Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica? Or is this ecologically diverse destination on your bucket list? After spending 14 days in this wondrous country, I’m sharing my two-week Costa Rica itinerary featuring the popular Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Santa Teresa, and Coco. Keep reading to find out how I spent my time in each place, how I got around Costa Rica, and the best things to do.
Psst, this post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure.
My experience in Costa Rica was one of polarity, with many incredible highs and several unforgettable lows. On one hand, this country has by far some of the best wildlife and ecological diversity that I’ve ever seen.
From odd-looking — but cool — sloths and flying mantas (aka jumping Mobula rays) to poisonous snakes, florescent frogs, moths as big as my hand, vibrant plants, and more, this country seriously packs in a crazy amount of flora and fauna, especially considering its smaller size.
On the other hand, I also had some pretty awful stomach issues, transportation mishaps, and disappointing dining experiences.
While these things dampened my Costa Rica trip overall, I will say that the biodiversity and wildlife tours, as well as the friendly locals, made up for it. I cannot stress how much I was blown away by what I saw and did! If you go to Costa Rica for two weeks, I can only imagine you will be, too.
So, to help you plan an exciting beach- and jungle-filled Costa Rica trip, take a look at my itinerary, which features Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Santa Teresa, Playas del Coco, and more.
My Adventurous Two-Week Costa Rica Itinerary
Note that my friend and I did not rent a car because were not comfortable driving around Costa Rica (and we were flying in and out of two different airports).
This is what a lot of people do when they go to Costa Rica and if you feel comfortable doing that, then go for it! You’ll have far more freedom to explore than we did. But if you’re like us and you don’t want to rent a car, know that you don’t have to in order to have a great Costa Rica experience.
San Jose / Alajuela (1 night)
Because my friend and I were coming from two different countries on different continents (me, England, and her, the United States), we met at San Jose International Airport and spent the night in the nearby town of Alajuela.
We landed pretty late in the day so didn’t really get to experience this area aside from getting dinner! Our shuttle bus from Alajuela to Manuel Antonio was also pretty early in the morning the next day, as we wanted to get to Manuel Antonio as soon as possible.
But, if you do have some time in San Jose, here are some things you could do:
- Explore the National Theater — A stunning architectural gem with guided tours and occasional performances.
- Visit the Jade Museum — Discover pre-Columbian artifacts and Costa Rican history.
- Stroll through Mercado Central — Shop for souvenirs, local crafts, and delicious street food.
- Tour the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum — Learn about Costa Rica’s ancient gold artifacts.
- Relax at La Sabana Park — Enjoy a picnic or a leisurely walk in this urban green space.
- Take a coffee plantation tour — Visit nearby coffee farms to learn about Costa Rican coffee production.
Where to Stay in San Jose / Alajuela
We stayed at Alice & Juancito Boutique Hotel in Alajuela. It was pretty affordable and the hosts were incredibly nice. Plus, it was close to a number of restaurants for lunch and dinner.
Here are some other options for accommodation if you want to stay in San Jose:
- Budget: Chillout Hostel OR Casa Leon Guesthouse
- Mid-Range: Hotel Casa 69 OR Sleep Inn Paseo Las Damas
- Luxury: Grano de Oro Hotel OR Gran Hotel Costa Rica
San Juan / Alajuela → Manuel Antonio
Our next stop on our two-week Costa Rica trip was Manuel Antonio. We booked our shared shuttle on Bookaway, a super easy site that you can use to book most (if not all) of your Costa Rica transportation.
This journey took about 4 hours and they picked us up right outside our hotel in Alajuela just after 8 AM.
Manuel Antonio (3 nights)
Though Manuel Antonio may be one of the more touristy places in Costa Rica, it’s definitely worth adding to your two-week Costa Rica itinerary! The wildlife around here is so cool.
While we didn’t get to experience the national park due to an error on our part (you have to prebook an entry time slot and there were no more available when we arrived — we were devastated), the other activities around the area are truly incredible.
With our two full days in Manuel Antonio, we went on a mangrove boat tour, walked around the town, and relaxed at the beach and by our hotel pool. Honestly, while it doesn’t sound like much, it was kind of perfect, as I flew in from the UK and was adjusting to a very different time zone!
But I digress — if you’re in Manuel Antonio, definitely check out the national park and go on a mangrove tour. The mangrove tour, in particular, was by far one of the best activities we did in Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio National Park
As mentioned above, you need to buy tickets ahead of time and prebook an entry time slot. I highly recommend booking the earliest entry possible — like before 8 AM.
