Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna (32619266035) — La Fortuna & Manuel Antonio & Quepos
Photo: nigel burgher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Free travel itinerary template · 9 days

La Fortuna & Manuel Antonio & Quepos 9-Day Itinerary

9 days across La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio & Quepos, with a dedicated travel day between bases. Includes Arenal Volcano National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park. Adjust the suggested visits and transfer breaks to your pace.

Adapted from community travel guides · Researched 2026-11-10Sources & notes

The stops are drawn from the guides below; daily order, times and durations are our suggested adaptation. Available map pins are approximate, not provider-verified; missing coordinates remain unset. Prices are left unknown; check tickets, opening hours and transport before booking.

Route data adapted from Wikivoyage contributors, with our own selection and suggested timing; shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source pages link to contributor histories. This is an editorial multi-day schedule; the source community has not rated this itinerary.

Canadian destination trends · official country-level data ↗ · Destination award, not an itinerary rating.

  • Selected using Canadian country-level outbound visit data and editorial route research, not a ranking of Canadians' favorite individual cities. Popularity does not guarantee suitability or current access.
  • CAD is the editable budget currency; no exchange rate, package price, airline schedule or airfare is supplied. International flights, arrival recovery and the return journey require additional planning outside these sightseeing days.
  • Check the Canadian travel advisory for the actual destination and your visit dates at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories before booking. Confirm entry requirements, insurance, tickets and local transport separately.
  • Place the national-park day on a date when it operates. Transfer from La Fortuna on a separate day and allow the full road journey; this is not a short local hop.
  • Stay in La Fortuna for 5 sightseeing days. Wikivoyage contributors · La Fortuna: revision 5407883.
  • Stay in Manuel Antonio & Quepos for 3 sightseeing days. Wikivoyage contributors · Manuel Antonio National Park: revision 5377964; Wikivoyage contributors · Quepos: revision 5415443.
  • Sight selection is adapted from the linked community guides and previously researched city templates. Suggested time blocks are not confirmed opening hours, reservations or live prices. Adapted Wikivoyage route selections are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0; original photo licenses and credits remain attached.
  • Travel between bases has its own relocation day. Local transfer blocks include a lunch break and require checking against your actual route, transport mode and accommodation. Remote sights may need a driver or an extra travel day.

La Fortuna & Manuel Antonio & Quepos itinerary: 9 days at a glance

Review the original daily plan before editing below. Times and durations are suggested planning blocks; dining stops are not reservations. Your personal edits appear in the editor and downloads.

Day 1: La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano national-park trails

  • · Arenal Volcano National Park · 480 min

Day 2: La Fortuna: Waterfall and La Fortuna town

  • · Fortuna Waterfall · 120 min
  • · Lunch break and local transfer · 150 min
  • · La Fortuna town center · 120 min

Day 3: La Fortuna: Hanging bridges and a reserved hot-spring visit

  • · Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges · 120 min
  • · Lunch break and local transfer · 150 min
  • · EcoTermales Fortuna · 120 min

Day 4: La Fortuna: Lake Arenal outing

  • · Lake Arenal · 480 min

Day 5: La Fortuna: El Castillo nature and conservation

  • · Arenal Butterfly Conservatory · 120 min
  • · Lunch break and local transfer · 150 min
  • · El Castillo village · 120 min

Day 6: La Fortuna → Manuel Antonio & Quepos: travel and check-in

  • · Relocate: La Fortuna → Manuel Antonio & Quepos · 600 min

Day 7: Manuel Antonio & Quepos: Manuel Antonio national-park forest and shore

  • · Manuel Antonio National Park · 480 min

Day 8: Manuel Antonio & Quepos: Public Espadilla beach rest day

  • · Playa Espadilla Norte · 480 min

Day 9: Manuel Antonio & Quepos: Damas Island mangrove outing

  • · Damas Island mangroves · 480 min

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Day 1
  • 09:00480m
    Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Use an official open trail; no ascent into a closed volcanic area is included. Buy the correct entrance ticket and check rain / volcanic restrictions. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 2
  • 09:30120m
    Fortuna Waterfall, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Many stairs and slippery surfaces; swimming is conditional and never required. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

  • 12:00150m
    La FortunaMap

    Flexible allowance for lunch and travel between visits. Choose a restaurant near your route. Check actual walking, transit or taxi times; no meal, fare or reservation is included.

  • 15:00120m
    La Fortuna town center, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Map pin unavailable; use the place name and address to locate the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 3
  • 09:30120m
    Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Confirm admission and the actual open walking route; transport is separate. Map pin unavailable; use the place name and address to locate the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

  • 12:00150m
    La FortunaMap

    Flexible allowance for lunch and travel between visits. Choose a restaurant near your route. Check actual walking, transit or taxi times; no meal, fare or reservation is included.

  • 15:00120m
    On main road between La Fortuna & Arenal LakeMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Choose and book an actual operating time slot; this suggested time does not include a reservation. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 4
  • 09:00480m
    Lake Arenal, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Arrange a road-based viewpoint visit or a reputable guided boat outing; confirm transport, storm conditions and the specific departure. No unsupervised water activity is assumed. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 5
  • 09:30120m
    El Castillo Village - Arenal VolcanoMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

  • 12:00150m
    La FortunaMap

    Flexible allowance for lunch and travel between visits. Choose a restaurant near your route. Check actual walking, transit or taxi times; no meal, fare or reservation is included.

  • 15:00120m
    El Castillo village, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Map pin unavailable; use the place name and address to locate the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/La_Fortuna (revision 5407883). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 6
  • 08:00600m
    La Fortuna → Manuel Antonio & QueposMap

    A full day reserved for travel and check-in, not a timetable or booking. Check train, flight, ferry or road options and door-to-door journey time before booking accommodation. Move the following day if your connection needs longer.

Day 7
  • 09:00480m
    Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Buy official SINAC tickets for an operating day; the current park schedule closes on Tuesdays. Choose open forest trails and permitted shore areas; Punta Catedral is not included while closed. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Manuel_Antonio_National_Park (revision 5377964). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 8
  • 09:00480m
    Playa Espadilla Norte, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. This is the public beach outside the national-park boundary, not a second included park entry. Follow lifeguard and current rip-current warnings. Map pin unavailable; use the place name and address to locate the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Manuel_Antonio_National_Park (revision 5377964). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

Day 9
  • 09:00480m
    Damas Island mangroves, Costa RicaMap

    Suggested visit block; confirm current access, tickets, closures and the entrance before travelling. Book a responsible guided boat excursion with a confirmed meeting point and return. Its actual departure and duration replace the placeholder visit block; no wildlife contact is included. Map pin unavailable; use the place name and address to locate the entrance. Source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Manuel_Antonio_National_Park (revision 5377964). Selection and timing adapted from the credited guide; community route data retains CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution.

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