Two Weeks in Costa Rica with a Day Trip to Bocas del Toro: Itinerary, Costs & Travel Tips

Costa Rica is a dream destination for nature lovers, adventurers, and beach seekers. Our two-week trip from February 14 to February 28 was packed with breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife, and unforgettable experiences. We also squeezed in a quick trip to Bocas del Toro, Panama, which turned out to be an exciting addition to our adventure.

How Much We Spent in Total

Costa Rica is not as cheap as you might think, especially when it comes to car rentals and food. If you are planning to eat out mostly then be prepared to spend average 50-70 € per person per day. Here's a breakdown of our major expenses:

The biggest shock was the car rental, which ended up costing us 2,500 €! Due to limited availability, prices were crazy, and we had to get a large SUV because Costa Rican roads, especially in rural areas, are rough. If you're planning to rent a car, book well in advance to avoid this mistake.

Our Costa Rica Itinerary Short Overview (Feb 14 - 28)

📍 Feb 14-15: San José → Stayed at BEE Suites San José - Escalante (67 €) / recommend nice views, clean.

📍 Feb 15-17: La Fortuna → Stayed at Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa (1 night, 401 €) & La Finca Lodge (1 night, 103 €) / we fell for the Hotel Arenal Kioro volcano pictures and we did not see the volcano from the window, so do not expect that! La Finca Lodge was absolutely adorable.

📍 Feb 17-18: Tamarindo → Stayed at Surf Ranch Tamarindo (1 night, 82 €) / don't recommend, wasn't very nice.

📍 Feb 18-20: Nosara → Stayed at Airbnb (Hosted by Congo Team) / recommend!

📍 Feb 20-23: Manuel Antonio → Stayed at Airbnb (Savegre de Aguirre) absolutely amazing Airbnb, recommend!

📍 Feb 23-27: Puerto Viejo (Caribbean Side) → Stayed at Airbnb in Cocles recommend!

📍 Feb 26-27: Bocas del Toro, Panama → Stayed at a budget hotel (60 $ per night, booked on arrival)

📍 Feb 27-28: San José → Returned for flight home (Flight at 22:55) Our Full Costa Rica Itinerary

San José (Feb 14 - 15)

We landed in San José (SJO) at 18:55 and picked up our rental car. We stayed at BEE Suites San José - Escalante (67 €). In San José we checked out:

• Museum of Costa Rican Art (Free, 9 AM - 4 PM)

• San José Central Market for local snacks

  You could also visit Poás Volcano National Park (Closed at 2 PM, so plan accordingly!)

💡 Travel Tip: Skip spending too much time in San José—it's not the highlight of Costa Rica!

La Fortuna (Feb 15 - 17)

We drove 3 hours from San José to La Fortuna, home of Arenal Volcano. Our stays:

• Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa (401 € for one night) – Very Instagrammable, but we did not see the volcano and apparently it's mostly covered with clouds. We saw cute monkeys around the hotel area. The price included a jacuzzi in the room, but overall, you can enjoy the thermal springs at the hotel as well. However, I would opt for a cheaper hotel next time, as we stayed in some places for around 100 € per night that were even more amazing.

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa, Fortuna

• La Finca Lodge (103 € for one night) – An absolutely adorable hotel! The rooms were super cute with open views of the ranch, and there were horses everywhere, creating a peaceful and picturesque atmosphere. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, making the stay even more special. You could book a variety of tours directly with them, including ATV tours. For this price, it was 100% worth it, and I would highly recommend staying here! 🐎✨

La Finca Lodge, Fortuna

Must-do activities in La Fortuna: ✅ La Fortuna Waterfall (12 km from town, absolutely worth it!) ✅ Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa – We didn’t stay here, but we visited the hot springs ✅ Sloth watching tours ✅ Arenal Volcano hike – But beware, the volcano is often covered in clouds, so don’t expect a perfect Instagram shot!

La Fortuna Waterfall & Tabacon Thermal Spa, Fortuna

Hidden Gem: Catarata del Toro

🚗 We also stopped at Catarata del Toro—the most beautiful waterfall we saw! A true hidden gem that not many tourists visit. It's very short 20 minute walk after you park and buy the ticket, but 100% worth it.

🚗 Driving Conditions: Roads around La Fortuna are okay, but be aware of wild life and it might rain alot.

Catarata del Toro, Fortuna

Tamarindo (Feb 17 - 18)

Instead of heading to Nosara immediately, we decided to drive to Tamarindo for a beach day.