We stayed just outside the park entrance and witnessed the hoards of crowds that arrive at the park around 9:30/10 AM. Believe me, if you visit, you’ll have a much better park experience if you enter right as the park opens at 7 AM!
Manuel Antonio National Park is nestled along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and is known for its pristine beaches, dense tropical rainforest, and incredible biodiversity. Within the park, you’ll find a number of well-maintained trails, where you may come across playful monkeys, colorful toucans, and even sloths lounging in the treetops.
When you’re done exploring the trails, definitely head to the beach. I’ve heard that Manuel Antonio Beach gets pretty busy mid-day, so it may be worth braving the dense trails to see if the nearby beaches of Playa Las Gemelas and Escondido Beach are less crowded!
Use this website to purchase your Manuel Antonio National Park tickets. To check ticket availability, click the drop down menu, click “Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio” and then select your desired date. A box will then pop up once you tap Availability with the number of tickets available to purchase for each time slot. Note that the park is closed on Tuesdays.
Manuel Antonio Mangrove Boat Tour
This was one of the BEST things I did in Costa Rica! We booked our Mangrove Boat Tour with Jade Tours through GetYourGuide. It was about 4 hours long and included a 2 hour mangrove boat tour, a meal and drinks, and pick up from our hotel in Manuel Antonio.
On the tour, we saw so many things! Tons of monkeys, snakes, an otter, countless birds, turtles, lizards, and a number of cool plants. It was incredible.
One big thing I really enjoyed about this specific tour with Jade Tours was that they do not feed the monkeys, unlike another boat tour that was just behind us in the mangroves.
Though this made one monkey particularly enraged (video below!), not feeding wild animals is far more ethical and sustainable, as this prevents them from becoming reliant on humans for food.
Even though our group got bullied by an angry monkey, the tour was absolutely delightful! Our knowledgable guide was fantastic (and had the eyes of an eagle — that man could see the teeniest of things!), the wildlife was incredible, and they even made me a vegan meal for lunch. Highly worth it!
Check out the tour and reviews on GetYourGuide.
Espadilla Beach
Aside from the Mangrove Boat Tour and (attempting to visit) Manuel Antonio National Park, we hung out at Espadilla Beach, which was just down the road from our accommodation. It was nice and the water was refreshing! The sunsets here were also stunning.
Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio
We stayed at Inn on the Park, which is situated just outside the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. We found the location to be really convenient, as we didn’t have a car and could walk to nearby restaurants, the beach, and to the park (if we had managed to get a ticket haha).
Some other highly-rated places to stay include:
- Budget: Costa Linda Art Hostel OR Pura Natura Lodge
- Mid-Range: Millenium OR Hotel Villa Prats
- Luxury: Gaia Hotel & Reserve OR Makanda by The Sea Hotel
Manuel Antonio → La Fortuna
The next destination on this two-week Costa Rica itinerary is La Fortuna! Similar to our journey to Manuel Antonio, we booked this journey with RideCR through Bookaway. It took about 5.5-6 hours with one stop at a little roadside convenient store.
La Fortuna (5 nights)
Out of all the places featured in this two-week Costa Rica itinerary, La Fortuna has to be my favorite. Nestled deep into the Costa Rican jungle and at the base of Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna feels like stepping into a lush, tropical dream.
A charming and relaxed town, La Fortuna offers everything from jungle and coffee tours to hot springs, heart-pounding zip lines, and tremendous waterfalls. Not to mention, a ton of really great cafes, restaurants, and shops.
La Fortuna Hikes + Trails Nighttime Jungle Tour
This was another incredible tour that we did while in Costa Rica for two weeks. It featured a TON of super cool wildlife that tends to only come out at night, such as frogs, moths, snakes, creepy crawlies (aka bugs), and nocturnal birds. We even saw a sloth! But it was sleeping.
Our guide, David, was an expert at spotting various animals and plants and explaining what each was. I was very impressed with his eyesight and knowledge!
The nighttime jungle tour, which started at 5:30 PM, also included sugarcane tasting and a traditional tortilla making class! It was honestly so perfect — I wouldn’t change a thing about the tour. The place was also just down the road from our hostel, so we could walk to the property, which was really nice.
