LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Peak to beach
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TWO WEEKS / SAN JOSÉ TO JACO
A 675km loop leads from San José inland to San Isidro and then on to the Pacific coast at Dominical and up the coast, so there’s no need to backtrack. Add another week if you decide to use Dominical as a base for exploring the wonders of the southern coast.
From the highest summit down to tropical beaches, this itinerary takes you high and low and through everything in between.
Start by heading south on the Interamericana out of San José, into the Zona de Los Santos. Visit the coffee plantations in the valley near Santa María de Dota or go bird-watching in the highlands of the Parque Nacional Los Quetzales. Continue past the looming Cerro de la Muerte and straight down the mountain to the pleasant agricultural city of San Isidro de El General. From here, ride the winding dirt road northeast to San Gerardo de Rivas and prepare for the two-day climb up Costa Rica’s highest peak, Cerro Chirripó. Linger around the summit for incredible day hikes before making your way back down.
Return through San Isidro to Dominical and enjoy a laid-back vibe and powerful surf. If you’re addicted to Pacific sunsets, stay in Escaleras for staggering views. Continue on north to Hacienda Barú, where you can clamber on a canopy platform and sloth-spot in the trees. Head further up the coast to the port of Quepos, before dipping south and landing in the country’s most popular national park, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Wind down your trip with some fun and sun in the resort town of Jacó, an adequate reintroduction to gringo-life before flying out of San José.
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