge El Nido Lodge ★★★★★ · 10.0 ÉWA Homes Monteverde ÉWA Homes Monteverde ★★★★★ · 10.0 Finca Aquarius Finca Aquarius ★★★★★ · 10.0 The Green Tree Lodge The Green Tree Lodge ★★★★★ · 10.0 Villa Golondrina Villa Golondrina ★★★★★ · 10.0

  9. Day 10 Monteverde, drive to Santa Teresa About 180 km, 4 h 10 min

  10. Days 10–12 · 3 nights

    Santa Teresa, Puntarenas

    Waves, yoga and sunsets

    Highlights

    • Santa Teresa beach
    • Montezuma waterfall
    • Cabo Blanco reserve

    Another night here? With an extra night: by boat to Tortuga Island, or a hike in Cabo Blanco.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Santa Teresa

    Seataya Oceanview Luxury Villas Seataya Oceanview Luxury Villas ★★★★★ · 10.0

  11. Day 13 Santa Teresa, drive to Manuel Antonio About 320 km, 6 h 40 min · a long driving day

  12. Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas

    Days 13–14 · 2 nights

    Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas

    Sloths and monkeys above white bays

    Highlights

    • Manuel Antonio National Park
    • Espadilla beach
    • Sunset over the Pacific

    Another night here? With an extra night: a catamaran along the coast, or kayaking in the Damas mangroves.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Manuel Antonio

    Apto Cielo Azul Apto Cielo Azul ★★★★★ · 9.0 Hotel Playa Espadilla Hotel Playa Espadilla ★★★★★ · 9.0 Mango Moon Villa Mango Moon Villa ★★★★★ · 8.8 Hotel Planeta Sano Hotel Planeta Sano ★★★★★ · 8.7 Natural Pacific Suites, private family rooms Natural Pacific Suites, private family rooms ★★★★★ · 8.7

  13. Day 15 Manuel Antonio, drive to Uvita About 70 km, 1 h 30 min

  14. Uvita, Puntarenas

    Days 15–17 · 3 nights

    Uvita, Puntarenas

    Whales off the Whale's Tail

    Highlights

    • The Whale's Tail in Marino Ballena
    • Uvita waterfall
    • Caño Island by boat

    Another night here? With an extra night: diving or snorkelling at Caño Island, or the Nauyaca waterfalls.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Uvita

    Bambura Bahia Villas Bambura Bahia Villas ★★★★★ · 10.0 Ruca Lodge - Luxury Container Tiny Home Surrounded by Nature Ruca Lodge - Luxury Container Tiny Home Surrounded by Nature ★★★★★ · 9.9 Apartamentos Equipados DMR #3 Apartamentos Equipados DMR #3 ★★★★★ · 9.7 MADRE TERRA MADRE TERRA ★★★★★ · 9.7 Cedrela Beach Villas Cedrela Beach Villas ★★★★★ · 9.6

  15. Day 18 Uvita, drive to San Gerardo de Dota About 110 km, 3 h 10 min

  16. San Gerardo de Dota, San José

    Days 18–19 · 2 nights

    San Gerardo de Dota, San José

    The quetzal in the oak forests

    Highlights

    • Looking for quetzals at sunrise
    • The Savegre waterfall
    • The top of Cerro de la Muerte

    Another night here? With an extra night: trout fishing on the Savegre, or hiking in Los Quetzales.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in San Gerardo de Dota

    Entre Árboles Lodge Entre Árboles Lodge ★★★★★ · 9.5 Miriam'S Quetzals lodge Miriam'S Quetzals lodge ★★★★★ · 8.9 Hotel de Montaña Suria Hotel de Montaña Suria ★★★★★ · 8.8

  17. Day 20 San Gerardo de Dota, drive to Alajuela About 110 km, 2 h 50 min

  18. Alajuela, Alajuela

    Day 20 · 1 night

    Alajuela, Alajuela

    Poás crater, an hour from the airport

    Highlights

    • Poás volcano crater
    • La Paz waterfall gardens
    • Coffee farm in the hills of Alajuela

    Another night here? With an extra night: La Paz waterfall gardens, or a day in San José with the Gold Museum and the Mercado Central.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Alajuela

    Casa Cafetal Aeropuerto Two Bedrooms Casa Cafetal Aeropuerto Two Bedrooms ★★★★★ · 10.0 Hotel Bamboo Aeropuerto Hotel Bamboo Aeropuerto ★★★★★ · 9.4 Las Carmelas, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José Las Carmelas, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José ★★★★★ · 9.4 Hildas Bed and Breakfast Hildas Bed and Breakfast ★★★★★ · 9.2 Hostal Casa Azul Hostal Casa Azul ★★★★★ · 8.5

  19. Day 21 Alajuela to San José airport (SJO), fly home to Amsterdam About 10 km, 10 min

Tours: €0 The trip, roughly: €5,880 (€2,940 a person)

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