I think it’s also important to mention that La Fortuna Hikes and Trails is a super small family-owned business that is committed to preserving and restoring the essential rainforest ecosystem. How cool is that? This aligned beautifully with my mission of exploring the world more consciously. (And I hope it aligns with yours, too!)
Check out the La Fortuna Hikes + Trails Night Tour here.
La Fortuna Hikes + Trails Sloth Tour
Because we loved our nighttime tour with La Fortuna Hikes + Trails and David so much, we booked a second tour with them! We embarked on their 2-hour Sloth Tour at 1 PM in the afternoon, which was just as good as their nighttime jungle tour.
While David was not very hopeful that we’d see many sloths due to low activity during the morning tour, we ended up seeing SIX different sloths in just an hour! It was amazing. We also saw several birds, including a colorful toucan (amazing!), large lizards, frogs, and lots of cool flora.
Another tour with La Fortuna Hikes and Trails that is highly worth it! If you want to check it out on their website, click here.
Ecotermales Fortuna (La Fortuna Thermal Springs)
After going on two different walking tours, we were yearning for a more relaxing day. So, on our third full day in La Fortuna, we hopped in an Uber and went to Ecotermales Fortuna.
Located in the heart of the jungle, Ecotermales Fortuna is a laid-back spa with several natural spring-fed pools. It feels like a little oasis surrounded by lush flora where you can reconnect with nature, relax in the hot springs, and recharge your batteries.
One of the best parts about this spa is that it’s big enough to not feel crowded. It also features a bar and a restaurant in case you want to grab a bit to eat or have a drink.
Click here to check out Ecotermales and book a ticket on their website.
Honey, Chocolate and Coffee Tour at Arenal Bee Garden
Did you know that Costa Rica has a remarkable diversity amount of bees? Over 700 species call this country home, including honeybees, stingless bees, carpenter bees, and many solitary bee species.
The country’s rich biodiversity and varied ecosystems, from rainforests to cloud forests, provide ideal habitats for these vital pollinators.
Plus, much of Costa Rica’s locals — such as those at the Arenal Bee Garden, where we did our tour — have committed to conservation, making it a hotspot for studying bees and their essential role in maintaining ecological balance.
The great amount of bees combined with the climate and ecosystems also make Costa Rica the ultimate destination to grow things like coffee and cacao beans! We learned all of this on our Honey, Chocolate and Coffee Tour at Arenal Bee Garden.
On the tour we had the opportunity to:
- Walk around the garden, learning about all the different types of bees and plants they care for, including coffee and cacao plants.
- Crack open a cacao bean to try its fruit (hint: it’s good!).
- Make homemade chocolate by grinding up roasted cacao beans, mixing it with melted cocoa butter, and adding fun ingredients and toppings like cinnamon, vanilla extract, honey, and chili.
- Taste local coffee and compare the different roasts (light, medium, and dark).
And did I mention that we were the only ones on the tour?! It’s like we got a private tour for the cost of a group tour. It was absolutely brilliant and I couldn’t recommend it more!
Check it out here on GetYourGuide.
Fortuna Waterfall
Aside from going on tours, we also went to Fortuna Waterfall on our own! It was pretty easy to grab an Uber from our hostel just outside of La Fortuna. The ride took about 20 minutes and took us into the lush jungle surrounding the town.
If you’re looking for a great little morning or afternoon trip while in La Fortuna, definitely visit Fortuna Waterfall! Be aware though — you do have to walk down over 500 steps to get to the waterfall… and then go back up them when you’re done. So it is quite the workout!
That said, the waterfall is very pretty and you can swim in the little pools at the bottom of the falls! Which is really refreshing after getting all hot and sweaty when walking down the stairs.
Meandering About La Fortuna Town
When we weren’t on tours or exploring nearby attractions, we meandered about La Fortuna town! Packed with great restaurants, cafes, and local shops, La Fortuna is a bustling little place. We particularly loved:
- Organico Fortuna — delicious cafe with lots of vegan options (great for breakfast or lunch)
- Soda Ara — super cheap and good local food
- El Comalito Tortilleria — affordable and incredible Mexican food (the chalupas are exceptional and can be made vegan by removing the cheese and asking for just beans)
- Restaurante La Catrina — another really great Mexican restaurant (the sopes can be made vegan by removing the cheese and choosing the vegetable option!)
- Kappa Sushi — great sushi and a ton of vegan options!
