Discover Costa Rica: An 11-Day Self-Drive Tour
Uncover the natural beauty of Costa Rica during this 11-day self-drive tour around the country. From coast to coast, discover the complexity of the different regions, including the bustling capital city of San Jose and both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Enjoy an unforgettable excursion in Tortuguero, in a shared shuttle and boat, give yourself the opportunity to see a variety of active and dormant volcanoes and rainforests, as well as admire a plethora of animals and plant life. Enjoy all of Costa Rica wrapped up into one trip!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Rincon de la Vieja: Enjoy the volcanic views this spectacular national park has to offer. But watch your step as you wander around the fascinating steaming mud pots and boiling water.
Arenal: Admire one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the country and its mesmerising park, dotted with trails and rich in wildlife.
Sarapiqui: Neighbouring the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a great area for animal spotting, this magnificent region is known for its kayaking and white-water rafting.
Tortuguero: This park is home to the nesting grounds of the green sea turtles, offering spectacular beaches and fantastic opportunities to spot wild animals and birds.
San Jose: Costa Rica’s vibrant capital city was founded in the mid-18th century, boasting great cultural and historical landmarks. Visit its museums, the European-inspired National Theatre, and stroll the charming alleys of its historic neighbourhoods.
Vara Blanca: This hilly, verdant area is located just north of San Jose, next to the hypnotizing active Poas Volcano.
Jaco: Set on the spellbinding Pacific coast, the area of Jaco boasts beautiful beaches and calm surroundings.
Itinerary: "Day 1:
Your Costa Rican adventure begins on arrival to Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, in the north-western part of the country. Here, a Destination Services representative awaits to greet you and take you to the car hire desk to collect your rental car. Then depart to the region of Rincon de la Vieja for your first night in Costa Rica.
- Overnight in Rincon de la Vieja.
Day 2:
Begin your day with a delectable breakfast at the hotel. Today you can visit the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and explore its delightful area known as Las Pailas. Las Pailas, which means the cauldrons in Spanish, spectacularly showcases the awesome power of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, the largest and most active volcano in the region. Steam and sulphur pour out of the rust-coloured ground from natural fumaroles, while coffee-coloured pools boil with hot volcanic water and grey mud bubbles, exploding in large pits. This stunning volcano experience is like no other in Costa Rica. Accompanied by your bilingual naturalist guide, hike the 3.5 kilometre Las Pailas loop trail (2.5 miles) through dry tropical forests to discover the best views of the volcano, incredible nature, volcanic activity, and wildlife. The park is home to more than 300 bird species and other animals like armadillos, collared peccaries, iguanas, snakes, white-nosed coatis, white-faced howlers, and spider monkeys. Finish this memorable park visit and walk back to the hotel to collect your bags. (Entrance fee to the park is not included). In the early afternoon, drive yourself from Rincon de la Vieja to Arenal. Arenal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica and this area is a paradise for adventure lovers.
On arrival to the hotel, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore the surroundings on your own or join an optional activity. You can choose between a Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide, a Kayaking experience, an ATV tour or a relaxing session at the stunning Tabacon Hot Springs. A great choice is the Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide Park, known for having two separate cables, one you glide on and one for major safety precautions. The canopy consists of 15 cables and 18 platforms. These are divided into three sections found mostly in the trees, designed to provide you with greater contact with nature. One of the major attractions is the Tarzan Swing, the part of the tour that guarantees you will have the greatest adventure. All your worries will disappear as you fly through the trees like Tarzan! If this is not your cup of tea, you can always choose to spend your afternoon kayaking. After a short drive, arrive at Arenal Lake, where your guides will give you the equipment, consisting of a life jacket and a paddle, and introduce you to paddling. You will learn basic paddle strokes, safety, and rules of the water. Once on the water, our guides will lead you along the shoreline for an incredible view of the volcano. On your journey, you may observe different species of birds like the Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, Flycatcher, Anhinga and may also possibly hear the Howler Monkey. Optional activities mentioned are not included.
