Costa Rica in 8 Days: 3 Recommended 8-day Itineraries to Costa Rica
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- Steven S.
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Costa Rica 8-day itinerary options
Check out these Costa Rica 8-day itinerary ideas to start planning your next adventure.
Itinerary #1: Hiking, Water Adventures & More
| Overview | Activity | |
| Day 1 | Arrive at San Jose Airport and explore the capital | |
| Day 2 | Visit La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano before soaking in the Baldi Hot Springs |
Outdoor exploration |
| Day 3 | Enjoy adventure activities (hiking, rappelling, etc.) in the Arenal Volcano region | Outdoor adventure |
| Day 4 | Travel to the Pacific Coast and explore Manuel Antonio National Park | National park exploration |
| Day 5 | Enjoy various activities (surfing, snorkeling, etc.) in Manuel Antonio National Park | Water adventure |
| Day 6 | Spend a day relaxing, swimming, or hiking at Manuel Antonio National Park | Outdoor adventure |
| Day 7 | Take a morning nature walk before transferring to San Jose and exploring the city | Walking tour |
| Day 8 | Transfer to the airport and say goodbye to Costa Rica |
Consider yourself as a bit of a thrill seeker? Travel itineraries don’t get more daring than this. Active types will love this excursion, which includes plenty of hikes to savor Costa Rica’s spell-binding terrain. Visit bucket-list attractions like Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, and the steamy Baldi Hot Springs. The second half of the trip sees you based in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica’s premiere beachfront wonderland and wildlife reserve. Rather than madly rushing between locations, this slow-paced tour sees you soak up the main destinations at a leisurely pace. But it’s far from boring. Choose from exhilarating activities like horseback riding, island hopping, sailing, and zip-lining—or curl up in a hammock with a good book. See all 8-day Costa Rica tours.
Itinerary #2: Monteverde, Tamarindo & the Pacific Ocean
| Overview | Activity | |
| Day 1 | Arrive at San Jose Airport and visit the National Museum of Costa Rica or Jade Museum | Museum visit |
| Day 2 | Wake up early and travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest to embark on a wildlife hike | Hiking |
| Day 3 | Explore the Selvatura Park treetop walkways and other Monteverde trails | Hiking |
| Day 4 | Visit a coffee plantation, a local chocolate factory, and a sugarcane farm near Monteverde | Outdoor exploration |
| Day 5 | Travel to Tamarindo and spend the day soaking up the breezy beach town vibe | Beach day |
| Day 6 | Surf or swim in the Pacific Ocean and peruse local market stalls in Tamarindo | Water adventure |
| Day 7 | Embark on a four-hour catamaran cruise to spot marine life and visit pristine islands | Cruise |
| Day 8 | Transfer back to San Jose for your flight back home |
More into wildlife than wild parties? Give this epic itinerary a long hard look. The trip leads you through some of Costa Rica’s most pristine landscapes, including the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. A staggering 2.5% of the world’s entire biodiversity lives in this tiny forest; you’re guaranteed to meet mammals, birds, butterflies, and reptiles of all types. No good Costa Rica vacation skips out on beach time. Spend leisurely days soaking up the scene at Tamarindo, the country’s most happening coastal town. A thrilling marine life-spotting catamaran cruise breaks up those lazy sunbathing sessions.
Get a Costa Rica customized holiday similar to the one above .
Itinerary #3: Tortuguero National Park & Arenal Volcano
| Overview | Activity | |
| Day 1 | Arrive at San Jose Airport and explore the capital | |
| Day 2 | Travel to Tortuguero and cruise the town’s pretty canals | Cruise |
| Day 3 | Spot wildlife and admire lush jungle landscapes at Tortuguero National Park | Outdoor adventure |
| Day 4 | Travel to the Arenal Volcano to explore this majestic bucket-list region | Outdoor adventure |
| Day 5 | Travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest to see a stunning array of wildlife and birdlife | Wildlife adventure |
| Day 6 | Take a wildlife walk in the misty forest and get a bird’s eye view from the Sky Walk and Tram | Walking tour |
| Day 7 | Travel back to San Jose and visit highlights like the National Museum of Costa Rica | City sightseeing |
| Day 8 | Return to San Jose for your flight home |
Looking to experience the best of Costa Rica in a whirlwind trip? This action-packed 8-day Costa Rica itinerary plan takes in all the best bits at a hasty pace. Perfect for first-timers looking to tick off bucket-list attractions, the trip visits Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and San Jose. Nature is the main attraction here. From towering volcanoes to wildlife-rich cloud forests and stunning beachside jungles, you’ll savor a tantalizing slice of what Costa Rica has to offer.
Planning 8-day Itinerary of Costa Rica
Spending 8 days in Costa Rica is ideal to see the best of the country. The small nation and its highlights can be covered in 8 days as shown in the itineraries above. If you want more travel inspirations, check out our 8-day Costa Rica tours. If a customized Costa Rica adventure appeals, contact our local travel experts today. For more information to plan your holiday, go through our Costa Rica travel guide.
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