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With seven days, the biggest mistake is trying to see everything. The best one-week road trips pick two regions — a volcano and a beach — and keep driving days short.
Quick answer: From SJO: 3 nights in La Fortuna + 3 nights in Manuel Antonio (or Jacó for the last night). From LIR: 3 nights in La Fortuna + 3 nights in Tamarindo or Playas del Coco. Any car works for both versions.
Version A: from San José (SJO)
- Day 1: Land, sleep near the airport or drive to La Fortuna if you land before noon.
- Days 2–3: La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano National Park, hanging bridges, hot springs.
- Day 4: Drive La Fortuna → Manuel Antonio (about 4.5–5.5 hours via San Ramón and Route 27, all paved).
- Days 5–6: Manuel Antonio National Park, beach, catamaran.
- Day 7: Drive back to SJO (about 3 hours) and fly.
Version B: from Liberia (LIR)
- Day 1: Land, drive to Tamarindo (1h 15m) or Playas del Coco (30 min).
- Days 2–3: Beaches, surfing, sunset sailing.
- Day 4: Drive to La Fortuna around Lake Arenal (about 4–5 hours).
- Days 5–6: Arenal highlights; optional day trip to Río Celeste.
- Day 7: Drive to LIR (about 3–3.5 hours) and fly.
Local tip: Book an open-jaw ticket (fly into SJO, out of LIR or vice versa) to avoid backtracking — but check the rental one-way fee first.
What to skip in one week
Monteverde, the Caribbean coast and the Osa Peninsula are wonderful but each adds a long driving day. Save them for a second trip — or swap Arenal for Monteverde if cloud forest matters more to you than hot springs.
Bottom line
Two bases, three nights each, two real driving days. That’s a week in Costa Rica you’ll remember for the places, not the car.
Frequently asked questions
Is one week enough for Costa Rica?
Yes, for two regions. Trying to do more means spending most of the trip in the car.
Which airport is better for a 7-day trip?
SJO for Arenal + Central Pacific; LIR for Arenal + Guanacaste beaches.
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