Costa Rica Trip Planner
Build your Costa Rica itinerary in seconds. Enter your travel dates, choose Liberia (LIR) or San José (SJO) airport, pick what you love (beaches, volcanoes, wildlife, surfing), and get a day-by-day route with nights in each place, drive times, and links to lodging, restaurants and things to do.
Please note: This planner is an automated tool, and its suggestions can contain errors. Drive times, distances, seasons and attractions are estimates. Always double-check routes, road conditions, opening hours and bookings before you travel.
Costa Rica itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days
Three tried-and-tested routes through Guanacaste and the north, built around short drives and a relaxing finish at the beach. Use them as a starting point, then run the planner above with your own dates.
7 Nights · Liberia in & out
7-day Costa Rica itinerary
Rincón de la Vieja, 2 nights: volcano trails, hot springs and waterfalls, an hour from Liberia airport.
Playa Grande, 5 nights: surf, beach walks, mangrove tours, Tamarindo dinners and sunsets.
About 4 hours of driving in total. Ideal for a first trip or a family week.
10 Nights · Liberia in & out
10-day Costa Rica itinerary
Rincón de la Vieja, 3 nights
Arenal & La Fortuna, 2 nights: Arenal Volcano, hanging bridges and hot springs.
Playa Grande, 5 nights
About 9 hours of driving. Volcanoes, rainforest and beach in one loop.
14 Nights · San José in, Liberia out
2-week Costa Rica itinerary
Arenal, 3 nights
Monteverde, 3 nights: cloud forest, ziplines and night tours.
Rincón de la Vieja, 2 nights
Playa Grande, 6 nights
A one-way route from San José to Liberia, so you never backtrack.
How to plan a trip to Costa Rica
Liberia (LIR) or San José (SJO)?
Fly into Liberia if you want Guanacaste's beaches, such as Playa Grande, Tamarindo and Conchal, plus Rincón de la Vieja and Arenal. Fly into San José for Manuel Antonio, the Caribbean coast or the Central Valley. Many travellers fly into one and out of the other to avoid driving back on themselves.
How many days do you need?
A week is enough for one region, such as a volcano and a beach. Ten days lets you add a rainforest or cloud forest stop. Two weeks or more lets you cross the country. Plan on two or three nights per stop. Roads are slow, and three hours is a typical drive between regions.
Best time to visit Costa Rica
December to April is the dry season, with sunny Pacific beaches and the highest prices. May to November is the green season: afternoon rain, fewer crowds and lower rates. September and October are the wettest on the Pacific side but often the driest on the Caribbean coast.
Getting around
Renting a car gives you the most freedom, and an SUV is useful for gravel roads. Shared shuttles connect the main tourist towns, and private drivers can be booked for airport transfers. Avoid driving after dark where you can.
Costa Rica trip planner FAQ
Is this Costa Rica trip planner free?
Yes. Enter your travel dates, airports, group size and interests, and the planner suggests a route with nights per stop, drive times, and links to lodging, restaurants and things to do in each place.
What's the best Costa Rica itinerary for first-timers?
For a first trip, combine a volcano area (Arenal or Rincón de la Vieja) with a beach in Guanacaste such as Playa Grande. Flying into Liberia keeps drives short and gives you more time on the sand.
Is Playa Grande a good base in Guanacaste?
Yes. It's about an hour from Liberia airport, five minutes by boat from Tamarindo, and within easy reach of Rincón de la Vieja, Playa Conchal and Playa Flamingo, while staying quiet and natural thanks to Las Baulas National Marine Park.
Can I visit Arenal and the beach in one week?
Yes. Spend two or three nights in La Fortuna and four or five on the Guanacaste coast. The drive between Arenal and Playa Grande is about three and a half hours.