- Chocolate Fusión — fantastic chocolates made from Costa Rican cacao
- Restaurante Está Tuanis — vibe-y restaurant/bar outside the town owned by a super nice guy (I had vegan nachos and my friend raved about the birria tacos)
Hanging Bridges, Arenal Volcano, and Falls Tour
As you can imagine, one of the best things to do in La Fortuna is to explore the area around the Arenal Volcano. Unfortunately, the stars didn’t align and we didn’t get to do this tour due to the weather but I really wish we could have! It takes you to all the best places around La Fortuna, including the Arenal Volcano, Mistico Hanging Bridges, and nearby hot springs and waterfalls.
With the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rainforest and jungle, see wildlife and cool plants, and experience the incredible natural sites that this country is known for, it’s definitely worth adding to your two-week Costa Rica itinerary.
Check out the tour here (it also includes lunch, a cocktail, and all your entrance fees — super nice!).
Where to Stay in La Fortuna
We stayed at Rio Danta Hostel, located on the outskirts of La Fortuna town. Our private room at the hostel was super big and came with two double beds. It was perfect!
The hostel was also just down the road from La Fortuna Hikes and Trails, which is why chose that place for our tours. (This ended up being the best thing ever because those two tours were absolutely fantastic.)
For additional inspiration on where to stay in La Fortuna, check out these places:
- Budget: Argdivan Hostel OR San Bosco Inn
- Mid-Range: Arenal Monara OR La Fortuna Lodge
- Luxury: Danta Santa Lofts OR Tifakara Boutique Hotel
La Fortuna → Santa Teresa
After a packed 5 days in La Fortuna, our two-week Costa Rica journey took us to the beachside town of Santa Teresa! We booked a shared shuttle through Bookaway, which took about 6 hours.
Santa Teresa (3 nights)
A surfing haven with gorgeous beaches, jaw-dropping sunsets, mouthwatering restaurants, bumping bars, and a laidback atmosphere? That’s Santa Teresa! And it’s well worth a stop if you’re visiting Costa Rica for two weeks.
After a busy few days in La Fortuna, we were thrilled to arrive in Santa Teresa where we could just relax on the beach, soak up the sun, and swim in our hotel pool! It was so hot when we were there — sunny and 94° F (34° C) — so having the ocean and pool to swim in was a blessing.
Though we didn’t do much while we were in Santa Teresa except for eat, sleep, swim, and watch the sunsets, here are some activities and tours I think you may enjoy if you’re visiting and have the right weather for exploring! (It was far too hot for us to do anything other than sit around and relax.)
Things to Do in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
- Tortuga Island + Snorkeling Tour — Tortuga Island, aka Turtle Island, is a very popular place to visit on the Puntarenas peninsula! Plus, with stops at other islands, beaches, and snorkeling spots, this tour sounds like a dream.
- Rent an ATV — We saw countless people zooming around Santa Teresa on ATVs! It looked like so much fun. If you are comfortable driving one, I highly recommend renting an ATV and exploring the nearby beaches and jungle.
- Take Surfing Lessons — Santa Teresa is full of surfers! It’s the perfect place to learn how to ride the waves. Click here to check out the surf lessons at Surf & Yoga Costa Rica.
- Attend a Yoga Class — The area is home to numerous yoga studios and wellness retreats, offering classes and workshops in serene settings.
Great Places to Eat in Santa Teresa
The restaurants are also particularly good around Santa Teresa! When we weren’t relaxing on the beach, watching the surfers and soaking up the sun, we were eating our way around the area. Our favorites places to eat were:
- Muchacha Mexican Food — Seriously incredible Mexican food. The tacos here are incredible and they do great vegan options! Don’t miss out on trying all the different sauces.
- Eat Street — A great food market with lots of different stalls! Ideal if you’re with many people as everyone can get what they want. Top tip: get a Chiliguaro shot at the bar! It’s a savory shot made with local alcohol and a spicy hot sauce, like Tobasco. It’s delicious!
- The Somos Restaurant — A very vibe-y restaurant with awesome breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Their breakfast is especially good, with smoothie bowls, savory toast, and more.
Where to Stay in Santa Teresa
We stayed at Raratonga Hotel & Apartments, a cute little local hotel situated on the north end of Santa Teresa. It was just a short walk to the beach, as well as top restaurants mentioned above.
