Planning a trip to Costa Rica can be a bit overwhelming. There is so much to see and do that it is hard to narrow it down. However, this 5 day Costa Rica itinerary will help you make the most of your trip. It includes stops in San Jose, Poas, La Fortuna, Arenal, and more!
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The Best Things to do in Costa Rica if You Only Have 5 Days
Table of Contents
- Day 1: San José
- Day 2: Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens
- Day 3: Catarata del Toro, Blue Falls of Costa Rica, and The Springs Resort
- Day 4: Mistico Hanging Bridges Park, Rio Celeste, and The Springs Resort
- Day 5: Arenal, zipline tour, La Fortuna, and San Jose
Day 1: San José
This day will be flexible, depending on what time you fly into the Juan Santamaria Aiport in San José. You’ll also need to rent a car at the airport for this Costa Rica itinerary.
If you arrive early enough, consider booking a walking tour of San José’s city center. The tours are led by locals and it is the best way to get a taste of the history and culture of Costa Rica’s capital city.
If you would like to explore more of the city, you can also take a bus tour that will allow you to see more sites in a shorter amount of time.
If you arrive later in the afternoon, grab a quick bite to eat before heading out of the city.
A few restaurant recommendations include Café de los Deseos, a casual eatery with a fun ambiance and delicious tacos!
For traditional and budget-friendly Costa Rican dishes, try Soda Yogui’s.
If you’re looking for a fine-dining experience to relax and unwind after a day of travel, make reservations at Grano de Oro. This restaurant is located in the upscale Grano de Oro boutique hotel.
After getting a taste of San José, literally, head out of the city to explore more of the countryside.
Drive about an hour north to Poasito, a small mountain town in the Alajuela region where you will spend the night at the Altura Hotel.
This eclectic boutique hotel is tucked into the mountains and surrounded by beautiful secluded gardens.
The property is unique and the rooms are basic, but they are clean, comfortable, and affordable.
The hotel is also conveniently located just outside Poás Volcano National Park.
If your flight gets in later in the evening, I would avoid driving at night and just book a hotel near the airport. This Marriott is only about 10 minutes from SJO International Airport.
Day 2: Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens
A delicious homecooked breakfast is included when staying at Altura Hotel.
Wake up early to enjoy this traditional Costa Rican breakfast, then head off to explore Poás Volcano National Park about 10 minutes away.
Volcán Poás National Park
Volcán Poás is the largest active crater in the world. It stretches almost a mile in diameter and is about 1,000 feet deep with a bright blue pool in the center.
In 2017 it erupted gas, ash, and rocks. The park was closed for more than a year while they fixed the damage and determined if there was still the threat of another eruption.
You can even see holes still marked in the pavement from the spewing debris.
The park has now reopened, but all of the hiking trails are closed for safety reasons, except the 10-minute walk to the overlook.
Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. The tours run every 20 minutes and everyone is required to wear a hard hat.
The tour begins with an informational film before taking the short walk along a paved path to the overlook.
Just keep in mind that the overlook is often covered in clouds with zero visibility, so it is not a guarantee that you will actually see the crater.
It is also almost always cold and windy at the rim, so I would recommend bringing a jacket.
We were told that it is better to go early in the morning as the clouds tend to roll in during the afternoon. However, we booked the 8 am tour and the clouds were too thick to see anything.
The guides said that it was absolutely beautiful and clear the day before, so it really is hit and miss.
Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather conditions, but it’s still worth making reservations and hopefully, you’ll luck out and get a better view than we did!
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
The 70-acre La Paz Waterfall Gardens is one of the best places to see waterfalls in Costa Rica. The two-mile trail leads through the cloud rainforest to five different waterfalls!
Each one is so unique and stunning, my personal favorite is the Templo Waterfall. Make your way down to the river level and you’ll find a beautiful secluded little sandy beach.
The La Paz Waterfall Gardens is also home to the largest butterfly observatory in the world and the largest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica.
