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How to Spend 2 Weeks in Costa Rica

Two weeks lets you see two very different sides of Costa Rica. The first week is inland, with hot springs, hanging bridges and misty cloud forest. The second is all beaches, surf and wildlife.

Here’s how the 14 days fit together:

Days	Where	Highlights	Getting There
Day 1	San José	Mercado Central, museums, Barrio Escalante	25 to 40 minutes from the airport
Days 2 to 4	La Fortuna	Waterfall, hot springs, Arenal, rafting or Rio Celeste	About 3 hours by car, 3.5 to 4 by shuttle
Days 5 to 6	Monteverde	Cloud forest reserve, ziplining, coffee farms	Jeep-boat-jeep, 3 to 3.5 hours
Days 7 to 9	Santa Teresa	Surf, yoga, Montezuma Falls, Cabo Blanco	About 5.5 hours by shuttle and ferry
Days 10 to 11	Manuel Antonio	The national park, El Avión, a catamaran	A full travel day by ferry, or a boat transfer
Days 12 to 13	Uvita	The whale tail, whale watching, Nauyaca	About 1 hour south
Day 14	San José	Fly home	About 4 hours to the airport

Shorter trip? Our 1-week and 10-day Costa Rica itineraries cover the first half of this route.

Getting Around Costa Rica in 2 Weeks

Over two weeks, the transfers add up, so it’s worth planning them before anything else. Shared shuttles cover every leg with hotel pickup, and together they cost roughly $320 to $350 per person:

Leg	Shared Shuttle	Time
San José to La Fortuna	$50 to $65	3.5 to 4 hours
La Fortuna to Monteverde	$35 to $45 by jeep-boat-jeep	3 to 3.5 hours
Monteverde to Santa Teresa	About $65	About 5.5 hours
Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio	Boat transfer from about $55	Most of a day by road and ferry
Manuel Antonio to Uvita	About $45	About 1 hour
Uvita to San José airport	About $69	About 4 hours

A rental car makes sense for two or more people, especially on the Nicoya Peninsula. The roads around Santa Teresa are dusty and rough.

Get an SUV with clearance or a 4×4. It costs about $650 to $1,200 a week in high season and $300 to $750 in low season, with mandatory insurance.

Driving also means two car ferries across the Gulf of Nicoya. For a car and its driver, the fare is about ₡13,700, roughly $30, each way. Our guide to renting a car in Costa Rica covers the rest.

Day 1: Arrive in San José

Your first day is about landing, a good meal and an early night. San José is the warm-up, not the main event, so don’t overplan it.

Getting From the Airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is in Alajuela, about 20 km from downtown San José. Orange airport taxis use the meter, and the ride downtown costs about $25 to $40. Uber or DiDi costs about $15 to $25.

The ride takes 25 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Wave off anyone offering rides inside the terminal and head straight for the official booth or the app pickup zone.

Lunch: Mercado Central

For a first taste of Costa Rican food, Mercado Central is hard to beat. The covered market has been running since 1880. It’s open Monday to Saturday, 6 AM to 5 PM, and closed on Sundays.

Pick a soda, a small family-run counter, and order a casado: rice, beans, plantain, salad and meat or fish. Ceviche and arroz con mariscos are good too. Save room for La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora, which has served its cinnamon ice cream here for over a century.

Afternoon: The National Theater or the Gold Museum

Plaza de la Cultura has San José’s two best stops, so pick whichever sounds better. The National Theater opened in 1897, and guided tours run every hour, 9 AM to 4 PM, for about ₡3,500, roughly $8.

The Gold Museum is right under the plaza, with about 1,500 pre-Columbian gold pieces. Entry costs ₡8,800, about $19, and it’s open daily, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Kids under 12 get into both for free.

The theater also has a café inside, which is a lovely spot for a coffee even without the tour.

