We Love —
- The eco-tourism paradise of Tortuguero National Park with its canals, rivers and lagoons.
- Experiencing the best of Costa Rica from San José's lively bars to the laid-back costal town of Puerto Viejo as well as lush tropical rainforest and pristine beaches.
- Putting your feet up with a drink in hand in your comfortable hotels after days of exploration with the freedom in your own rental car.
Your itinerary in brief —
Drive through lush Costa Rica on this incredible road trip through some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes. Go at your own pace and discover tropical forests, heavenly beaches and exotic wildlife with a choice of 7, 9 or 11 nights.
Choose the length of your trip:
7 nights:
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
Day 3: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo
Day 4: Puerto Viejo
Day 5: Puerto Viejo - Sarapiquí
Day 6: Sarapiqui - Arenal
Day 7: Arenal
Day 8: Arenal - SJO Airport - Departure
9 nights:
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
Day 3: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo
Day 4 & 5: Puerto Viejo
Day 6: Puerto Viejo - Sarapiquí
Day 7: Sarapíqui - Arenal
Days 8 & 9: Arenal
Day 10: Arenal - Departure
11 nights:
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
Day 3: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo
Day 4 - 6: Puerto Viejo
Day 7: Puerto Viejo - Sarapiquí
Day 8: Sarapiquí
Day 9: Sarapiquí - Arenal
Days 10 & 11: Arenal
Day 12: Arenal - SJO Airport - Departure
Please note that the order of activities may be changed without affecting the interest of the programme.
Your itinerary in detail —
7-night tour
Day 1: Arrival in San José
The capital of Costa Rica, San José is a bustling metropolis at gateway to stunning natural beauty where historic charm and modernity collide in an array of colonial architecture, vibrant markets and a lively cultural scene.
- Private transfer from Juan Santamaria International Airport to your hotel in San José
- Overnight in San José
Day 2: San José - Tortuguero (4hrs drive and 1hr5 by boat)
A paradise for research and ecotourism, Tortuguero was created to protect endangered sea turtles. The canals, rivers and lagoons of Tortuguero National Park are a goldmine for rainforest and marine biology.
Stop in the town of Guapiles on the way for a delicious Costa Rican breakfast in a local restaurant, then continue to the pier where you'll board the boat for Tortuguero where you will meet your guide and visit the charming village of Tortuguero.
- Early check-out
- Semi-private transfer to the magnificent Tortuguero region
- Full board included
- Overnight in Tortuguero
Day 3: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo (1h5 by boat and 3h by road)
Join your experienced guide and discover the network of canals, lagoons and dense rainforests of Tortuguero National Park on a sunrise boat trip.
After breakfast back at the lodge, take a shared boat then land transfer to a restaurant in Guapiles, where you will enjoy a traditional lunch before moving on to Puerto Viejo - a tropical paradise boasting warm, calm waters.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Meet car hire company representative to receive your hire car and all the information you need for your road trip
- Overnight in Puerto Viejo
Day 4: Puerto Viejo
Unwind on the beautiful beaches of this laid-back coastal town on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, known for its relaxed atmosphere and vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture.
- Free day
- Visit the charming Cahuita National Park, just a 30-minute drive from your hotel at an additional cost
- Breakfast included
- Overnight in Puerto Viejo
Day 5: Puerto Viejo - Sarapiqui (4hrs drive)
Sarapiquí is a lush region characterised by its rich biodiversity, tropical rainforests, and meandering Sarapiquí River. It is a haven for eco-tourism, offering opportunities for wildlife watching, birding, and adventure activities like rafting and zip-lining.
- Optional excursions (at an extra cost): chocolate tour, rafting trip or a guided night hike in the Tirimbina reserve
- Breakfast included
- Overnight in Sarapiquí
Day 6: Sarapiqui - Arenal (1h 5min drive)
Your next destination is La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the Arenal Volcano, which once erupted regularly but now lies dormant. The region is a hotspot for adventure tourism, offering activities such as hiking, hot springs, and canopy tours.
- Take advantage of the many activities on offer (at an extra cost) including hot springs, hikes to the volcano, chocolate tour, zip-line adventure, suspension bridges, canyoning, coffee tour and cooking classes
- Breakfast included
- Overnight in Arenal
Day 7: Arenal
Enjoy your day at leisure to relax or explore the natural wonders of the Arenal region.
