Costa Rica in 8 Days
- Lauren Schilli
- Jul 3
- 15 min read
If you’re new to my blog, I like to jump right in—so let’s get started! In my blogs, I separate everything into Pre-Departure, Trip, and Budget Breakdown +Afterthoughts.
Pre-Departure
Flights
We flew United down and American/Alaska round trip for $367 per ticket. This gave us a the main cabin fare, so we could bring on carry-ons onto United, and allowed us to pick our seats as we had red eye flights going and coming back.
We found these flights using Going, a service that sends you flight deals when prices drop. It costs $150 a year, but we’ve easily made that money back multiple times over just from purchasing one of their deals.
Items You Might Not Think About Packing—But Should!
These were totally worth packing, and I highly recommend bringing them:
eSim- This is so important especially if you plan on driving! This will allow you to have data in the country and use the Waze when driving and WhatsApp.
Sun Hat – The sun is hot and often times we all forget about our scalps! Having a good sun hat to protect your head from the sun is so important!
Packable Daypack – A daypack is so necessary for so many activities in Costa Rica! I tried out the Beis Packable crossbody bag but my favorite one has an insulated pocket for food, drinks, or even wet clothes and is much more affordable.
Bug Spray– Make sure you bring bug spray even if you are going to live at the beach. Don't be caught.
Turkish Towel – A Turkish towel is always handy! We used ours for hiking to the La Fortuna Waterfall, when we went canyoning and every day at the beach in the national park. Plus it second as a blanket on the plane! This one is my favorite and super affordable.
Here’s a checklist of everything else I packed (feel free to save and print for your own use):
What Luggage We Used
Both my husband and I packed in our Samsonite Mother Lode Travel Backpacks. We’ve had these for five years and absolutely love them! We use them a ton, and they were perfect for this trip.
The Trip
Places We Stayed
We loved loved loved staying here. The grounds were amazing and the room was perfect. We loved being located right outside of La Fortuna. The breakfast was by far the best hotel breakfast I have ever had. Parking can be a bit tight but otherwise it was great.
To be honest, this wasn't the stay we thought it would be. They were doing construction during our time and we actually paid more to be moved to a room away from the noise and construction. While our new room was lovely and had no issues it was a rough way to start the stay.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
We landed in San José at 7:30 AM and absolutely breezed through customs and immigration. After grabbing our bags, we headed to pick up our rental car from Adobe Rent a Car. Adobe was an amazing company to use and we paid $304 for a Kia Picante for 8 days. They meet you right outside the terminal. Be aware that the van is small so if you are with a big group you might have to take several trips. We used the insurance coverage through our credit card, which saved us a ton compared to purchasing extra coverage at the counter. The pickup process was smooth, and before we knew it, we were officially starting our Costa Rica adventure!
🚗 Tip: The drive from San José to La Fortuna takes around 3–4 hours depending on traffic and weather. The roads can get windy in some areas, so if you deal with motion sickness, definitely prepare ahead of time!
The drive itself was beautiful, but a lot. My husband had luckly driving in Costa Rica so he was able to get us to La Fortuna with just a few swear words.
Once we arrived in La Fortuna, we stopped for lunch at Soda La Fortuna, which was conveniently close to our hotel. If you want an authentic Costa Rican meal at a great price, this is the kind of place you need to visit. The portions were huge, the food was fresh, and after a long travel morning, it hit the spot perfectly.
After lunch, we checked into Hotel Casa Luna, and honestly, it was the perfect place to start the trip. The property felt tucked away in the jungle with beautiful tropical plants everywhere, and the views of the surrounding mountains immediately made us feel relaxed.
By this point, the red-eye flight and long drive had officially caught up to us. We unpacked, took showers, and decided to call it an early night so we could fully enjoy the next few days in La Fortuna. Sometimes the best thing you can do on travel days is slow down, recharge, and save your energy for the adventures ahead.
Day 2: La Fortuna
After a full first day of travel, we were up early and started the morning with breakfast at Hotel Casa Luna before heading out for our first big adventure day in La Fortuna.
Our first stop was La Fortuna Waterfall, and if there’s one piece of advice I’d give, it’s GET THERE RIGHT WHEN THEY OPEN. By the time we were leaving, tour groups were pouring in, and the trail was getting packed. Going early gave us cooler weather, fewer people, and way better photo opportunities.
💦 Tip: The stairs down are no joke. You’ll definitely feel the climb back up, especially in the humidity, so bring water and wear good shoes.