Evening: Dinner in Barrio Escalante

For dinner, take a taxi to Barrio Escalante, the neighborhood locals point to when you ask where to eat. Most of the restaurants are packed into the streets around Calle 33.

Apotecario is known for botanical cocktails and fermented drinks, and Isolina for relaxed family-style plates. Agüizotes Gastro Pub does a modern take on Costa Rican food. Keep it an early night, though. Day two starts with a 3-hour drive.

Day 2: San José to La Fortuna

Day two takes you over the mountains to La Fortuna, the small town below Arenal Volcano. You’ll arrive around lunch, swim under a waterfall and end the day in a hot spring.

Morning: The Drive to La Fortuna

La Fortuna is about 130 km from San José, and it takes about 3 hours by car. The route runs through San Ramón on paved roads. A sedan handles this leg fine.

Shared shuttles cost $50 to $65 with hotel pickup and take 3.5 to 4 hours. The direct bus costs about ₡4,500, roughly $10. It leaves Terminal Atlántico Norte in the morning, with 8:40 AM the most popular time. Older guides send you to Terminal 7-10, but that terminal has closed.

Driving yourself? The Route 141 option through Zarcero passes a church garden full of hedges trimmed into arches and animals. It’s a 10-minute stop, and worth it.

FULL GUIDE: Here’s how to get from San Jose to La Fortuna in Costa Rica.

Afternoon: La Fortuna Waterfall

Drop your bags and head 10 to 15 minutes out of town to La Fortuna Waterfall. Entry costs $20, and kids under 8 go free. The last entry is at 4 PM, so aim to get there by 2.

About 530 steps lead down to the 70-meter falls. Swim in the marked areas, where lifeguards keep watch, and stay away from the base, since the current there is strong.

The climb back up is the hard part, so pace yourself. There’s no bus out there, and a taxi costs about $10 to $15 each way.

Evening: Hot Springs

Now for the best part of the day. La Fortuna’s hot springs are heated deep under Arenal, and there’s one for nearly every budget.

Tabacón is the splurge at $115, with a natural hot river running through landscaped gardens. Book ahead, since your card is charged 15 days before your visit. Baldi costs $51 with 25 pools and waterslides, and EcoTermales costs about $49 with tax for a quiet soak.

El Choyín, the warm river by the Route 142 bridge near Tabacón, is free. Theft is common there, so leave valuables at the hotel. Our guide to the best hot springs in La Fortuna compares them all.

Day 3: Arenal Volcano and the Hanging Bridges

Day three is trail day, so set an alarm. Arenal is clearest in the morning, and clouds often cover the top by midday.

Morning: The Arenal 1968 Trail

The Arenal 1968 reserve is named after the eruption that started 42 years of near-constant activity. The volcano went quiet in 2010. Its trail crosses the old lava flow, with big views of the cone and Lake Arenal.

Entry costs about $25 to $28, and the hike takes 2 to 3 hours. Prefer the national park? Arenal Volcano National Park costs $15 plus tax, about $17, takes cards only and opens at 8 AM.

Wear proper shoes, since the lava rock is sharp and uneven. Our guide to Arenal Volcano tours covers the guided options.

Afternoon: Mistico Hanging Bridges

After lunch, drive 25 to 30 minutes to Mistico Hanging Bridges near the Arenal dam. Afternoon entry is the cheaper one, at $28 plus tax, and the last entry is at 3:50 PM.

The 3.2 km loop crosses 16 bridges, 6 of them long suspension bridges through the treetops, and takes about 2 hours. You’ll often hear howler monkeys long before you see them.

A guided walk costs $44 plus tax, and it’s worth it. Guides spot sloths, snakes and toucans you’d walk right past.

Evening: Sunset Over Lake Arenal

Mistico is close to Lake Arenal, so stay out that way for sunset. It’s the biggest lake in Costa Rica, about 85 square km. It tripled in size when the dam went in back in 1979.