The animals in the sanctuary have all been rescued and given a second chance at life here at the sanctuary.
You’ll also want to grab lunch while you are here.
There are 6 different dining options on the property. We ate at the La Terraza, the food was delicious and the view was incredible!
For more information, see our guide to visiting the La Paz Waterfall Gardens!
Stay: Peace Lodge or Poas Volcano Lodge
The award-winning Peace Lodge is located at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
This luxury 5-star boutique mountain lodge is rated the #1 hotel in the region by Tripadvisor.
It has also been featured on the Travel Channel’s Trista and Ryan’s Honeymoon Hotspots International.
Condé Nast Traveler even voted The Peace Lodge as the 4th Best Resort in all of Central and South America.
If it is within your budget, it is worth splurging on a room for the night. Guests also receive access to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens free of charge and can even explore the gardens after hours.
If you are looking for a similar mountain lodge that is more budget-friendly, the nearby Poas Volcano Lodge is also a great option.
Both hotels offer on-site restaurants where you can grab dinner and spend the evening relaxing in your rainforest retreat.
Day 3: Catarata del Toro, Blue Falls of Costa Rica, and The Springs Resort
The next morning, grab a quick breakfast at the hotel then head out to chase more waterfalls!
Catarata del Toro and Blue Falls of Costa Rica
Catarata del Toro and the Blue Falls of Costa Rica are located within a private rainforest preserve about an hour from the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.
These waterfalls are unique in their own way and can both be accessed from the same parking lot.
Catarata del Toro is the tallest waterfall in Costa Rica.
The nearly 300-foot waterfall is located inside an ancient volcanic crater in the middle of the rainforest.
You’ll need to hike down over 350 stairs to reach it, but while standing at the bottom of the crater you’ll feel like you’re in Jurassic Park!
The Blue Falls of Costa Rica are a series of 5 blue waterfalls that can be found along an equally blue river.
There are also pools of blue water to swim in as well.
Just note that the water becomes muddy if it has been raining. That was the case when we visited so it wasn’t nearly as blue as it usually is.
After the hikes, there is a restaurant located at the visitor center where you can grab some lunch.
For more information about the trails, see our guide to Catarata del Toro and Blue Falls of Costa Rica.
The Springs Resort & Spa
From there, make the almost 2-hour drive to La Fortuna where you can relax and unwind in the hot springs at The Springs Resort and Spa.
The resort offers two-day guest passes where you can enjoy the unparalleled views of Arenal Volcano while relaxing in the secluded hot springs.
This dreamy resort was even featured in two different seasons of The Bachelor!
You’ll find a heated pool with a swim-up bar and several terraced pools scattered throughout the rainforest.
You can even take a shuttle bus down to the river where you’ll discover even more remote hot springs.
There are a few different dining options at the resort.
Grab some dinner then drive to Sangregado Lodge where you’ll stay for the next few days.
Stay: Sangregado Lodge
Make the 20-minute drive to Arenal where you’ll check into the Sangregado Lodge.
This small family-owned boutique hotel offers a collection of treehouses perched over the rainforest.
Each of the modern rooms boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with sliding glass doors that open up to a spacious deck.
The bathrooms also have soaker tubs or showers surrounded by glass where you can shower in the trees while listening to the sounds of the rainforest.
Settle into the comfy beds and get a good night’s sleep so you’ll be well-rested for the next day’s adventures!
Day 4: Mistico Hanging Bridges Park, Rio Celeste, and The Springs Resort
Breakfast is included with your stay at Sangregado Lodge. It is served at the Blue Hibiscus Restaurant just down the road.
This open-air restaurant offers a delicious continental breakfast with local dishes and fresh fruit.
After breakfast, head to the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park. This park is located right across from the Sangregado Lodge.
Mistico Hanging Bridges Park
I would recommend starting your day early and making 8 am reservations for the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park.
This private rainforest preserve consists of a 2-mile trail with 6 suspension bridges leading through the forest.
The suspension bridges offer a unique view over the jungle canopy and across to Arenal Volcano.
