A first journey through the country's classic landscapes

RainforesttothePacific

Regions

Arenal, Monteverde, Central Pacific

Suggested length

Around 10 to 12 nights

Pace

Balanced

Plan this journey

TheShapeOfRainforesttothePacific

Ideal for first visits
Ideal for couples
Ideal for families with children of most ages
Ideal for wildlife and walking

If this is your first time in Costa Rica, this is the shape of trip we most often suggest as a starting point. It moves from the lowland rainforest around Arenal up into the cloud forest of Monteverde, then down to the Central Pacific, so you experience three quite different climates without spending your holiday in a car.

The route is deliberately unhurried: two or three nights in each place, time built in for the drive between them, and space for rest as well as exploring.

An illustrative route, not a bookable package. Stays, timings and transport are chosen with you and confirmed only in your own proposal.

Arenal:Underthevolcano
About Arenal
Suggested: 3 nights. Arrive in the northern lowlands and settle into the rhythm of the rainforest. Walk the old lava flows, cross the canopy on hanging bridges, and end each day in warm thermal water.
Monteverde:Intothecloud
About Monteverde
Suggested: 2 to 3 nights. Travel around the lake and climb into the Tilarán mountains. Mornings in the reserves with a naturalist, a night walk, and the cooler air of the continental divide.
CentralPacific:Downtothecoast
About Central Pacific
Suggested: 4 nights. Descend to the Pacific near Manuel Antonio. Guided time in the national park, mangroves by kayak, and long unplanned afternoons by the sea.

Aerial view of Manuel Antonio's forested coastline and turquoise bay

MakeItYourOwn

Adapt this journey

GoodToKnow

We match places to stay to the way you travel. On this route that might mean a lodge with views of the volcano, a small cloud forest hotel among the trees, and somewhere on the coast where the forest comes right to your terrace.

Typical stays: Rainforest lodges · Small boutique hotels · Private villas on the coast

Experiences along the way: Volcano trails and hanging bridges · Hot springs · Guided cloud forest walks by day and night · Wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park · Kayaking in the mangroves. Nothing is included by default; we choose with you.
Getting around: Road transfers between regions take a good part of the day; we build them into the plan rather than squeezing them in.
Before you go: Monteverde is noticeably cooler than the coast, so pack a warm layer.
Timing: Manuel Antonio National Park manages daily visitor numbers and is not open every day, which we take into account when planning.

Start planning this journey

TheRegionsOnThisRoute

All regions

RegionNorthern lowlands
Arenal and the Northern Plains
Volcanic cone and old lava flowsFoothill rainforestLake Arenal
A volcano that holds the view, and warm rivers at its feet.
View
RegionTilarán mountains
Monteverde and the Cloud Forest
Cloud forestRidges and wind-shaped elfin forestPastures and farmland on the lower slopes
Mist, moss and the cool air of the continental divide.
View
RegionCentral Pacific coast
Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific
Coastal rainforestBeaches and headlandsMangrove estuaries
Forest that runs straight down to the sand.
View

MoreJourneys

All journeys

JourneyActive, with room to rest
Volcanoes and Cloud Forest
Around 9 to 11 nightsGuanacasteArenalMonteverde
The volcanic north, from bubbling mud on Rincón de la Vieja to the pale blue Río Celeste, Arenal's cone and the cloud forest of Monteverde.
View
JourneyUnhurried, with long days outdoors
The Wild South
Around 9 to 12 nightsCentral PacificOsa
Whale coasts near Uvita, then on by boat to the Osa Peninsula and the deep forest of Corcovado, with quiet days on the Golfo Dulce.
View
JourneySlow
Slow Days on Nicoya
Around 9 to 10 nightsGuanacasteNicoya
A short stay in Guanacaste's dry forest, then two unhurried bases on the Nicoya Peninsula, each with its own character.
View
JourneyFull, with early mornings
A Naturalist's Costa Rica
Around 12 to 14 nightsCaribbeanMonteverdeOsa
Canals and turtle beaches on the Caribbean, the cloud forest, then the deep rainforest of the Osa. Built for people who travel with binoculars.
View