Costa Rica in 10 Days or One Week

This is the custom itinerary I created for our Costa Rica Trip in August 2009 - it's action packed but there is plenty of time to rest up, eat, and futher explore the area on your own. This itinerary takes you in a circle touching base in Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, then some Rest & Relaxation Time in Manuel Antonio, ending off in San Jose.

Map originally from www.costaricaguides.com

Making the Arrangements:

I put a list together of Where I Want to Visitand What I Want to do. I then contacted Costa Rica Tours to have to make all the arrangements which did not cost very much at all in the end especially when everything was pre-arranged by them.

A Quick Look at the itinerary

Price: USD $1107 per person
Includes: Transportation to/from Airport, Tranportation between Hotels, Transportation between Tours, Hotels, Tours, Meals (as specified in itinerary), Taxes, Bilingual Assistance

Main Destinations:
Tortuguero - Tour Tortuguero National Park, Turtle Nesting Tour (need to book while there - $30)
Arenal - Tour to Volcano, Baldi Hot Springs, Horseback Riding, La Fortuna Waterfalls
Monteverde Cloud Forrest Reserve - Guided Tour Monteverde, Zip Line Canopy Tour (Must Do while in Costa Rica)
Manuel Antonio - Relax on Beach, Snorkeling

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: San Jose Airport to Tortuguero
Hotel: Pachira Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tours: Tour of Tortuguero National Park , Canal Tour, Turtle Nesting Tour (Turtle Nesting Tour can only be booked while in Tortuguero)
Details:
 - Private Transport from San Jose International Airport to Muelle Cano Blanco, then Private Boat Transport through the amazing river canal systems to Tortuguero finally arriving at Pachira Lodge
 - Check-in, Book Turtle Nesting Tour, Eat Lunch, then off to the Tour of Tortuguero National Park
 - Get back to Pachira Lodge for Dinner then rest up Free Timeto go out at night for some for the Turtle Nesting Tour. (This tour can only go out at night, bring a red bulb flash light so you don't have to share)
Notes:
 - Of all the areas visited in  Costa Rica, We saw the most animals during this time
 - I can't even begin to count how many animals and creatures we saw during the River Canals Tours

Day 2: Tortuguero to Arenal
Hotel: Arenal Volcano Inn (2 Nights)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Tours: Morning Canal / Jungle Tour
Details:
  - Wake Up, Put on provided Gumby Boots, get onto a boat and into the canals for a walk through the jungles of Tortuguero
  - Check out, then Private transfer from Pachira Lodge to Siquirres
  - Lunch while waiting for another Private Transfer to Arenal Volcano Inn. Arrival is around late afternoon so everything till the morning is Free Time.

Day 3: 2nd Day in Arenal
Hotel: Arenal Volcano Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Tours: Liquid Lava Volcano Hike, Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner, Arenal Volcano Erruption Watching
Details:
  - Wake Up, Eat Breakfast, Head out for the Liquid Lava Volcano Hike
  - Back to Arenal Volcano Inn for a few hours of Free Time, then off to Baldi Hot Springs and then get transported to Baldi Hot Springs Hotel and Spa for a buffet dinner
  - After dinner the driver will take you to a popular spot where you get the best view of the Arenal Volcano Erruptuion

Day 4: Arenal to Monteverde
Hotel: Paco a Poco Hotel (2 Nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Tours: Guided Horseback Riding Tour into La Fortuna Waterfalls
Details:
  - Wake up, eat Breakfast
  - Morning Guided Horseback Riding Tour into La Fortuna Waterfalls
  - Private Transport from Arenal Volcano Inn to Boat Taxi, then Private Transport again to Paco a Poco Hotel in Monteverde
  - Arrival is in evening, Free Time till the morning

Day 5: 2nd Night in Monteverde
Hotel: Paco a Poco Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Tours: Guided Tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Aventura Extreme Canopy Zip Line Tour
Details: 
- Wake Up, Breakfast, Transport to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where you get a Personal Gudied Tour through the Rainforst
  - Back to Paco a Poco Hotel, few hours free time
  - Pick up by Aventura Adventure Canopy Tours for the EXTREME CANOPY TOUR ZIP TREK LINE
  - Back to Paco a Poco Hotel, Free time for rest of evening
Notes:
  - This Zip Lining experience has to be one of the best ones i've ever been on. We did a 2000 foot Superman style Zip Line from Mountain to Mountain over the Tree Top Canopies - How unreal is that!!
  - and there is a Tarzan Swing one too

Day 6: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Hotel: Costa Verde Hotel (2 Nights)
Meals: Breakfast
Tours: No Tours Pre Booked / Play by ear but something I would book for in between the ride from Monteverde to Manual Antonio is the Crocodile Man Tour
Details:
  - Private Transport from Paco a Poco Hotel to Costa Verde Hotel in Manual Antonio
  - Nothing planned in Manual Antonio - we wanted to play it by ear and use this time to relax on the beach as Manual Antonia is one of the nicer beaches in Costa Rica
Notes:
 - Suites at this Hotel Offer Breath Taking Oceanviews while surrounded by Jungle Creatures

Day 7: 2nd night in Manual Antonio
Hotel: Costa Verde Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Tours: no Tours Pre Booked / Play by ear

Day 8: Manual Antonio to San Jose
Hotel: Ramada Plaza Herradura
Meals: Breakfast
Tours: No Tours Pre Booked
Details:
  - Spend as much or less time exploring as you want but this stop is just to be close to the San Jose Airport for departure the next day
Notes: 
- The Ramada Plaza Herradura is across the street from a Popular Shopping Mall in San Jose where you can get reaquainted with civilization since you would have been literally in the jungle since day 1.

Day 9: Adios Costa Rica!

Special Thanks again goes to Nidia at Costa Rica Tours who made the arrangements for all our request!! They can be reached at http://www.costaricatour.com/

Some Pictures of the Hotels: