Costa Rica Travel Itinerary

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Pura Vida: Our Family’s Costa Rica Travel Itinerary from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

We just returned from the most amazing trip ever. We spent 8 nights in Costa Rica with our family of 5 and another family of 4. I spent months planning out this trip and had high expectations, and yet it somehow still exceeded them every single day. Here’s our exact Costa Rica travel itinerary that you can copy or modify as you see fit. I’ll share what I would change if I were to do it again as well. The kids with us ranged in age from 5 to 13, and everybody was able to do all of these activities.

When I first started planning this trip, I knew I would want to spend time in multiple parts of the country. I considered this list of the best places to visit in Costa Rica but ultimately decided to split my time between the La Fortuna and the Manuel Antonio regions. Because there is a lot of driving involved to get to both of these locations, I recommend staying for at least 6 nights. We stayed for 8 and that felt perfect–although I wasn’t even close to being ready to leave.

Arrival in Liberia + Rental Car

We were able to find direct flights from LAX to the Liberia Airport. Next time, I might opt for the San Jose airport to cut down on driving times a bit. But our experience at Liberia was fine, although customs took about 45-60 minutes to get through.

Tip: Get your alcohol at the duty-free shop right after going through customs. We were warned that alcohol anywhere else would be very expensive, so we stocked up here and had enough for our trip.

After landing, we picked up our rental car from Vamos Rental Car. This company was recommended to me because they are honest and show all fees up front. We provided proof of 3rd party rental insurance that we have through our favorite travel credit card, so we didn’t need to pay for that. But that is a Costa Rica law, and they will require it from any rental place if you don’t have coverage.

We needed 4×4 to get to our house on the second leg of this trip (and some of the beaches on this itinerary). So, keep that in mind if you copy this itinerary.

From there, we hit the road for a scenic drive to La Fortuna, home of the iconic Arenal Volcano. It’s close to a 3-hour drive from the airport to La Fortuna. We landed about 3pm but didn’t arrive to the hotel until just after 8pm. As I mentioned, it took awhile to go through customs and then get our rental car. But we were finally on our way!

Stay: Hotel Los Lagos, La Fortuna (3 nights)

We checked into Hotel Los Lagos, a family-friendly resort with hot springs, multiple pools, and amazing volcano views right from the property. It was the perfect home base for a few days of exploring.

When we arrived to the hotel we were starving. But it was the best surprise to see how reasonable the food and drinks are at this hotel. We ordered dinner by the pools and the kids were off and exploring the hot springs.

You can check out my complete review of this hotel here, but overall, I would hands-down recommend it. We loved our stay at Los Lagos.

Day 1: Waterfalls & Night Walks

We kicked off our first full day with a visit to La Fortuna Waterfall. This is only about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Be prepared for a steep set of stairs down, but it’s 100% worth it—the waterfall is stunning and there’s a refreshing pool below where you can swim.

After drying off and making our way back up the stairs, we grabbed a quick iced latte at the coffee shop right next to the falls. And then we made the short drive to El Salto, a local swimming hole with a rope swing that’s free and popular with both tourists and locals.

You can check out my story highlights on Instagram to see this entire trip–but also to check out how fun this spot is! This was one of the biggest highlights of our Costa Rica travel itinerary, and it was completely free!

El Salto is a great spot to hang out and feel like you’re part of the community. It was my 13-year-old’s highlight of our entire trip. He could’ve stayed here all day, and he asked to go back multiple times on the trip. It was fun jumping in and watching the locals do impressive tricks.

That evening, we booked a night walk with Papa’s Place, a small, family-run wildlife tour. It was one of our favorite experiences—flashlights in hand, we spotted bats, frogs, insects, and even a few fer-de-lance vipers! The guides were incredibly passionate and knowledgeable. We did the 6pm tour, and that was perfect for us. Any later would’ve been hard after catching up from our travel day.

Dinner that night was at Fortuneno #2, a casual spot with a cute ambiance and delicious drinks.

Costa Rica Travel ItineraryDay 2: Ziplining at Ecoglide Arenal Park

One of the best things to do in Costa Rica is ziplining. We spent the morning zipping through the jungle at Ecoglide Arenal Park. We chose this place because it was family friendly, and it ended up being a great pick for us. Their guides made it fun and safe, and the Tarzan swing at the end was totally terrifying, but so much fun.

In the afternoon, we relaxed at the hotel’s hot springs and pools—because ziplining deserves a hot soak afterward! And the hotel has so much to offer. The two waterslides are no joke–the kids loved them, and even the adults took some rides. They are way fast!

For dinner, we ate at the restaurant in the hotel. But other recommendations we received from the guides at Papa’s Place were La Fonda 506, SelvaRustica, Nenes and Tiquicia.