On a clear evening, the volcano glows over the water. Find a spot by the dam or a lakeside café on Route 142, then head back to town before dark.

Day 4: Rafting, Ziplining or Rio Celeste

Day four is your pick-your-own day. Go big with rafting or ziplining in the morning, or spend the whole day on the bright blue river at Rio Celeste.

Morning Option: White Water Rafting

Rafting makes a great half day around La Fortuna, and there’s a river for every level. The Balsa River has Class II and III rapids, fine for first-timers and kids from age 8. Trips cost about $73 to $85 plus tax.

The Sarapiquí and Toro rivers have bigger Class III and IV rapids, about an hour away, for about $85 to $113. Expect a minimum age of 12 or 13 on those.

Trips take half a day with transport, gear and a meal. Wear clothes you don’t mind soaking, and leave your phone in the van.

Morning Option: Ziplining Near Arenal

Ziplining near Arenal comes with volcano views from the cables. Sky Trek in El Castillo costs $93 plus tax, with seven cables, the longest over 750 meters, and a tram ride up the mountain.

Arenal Mundo Aventura has a 980-meter cable on its 7-cable course, which costs $65. Its 12-cable course costs $83. Ecoglide has 11 cables and a Tarzan swing, for $78 with transport included, or $54 without the swing.

Kids can join from age 5 at Sky Trek and age 7 at Arenal Mundo Aventura. Book a morning slot for the best chance of a clear volcano.

Afternoon: A Chocolate Tour

After a morning on the river or the cables, a chocolate tour is a nice way to slow down. Most cost $30 to $45 and take about 2 hours.

You’ll see cacao pods growing straight off the trunk, grind the beans yourself and taste the chocolate warm. Don Olivo starts around $30, and North Fields charges $38 plus tax with transport.

Full-Day Option: Rio Celeste

Rio Celeste is the best day trip from La Fortuna, and the river really is that bright blue. It’s 1.5 to 2 hours away, in Tenorio Volcano National Park.

Tickets cost $13.56 with tax and are sold online only, through SINAC. The last entry is 2 PM, so leave early. The hike is about 6.4 km round trip, and swimming isn’t allowed in the park.

Tours with pickup, lunch and the park fee cost about $89 to $141. Our Rio Celeste guide covers tickets, the trail and the drive.

Day 5: La Fortuna to Monteverde

Day five is the travel day people talk about, because you cross Lake Arenal by boat. By lunch, you’ve swapped the hot lowlands for cool, misty cloud forest.

Morning: Jeep-Boat-Jeep Across Lake Arenal

The jeep-boat-jeep is really a van, a boat across Lake Arenal and another van up the mountain. It costs about $35 to $45 per person and takes 3 to 3.5 hours door to door. Departures are around 8 AM and 2 PM.

Take the morning one for the best chance of a clear volcano from the water. You carry your own bags at each dock, so pack light.

Traveling as a group? A private transfer by road costs about $180 to $260 per vehicle. Our La Fortuna to Monteverde guide compares all five ways.

Afternoon: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

The reserve changed its system, so ignore older advice about day passes. You now book one of three timed circuits, each $29 for foreign adults and $16 for kids 6 to 11.

The Essence Trail is 1.4 km, about an hour. Heart of the Forest is 2.8 km, about 1.5 hours, and the Continental Divide Trail is 4.1 km, about 2.5 hours. Your visit ends when your circuit does.

Check in at the reserve’s information center, about 1.6 km below the entrance, then ride the free shuttle up. Bring a rain jacket, even when it’s sunny in town.

Evening: Night Walk

After dark, the cloud forest gets busy. Guided night walks cost about $28 to $35 plus tax, start around 6 PM and last about 2 hours.

Guides carry strong flashlights and know where to look, so expect tarantulas, sleeping birds, frogs and, with luck, a sloth. Wear long pants and a warm layer, since nights up here get chilly.