The waterfall itself completely lived up to the hype though. The bright blue water surrounded by jungle honestly looked fake in person. We spent a while taking photos, walking around the rocks, and just enjoying the scenery before heading to our next stop.
Afterward, we drove over to Arenal Volcano National Park for a few hours of hiking. This ended up being one of our favorite parts of the day because the trails felt much more natural and less touristy. The volcano views were incredible, and the mix of lava fields, rainforest, and wildlife made it feel like classic Costa Rica.
🌋 Tip: Start hikes earlier in the day if possible. By late morning the heat and humidity become intense.
Next, we headed to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, which was probably the biggest mixed review of the trip for us. The hanging bridges themselves were beautiful, and walking above the rainforest canopy was definitely cool, but for the price, we honestly expected a little more. It felt very commercialized compared to some of the other experiences in La Fortuna, and because the trails are basically one-way, you’re often stuck moving at the pace of the crowds around you.
🌿 Tip: If you decide to go, book one of the earliest time slots possible. Once larger groups arrive, the bridges get crowded fast, and it loses a lot of the peaceful rainforest feel.
That said, the views were still gorgeous, and we did spot some wildlife along the trails, so we’re still glad we experienced it—just maybe not something we’d rush back to do again.
After a packed morning, we headed into town for lunch at Monteverde Brewing Company, which ended up being the perfect casual lunch stop. Good food, cold beer, and exactly what we needed after hiking all morning in the heat.
The rest of the afternoon was intentionally slow. We went back to Hotel Casa Luna and spent a few hours relaxing by the pool, which honestly felt amazing after being on our feet all day.
For dinner, we walked over to Ginger Sushi, and this was one of our favorite dinners of the entire trip. The atmosphere was super cozy, the food was incredible, and after such an active day, it was the perfect way to end the night.
Day 3: Canyoning
We started the morning with another early breakfast at Hotel Casa Luna before getting picked up for one of the activities we were most excited for: canyoning in the Costa Rican rainforest.
This ended up being one of the most adrenaline-filled days of the trip. The tour included rappelling down waterfalls, climbing over rocks, hiking through the jungle, and navigating slippery terrain deep in the canyon. It was equal parts exciting and exhausting—in the best way possible.
🌿 Tip: You definitely need a decent level of physical fitness for this activity. The guides were amazing and made us feel safe the entire time, but this is not a “casual” excursion. Expect a lot of climbing, hiking, and getting completely soaked.
The scenery throughout the canyon was unreal. Huge waterfalls, dense jungle, and nonstop adventure made this feel like one of the most unique experiences we did in La Fortuna. By the end, we were completely exhausted but already talking about how glad we were that we booked it.
One thing we loved was that the tour included a traditional Costa Rican lunch afterward, which honestly tasted even better after several hours of canyoning. Sitting down for a warm local meal after being active all morning was the perfect ending to the excursion.
After heading back to the hotel and cleaning up a bit, we took it easy for the afternoon before heading out later that night with some of the people we met on the tour. One of our favorite parts of traveling is meeting other travelers along the way, and this ended up turning into such a fun night.
We went to Beerland for drinks, hung out for hours swapping travel stories, and honestly just had one of those unexpectedly fun nights that ends up becoming a core memory from the trip. Sometimes those unplanned evenings end up being just as memorable as the excursions themselves.
Day 4: Travel Day
The next morning, we said goodbye to La Fortuna and started the drive toward Manuel Antonio, which would be our home for the next few days.
The drive was definitely longer than the one from San José to La Fortuna, but honestly, it never felt boring. Costa Rica road trips are part of the experience. One minute you’re driving through lush mountains and jungle, and the next you’re passing tiny beach towns, palm trees, and ocean views. We also quickly learned that drive times in Costa Rica can be deceiving. A “short” distance can easily take much longer because of winding roads, traffic, or random slowdowns.
🚗 Tip: Leave extra time for drives in Costa Rica and don’t overpack your itinerary for travel days. You’ll probably want to stop for photos, coffee, or food along the way anyway.
About halfway through the drive, we stopped at PuddleFish Brewery for a light lunch and a beer break. This ended up being the perfect stop to break up the drive. The atmosphere was super relaxed, the beer was great, and after spending several days in the rainforest, it finally started feeling like we were heading toward the beach portion of the trip.
Once we arrived in Manuel Antonio, we checked into Hotel Karahe. What we immediately loved about this hotel was the location. Being able to walk right across to the beach felt completely different from the jungle experience we had in La Fortuna, and it instantly shifted the vibe of the trip into full beach mode.
