Pure Costa Rica — Self-Launched

Touch down at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and make your own way into the city centre — the Tuasa or SJO Express bus runs directly to downtown for around £1.50, or a licensed taxi/Uber costs roughly £15-20. Check into your hostel in the Barrio Amón or El Poblado neighbourhood, grab a casado (the classic Costa Rican rice-and-beans plate) at a local soda (diner), and get an early night ahead of your adventure.

🚌Tuasa airport bus to city centre ~£1.50, or Uber ~£15

🛏Selina San José or Hostel Pangea — dorm from ~£12/night, private twin from ~£30/night

• →Arrive and settle in
• →Explore Barrio Amón on foot
• →Dinner at a local soda

Start the morning with a self-guided or low-cost guided walking tour of San José's historic centre — the National Theatre, Central Market and Parque Central are all within easy walking distance and free to visit. Then catch a direct public bus from the Gran Terminal del Caribe to Sarapiquí (Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí) — roughly 2.5 hours and under £4. En route or on arrival, visit the Jardin Botanico La Tirimbina or ask your guesthouse about the Pierella Ecological Garden (La Selva Biological Station area); entry is approximately £10-15.

🚌Public bus from Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José → Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí ~£4, ~2.5 hrs

🛏Mi Lindo Sarapiquí Guesthouse or La Quinta de Sarapiquí Country Inn — budget rooms from ~£20-30/night

• →Self-guided San José historic centre walk
• →Pierella Ecological Garden / butterfly and wildlife observation (~£12)
• →Settle into guesthouse in Sarapiquí

Sarapiquí's Río Sarapiquí is one of Costa Rica's top rafting rivers. Book a half-day Class III–IV white-water rafting session directly with local operators like Aguas Bravas or via GetYourGuide (~£35-45 pp, includes transport and equipment). In the afternoon, join a guided leaf-cutter ant and rainforest ecology walk at La Selva Biological Station (~£25). Round out the day with a night jungle safari walk — bookable directly at your guesthouse or with Tirimbina Rainforest Centre (~£18-22).

🚌Mostly local — rafting operators provide river transfers included in price

🛏Mi Lindo Sarapiquí Guesthouse or La Quinta de Sarapiquí Country Inn

• →White-water rafting on Río Sarapiquí (~£40)
• →Leaf-cutter ant and rainforest walk at La Selva (~£25)
• →Night jungle safari walk (~£20)

Take a shared shuttle from Sarapiquí to La Fortuna — book in advance with Interbus or Grayline (~£25-30, ~3 hrs) or piece together local buses via Ciudad Quesada (~£6 total, longer journey). On the outskirts of La Fortuna, book a local farm-to-table experience — several family-run fincas offer tours with a fresh lunch of harvested produce and homegrown coffee for around £20-25 pp (try Finca Educativa Don Juan). Spend the afternoon exploring La Fortuna town on foot.

🚌Interbus or Grayline shared shuttle Sarapiquí → La Fortuna ~£28, ~3 hrs

🛏Arenal Hostel Resort or Gringo Pete's Hostel — dorm from ~£12, private from ~£28/night

• →Shared shuttle Sarapiquí → La Fortuna (~£28)
• →Finca Don Juan farm visit with lunch (~£22)
• →Explore La Fortuna town and central park

Head out early to the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park — a stunning 3km trail with 16 bridges suspended in the cloud forest canopy, with views of Arenal Volcano on clear days. Entry is ~£18 and self-guided; hire a local guide at the entrance for ~£10 extra for wildlife spotting. In the afternoon, soak in the natural hot springs — skip the pricey resort pools and instead head to the free natural hot river at Tabacón or the budget-friendly Eco Termales (~£18 including access). Dinner in La Fortuna town (~£8-12).

🚌Local taxi or shared tuk-tuk from La Fortuna to Mistico ~£6 return; hot springs ~£5 return

🛏Arenal Hostel Resort or Gringo Pete's Hostel

• →Mistico Hanging Bridges self-guided trail (~£18)
• →Optional guide at entrance (~£10)
• →Eco Termales or natural hot springs (~£18)

Hike the trail to the spectacular La Fortuna Waterfall — a 70-metre cascade plunging into a jade-green pool. Entry is ~£8 and the hike down (and back up!) takes about 1–1.5 hours. You can swim in the pool at the base. The afternoon is yours — popular options include ziplining (~£55-70 with companies like Midworld or Arenal Mundo Aventura), bungee jumping (~£60), or simply relaxing at a café or your hostel pool. Book activities directly or via GetYourGuide.

🚌Walk or local taxi to waterfall trailhead ~£3 each way

🛏Arenal Hostel Resort or Gringo Pete's Hostel

• →La Fortuna Waterfall hike and swim (~£8)
• →Optional: Zipline (~£60) or bungee jump (~£60)
• →Free afternoon — chill or explore at your own pace

Today is a travel day — but a scenic one. Take a shared shuttle from La Fortuna to Sámara, Guanacaste (~£35-45 with Interbus or Grayline, ~5-6 hrs via Liberia). Alternatively, take public buses via Liberia and Nicoya (~£10-12 total, longer but adventurous). Arrive in Sámara in the late afternoon, check in, and head straight to the beach for sunset. Grab dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants — fresh ceviche is a must.