Day 6: Ziplining and Coffee in Monteverde

Day six is your full day in Monteverde. Spend the morning up in the canopy, then slow down at a coffee farm.

Morning: Ziplining or the Selvatura Bridges

Monteverde’s ziplines fly over real cloud forest, and they cost about $60 to $99 per adult. Extremo has two Superman cables, one through a tunnel, plus a Tarzan swing, from age 5. Sky Trek costs about $99, with brakes that do the work for you.

Selvatura has 13 cables, one about 1 km long, and 8 hanging bridges on a 3 km trail. A combo of both costs about $89 at full price, with free hotel pickup.

Not keen on heights at speed? Walk the Selvatura bridges on their own. The trail takes about 1.5 hours.

Afternoon: Don Juan Coffee Tour

Don Juan covers coffee, chocolate and sugarcane in one visit, so it’s a good pick for families. It costs $45 for adults and $20 for kids 5 to 11, and takes about 2.5 hours.

Tours start at 8 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM, so the 1 PM slot fits after a morning zipline. El Trapiche and Café de Monteverde run similar tours for about $45.

Rainy afternoon? The Monteverde Butterfly Garden in Cerro Plano is an easy backup. Our 2-day Monteverde itinerary has more ideas.

Day 7: Monteverde to Santa Teresa

Day seven is a long one, but it ends on a beach at sunset, which makes up for a lot. You head down the mountain to Puntarenas and cross the Gulf of Nicoya by ferry.

Morning: Shuttle and Ferry to Santa Teresa

Shared shuttles leave Monteverde at about 8 AM and take about 5.5 hours, for about $65 per person. Most include the ferry fare, but ask when you book. The Naviera Tambor ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera takes about 70 minutes, then it’s about an hour more to Santa Teresa.

Driving? Ferries leave Puntarenas at 4 AM, 6:30 AM, 9 AM, noon, 3 PM, 6 PM, 8 PM and 10 PM. Arrive about an hour early, and fill up in Cóbano, since Santa Teresa has no gas station.

Evening: Sunset on Playa Santa Teresa

Drop your bags and walk straight down to the beach. Santa Teresa is a long, wild surf beach backed by palm trees. Behind it runs one dusty main road full of cafés and surf shops.

Sunset is about 5:15 to 6 PM, and plenty of people head down to the sand to watch it. Grab a fresh coconut or a smoothie and join them.

Day 8: Cabo Blanco and Montezuma Falls

Day eight takes you across the tip of the peninsula to a nature reserve and a waterfall. Check the day first, since Cabo Blanco is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Morning: Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve

Cabo Blanco was Costa Rica’s first protected area, set up in 1963. It’s about an hour’s drive to Cabuya from Santa Teresa. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Entry costs $12 for adults and $5 for kids 2 to 12.

The Sueco Trail is around 5 km each way to Playa Cabo Blanco. Each direction takes around 2 hours. Get there by 11 AM at the latest to leave enough time.

Bring plenty of water and snacks. The trail is hot and hilly, and the quiet beach at the end is your reward.

Afternoon: Montezuma Falls

On the way back, stop in Montezuma for its waterfall. The Riverbed Trail takes about 20 minutes to the lower falls. There’s no entrance fee, just about ₡2,000, roughly $4, for parking.

The upper falls are easier to reach on the Canopy Tour Trail, which costs $5 and crosses two hanging bridges. Please don’t jump from the falls. The rocks are dangerous, and people have died here.

Most people get around on a rented ATV, since the roads are dirt and dust. Pacific Dirt Road charges about $70 to $90 a day, delivers to your hotel and includes a helmet.

Day 9: Surf and Yoga in Santa Teresa

Day nine is the slow one, and you’ve earned it. Santa Teresa is a surf town first, so plan the day around the waves.

Morning: Surf Lesson at Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa, about 10 to 15 minutes north of the main strip, is popular with beginners. That makes it a good place for a first lesson.