After getting settled, we spent the rest of the afternoon doing happy hour on the beach, which honestly might be one of my favorite memories from the trip. There’s just something about sitting in the sand with a drink in hand, watching the waves crash while the sun starts to go down, that makes you fully realize you’re on vacation.
🌅 Tip: Manuel Antonio sunsets are absolutely worth slowing down for. Plan at least one evening where you do nothing except enjoy the beach and sunset.
For dinner, we headed to Restaurante Marlin, which was a great first dinner in town. Fresh seafood, ocean views, and a laid-back atmosphere made it the perfect way to end a long travel day. After several active adventure days in La Fortuna, this was exactly the slower pace we were ready for.
Day 5: Monkeys and Beaches
We started the morning with another great breakfast at Hotel Karahe before heading over to Manuel Antonio National Park for our timed entry.
🌿 Tip: Try to book one of the earliest entry times possible. It gets HOT and humid very quickly, and the trails become much more crowded later in the morning. Starting early made the hike way more enjoyable and gave us better chances to spot wildlife before the park got busy.
BE AWARE IF YOU ARE DRIVING: Folks will try and scam you with parking. We walked and avoided it.
As soon as we entered the park, we understood why everyone talks about it. The trails wind through dense jungle filled with monkeys, sloths, lizards, and tropical birds. At one point, we looked up and saw monkeys swinging directly above us, which honestly felt surreal.
🐒 Tip: Don’t rush through the trails. A lot of the wildlife is easy to miss if you’re walking too fast. We found that stopping often and looking up into the trees made a huge difference. We also did not hire a guide.
The hike itself was fairly easy, but the heat definitely adds another layer to it. One thing I’m SO glad we did was wear our swimsuits underneath our clothes because at the end of the trails are two absolutely beautiful beaches that look straight out of a postcard.
🏝️ Tip: Bring swimsuits, towels, and water shoes if you have them. After hiking in the humidity, jumping into the ocean felt amazing.
After spending the morning exploring Manuel Antonio National Park and relaxing at the beaches inside the park, we were definitely ready to cool down and grab some food.
We stopped for a light lunch at Restaurante Buru Seaside, which ended up being the perfect post-hike spot. The atmosphere was super relaxed, the ocean views were beautiful, and it was exactly the kind of place where you want to sit for a while after being out in the heat all morning.
After lunch, we headed back to Hotel Karahe and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the ocean. Honestly, after several adventure-packed days earlier in the trip, having time to slow down and enjoy the beach felt just as rewarding.
For dinner that night, we ended up at La Terraza Café Bar Restaurante, which quickly became our favorite restaurant of the entire trip.
Everything about this place was incredible—the atmosphere, the service, the drinks, and especially the food. After several days of traveling around Costa Rica, this was the meal where we both looked at each other halfway through dinner and knew it was the best meal we’d had the entire trip.
One thing we loved was that it was technically walking distance from Hotel Karahe, which made it super convenient. However, the road can be pretty narrow and busy at night, with limited sidewalks in some areas, so definitely be careful if you decide to walk there after dark.
🚶 Tip: Bring your phone flashlight or use a flashlight app if you walk at night. Cars come through quickly, and visibility along the road isn’t always great.
The restaurant itself had such a relaxed coastal atmosphere, and after spending the afternoon by the ocean, it was the perfect place to end the day. We took our time over dinner, enjoyed a few drinks, and honestly didn’t want the evening to end.
Looking back, this dinner ended up being one of the standout memories from our entire Costa Rica trip—not just because the food was amazing, but because it perfectly captured the laid-back beach-town vibe we loved so much about Manuel Antonio.
Day 6: A true beach day
After several days packed with hiking, waterfalls, wildlife, and nonstop adventure, we finally gave ourselves a true beach day in Manuel Antonio—and honestly, it was exactly what we needed.
We spent the morning relaxing on the beach before renting boogie boards from one of the little rental shacks nearby and heading straight into the ocean. Neither of us are professional surfers by any means, but this ended up being one of the most fun and carefree days of the trip.
🌊 Tip: The waves in Manuel Antonio can be surprisingly strong, especially later in the afternoon, so pay attention to the flags and current conditions before going too far out.
Most of the day was spent rotating between the ocean, laying in the sand, grabbing drinks, and just slowing down for once. After moving around so much throughout the trip, it felt amazing to have a day with absolutely no schedule.
One of my favorite things about Manuel Antonio was how easy it was to settle into beach mode. The entire area has this relaxed energy where nobody seems rushed, and after a few days there, we completely understood why people end up staying longer than planned.
As the sun started going down, we cleaned up and headed to El Avión—better known as “The Magic Bus” because of the massive airplane turned restaurant overlooking the ocean.