🚌Interbus or Grayline shared shuttle La Fortuna → Sámara ~£40, ~5-6 hrs

🛏Hostel Mariposa Sámara or Casa Valeria Guesthouse — dorm from ~£12, private from ~£25/night

• →Shared shuttle La Fortuna → Sámara (~£40)
• →Arrive, explore Sámara village on foot
• →Sunset on the beach and beachfront dinner

Start the morning with a 2-hour surf lesson on Sámara's calm, beginner-friendly waves — several local surf schools (C&C Surf School, Flying Manta) offer lessons from ~£25-30 including board rental. Spend the afternoon beach-hopping along the Guanacaste coast — Playa Carrillo is a short bus ride or bike ride away (~£2-5). In the evening, join a salsa class at one of Sámara's beachside bars or book through a local dance school (~£10-15).

🚌Local tuk-tuk or bicycle rental (~£8/day) for beach-hopping

🛏Hostel Mariposa Sámara or Casa Valeria Guesthouse

• →Beginner surf lesson (~£28)
• →Beach-hopping to Playa Carrillo (~£3 tuk-tuk)
• →Salsa class (~£12)

A completely free day to explore Sámara at your own pace. Options abound: join a morning beach yoga class (~£8-10), hire a kayak and snorkel gear to explore the coral reef offshore (~£15-20 for a half-day rental), take a sea kayaking and snorkelling tour (~£30-35 via local operators), or simply claim a spot on the sand with a good book. Sámara's calm, reef-protected waters make it ideal for snorkelling independently too — rent gear from the beach for ~£5.

🚌Everything within walking distance in Sámara

🛏Hostel Mariposa Sámara or Casa Valeria Guesthouse

• →Optional: beach yoga (~£10)
• →Optional: sea kayaking and snorkelling tour (~£32)
• →Optional: hire snorkel gear independently (~£5)
• →Lazy beach day — free

Enjoy one final lazy morning on Sámara's beach before checking out after lunch. Head south to Esterillos Oeste on the Central Pacific coast — take a shared shuttle (~£30-35 with Interbus) or public buses via Nicoya and Jaco (~£10-12, longer journey). Esterillos is a quiet, under-the-radar surf beach with a much more local feel than nearby Jacó. Arrive in time for a spectacular Pacific sunset and a relaxed dinner.

🚌Shared shuttle Sámara → Esterillos ~£32, ~4 hrs (via Interbus) or public bus ~£10

🛏Mango Luna Boutique Hostel or El Laberinto Guesthouse, Esterillos — budget rooms from ~£20/night

• →Final morning on Sámara beach
• →Scenic travel south to Esterillos
• →Sunset walk on Esterillos Oeste beach

Today's a highlight of the whole trip. Manuel Antonio National Park is small but extraordinary — it packs in rainforest, white-sand beaches and wildlife in one place. Take a local bus or taxi from Esterillos to the park entrance (~£5-10). Entry is ~£15 for non-residents. Hire a certified local guide at the entrance (~£20-25 for 2-3 hours) — guides dramatically improve your chances of spotting howler monkeys, sloths, white-faced capuchins, iguanas and Jesus Christ lizards. Spend the afternoon on Playa Manuel Antonio inside the park. Return to Esterillos or stay overnight near the park.

🚌Local bus or shared taxi Esterillos → Manuel Antonio ~£8 each way

🛏Hostel Byblos or Wide Mouth Frog Hostel, Quepos/Manuel Antonio — dorm from ~£14, private from ~£30

• →Manuel Antonio National Park entry (~£15)
• →Guided wildlife walk with park entrance guide (~£22)
• →Afternoon on Playa Manuel Antonio (included in park entry)
• →Snorkelling off the beach (free)

Before heading back to San José, stop off for a bean-to-bar cacao making class — several operators near Quepos and along the route offer this (try Hacienda Baru or local cooperatives, ~£20-25 pp). Then catch a shared shuttle or public bus from Quepos/Manuel Antonio back to San José (~£8-12 by public bus, ~2.5 hrs; or ~£20-25 with a shared shuttle). Check back into a San José hostel and head out for farewell drinks and a final dinner in the Barrio Escalante food district.

🚌Public bus Quepos → San José ~£8, ~2.5 hrs (departs frequently from Quepos terminal)

🛏Selina San José or Hostel Pangea — dorm from ~£12, private twin from ~£30/night

• →Bean-to-bar cacao making class (~£22)
• →Travel back to San José
• →Farewell dinner and drinks in Barrio Escalante

Breakfast, check out and make your own way to Juan Santamaría International Airport. The Tuasa airport bus runs from downtown for ~£1.50, or grab an Uber for ~£12-15. If your flight is later in the day, leave your bags at the hostel (most will store them for free) and take a final wander through the Mercado Central or grab a last cup of Costa Rican coffee. Pura vida!

🚌Tuasa bus to airport ~£1.50 or Uber ~£12-15

• →Breakfast and check-out
• →Last wander through Mercado Central (free)
• →Airport transfer