We Love —
- Venturing into Tortuguero National Park and marvelling at its unique flora and fauna.
- Taking a hike to the Arenal volcano, stopping along the way to admire the impressive waterfalls.
- Prolonging the dream with a 3 or 5-night seaside extension in Tamarindo.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Your Itinerary in Brief —
Set off on an extraordinary journey to the heart of Costa Rica. This 8-night/9-day self-drive tour will take you through the country between national parks, volcanoes, tropical rainforest and white sand beaches. Extend your adventure by spending a few extra days by the ocean.
Your itineraries:
8-night tour :
Day 1: Arrival in San José
San José - Tortuguero
Day 3 : Tortuguero - Arenal
Day 4: Arenal
Day 5 : Arenal - Rincon de la Vieja
Day 6: Rincon de la Vieja
Day 7 : Rincon de la Vieja - Tamarindo
Day 8: Tamarindo
Day 9: Departure
Extension 3 nights :
Days 1 to 8: Similar to the 8-night self-drive tour
Days 9 to 11: Tamarindo
Day 12: Departure
5-night extension :
Days 1 to 8: Similar to the 8-night self-drive tour
Days 9 to 13: Tamarindo
Day 14: Departure
Please note that the order of activities may be changed without affecting the interest of the programme.
Your Itinerary in Detail —
Day 1: Arrival in San José
- Welcome to Costa Rica! Our local representative will meet and assist you at the airport.
- Transfer from Juan Santamaría International Airport to your hotel in San José.
- Check in, make yourself comfortable in your hotel room and relax
- Overnight in San José.
Day 2: San José - Tortuguero (4-hour drive and 1.5-hour boat trip)
- Departure from the hotel in a share transfer to the wonderful region of Tortuguero, north of the Caribbean.
- Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica's most popular ecotourism destinations; it was created in 1970 to protect sea turtles, an endangered species.
- Stop in the town of Guápiles to enjoy a Costa Rican breakfast at a local restaurant, then continue to the pier where you'll board the boat for Tortuguero.
- This boat transfer will be a wonderful introduction to the heart of the rainforest.
- Arrive at the Lodge, check-in, settle into your room and enjoy a tasty lunch.
- In the afternoon, you will meet your guide to visit the charming village of Tortuguero.
- The order of activities in Tortuguero may vary depending on the hotel's activities.
- Overnight in Tortuguero (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 3: Tortuguero - Arenal (1.5 hours by boat and 2.5 hours by road)
- Join the guide to enjoy nature in all its splendour as you cruise the canals of Tortuguero National Park, by boat at sunrise and take your best photos in the jungle.
- Discover its network of canals, lagoons and dense rainforests on a sunrise boat tour led by an expert naturalist guide.
- Return to the lodge for breakfast, then prepare for the departure in a shared transfer by boat and overland from Tortuguero to the restaurant in Guápiles, where you will enjoy a traditional lunch.
- Next, you'll meet the car hire representative to get your rental vehicle and all the information you need for your trip or you'll meet the transport service to continue your journey in a shared transfer to your next destination: La Fortuna de San Carlos
Day 4: Arenal
- Enjoy plenty of time to relax at the hotel, immerse yourself in the rainforest and experience a sanctuary of relaxation, privacy and quietness.
- On the other hand, if you're more adventurous, go explore the wonders of Arenal by yourself.
Day 5: Arenal - Rincon de la Vieja (3-hour drive)
- Self-drive to your next destination, the volcano Rincon de la Vieja region
- During your stay, you can explore the Rincón de la Vieja National Park on your own or enjoy the hotel's activities.
- Overnight in Rincón de la Vieja (breakfast)
Day 6 : Rincon de la Vieja
- Another Free day to enjoy the rainforest and all its treasures: waterfalls, hot springs and optional adventure activities available at the hotel.
Day 7 : Rincon de la Vieja - Tamarindo (2-hour drive)
- Continue your journey to Tamarindo Beach, located on the northern Pacific coast.
- Tamarindo is the most developed beach on the vibrant Nicoya Peninsula and one of the surfing best-known spots in Costa Rica. Tamarindo Beach is also an adventure paradise and offers the serenity of a tropical escape.
- It's a destination for anyone travelling to Costa Rica, from honeymooners to families.
- Check into the hotel and immediately get into the pleasant beach atmosphere!
Day 8: Tamarindo
- Free day to relax and enjoy the beach to the full!
- Overnight in Tamarindo
Day 9: Departure for 8-night stays or beach extension for 11- or 13-night stays.
- Return your rental car to the hotel around 3 pm
- You will then be transferred to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your departure flight unless you have chosen the beach extension, in which case you will continue to enjoy hotel de plage during these last few days of your trip.
Days 9 to 11 or 9 to 13: Tamarindo
- Leisure days to relax or explore the natural wonders of the region on your own.
- Overnight stay in Tamarindo
Day 12 or 14: Departure
- Transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your departure flight after breakfast
Your Hotels —
Hand-Picked Just for You
Maximum room capacity
During your Costa Rican adventure, you will stay in the following hotels (or similar):
Standard accommodation :
At San José: Sleep Inn
<tortuguero:< strong=""> La Baula Lodge
Eco Arenal
At Rincon de la Vieja: Cañón de la Vieja
A Tamarindo : Pasatiempo
In Superior accommodation :
At San José: Park Inn
At Tortuguero: Evergreen Lodge
Lomas del Volcan
A Rincon de la Vieja: Buena Vista Lodge
A Tamarindo: Wyndham Tamarindo
Hotels listed in the programme; if unavailable, accommodation in hotels of a similar category;
Single rooms available at extra cost. The maximum room capacity is 3 adults or 2 adults + 1 child.Possibilité de séjourner en chambre individuelle avec supplément. La capacité maximale en chambre est de 3 adultes ou 2 adultes + 1 enfant.
Your dining choices
This is a half board stay (breakfast and your evening meal are served in the main buffet restaurant - excludes drinks). Please see the details section for further information about your board basis conditions.
Fancy the best of both worlds? Upgrade to half board - includes breakfast and your evening meal served in the main buffet restaurant (you can select this at the next stage of the booking process). Not all restaurants may be applicable to your board basis and may be available at selected times only – drinks are excluded.
Your Destinations —
San José
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 whitewater 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!
Tortuguero
Tortuguero can be found in the Northern Caribbean of Costa Rica about 95 kilometres north-east of the capital and is today, a national park. Locals and visitors come to Tortuguero to see the diverse flora and fauna which inhabit the area. Most famously, the sea turtles make their way to the village every year to lay their eggs. The thousands of eggs hatch and tiny sea turtles make their way to the sea, which you can witness between mid-July to mid-October.
Other activities visitors can do when visiting Tortuguero is kayak through the canals, walk along the beach or visit the town where shops and restaurants wait to be discovered.
