The route, day by day.
- Days 1–3Guanacaste and the Papagayo peninsulaLand at Liberia and transfer to the Papagayo peninsula. Days on the calm water of the gulf: a private catamaran with a marine biologist to snorkel the coral gardens, the beach club, and a first sunset over the Pacific.
- Days 4–6ArenalEast to the volcano. Mornings for guided walks in the rainforest and the national park, afternoons in the mineral hot springs, and a night walk for frogs, sloths and the forest after dark.
- Days 7–9The Osa PeninsulaA light aircraft to Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay and a lodge in a private reserve. Dawn walks with a field biologist for scarlet macaws and all four of the country’s monkey species, and, in season, humpback whales in the Golfo Dulce by private boat.
- Days 10–11Uvita and Marino BallenaNorth along the coast to the forest above Uvita, near Marino Ballena National Park, for whales from July to October and from December to March, waterfalls and long, empty beaches.
- Day 12San José and homeA short flight to San José for the journey home, or a final night in the capital before an early departure.
How long to spend in Costa Rica.
Seven to twelve nights is the usual length of a luxury journey. A week allows two regions, typically the coast and Arenal; ten to twelve days adds the rainforest of the Osa Peninsula or the Caribbean coast without rushing.
Three nights in each place is the right rhythm: wildlife is seen best at dawn and dusk, and the lodges are worth slowing down for.
Getting around in comfort.
Private jets land at Liberia, for Guanacaste, and at San José for the rest of the country. Between regions, light aircraft save the most time: the Osa Peninsula is about 45 minutes from San José to Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez. Shorter legs are driven with a private driver and guide.
Roads can be slow and, in the green season, muddy, so an advisor plans each transfer by the fastest comfortable route and times flights to the weather.
Three other ways to see Costa Rica.
The route below is one of several. Others an advisor often plans:
- A week on the coast and the volcano: Guanacaste and Arenal, with a cloud-forest night in Monteverde.
- Ten days with the Caribbean: Tortuguero for nesting turtles from July, and a river lodge on the Pacuare reached by raft, joined to the Pacific coast.
- A diver’s journey: a liveaboard to Cocos Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site two days’ sail offshore, before or after a week on land.
Families and groups.
For a family or a party, the same route works with villas or residences in place of rooms, a private naturalist and driver for the group, and charter aircraft sized to the party and its luggage.
The route, day by day.
This route suits the dry season, from December to April, and works in the green season with the order adjusted to the weather. It is a starting point; your advisor shapes it around you.
Your questions.
How many days do you need in Costa Rica?
Seven to twelve nights. A week covers the coast and Arenal; ten to twelve days adds the Osa Peninsula or the Caribbean coast.
Is it better to fly or drive between regions?
Fly for the longer legs, above all to the Osa Peninsula, which is about 45 minutes from San José by light aircraft. Drive the shorter legs with a private driver and guide.
Can we see Costa Rica’s beaches and rainforest in one trip?
Yes. The classic luxury route pairs the Pacific coast of Guanacaste with Arenal and the rainforest of the Osa Peninsula.
Can Costa Rica be combined with another country?
Yes. Panama City is a short flight away, and Belize’s cayes and barrier reef pair well with Costa Rica’s rainforest. An advisor plans the flights between them.
Tell us about the journey you have in mind.
Recommendations chosen for you, an itinerary crafted around them, and every booking managed by an independent Ultra Advisor who works with local specialists in Costa Rica — Osa Peninsula.