We Love —
- Setting off on a road trip through Costa Rica and exploring its stunning landscapes in complete freedom.
- Trying some of the very many activities available in Arenal, from zip lines through the tree canopy to bathing in the natural hot springs.
- Staying awhile longer in this beautiful location with a stopover in Corcovado National Park, nestled between lush jungle and heavenly beach.
Customer reviews —
On this trip to Costa Rica, we invite you to follow us from the Caribbean to the Pacific coast, via the majestic Arenal volcano and its primary forests. A festival of sounds and colours awaits you - from the blue of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, the intense green of the forests and mangroves, the multi-coloured parrots at Corcovado, to the red of the giant flowers! Unforgettable...
Your itinerary in brief —
Discover the natural treasures of Costa Rica and explore its extraordinary landscapes with your hire car. Between natural parks, volcanoes, and hanging bridges, there is plenty to discover on a 7, 9 or 11 night tour.
Why not seize the opportunity to extend your stay with a few extra nights in Corcovado National Park, and finish your stay on a high note, your toes-in-the-sand and perhaps, a cocktail in hand...
Choose the length of stay that suits you best:
7 night tour / 8 days (or 11 nights with optional stopover):
- Day 1: San José
- Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
- Day 3: Tortuguero - Arenal
- Day 4: Arenal
- Day 5: Arenal - Monteverde
- Day 6: Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
- Day 7: Manuel Antonio
- Day 8: Departure
9 night tour / 10 days (or 13 nights with optional stopover):
- Day 1: San José
- Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
- Day 3: Tortuguero
- Day 4: Tortuguero - Arenal
- Day 5: Arenal
- Day 6: Arenal - Monteverde
- Day 7: Monteverde
- Day 8: Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
- Day 9: Manuel Antonio
- Day 10: Departure
11 night tour / 12 days (or 15 nights with optional stopover):
- Day 1: San José
- Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
- Day 3: Tortuguero
- Day 4: Tortuguero - Arenal
- Day 5 & 6: Arenal
- Day 7: Arenal - Monteverde
- Day 8: Monteverde
- Day 9: Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
- Day 10 & 11: Manuel Antonio
- Day 12: Departure
Please note: your itinerary may have minor adjustments, but your overall trip experience will remain the same
Your hotels may be located inside or outside cities and towns. Please note that you can park your car inside or outside the hotels (subject to availability). Additional charges may apply on site.
Your itinerary in detail —
7 night road trip
DAY 1: SAN JOSÉ
- Arrival in in San José.
- A local representative will meet and assist you at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO).
- Transfer from the airport to your hotel.
Overnight stay in San José.
DAY 2: SAN JOSÉ - TORTUGUERO (3 HOURS DRIVE / 1.5 HOURS BY BOAT)
- Visit the wonderful region of Tortuguero, in the north of the Caribbean.
- Tortuguero is one of the most popular ecotourism destinations in Costa Rica.
- Created to protect endangered sea turtles, its canals, rivers, lagoons and rainforests make it a paradise for wildlife.
- You'll take a shared transfer from the hotel to Tortuguero.
- On the way, stop in the town of Guapiles to have a Costa Rican breakfast at a local restaurant, then continue to the pier where you'll board the boat to Tortuguero.
- Visit the charming village of Tortuguero in the afternoon.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included (drinks excluded).
Overnight stay in Tortuguero.
Please note: The order of activities in Tortuguero may vary depending on the organisation of the hotel.
DAY 3: TORTUGUERO - ARENAL (1H30 BY BOAT / 2H30 BY ROAD)
- Rise early today and join your guide to enjoy nature in all its splendour by taking a sunrise boat tour of Tortuguero National Park.
- Take a shared transfer by boat and land from Tortuguero to the restaurant located in Guapiles, where a traditional lunch (excluding drinks) awaits you.
- Meet the car hire representative to get your hire car, to continue onwards to your next destination - La Fortuna de San Carlos, where the impressive Arenal volcano is located.
Overnight stay in Arenal.
Breakfast and lunch included.
DAY 4: ARENAL
- After breakfast, explore the wonders of Arenal at your own pace.
- Try the natural hot springs, hike the lava trails of Arenal Volcano National Park, see the amazing La Fortuna waterfall or fly through the tree canopy on a zip line adventure*.
* These are optional excursions, available for an extra charge.
Overnight stay in Arenal.
