Costa Rica Beach Hopping

Costa Rica beach hopping from Jaco, on the Pacific Coast, to Manzanillo on the Caribbean coast.

An itinerary tailored for the beach lover, this route follows the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. You'll need at least two weeks to complete this travel itinerary. You'll likely want to distribute your time evenly on both coast lines.

Beach hopping itinerary map

Costa Rica Beach Hopping Itinerary

Enjoy the beaches of Costa Ria and spend two weeks exploring them:

  • Day 1: San Jose. Arrive in San Jose and transfer to Jaco.
  • Days 2 & 3: Jaco. A beach party town dominated by ex-pats and surfers.
  • Days 4 & 5: Montezuma. Take a jet boat from Jaco to Montezuma or, alternately, to Playa Santa Teresa & Mal Pais. These Nicoya beaches are incredibly laid back and will provide you with a different feel for Costa Rica. On day five, head back to Jaco.
  • Days 6 & 7: Manuel Antonio National Park. Head to Manuel Antonio to lounge on three lovely beaches and check out the rainforest and wildlife.
  • Days 8 & 9: Dominical. Travel to the beautiful beach south of Manuel Antonio and extend a little further south to Uvita and discover the less-frequented beaches.
  • Days 10, 11 & 12: Cahuita. Back track to San Jose and then head to Cahuita. Considered the capital of Afro-Caribbean culture, this Cahuita beach is also a great place to base yourself as you explore the trails of Cahuita National Park.
  • Days 12 & 13: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Offering perfect beaches and a laid back surfing attitude, this spot offers good nightlife and a great restaurant scene. From here you can explore the nearby beach of Manzanillo. You can also arrange a trip to Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife reserve which has a long stretch of beach and a lovely coral reef.
  • Day 14: San Jose. Travel back to San Jose and plan your flight home.
Costa Rica Sights

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the highlights on this two-week itinerary. This is one of Costa Rica's must-see national parks. You'll be sure to see a diverse selection of wildlife and the beaches are outstanding.

Near Manuel Antonio, there are several sights of interest. These include:

  • The Rainmaker Conservation Project
  • Parque Reptilandia
  • Baru National Wildlife Refuge
Manuel Antonio National Park
bridge

The Rainmaker Conservation Project

The Rainmaker Conservation Project is a 540-hectare (1,330-acre) private reserve with aerial walkways through the forest's canopy. On the ground, visitors will find wooden board walks, which make travel significantly eaiser when it rains.

There are 6 suspension bridges and some spectacular aerial views. If you enjoy bird watching, you might enjoy this spot.

Rainmaker Conservation Project
butterfly

Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge

The Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge is a 330-hecatres (740-acre) private reserve where visitors will find a multitude of habitat and wildlife species. The list is impressive with 350 birds, 69 mammals, 94 reptiles, 87 butterflies and 158 species of trees.

This reserve is located on a biological corridor where the tapir passes through. Be sure to arrange a tour with a naturalist guide.

Baru National Wildlife Refuge