30 days in Costa Rica Itinerary

Playa Hermosa, located in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, is a popular beach and beach-front resort town.People who visit Playa Hermosa can indulge in swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving, sport fishing or sailing.Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste Province is not to be confused with Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas Province. Start off your visit on the 2nd (Mon): meet some fierce fish with a shark diving experience, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Iglesia Catolica de Playas del Coco, and then enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Nacascolo. Keep things going the next day: tour the pleasant surroundings at Playa Hermosa, then view the masterpieces at Costa Rica'n Art Craft, then browse the exhibits of Hidden Garden Art Gallery, and finally visit Playa Ocotal.

Before you visit Playa Hermosa, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Cincinnati, USA to Playa Hermosa is an approximately 10.5- hour combination of flight and car. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Cincinnati to Playa Hermosa. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Tue) early enough to go by car to Tamarindo.

Surfing remains the main reason to take a trip to Tamarindo, as the beachside town is mostly known for its excellent waves.

Head to Casa de Arte Curime de Nicoya and Koss Art Galleryfor plenty of shopping. Escape the urban bustle at Tamarindo Beach and Playa Guiones. Get out of town with these interesting Tamarindo side-trips: MAEL's ABSTRACT ART GALLERY (in Nosara), Playa Conchal (in Playa Conchal) and Playa Samara (Samara Farmers Market, Samara Beach, &more). There's more to do: enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Avellana.

To find traveler tips, maps, reviews, and tourist information, you can read our Tamarindo journey app.

Drive from Playa Hermosa to Tamarindo in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 7th (Sat) so you can go by car to Area de Conservacion Guanacaste.

Escape the urban bustle at Parque Nacional Volcan Rincon de la Vieja and Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands. Church of La Ermita La Agonia and Costa Rica Wild Art are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Area de Conservacion Guanacaste: Liberia (Galeria 1824 Gallery & Nahua).

To find more things to do, reviews, photos, and more tourist information, read our Area de Conservacion Guanacaste trip builder app.

You can drive from Tamarindo to Area de Conservacion Guanacaste in 2.5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Monteverde.

Monteverde is all about natural attractions, not surprising for an eco-tourism hotspot known for its cloud forests and rich diversity of animal life.

Do your shopping at Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery and Sarah's Gallery. Get a sense of the local culture at Ecological Sanctuary and Art House. Take a break from Monteverde with a short trip to Piedra de Fuego in Esparza, about 1h 35 min away. And it doesn't end there: stroll through Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, kick your exploration up a notch at categoryPhrases.alias.some_of_the_top_local_zipline_courses_and_adventure_parks, snap pictures at Santa Elena Skywalk, and take an in-depth tour of Chorotega Arts & Crafts.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, read Monteverde travel planner.

Traveling by car from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste to Monteverde takes 3 hours. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Manuel Antonio.

The rainforest meets the sea at Manuel Antonio National Park, a small but scenic natural preserve on the west coast of Costa Rica.

Get in touch with nature at Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Biesanz. There's still lots to do: explore the wealth of natural beauty at Manuel Antonio National Park, stroll around Parque Nahomi, surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour, and relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour.

Inspirock's itinerary builder makes planning a Manuel Antonio trip simple and quick.

Drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle and bus; or take a bus. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Tue) early enough to catch the bus to San Jose.

A trip to San Jose, the capital, commercial center, and cultural hub of Costa Rica, gives you a chance to experience the lively atmosphere and rich cultural past of this vibrant country.

Get outdoors at Guayabo National Monument and Poas Volcano. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Museo Nacional De Costa Rica and Jade Museum. Change things up with these side-trips from San Jose: Santuario Nacional Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles (in Cartago) and Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz (in Vara Blanca). There's much more to do: examine the collection at Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, explore the world behind art at Museo de Arte Costarricense, and stop by Biesanz Woodworks.

To find where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the San Jose holiday planner.

Take a bus from Manuel Antonio to San Jose in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a shuttle. September in San Jose sees daily highs of 81°F and lows of 65°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 21st (Sat) so you can take a bus to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca offers a wealth of entertainment by the sea, attracting a lively international crowd of revelers while maintaining a bright and breezy coastal charm with a local feel.

Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Caribeans Coffee & Chocolate and La Feria Legendaria de Playa Chiquita. You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at Puerto Viejo Beach and Punta Uva Beach. There's more to do: explore the wealth of natural beauty at Cahuita National Park and take in the exciting artwork at Luluberlu Art Gallery.

For reviews, traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Puerto Viejo de Talamanca road trip planner.

Take a bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a shuttle. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Tortuguero.

One of Costa Rica's least accessible destinations, Tortuguero sits within an eponymous national park and remains accessible only by plane or boat.

On the 25th (Wed), examine the collection at Sea Turtle Conservancy and then explore the wealth of natural beauty at Tortuguero National Park.

To see reviews, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Tortuguero travel route planner.

You can drive from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to Tortuguero in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. In September, plan for daily highs up to 86°F, and evening lows to 73°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 25th (Wed) early enough to go by car to La Fortuna de San Carlos.

Set against the backdrop of the imposing Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna de San Carlos offers visitors a chance to explore diverse natural landscapes and sample some delicious local produce.

Do some cultural sightseeing at Onirica Art Gallery and Coco Loco Art Studio & Gallery. Visiting Tabacon Hot Springs and River Rafting & Tubing will get you outdoors. The adventure continues: take in the dramatic scenery at La Fortuna Waterfall, look for gifts at Souvenir Leo, tour the pleasant surroundings at La Fortuna Arenal Volcano Rain Forest Reserve, and scramble along the landscape with a canyoning and rapelling tour.

To see traveler tips, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the La Fortuna de San Carlos attractions tool.

Getting from Tortuguero to La Fortuna de San Carlos by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or do a combination of taxi and bus. On the 30th (Mon), you'll travel back home.