Breakfast included
DAY 5: ARENAL - MONTEVERDE (3H DRIVE)
- Departure for Monteverde today.
- Monteverde is a unique blend of natural beauty and tranquillity combined with adventurous and adrenaline-filled activities like zip lines and nighttime jungle walks.
Overnight stay in Monteverde.
Breakfast included.
DAY 6 : MONTEVERDE - MANUEL ANTONIO (3H30 DRIVE)
- Visit the village of Manuel Antonio and its magnificent beach.
- Famous for its national park, the lively village of Manuel Antonio is located on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Overnight stay in Monteverde.
Breakfast included.
DAY 7: MANUEL ANTONIO
- Enjoy a free day to discover for yourself the amazing flora and fauna of the Central Pacific Coast.
- Hike to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, or take time to simply relax on the beaches of Manuel Antonio.
Overnight stay in Manuel Antonio.
Breakfast included.
DAY 8: END OF THE ITINERARY (3H DRIVE)
- Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel prior to departure.
- Return to the hire car office near Juan Santamaría International Airport.
- A shared shuttle will take you to the airport for your flight home.
- If you choose the optional stay in Corcovado National Park, you'll leave your hire car in Manuel Antonio, before being transferred to your lovely getaway destination...
9 night road trip
DAYS 1 AND 2:
- These days are identical to the itinerary of the 7 night tour.
DAY 3: TORTUGUERO
- Join the guide for a walk along the private trails of Evergreen Lodge and discover the flora and fauna of this magical place.
- In the afternoon, after lunch, enjoy nature in all its splendour as you cruise the canals, lagoons and rainforest of Tortuguero National Park by boat.
Overnight stay in Tortuguero.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
DAYS 4-6:
- These days are identical to the itinerary of Days 3-5 of the 7 night tour.
DAY 7: MONTEVERDE
- Enjoy a free day to discover for yourself the many natural wonders of Monteverde.
Overnight stay in Monteverde.
Breakfast included.
DAYS 8-10:
- These days are identical to the itinerary of Days 6-8 of the 7 night tour.
11 night road trip
DAYS 1 - 4:
- These days are identical to Days 1-4 of the 9 night itinerary.
DAYS 5 - 6: ARENAL
- Explore Arenal at your own leisurely pace, with the added pleasure of having plenty of time to try all the incredible activities that are available in this destination.
Overnight stay in Arenal.
Breakfast included.
DAYS 7 -12:
- These days are identical to Days 6-10 of the 9 night itinerary.
Optional 3-night stay in Corcovado
DAY 1: MANUEL ANTONIO - CORCOVADO (2 HOURS TRAVEL TIME)
- At the agreed time, meet your driver in the hotel lobby for a private transfer to your next destination: the South Pacific coast, where the impressive Corcovado National Park is located.
- Arrive in Sierpe and meet your guide for the boat transfer to your lodge.
- Relish spending the next two nights in a place where relaxation and adventure co-exist harmoniously in a pure and natural environment.
Overnight stay at Drake Bay or Rancho Corcovado
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
DAYS 2 - 3: CORCOVADO
- Make the most of your days in Corcovado.
- During your stay, you can enjoy one of the following two included experiences:
- Hike to Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo Station): Visit Corcovado National Park, known as the most biologically diverse place on the planet according to National Geographic, with an expert guide.
- Caño Island & snorkelling: Explore one of the largest and healthiest coral formations on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Prepare for an incredible underwater adventure, where sea turtles, rays, dolphins, moray eels, barracudas, sharks, humpback whales, tuna, and other aquatic animals are frequently seen.
Overnight stay at Drake Bay or Rancho Corcovado
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included
DAY 4: CORCOVADO - SAN JOSE (3.5 HOURS BY CAR / 45 MINUTES DOMESTIC FLIGHT - YOUR CHOICE)
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
- Check out at the agreed time and prepare for the journey to San José.
- Shared transfer to Juan Santamaria Airport
Important information about your tour and visits: The hotels, that comply with local standards, are indicative and may be changed locally for hotels of a similar category. The itinerary is subject to changes due to compelling reasons such as delayed flights, weather conditions or other cases of force majeure. The order of visits is also subject to change.
Your hotels —
Hand-picked just for you
Maximum room capacity
At each of your stops, choose between carefully selected Standard or Superior Hotels.