This is also one of the best places to spot wildlife such as sloths, anteaters, coatis, monkeys, snakes, ocelots, peccaries, lizards, frogs, snakes, tropical birds, and more.
However, it is often difficult to see the animals as they are expertly camouflaged in the jungle.
I would recommend taking a guided tour with a certified naturalist to ensure that you will be able to see some of the native wildlife.
Here is another option for a guided tour if you would like to compare.
Rio Celeste Waterfall
After spending the morning at Mistico park, drive about 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Rio Celeste Waterfall located within Tenorio Volcano National Park.
The park closes at 4 pm and the last entrance is at 2 pm, so just be sure to plan accordingly.
If you want to grab lunch before the hike, the Los Pilones restaurant is located near the trailhead as well as a handful of food vendors and fruit stands.
The 3.5-mile roundtrip trail leads to the brilliant blue Rio Celeste Waterfall. It is perhaps the most beautiful waterfall in the country and should definitely be added to your Costa Rica itinerary.
The Rio Celeste Waterfall is located a little before the one-mile mark and you’ll find a series of stairs leading down to the base of the falls.
After visiting the waterfall, you can choose to continue on the trail along the river to see a few more sites, or just turn around and go back.
For more information and details, see our guide to visiting the Rio Celeste Waterfall.
The Springs Resort and Spa
The day passes at The Springs Resort and Spa are valid for two days so you can spend another evening unwinding in the hot springs after a day of hiking.
The hot springs are open until 10 pm so you can enjoy dinner here as well before returning back to your room at Sangregado Lodge.
Day 5: Arenal, zipline tour, La Fortuna, and San Jose
Wake up early, enjoy the complimentary breakfast at the Blue Hibiscus Restaurant, then pack up and head out.
Arenal Volcano
Spend a few hours in the morning exploring the hiking trails around Arenal Volcano.
If you have time, you may want to consider booking a guided hike where your local guide will help you discover different animals such as armadillos, monkeys, sloths, and tree frogs.
You could also take a morning paddleboarding tour at Lake Arenal or an ATV tour.
Zipline Tour
Costa Rica is known for having some of the best ziplining in the world and it definitely earns a spot on your Costa Rica itinerary!
I would highly recommend booking an afternoon Adrenaline Combo tour with Arenal Mundo Aventura.
This tour will take you on seven different zip lines, one of which soars over the majestic 230-foot La Fortuna Waterfall.
Another highlight of the tour includes a 260-foot rappel down the side of a waterfall.
You’ll then climb back up the waterfall along a narrow ladder. The whole experience is unreal!
After completing the zipline course, you’ll then take a horseback ride through the jungle back to the beginning.
The whole tour took us about 2 hours, but it could take longer if you have a larger group.
There is a restaurant located at the entrance where you can grab some lunch before you take the tour.
If you have time, you can even hike down and swim in the La Fortuna Waterfall.
For more details on this particular zipline tour, see our guide for the Best Things to do in La Fortuna.
La Fortuna
The last stop on your Costa Rica itinerary is the small town of La Fortuna where you’ll grab dinner before making the long drive back to San Jose.
We ate at Pollo Fortuneno, a budget-friendly restaurant specializing in grilled chicken and barbecue ribs. The food was delicious, it had a great ambiance, and the service was friendly.
A few other options include the Lava Lounge Bar & Grill, Yellow Bark, or Restaurante Travesia.
San Jose
After dinner, make the three-hour drive back to San Jose.
Or, if you prefer not to drive at night along the narrow mountain roads, I would recommend doing a morning zipline tour and then grabbing lunch at La Fortuna before driving to San Jose in the afternoon.
Either way, plan to spend the night in San Jose near the airport so that you will be ready to catch your flight in the morning.
As mentioned before, we would recommend this Marriott about 10 minutes from the airport.
While you could easily spend a month in Costa Rica and still not see it all, I hope that this 5 day Costa Rica itinerary will help you make the most of your time there!
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