• Stayed at Surf Ranch Tamarindo (82 € for one night)

• Chilled on Tamarindo Beach - it has amazing vibe, lots of restaurants, people chilling in the beach, surfing 🏄‍♀️

• Tried surfing (rentals available)

💡 Lesson Learned: It was a long drive for just one night and we wished we stayed longer there since the vibe was so nice (reminded me Wakiki Beach in Hawaii). If you're short on time, consider skipping Tamarindo or staying longer.

Tamarindo beach

Nosara (Feb 18 - 20)

After Tamarindo, we drove to Nosara, a laid-back beach town known for surfing and yoga.

• Stayed at Airbnb (Hosted by Congo Team, Feb 18-20)

• Visited Playa Guiones & Samara Beach

• Tried yoga & explored surf spots

🚗 Driving Conditions: Roads to Nosara are rough, and you definitely need a 4x4 SUV!

💡 Was It Worth It? Nosara has a chill, boho vibe, but if you’re not into yoga or surfing, you can skip it.

Nosara, Costa Rica

We also looked into visiting this place that we heard is amazing:

Monteverde → Skipped!

It's an 3 hour drive from Tamarindo to Monteverde for rainforest adventures. Be aware of unpaved roads, steep inclines, and lots of bumps!

You could visit:

✅ Hiking in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

✅ Ziplining over the jungle 

✅ Rio Celeste waterfall

✅ Parque Nacional Tenerio

Manuel Antonio (Feb 20 - 23)

We took an insanely long 5 hour drive to get to Manuel Antonio, but it was worth it! Manuel Antonio, located on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, is renowned for its stunning national park, diverse wildlife, and beautiful beaches. Visitors can explore lush rainforests, spot sloths and monkeys, and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, snorkeling, and surfing. The town offers charming boutiques, restaurants, and a relaxing atmosphere, making it the perfect destination for both adventure and relaxation.

Places to visit & things to do:

✅ Stunning jungle beaches - Possible to surf (rent a board from the town)

✅ The Manuel Antonio Hot Springs 

✅ Chocolate Tour

✅ Rainmaker Conservation Park for hike

✅ Manuel Antonio national park and wildlife monkeys and animal spotting

Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio

Puerto Viejo & Caribbean Side (Feb 23 - 27)

We drove 6+ hours from Monteverde to the Caribbean coast—long and tiring! The road was nice highway, so no worries about that.

Stayed at an Airbnb in Cocles (Feb 23–28, hosted by Pablo).

Must-do activities: ✅ Playa Negra (Black Sand Beach) – Unique and beautiful ✅ Chocolate Making Experience in Puerto Viejo (8 AM - 4 PM) ✅ Surfing at Playa Cocles ✅ Cahuita National Park – Amazing wildlife spotting ✅ Punta Uva Beach – Beautiful beach, also known for its lonely palm on the beach

Playa Negra, Punta Uva Beach & Chocolate Making Experience in Puerto Viejo

Day Trip to Bocas del Toro, Panama

One of the highlights of our trip!

• We drove to the Costa Rica-Panama border, walked across, and took a cheap taxi to the port. There are taxis (people) waiting there all the time to take people whenever they need since we arrived 7 am. Also the boarder control is simple and fast.

• The boat ride to Bocas del Toro is rough—small, crowded, and bumpy (be prepared!)

• Rented a scooter for 20 $ per day to explore the island

• Starfish Beach – Absolutely stunning and a must-visit

💡 Total Cost: Less than 50 $ per person (border transport, boat, and scooter rental).

Starfish Beach, Bocas del Toro Panama

What We Wish We Knew Before

✅ Car rental prices are insane – If you need an SUV, book in advance!

✅ La Fortuna volcano is mostly covered in clouds – Don’t expect perfect photos!

✅ Driving distances are long – Costa Rica looks small on the map, but the roads make trips much longer than expected.

✅ Crocodiles are a real danger – If no one is surfing in a seemingly great beach, there’s probably a river mouth nearby (aka croc territory!). Also be aware of signs since sometimes they are hidden.

✅ Bring an international driver's license – Some car rental companies require it.

Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?

Costa Rica is absolutely stunning, but it's more expensive than we expected. The car rental cost & food prices shocked us the most, but everything else was reasonable. The trip was a mix of adventure, relaxation, and unexpected surprises, and we'd definitely go back!

Would we do anything differently? I personally wish we spent more time in Tamarindo and Bocas del Toro. Also, I am a huge fan of waterfalls and Costa Rica has so many, so I wished I visited more in Fortuna area since there were so many waterfall signs everywhere and the Catarata del Toro we found randomly... Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and definitely worth visiting, especially if you are a nature lover!

💬 Have questions about Costa Rica? Drop them in the comments! 🌿✈️