Standard hotels:
- San José: Sleep Inn (or similar)
- Tortuguero: La Baula Lodge (or similar)
- Arenal: Eco Arenal (or similar)
- Monteverde: Jaguarundi Lodge (or similar)
- Manuel Antonio: Tabulia Tree (or similar)
Superior hotels:
- San José: Hotel Presidente (or similar)
- Tortuguero: Evergreen Lodge (or similar)
- Arenal: Lomas del Volcan (or similar)
- Monteverde: Poco a Poco (or similar)
- Manuel Antonio: Si Como No Resort, Spa & Wildlife Refug (or similar)
If the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be provided with comfortable accommodation in similar hotels. Local standards apply.
Possibility to stay in a single room with supplement. The maximum capacity of the room is 3 adults or 2 adults + 1 child.
Your dining choices
Throughout your tour, enjoy a bed and breakfast stay, except in Tortuguero, which will be full board (see details in the itinerary) - excluding drinks. If you choose the Corcovado National Park optional stopover, enjoy full board (excluding drinks) in your accommodation in the park, as well as breakfast at your hotel in San José.
Your optional excursions —
Bird watching (min. 2 people)
Dawn breaks, and the bird ecosystems in the forest start coming to life. As the sun rises, your adventure on the Gallery Trail begins. This trail is home to more than 380 bird species and features small lakes and meadows ideal for bird watching. The walk is comfortable and relaxing, suitable for the whole family.
Night walks (min. 2 people)
Embark on a nighttime tour to discover a world immersed in the realm of amphibians and reptiles within the forest. Observe frogs like the "Red eye tree frog," the "Tink frog" frog, and giant predators like the "Bullfrog". You will also have the opportunity to encounter snakes, sloths, anteaters, armadillos, and birdlife.
Maleku Village (min. 2 people)
You will learn about the Maleku indigenous culture, their language, and their traditions, including local dishes, medicinal plants, traditional dances and ceremonies, burial rituals, and more.
Horseback ride to La Fortuna waterfall (min. 2 people)
This tour begins with a horseback ride through beautiful landscapes in the midst of the rainforest. Alongside the guide, you will embark on a forest trail hike that will lead you to the paradisiacal La Fortuna Waterfall. Here, you can enjoy the views and cool off with a swim in its wonderful waters before ascending the trail once more.
Ama Extreme (min. 2 people)
Traverse 7 canopy lines and enjoy spectacular views from the treetop canopy. An 18-meter high tower will take you to soar over a 120-meter canyon, the highest point of the 560 hectares of forest. You'll cross a suspension bridge that leads to the longest cable in Arenal Mundo Aventura, with 980 meters and a wonderful view of La Fortuna Waterfall. Glide over cables at speeds of up to 45 mph, all supervised by experts and using the best safety techniques.
Your optional services —
Full coverage insurance for Standard or Superior car hire
Upgrade to full coverage car insurance on your Standard or Superior hire car, for a worry-free trip with every eventuality covered.
Your journey to Costa Rica —
Flights:
You will be able to choose your airline and flight times when you make your booking. This flight may include one or more stopovers. The stopover may be technical (without a change of aircraft) or transit (with a change of aircraft).
Luggage information
Luggage, meals and other services on board may be subject to an additional fee on certain airlines. It is possible to view details of luggage allowances when you choose your flights at the next stage of the booking process. If luggage is not included with your flight, please go to the airline's website before your departure to purchase your luggage for an additional fee.
For domestic flights, airlines do not always offer the option of reserving luggage. In this case, you will need to pay for it at the airport counter.
You will receive all the information you need to check in for your flights after you have made your reservation.
Your destination —
Costa Rica
As the eco-and adventure-tourism capital of Central America, Costa Rica is a magnet for nature enthusiasts, thrill seekers and those who want to step off the beaten track.
La Pura Vida (the pure life) is the unofficial motto of the country, and it's easy to see why - emerald rainforests, pastel-coloured hummingbirds, smouldering volcanic peaks, tumbling rivers...this verdant chunk is one of the most bio-diverse spots on the planet.
The country's national parks are its greatest glory, with one-third of the country set aside as protected natural areas. As well as being a world leader in eco-tourism, Costa Rica superbly caters for visitors looking for an adrenalin kick, with options including white water rafting, zip line tours through the rainforest canopy, surfing and quad biking.
It is quickly becoming more popular, so grab this chance to visit now, while landscapes are still exceptionally unspoiled.