Book a lesson at a surf school on the main road, and they’ll sort out the board and the rash guard. Ask which beach and tide suit beginners that day, since conditions change fast.

Afternoon: A Yoga Class

Yoga is the other half of life in Santa Teresa, and nearly every studio takes drop-ins. A class costs about $14 to $20, roughly the price of breakfast in town.

Zeneidas Surf Garden charges $14 for a 75-minute class on its oceanfront deck. Horizon Yoga Hotel charges $20, with ocean views from the hillside. Believe Surf & Yoga runs more than 10 classes a day, some by donation.

Our guide to yoga in Santa Teresa lists the studios and timetables.

Or: A Boat Trip to Tortuga Island

Not into surfing? Book a boat trip to Tortuga Island from Montezuma beach, with snorkeling, from about $78 plus tax.

It makes a nice change from the surf break, and a calm day on the water is a treat. Our 3-day Santa Teresa itinerary has more ideas, and our best hotels in Santa Teresa list covers where to stay.

Day 10: Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio

Day ten is the trickiest transfer of the trip, because the Gulf of Nicoya is in the way. You’ve got two options, and both need booking ahead.

Morning: Ferry or Boat to the Mainland

By road, you drive about an hour back to Paquera, take the 70-minute ferry to Puntarenas, then head south down the coast. Plan on a full travel day, and ask your shuttle company if you stay in the same van on the boat.

The quicker way is a boat transfer across the gulf. Tropical Tours sells boat transfers linking Santa Teresa and Montezuma with Jacó and Manuel Antonio. They start at about $55 per person, though rough seas can change the schedule.

Pack your passport and park ticket somewhere easy to reach. You’ll want them tomorrow.

Afternoon: Quepos and Playa Espadilla

Manuel Antonio is one long, hilly road, about 7 km, between the port town of Quepos and the park entrance. The local bus runs it every 15 to 30 minutes for less than a dollar.

Arriving with time to spare? Walk Playa Espadilla, the public beach right outside the park. Watch for red flags, since the currents can be strong.

Evening: Dinner at El Avión

For your first night, head up the hill to El Avión. It’s built around a real Fairchild C-123 cargo plane tied to the Iran-Contra affair. The decks look out over the jungle and the Pacific.

You’re paying for the view as much as the food, but it’s a fun one. Get there before 5 PM for a sunset table.

Day 11: Manuel Antonio National Park

Day eleven is the big wildlife day, and the early start pays off. The park is coolest and liveliest when the gates open.

Morning: Manuel Antonio National Park

Be at the gate at 7 AM with your ticket and the passport you booked with. Tickets cost $18.08 for foreign adults and $5.65 for kids 2 to 12, sold online only through SINAC. The park is closed every Tuesday.

A guide at the entrance costs about $25 to $40 per person for about 2 hours. Their scopes turn blurry shapes into sloths and monkeys. Food and single-use plastic bottles aren’t allowed.

After the trail, swim at Playa Manuel Antonio inside the park, a calm cove with shade along the back. Zip your bag, since the capuchins and raccoons are expert thieves.

Afternoon: Catamaran Tour

SINAC lists a 3 PM close, and there’s no re-entry, so the afternoon is free for the water. Catamarans leave at about 2 PM with snorkeling, a meal and drinks, and dolphins often show up.

Ocean King costs about $90, Sunset Sails $88.50 plus tax and Planet Dolphin about $97. May to November, Sunset Sails and Planet Dolphin only sail in the morning.

Prefer dry land? The Canopy Safari zipline costs $90 plus tax with pickup and lunch. Our guide to tours in Manuel Antonio compares them all.

Day 12: Manuel Antonio to Uvita

Day twelve is a short hop south to Uvita, a quiet town with no big resorts. Time your afternoon around the tide, because that’s when the whale tail shows up.

Morning: The Drive to Uvita

Uvita is about an hour south of Manuel Antonio on Route 34, and a shared shuttle costs about $45. After the long transfers earlier in the trip, it feels like nothing.

