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San José, Costa Rica
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Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica
Your 3 weeks in Costa Rica start on the Caribbean coast, in a small village named Puerto Viejo. Your days here will be filled with some beach time, spotting epic wildlife, and relaxing. Located a bit off the route, this laid-back village is often skipped by many travelers. It turned out one of my favorite places in Costa Rica and it’s unmissable for your trip!
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Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Tortuguero is located on the northeastern Caribbean coast of the country and the name actually means ‘place of turtles’. As the name is already saying, this area is meant to protect the large population of green turtles. The village itself is
located on a narrow stroke of land tucked between the ocean on one side and the
river on the other, surrounded by dense jungle.
Compared to other places in Costa Rica, Tortuguero is a whole different world and is sometimes even referred to as the Amazon of Costa Rica. The mix of biodiversity here is at its wildest and not to be found elsewhere in the country due to the uncommon high rainfall in the area, and its rich environment where the freshwater river mix with the ocean.
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La Fortuna, Costa Rica
La Fortuna Center is very focused on tourists, but the activities here are the reason to put this place on your 3 weeks in Costa Rica itinerary. For example, visit La Fortuna Waterfall or admire El Arenal Volcano! The views of the El Arenal volcano are seen from every out corner of the city, that’s why hiking in one of the many national parks is one of the best activities in La Fortuna!
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Monte Verde, Costa Rica
Located high up in the mountains and home to the only cloud forest in Costa Rica, lies Monteverde. Cloud forests are extremely rare and represent only a fraction of the world’s existing rainforests! For nature lovers, Monteverde can’t be missed on your 3 weeks in Costa Rica itinerary.
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Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica
We’re leaving the forests and impressive landscapes behind and making our way to the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. This small bohemian village on the Pacific coast is the perfect spot to watch magical sunsets and learn how to surf! Surrounded by tall palm trees, the beaches of Santa Teresa are among Costa Rica’s best and attract surfers from all over the world.
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Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s most visited national park and also the smallest! Not only that, but it’s also one of the world’s best national parks. It’s home to pristine beaches, dense jungle, and an amazing variety of wildlife.
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Uvita, Costa Rica
Head further south along the coast and make your way to Uvita. Uvita is a small
village on the South Pacific coast and is becoming very popular among travelers,
I can understand why! Spend your time in Uvita whale watching, exploring insane
waterfalls, seeing the iconic whale-tail beach, and spotting wildlife!
You may want to visit Costa Rica at a slower pace, therefore you could also skip Uvita and stay longer in other places on this 3 weeks in Costa Rica itinerary. We couldn’t fit Uvita into our itinerary anymore, but I’ve seen amazing photos and
heard great stories from fellow travelers about this place!
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San José, Costa Rica
After 3 weeks of exploring Costa Rica’s best places, your time in Costa Rica has come to an end! Bring back your rental car and stay the night close to the airport for your flight back home (or elsewhere) the next day.
Of course, this is optional and totally depends on your flight times. If you have a flight in the late afternoon or evening, you can easily drive to San José airport in the morning straight from Manuel Antonio or Uvita.