Check out my complete list of top things to do in La Fortuna for more ideas of how to spend your time here. There is so much you can see and do in this region. I also have this guide to La Fortuna with hotel recommendations as well.

Day 3: Road Trip to Manuel Antonio

We said goodbye to La Fortuna and hit the road for our next stop: a rental house just south of Manuel Antonio, on the Pacific coast. The drive was long (about 5 hours), but scenic and filled with cool little roadside stops where you can grab a smoothie or fresh empanadas.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, check out this list of the best family resorts in Costa Rica along with this list of Costa Rica resorts that will blow you away.

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for crocodiles at the Tarcoles River Bridge—a quick, fun stop on the way!

The house I chose for us is located about 30 minutes south of Manuel Antonio, perfectly between there and Uvita. It is high up in the rainforest and requires 4×4 to access it. If you have the option of staying in this house, or one near it, do it. I can’t say enough about the property. It was absolutely beautiful–views for days. And each of the four bedrooms had its own bathroom, which was great for sharing with another family.

There are so many great rentals near Manuel Antonio, though. So you’ll have lots of options if you want to stay in a house. Or take a look at the best hotels in Manuel Antonio.

Costa Rica Travel ItineraryDay 4: Beach Time at Playa Playitas

After a travel day, we were ready for a beach day. We headed to Playa Playitas, a quieter extension of Playa Espadilla. You need 4×4 to drive down to this beach, but you can park right on the sand. Bring a picnic and plan to stay a while. But be careful of the monkeys in the trees. They will steal your stuff.

A couple of the people in our group used today to do a fishing trip. They had fun, but only caught swordfish, which they couldn’t keep because it wasn’t in season. There are great fishing trips in Quepos, so you can easily add that in on this day if anyone in your group is interested.

Nearby food tip: Grab a smoothie or light lunch at Café Milagro—great coffee and chill vibes.

Day 5: Wildlife & Sunset Sailing

This was a big day! We started early at Manuel Antonio National Park, which is one of the best places to go in all of Costa Rica. We saw monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and even a crocodile The park is well-marked and the beaches inside are absolutely beautiful—don’t forget your swimsuit.

In the afternoon, we drove to Quepos for a sunset catamaran sail. The views were breathtaking, and we even saw dolphins swimming alongside the boat. It included drinks, dinner, waterslides and a stop for snorkeling. We all had fun jumping off the top of the boat as well.

Dinner idea: You’ll eat on the boat, but if you want an extra snack after the sail, head to Z Gastro Bar in the Quepos Marina—perfect setting to cap off the day.

Day 6: ATV Jungle Tour + Uvita Waterfall

We drove down the coast to Uvita for a jungle ATV tour—so much fun! We rode through muddy trails, crossed rivers, and got a little (okay, a lot) dirty. The guides were awesome and even took us to a hidden waterfall. There was also a stop at a coffee plantation, so we got a bit of everything in this tour. This was my favorite activity we did.

After the ride, we stopped at the Uvita Waterfall to swim and slide down the natural rock chute. It’s a fun, local spot tucked away in the jungle. Watershoes are recommended for the ladder–otherwise it’s hard on the feet. Only my son and the two dads were brave enough for the slide. But there are fun jumping spots that everyone enjoyed.

Food tip: Check out Sibu Café in Uvita for delicious sandwiches, smoothies, and pastries.

Costa Rica Travel ItineraryDay 7: Beach Time + Souvenir Shopping

On our last day, we soaked up the sun at Uvita Beach, which is part of Marino Ballena National Park. The famous whale tail sandbar is a must-see at low tide, and the beach is quiet and perfect for swimming. The water here is unbelievably warm– it was about 93 degrees F the day we were there.

You can do a trip to the Nauyaca Falls on this day. That’s what I originally had planned on our Costa Rica travel itinerary, but the kids really wanted another beach day. Plus, we felt that we got a good amount of waterfalls in the day before. But you can easily do the Nauyaca Falls with some beach time in Uvita.

Before heading back north, we stopped in Dominical Beach for some souvenir shopping. The beachside market has handmade jewelry, art, and clothing—plus the town has a cool surfer vibe.

Snack stop: Try Café Mono Congo in Dominical for a great iced coffee and baked goods.

Pura Vida, Until Next Time

After a week packed with waterfalls, wildlife, ziplining, beach days, and amazing food, we reluctantly made our way back to Liberia for our flight home. Reminder, it’s a 4-hour drive back to Liberia from the house, or 2.5 hours to San Jose. Leave plenty of time to make it back before your flight.

I can easily see why Costa Rica is one of the best family travel destinations. It really is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, and we already can’t wait to go back. I feel like I left a piece of my heart there.

If you’re planning a trip, I hope this Costa Rica travel itinerary helps you map out your own unforgettable Costa Rican journey. Have questions or want tips for your own trip? Drop a comment—I’m always happy to share more!

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