Travel guide
Costa Rica
7 Unforgettable Days in Costa Rica: Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano, Drake Bay and Manuel Antonio!
Map of the Costa Rica 7-day itinerary
This map shows the full route of the Costa Rica 7-day itinerary, with every stage and the recommended order: Tortuguero and its canals, the Arenal Volcano, Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula, and the beaches of Manuel Antonio. Use it to place each stop, work out the transfers, and save it to your own Google Maps before you travel.
7 days in Costa Rica: Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano, Drake Bay and Manuel Antonio. This is the 7-day Costa Rica itinerary we followed, with the stops we recommend, the activities that worked best, and the small details that make the country one of the most interesting in Central America for nature lovers and travellers who like to combine wildlife with a bit of adventure.
Day 1: Tortuguero, the city of canals. The trip begins in Tortuguero, a small village surrounded by narrow canals and dense rainforest. We explored the canals by boat and spotted caimans, sloths and a long list of tropical birds in their natural habitat. There are no roads in Tortuguero, so you arrive either by boat or small plane, which already sets the tone of the trip.
Day 2: Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano was our next stop. We hiked the trails of Arenal National Park surrounded by very dense vegetation, with panoramic views of the volcano cone whenever the clouds opened. The day ended at one of the natural hot springs of the area, which is the right contrast after a long hike: warm water, jungle around you and zero rush.
Day 3: Drake Bay. Drake Bay sits on the Osa Peninsula and is the gateway to Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The water here is clear and the beaches are quiet because the area is harder to reach than the standard tourist circuit. We took a diving trip and came face to face with turtles, manta rays and a strong selection of reef fish. A solid day for anyone who likes to combine the underwater side with the forest experience.
Day 4: Nature and quiet days in Drake Bay. We explored jungle trails near the village and walked into the edge of Corcovado, where the biodiversity is genuinely on another level. We saw monkeys, scarlet macaws, agoutis and the occasional tapir track in the mud. In the afternoon, we slowed down on the beach, swam in the warm water and let the day go by.
Day 5: Manuel Antonio. The trip took us next to Manuel Antonio, where the combination of white sand beaches and turquoise water is what most travellers picture when they think of Costa Rica. We spent the morning in Manuel Antonio National Park, watching white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths and iguanas in their natural environment, and finished the day with a swim in the sea.
Day 6: More Manuel Antonio. From jungle hikes in the park to relaxing on the beach, the day was packed with the right kind of variety. Manuel Antonio is one of those places where you do not need to plan every minute: you wake up, choose between activity or beach, and the day fills itself.
Day 7: Wrap-up. The trip ends with a short drive back to San José for the flight out. Looking back at the seven days, the variety stands out: jungle canals, an active volcano, a Pacific dive trip, the Osa Peninsula and the beaches of Manuel Antonio. It is exactly the right amount of contrast for a one-week trip.
Final note. A 7-day Costa Rica itinerary built around Tortuguero, Arenal, Drake Bay and Manuel Antonio gives you a complete picture of the country without rushing. It works well for a first-time visit and is one of the most efficient ways to see four very different sides of Costa Rica in a single week.