Check the tide chart before you leave. You want to be on the beach about an hour before low tide.

Afternoon: The Whale Tail at Marino Ballena National Park

At low tide, a sandbar shaped like a whale’s tail appears off Punta Uvita. You can walk out onto it with the ocean on both sides. Entry to Marino Ballena National Park costs $6.78, tax included, and the booths take cards only.

The walk to the tip takes 10 to 20 minutes. Head back before the tide turns, since the water comes in faster than you’d think. Your ticket covers the whole day, so you can come back for sunset at Playa Colonia.

Evening: Dinner in Ojochal

For dinner, drive about 20 minutes south to Ojochal, a small village known for its restaurants. Citrus is the favorite, opening from noon Monday to Saturday, and it’s worth booking ahead.

Heliconia is the simpler pick for Tico food, pasta and steak, and it’s closed on Mondays. Our 2-day Uvita itinerary has more places to eat.

Day 13: Whale Watching or Nauyaca Waterfalls

Day thirteen depends on the season. Whale watching is the highlight when the humpbacks are around. The rest of the year, Nauyaca Waterfalls is a great day out.

Morning: Whale Watching

Humpback whales visit Uvita twice a year: July to November, peaking in August and September, and late December to March. Boat tours cost about $95 for adults, leave at 8:30 AM and last 2.5 to 3 hours.

Dolphin Tour Costa Rica and Bahia Aventuras both include the park fee, fruit and water. You also get a snorkel stop when the sea is calm. Whales are never guaranteed, but dolphins often keep you company either way.

Or: Nauyaca Waterfalls

Out of whale season, head to Nauyaca Waterfalls, about 30 minutes from Uvita. The hike costs $10 plus $5 parking, and it’s 3.5 km each way. A 4×4 truck gets you close for $32.

The falls close at 3:30 PM, so go in the morning. Bring a swimsuit, since the pool at the bottom is the reward.

Afternoon: Uvita Waterfall and Playa Hermosa

Keep the afternoon easy. Uvita Waterfall costs ₡2,000, about $4, and the smooth rock works as a natural slide into the pool. It’s open daily until 5 PM.

Then spend your last beach hours at Playa Hermosa, about 5 km north of Uvita, a long, quiet beach backed by trees. Swim with care, since rip currents do show up.

Day 14: Uvita to San José and Fly Home

Your last day is mostly road, so set off early. Uvita is about 200 km from San José, a 3.5 to 4 hour drive on Route 34 and Route 27.

A shared shuttle to San José airport costs about $69 and takes about 4 hours. The Tracopa bus is the budget pick, at about ₡6,900, roughly $15, for a 4 to 5 hour ride into the city.

Book an afternoon or evening flight, or spend your last night near the airport for an early one. Our list of the best hotels near San José airport makes that easy.

Where to Stay for 2 Weeks in Costa Rica

Where you sleep shapes each stop more than you’d think. Stay in La Fortuna town or Santa Elena to walk to dinner. Pick a spot near Playa Espadilla to walk to the park, and stay close to the beach in Uvita.

These are good picks in each stop, with rough nightly rates for two:

Town	Budget	Mid-Range	Splurge
La Fortuna	Poshtel Arenal, privates about $54 to $62	Arenal Observatory Lodge, about $110 to $320	Tabacón, about $340 to $880
Monteverde	Montefresco Boutique Hostel, from about $54	Cala Lodge, about $85 to $240	Hotel Belmar, about $290 to $640
Manuel Antonio	Wide Mouth Frog, privates about $42 to $57	La Vela, about $125 to $315	Arenas del Mar, from about $550
Uvita	Tucan Hotel, about $53	La Cusinga Lodge, about $135	Kura Boutique Hotel, about $670 to $910

For Santa Teresa, see our list of the best hotels in Santa Teresa. December to April costs the most, so book 3 to 6 months ahead for those dates.