- Breakfast included
- Overnight in Arenal
Day 8: Arenal - SJO Airport - Departure
- Breakfast included
- Return your rental car to the car hire company near Juan Santamaria International Airport
- From the car rental agency, a shared shuttle bus will take you to the airport for your return flight
9-night tour
Day 1 - 2: similar to 7-night itinerary
Day 3: Tortuguero - Puerto Viejo (1h5 by boat and 3h by road)
- Breakfast and lunch inclded
- Shared transfer by boat and overland from Tortuguero to a restaurant in Guapiles, where you will enjoy a traditional lunch
- Meet car hire company representative to collect your hire car and receive all the information you need for your road trip
- Continue on to Puerto Viejo, which lies on Costa Rica's unique southern Caribbean coast
- Overnight in Puerto Viejo
Day 4 & 5: Puerto Viejo
- Breakfast included
- Enjoy free days to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Puerto Viejo and the surrounding area
- Visit the charming Cahuita National Park, just a 30-minute drive from your hotel, or take a guided tour at an additional cost
- Overnight in Puerto Viejo
Day 6: Puerto Viejo - Sarapiqui (4hrs drive)
- Breakfast included
- Visit the evergreen region of Sarapiquí, known for its astonishingly rich biodiversity making it a dream destination for adventurers
- Enjoy optional activities such as a chocolate tour, a fun and exciting rafting trip or a guided night hike in the Tirimbina reserve
- Overnight in Sarapiquí
Day 7: Sarapiqui - Arenal (1h 5min drive)
- Breakfast included
- Your next destination is La Fortuna de San Carlos, home to the magnificent Arenal volcano
- Take advantage of the many opportunities to enjoy and discover the region
- Overnight in Arenal
Day 8 & 9: Arenal
- Breakfast included
- Enjoy your day at leisure to relax or discover the natural wonders of the Arenal region
- Overnight in Arenal
Day 10: Arenal - SJO Airport - Departure
- Breakfast included
- Return your rental car at the car hire company near Juan Santamaria International Airport
- From the car rental agency, a shared shuttle bus will take you to the airport for your return flight
11-night tour
Day 1 - 7: similar to 9-night itinerary
Day 8: Sarapiqui
- Breakfast included
- Enjoy a free day to relax surrounded by the pristine nature of Sarapiquí or explore the beauty of this region on an optional guided tour
- Opt for incredible activities such as a chocolate tour, white water rafting or a guided night walk at La Tirimbina Reserve
Day 9: Sarapiqui - Arenal (1h 5min drive)
- Breakfast included
- Head to La Fortuna de San Carlos, home to the magnificent Arenal volcano
- Night in Arenal
Day 10 & 11: Arenal
- Breakfast included
- Spend your free days relaxing or discover the natural wonders of the Arenal region at your leisure
- Night in Arenal
Day 12: Arenal - SJO Airport - Departure
- Breakfast included
- Return your rental car to the car hire company near Juan Santamaria International Airport
- From the car rental agency, a shared shuttle bus will take you to the airport for your return flight
Important information about your tour and visits The hotels, which 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
You'll enjoy carefully selected accommodation in either the Standard or Superior categories, depending on the package you choose:
- San José: Sleep Inn (Standard category) or Radisson (Superior category)
- Tortuguero: La Baula Lodge (Standard category) or Evergreen Lodge (Superior category)
- Puerto Viejo: Villas del Caribe (Standard category) or Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort (Superior category)
- Sarapiqui: Hacienda La Isla (Standard category) or Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge (Superior category)
- Arenal: Eco Arenal (Standard category) or Mountain Paradise Wellness & Spa (Superior category)
If the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be provided with comfortable accommodation in similar hotels. Local standards apply.
Single rooms are available at an extra cost. The maximum room capacity is 3 adults or 2 adults + 1 child.
Your dining choices
Embark on a voyage of discovery thanks to the included breakfast during the programme and the full-board option (excluding drinks) in Tortuguero.
Your optional excursions —
Night walk excursion in Sarapiquí
With the help of a naturalist as your guide, you have the opportunity to discover the wonders of the forest, when most species are active. You can learn about the natural history of the different nocturnal species of the tropical forest.
ARio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano hike in Arenal
Enjoy a walk along a 7-kilometre path through the forest, a magical Waterfall, the Blue Lagoon, and a viewing point with a view of the impressive Tenorio Volcano and its surrounding hills.
Arena Volcano & National Park by boat
Enjoy a captivating visit by boat of areas that were once destroyed by volcanic activity and are now in the process of regeneration. A walk through the 'Camino de Coladas' will take you all the way to experience what were in the past lava flows.
La fortuna waterfall horse back riding in Arenal
Enjoy an unforgettable horseback riding tour starting at the foot of the mountain, passing through beautiful landscapes and forest along the way, before reaching the waterfall and enjoying a refreshing swim in a natural pool.
Puerto Viejo: hiking & snorkeling excursion in Cahuita National Park (minimum 2 people)
Enjoy this tour in the Cahuita National Park, where you'll snorkel on the most important coral reef in Costa Rica, amidst 35 different species of corals, tropical fish,mollusks, crustaceans, algae, sea turtles, sea sponges and more.
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 destinations —
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.
