In Two Weeks

If you have 2 weeks, you'll be able to hit all the highlights mentioned above, as well as some others, and at a slightly more relaxed pace to boot. The first part of this itinerary is very similar to the 1-week itinerary laid out here. It's a real judgment call, but you might want to substitute a 2- to 3-day trip to Tortuguero for either the Guanacaste or the southern zone section listed below, or whittle down a day here or there along the way in order to squeeze in Tortuguero.

Day 1: Arrive & Settle into San José

Arrive and get settled in San José. If your flight gets in early enough and you have time, head downtown and tour the Museo de Oro Banco Central (Gold Museum).

Head over to the Teatro Nacional (National Theater). If anything is playing that night, buy tickets for the show. For an elegant and delicious dinner, I recommend Grano de Oro Restaurant, which is an elegant restaurant with seating in and around an open-air central courtyard in a beautiful downtown hotel.

Day 2: Hot Rocks

Rent a car and head to the Arenal National Park to see Arenal Volcano. Settle into your hotel and spend the afternoon at the Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort working out the kinks from the road. In the evening either sign up for a volcano-watching tour or take one on your own by driving the road to Arenal National Park and finding a quiet spot to pull over and wait for the sparks to fly.

Another option for dinner is Bakea, an elegant fusion restaurant in a wonderfully restored old colonial home in the heart of downtown.

Day 3: Active in Arenal

Spend the morning doing something adventurous around Arenal National Park. Your options range from white-water rafting to mountain biking to horseback riding and then hiking to the Río Fortuna Waterfall. My favorite is the canyoning adventure offered by Pure Trek Canyoning. Allow at least 4 hours of daylight to drive around Lake Arenal to Monteverde. Stop for a break at Toad Hall, on the road between Tabacón and Nuevo Arenal, where you can shop for gifts, artwork, and souvenirs. Once you get to Monteverde, settle into your hotel and head for a sunset drink and dinner at El Sapo Dorado. If you're really active, you can schedule a second adventure for the afternoon or take time to visit the town of La Fortuna. In the evening return to the Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort. If you were smart, you'll have already booked yourself a spa treatment.

Day 4: Driving (& Shopping) Your Way around the Lake to Monteverde

Give yourself at least 4 hours of daylight to drive around Lake Arenal to Monteverde. But you can take even longer. During your drive, be sure to stop at both Toad Hall and the Lucky Bug Gallery, where you can shop for gifts, artwork, and souvenirs. Once you're in Monteverde, settle into your hotel and head for a sunset drink and dinner at El Sapo Dorado.

Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Wake up early and take a guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Be sure to stop in at the Hummingbird Gallery next door to the entrance after your tour. There's great shopping, and the scores of brilliant hummingbirds buzzing around your head are always fascinating. Spend the afternoon visiting several of the area's attractions, which might include any combination of the following: the Butterfly Garden, Orchid Garden, Monteverde Serpentarium, Frog Pond of Monteverde, and the World of Insects. Head to Sofia for dinner and grab a window table fronting their well-lighted and lush gardens.

Day 6: More Monteverde

There's just no way you can hit all the local Monteverde attractions in a day. Use today to visit a few that you missed. Also be sure to stop in at several of the local art galleries and crafts shops. Monteverde has one of the country's most vibrant arts scenes, and there are several worthwhile galleries, including Casa de Arte and the Community Arts Center. In the evening, be sure to try Sofia for some top-draw Latin-fusion cuisine.

Day 7: Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

Use the morning to take one of the zip-line canopy tours here. I recommend the Original Canopy Tour in Monteverde for its unique ascent up the inside of a hollowed-out strangler fig. Be sure to schedule the tour early enough so that you can hit the road by noon for your drive to Manuel Antonio National Park. Settle into your hotel and head for a sunset drink at one of the several roadside restaurants with spectacular views over the rainforest to the sea. You can drop your car off at any point now and just rely on taxis and tours. After your sunset drink, head down into the town of Quepos for dinner at El Patio Bistro Latino, a cozy little spot serving some of the best food in the area.

Day 8: Manuel Antonio

In the morning take a boat tour of the Damas Island estuary with Jorge Cruz, and then reward yourself for all the hard touring so far with an afternoon lazing on one of the beautiful beaches inside Manuel Antonio National Park. If you just can't lie still, be sure to hike the loop trail through the rainforest here and around Cathedral Point. Make reservations at the Sunspot Bar & Grill for an elegant and intimate final dinner in Costa Rica.

Days 9, 10 & 11: Southern Costa Rica

Fly from Quepos and Manuel Antonio to Drake Bay and settle into a remote ecolodge, such as La Paloma Lodge. You'll need 3 days to experience the many natural wonders of this southern zone. Aside from hiking in the rainforest, you'll be able to take scuba or snorkel outings, sportfishing trips, kayak adventures, and surfing lessons.

Days 12, 13 & 14: Guanacaste's Gold Coast

You've had enough nature and adventure; it's time to enjoy some pure R&R. From the southern zone, fly up to Guanacaste and spend your final days enjoying the pleasures of one of Costa Rica's Gold Coast beaches. If you can afford it and rooms are available, I recommend the Four Seasons Resort. Alternatively, you might enjoy a smaller boutique hotel such as Sueño del Mar.

If just lying on the beach or poolside is too mellow, there are scores of tour and activity options. If you're not feeling that active or adventurous, simply break out that novel you've been too busy to open and enjoy. On your last day, fly home from Liberia.