Some other great places to stay in Santa Teresa are:
- Budget: Casa del Sol OR Cabinas Playa Surf Hostel
- Mid-Range: Altamar OR Casa Marbella
- Luxury: Nala Luxury Living OR LALOON Luxury Suites
Santa Teresa → Coco
Next up on this two-week Costa Rica itinerary is Coco! Located near Liberia and Playa Hermosa on the Gulf of Papagayo, it took about 5 hours to get from Santa Teresa to Coco via shared shuttle. We booked with Interbus via Bookaway but it looks like they may not be operating this route at the moment.
Another option is through Tropic Shuttle Tours, leaving at 6:30 AM and 3 PM. Click here to see shuttle details and make a reservation.
Coco (2 nights)
Our last destination on our two-week Costa Rica trip was Playas del Coco! This place is quite popular due to its proximity to Liberia Airport — which is why we were in the area, as we were flying out of this airport — so we found that it had way more American tourists than any other Costa Rica destination we visited.
To be honest, with the vast amount of golf carts and retirees, it kind of felt like we were at a retirement complex in Florida. (Not necessarily a bad thing… just not what we were going for when visiting Costa Rica. Lol.)
Also, compared to the restaurants we ate at in La Fortuna and Santa Teresa, those in Coco were sadly disappointing. Especially the Mexican restaurant on the corner, El Capricho. The veggie fajitas were just plain boring and lacking in flavor (sorry, El Capricho).
On the flip side, the one great restaurant we ate at was Tandoor Indian Restaurant. The samosas were some of the best I’ve ever had! Highly recommend.
But anyways, I digress. Though Coco was not wildly impressive, I will say that the sailing tour we went on blew me away!
Kuna Vela Sailing + Snorkeling Tour
A relaxing day out on the ocean was just what we needed on our last day of our two-week Costa Rica trip! Our sailing tour with Kuna Vela started with an 8:30 AM pick up on the beach, where we took a dingy out from Coco Bay to their gorgeous sailing boat.
It was just the two of us and another family — in total, there were around 10 of us on the boat, which was perfect. Once we were all settled on the boat, we began sailing around the Pelonas Islands and were served a delightful platter of fresh fruit for breakfast.
As we perused the Gulf of Papagayo, we soaked up the sun, sipped on refreshing Costa Rica soda, and admired the gorgeous coast from the water. After about an hour of sailing, we found a spot to drop the anchor, strap on our snorkeling goggles and flippers, and explore life below the surface!
Though the sea life wasn’t wildly impressive, especially compared to what I saw when sailing around Puerto Vallarta, it was still pretty cool! We managed to see tons of needlefish, a pufferfish, a balloonfish, and several other types of tropical fish that I couldn’t identify.
And while that was cool… the best part was yet to come!
While we were sailing back to Playas del Coco, our captain spotted something off in the distance — something small repeatedly jumping out of the water.
As we got closer, we got our first peek at what it was… flying Mobula rays! Also known as flying rays or devil rays, these are a species of ray that are known for their acrobatic leaps out of the water. It was SO cool to see!
Seeing the flying rays soaring from the water, flapping their pectoral fins, and essentially belly-flopping on the waves wasn’t on my bucket list but was so incredibly awesome to experience!
Where to Stay in Coco
We stayed at Laura’s House B&B, which was conveniently located just a short walk from the main road in Coco. It was really comfortable with a refreshing pool, air conditioning, two large double beds, and a clean bathroom. It was also one of the most affordable places in Coco!
Other great places to stay in Playas del Coco include:
- Budget: Hotel M&M Beach House OR Villa Vilar
- Mid-Range: Hotel Villa Del Sol OR Toro Blanco
- Luxury: Villa Vista Bahia OR Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica
Liberia, Costa Rica → Minnesota
After spending two weeks in Costa Rica, it was time for us to head back home! We both flew out of Liberia Airport to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Checking in, going through security, and the overall journey from Liberia Airport to MSP was smooth but I definitely recommend arriving to the airport at least two hours before your departure, as we had to wait in the check-in and security line for a while!
All in all, our two-week Costa Rica trip was one of incredible highs, like the insanely cool wildlife and beautiful scenery, as well as unforgettable lows, such as our debilitating gastrointestinal issues and transportation hassles.
I will forever describe this adventure as one of polarity — but I wouldn’t have it any other way! It was definitely a trip to remember.
Are you heading to Costa Rica soon and looking for a two-week itinerary? Have questions about what the country is like, such as transportation, tours, and more? Put ’em in the comments and I’ll answer as soon as possible!
Sophie xx
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