This ended up being one of the coolest dinner spots we visited during the trip. The views at sunset were incredible, the atmosphere was lively, and it’s one of those places that just feels uniquely Costa Rican and touristy in the best way possible.
✈️ Tip: Try to get there before sunset if you can. The ocean views from the restaurant are absolutely worth it.
By the end of the night, we were sunburned, exhausted, and completely happy—basically the definition of a perfect beach vacation day.
Day 7: Final Day
After a few days of nonstop moving, we woke up ready for a perfect mix of classic ocean adventure and a little bit of local exploration.
We started the morning out on the water for a snorkeling trip around the volcanic rock coves just off the coast of Manuel Antonio. The Pacific was incredibly warm, and getting to swim around with schools of bright parrotfish and king angelfish while looking back at the massive, dense green jungle meeting the shoreline was unreal.
🤿 Tip: Go for an early morning boat tour if you can. The water is usually at its calmest and clearest before the afternoon winds pick up.
Instead of dealing with the hassle of moving our car and finding parking in town, we decided to do what the locals do and took the public bus into Quepos. For less than a dollar, you just hop onto one of the big green buses running along the main road. It’s a super quick, 15-minute ride up and over the ridge, and it drops you right in the center of town. Honestly, navigating the local transit felt like its own little fun adventure.
While Manuel Antonio is gorgeous and built for travelers, Quepos is where you get a genuine taste of daily Costa Rican life. The town is super lively, colorful, and easy to walk around.
We spent the afternoon checking out the local market, which was pretty small and local—exactly what we were hoping for. There were no massive crowds or overwhelming tourist traps, just a few rows of stalls piled with fresh papayas, bananas, and a bunch of exotic fruits we didn't even recognize. The local vendors were incredibly welcoming, and it felt so grounded to just wander through and see where the locals actually do their shopping.
☕ Tip: You absolutely cannot leave the market without hitting a local café for some Costa Rican coffee. Whether you get a traditional hot pour-over or a cold iced brew to beat the heat, it is incredibly rich, smooth, and the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up.
We wrapped up the day slowing down, sipping our coffee, and just watching the town move past before catching the bus back.
Day 8: Heading Home
The last day of a trip is always a little bittersweet, but instead of just watching the clock tick down to our flight, we managed to pack in one final adventure before heading back to reality.
We checked out of the Hotel Karahe in the morning, but we weren't quite done with the coast just yet. We headed down to the beach to squeeze in one last epic activity out on the water: parasailing. Taking off right from the back of the boat and floating high above the coastline gave us this quiet, surreal bird's-eye view of the Pacific and the dense jungle canopy stretching out for miles. It was the most peaceful, exhilarating way to say goodbye to Manuel Antonio.
🪂 Tip: If you’re trying to squeeze in a water activity on your flight day, booking an early morning slot is perfect. The ocean is usually calmer, and it gives you plenty of buffer time for the drive back!
Once our feet were back on solid ground, we officially started the drive north. About an hour into the trip, we pulled off in Esterillos Centro for a slow, easy lunch. It’s a super quiet, laid-back little beach community, and finding a tiny local spot right near the sand was exactly what we needed to decompress after the morning.
Further up the highway, we decided to make a quick pit stop in Jacó just to check it out. Honestly? It was not our vibe at all, and I definitely wouldn't go back. It felt way too built-up, commercialized, and stripped of that authentic Costa Rican charm we fell in love with everywhere else. We didn't stay long—just long enough to stretch our legs before getting right back on the road.
Because we left ourselves plenty of time, we managed to beat the notorious San José traffic and got to the airport early. We dropped off our rental car at Adobe, which was completely seamless—no surprise hidden fees, no unnecessary drama, and they checked us through with absolutely zero issues. There is nothing worse than sprinting through security or arguing over a rental car scratch with travel stress, so being able to casually hand over the keys, hop on the shuttle, and sit by the gate with time to spare was the perfect, low-stress end to the trip.
Budget Breakdown and Final thoughts
Here is what we spent for 8 days in Costa Rica
When it came to the numbers, we managed to pull off the ultimate travel win: coming in totally under budget. In total, we spent $3,712 for both of us for the entire trip, which feels incredible given how much we managed to pack in. As mid-range travelers, our strategy is always about maximizing value—finding those perfect sweet spots where we can mix thoughtful pivots with intentional splurges. Keeping track of our expenses using our custom budgeting tools really paid off, proving that you can experience the absolute best of Costa Rica’s adventures, local food, and stays without having to overspend.
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