How Much Does 2 Weeks in Costa Rica Cost?

Two weeks in Costa Rica adds up, but you control most of it. These are the main costs per person for this itinerary, before flights:

• Shuttles and boat transfers for all six legs: about $320 to $350
• Entry fees and activities: about $630 to $840
• Mid-range hotels: about $85 to $320 a night for two
• An SUV or 4×4 instead of shuttles: about $650 to $1,200 a week in high season, or $300 to $750 in low season

The activity total covers the La Fortuna highlights, rafting or Rio Celeste, the Monteverde reserve and a night walk. It also covers a zipline, a coffee tour, Cabo Blanco and a yoga class. Then there’s the park with a guide, a catamaran and whale watching. Surf lessons come on top.

Eating at sodas is the easiest way to save, and El Choyín, Montezuma Falls and Playa Hermosa cost next to nothing.

What to Pack for 2 Weeks in Costa Rica

Two weeks covers hot springs, a cold cloud forest and three beach towns, so pack light layers and plan one laundry stop. Here’s what you’ll use:

• A light rain jacket, even in the dry season
• A warm layer and long pants for Monteverde
• Hiking shoes with grip for Rio Celeste, Arenal and Cabo Blanco
• Water shoes for waterfalls and hot rivers
• Two swimsuits and a quick-dry towel
• Reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard and bug spray
• A reusable water bottle, since single-use plastic is banned in the national parks
• A dry bag for the boats and ferries

Bring your passport on park days and a credit card for Marino Ballena and Arenal Volcano National Park, which don’t take cash. Colones in small bills cover buses, parking and sodas.

2 Weeks in Costa Rica FAQ

Is 2 Weeks in Costa Rica Enough?

Two weeks in Costa Rica is enough for six stops at a comfortable pace. This plan covers San José, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Santa Teresa, Manuel Antonio and Uvita. You get the volcano, the cloud forest and a full week of beaches.

Transfers come every two or three days. Skip the Caribbean and the Osa Peninsula, since each needs at least two more days.

How Much Does 2 Weeks in Costa Rica Cost?

Two weeks in Costa Rica costs about $950 to $1,190 per person on this itinerary. That covers shuttles, boat transfers, entry fees and activities, before hotels, food and flights.

Transfers run about $320 to $350, and activities about $630 to $840. Mid-range hotels add about $85 to $320 a night for two.

Do You Need a Car for 2 Weeks in Costa Rica?

You don’t need a car for 2 weeks in Costa Rica. Shared shuttles cover every leg for about $320 to $350 per person.

A car does help on the Nicoya Peninsula, where Santa Teresa’s roads are rough and dusty. Get an SUV with clearance or a 4×4, at about $650 to $1,200 a week in high season. You’ll also want to budget about $30 per ferry crossing.

How Do You Get From Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio?

You get from Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio by road and ferry, or by boat. By road, it’s about an hour to Paquera. From there, the ferry to Puntarenas takes 70 minutes. Then you drive down the coast, so plan on a full day.

Boat transfers across the Gulf of Nicoya cost from about $55 per person, though rough seas can change the schedule.

When Is Whale Season in Uvita?

Whale season in Uvita runs twice a year. Southern humpbacks visit July to November, peaking in August and September, and northern humpbacks come late December to March.

Whale tours cost about $95 for adults and last 2.5 to 3 hours. Out of season, Nauyaca Waterfalls is the best swap, at $10 to hike in or $32 by 4×4 truck.

What Is the Best Time for 2 Weeks in Costa Rica?

The best time for 2 weeks in Costa Rica is the dry season, late December to April. That’s when you get the clearest volcano views and calm seas. It’s also the busiest and priciest time.

For whales and lower prices, August and September work well. Afternoon rain is common, though, and September and October are the wettest months. Our best time to visit Costa Rica guide goes month by month.