Part of our Costa Rica guide.
Two itineraries from our Costa Rica coverage: a Pacific Coast road trip and day trips from San José. Each route focuses on the specific stops, distances, and practical steps you need to plan your time.
Related travel guides: Hidden Gems In Costa Rica, Hiking And The Outdoors In Costa Rica, Things To Do In Costa Rica, What It Costs In Costa Rica, Where To Stay In Costa Rica, and Getting Around Costa Rica.
Pura Vida: Road Trip Guide To Costa Rica's Pacific Coast
Start on the Nicoya Peninsula, following Highway 1 south from the capital. The first stop is Jacó, a beach town with consistent surf breaks and a long stretch of dark sand. From Jacó, continue south to Manuel Antonio National Park, where the main trail leads past white-sand beaches and through secondary rainforest. The park entrance fee is $18 for international visitors. Further south, the road reaches the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park, accessible only by guided tour or chartered flight. For a shorter loop, turn inland at Quepos and drive through the cloud forests of the Talamanca Mountains, ending at San Isidro. This section passes through the Los Santos coffee region, where roadside stands sell fresh beans. The dry season from December to April offers the most reliable road conditions on the Pacific side. The road is paved except for the last 10 kilometers into Corcovado, which require a 4x4.
Best Day Trips From San José, Costa Rica
Poas Volcano National Park is 30 kilometers northwest of San José. The park is home to Poas Volcano, which stands at 2,708 meters. Its steaming crater and turquoise lake are accessible via well-maintained trails through cloud forest and past volcanic vents. The park entrance fee is $15 for international visitors. The hike to the main crater takes about 30 minutes round trip. On clear days, you can see both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from the summit. Combine this with a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, 15 minutes north of the park entrance. The gardens feature a series of cascades, a butterfly observatory, and a hummingbird gallery. Nearby Braulio Carrillo National Park offers a more strenuous trail network with 12 kilometers of marked paths through primary forest. Both parks are accessible by rental car or by shared shuttle from downtown San José, with departures at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily. The shuttle costs $35 per person round trip.