Day 3:
After a tasty breakfast, take the opportunity to visit Arenal Volcano National Park on your own (entrance fee not included). During the hike, enjoy the verdant landscapes and the backdrop of the now-dormant volcano, as you keep a lookout for animals that live in this national park. You have the opportunity to see sloths, howler monkeys, and even anteaters, to name a few. Afterwards, return to the hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing, exploring the surroundings on your own, or participating in an optional activity. You can again choose between Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide, a Kayaking experience, an ATV tour or the relaxing session at the stunning Tabacon Hot Springs, depending on the choice you made yesterday, of course. If you are a nature lover and an adrenaline seeker, the ATV tour is a great choice. The Quads Adventure ATV tour not only gives you the opportunity for adventure and fun but also includes nature and unique views of the majestic Arenal Volcano. The trail you will traverse goes through pastureland at the base of the volcano from which you will have numerous opportunities to view the imposing mountain. You will then continue passing through Tropical Humid Forest and observe the area’s flora and fauna before arriving at the lookout point. There, enjoy one of the best views of the volcano and some of its most recent flows! And if you prefer to unwind and recharge your batteries, spend the afternoon at the Tabacon Hot Springs. Take time to relax your mind and body as you enjoy these therapeutic volcanic hot water springs, surrounded by natural beauty, the rainforest, and the volcano. The magnificent infrastructure of pools, mesmerising waterfalls and the inviting wet bars will make your visit memorable! Optional activities mentioned are not included.
Day 4:
The delicious breakfast at the hotel is followed by check-out and a drive to the Sarapiqui area. Hidden in the foothills of the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park and set alongside mountain streams, exuberant rainforest and pasturelands, this spellbinding area is truly a sight for sore eyes. Encounter the mysteries of the rainforest while enjoying a comfortable stay in the beautifully designed rooms of the lodge. Enjoy the natural surroundings and, perhaps, participate in one of the optional activities available. Today you can choose between an adventurous Rafting experience, a delicious Chocolate tour, and an exciting Canopy tour. Rafting at the Sarapiquí River offers you the perfect combination of adventure and nature. This section is filled with class II-III rapids and clear, refreshing water that swerves its way through the tropical rainforest of Sarapiquí, making it a true paradise! Rapids with names like Roller Coaster, Superman, and Air Force will thrill you while the incredible surroundings filled with flora and fauna will leave you breathless. If you don´t feel adventurous today, you can enjoy an interesting Chocolate tour. This 2.5-hour experience will open the secrets and wonders of one of mankind´s favourite foods: chocolate. The tour will be led by a trained guide across the suspension bridge and a sector of the Tirimbina forest to a former cacao-growing plot. During the hike, the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree will be explained. The cacao plot, which is not in commercial use, was formerly cultivated in an ancient way – mixed with other forest trees. It was used for research purposes several decades ago and is currently used for environmental education, showing the traditional processes. If chocolate is not something you want to learn about, get closer to nature during an exciting Canopy Tour. While from the ground you get visual access to a part of the forest, on the canopy tour you can discover a different perspective. Fill your eyes with nature and your body with adrenaline whole exploring Sarapiqui, one of the most diverse areas in Costa Rica. The zip line adventure is one of the best ways to discover and admire the green world of the treetops. Optional activities mentioned are not included.
Day 5:
Your day begins early with an enchanting drive to the town of Guapiles. Meet your guide for the following days and savour a rich breakfast at a local restaurant. Leave the car locked in the restaurant’s parking lot and continue by shared transport to a pier, where you hop on a boat and cruise the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Arrive, check in, and lunch at your eco-lodge. Board the boat again for a visit to Tortuguero village, where you have the incredible opportunity to stroll its beautifully arranged paths, explore the bewildering beaches, and experience the locals' way of life. During turtle hatching season, we will look for the baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Nesting is from July to September, hatching from September to December. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and wildlife.
Day 6:
Today enjoy some free time to relax by the pool. You can also indulge in a three-hour trip exploring the famous Tortuguero National Park to observe over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, as well as admire its lush vegetation. During the July to September season, you can join an optional late night turtle nesting tour, purchasable directly at the lodge. Entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park is not included.
Day 7:
After a luscious breakfast, depart by boat back to Guapiles. Before you collect your rental car, enjoy a flavoursome lunch. Drive yourself to the bustling San Jose city and arrive in time to see some of the city highlights or just stroll its charming streets.
Day 8: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and head towards the magnificent area of Vara Blanca where you can enjoy exciting optional activities, like a visit to the bewildering La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a privately owned ecological attraction featuring five waterfalls, cloud and rain forests, and great hiking trails. Visit the various exhibits of the gardens, including the butterfly observatory and the insect exhibit, see over 100 species of animals, and catch a glimpse of the environmental education programme. Entrance fee to La Paz Waterfall Garden is not included.
Begin the day with a tasty breakfast at the hotel before you drive yourself from Vara Blanca to the Central Pacific coast. Sandy beaches and protected wildlife are two primary draws to this area. Relax and admire the impressive landscapes. With its combination of ocean views and lush tropical vegetation, the Central Pacific has scenery unlike any other.
