Explore Costa Rica at Your Own Pace—A Comprehensive and Authentic Self-Drive Tour

Welcome to Costa Rica!

Your driver will be waiting for you atJuan Santamaria International Airport, near San José, at an elevation of 1,150 meters in the heart of the Central Valley, to take you to your first hotel.

Overnight stay at a comfortable hotel in San José.

You’ll be staying near our office, so we’ll have the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the rest of your trip.

Set off for the southern Caribbean coast!

Once you’ve picked up your rental car at your hotel in San José, head to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a small village on the Caribbean coast that’s a must-see.

Along the way, you’ll pass through Limón, the capital of the province of the same name. The bustling port of Moín frequently welcomes cruise ships; it’s also here that bananas are packed for shipment to Europe.

Check in at your hotel located near Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a colorful village nestled between the sea and the mountains, which owes its charm to its residents, who live in brightly painted wooden houses—some of which are perched on stilts.

Approximate driving time: 4.5 hours

Overnight stay at a charming ecolodge in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, with which we have been working for many years.

Option for unique overnight stays in luxurious cabins perched on the hillside. 

A free day to explore the region at your own pace.

There’s no shortage of things to do, whether you’re in the mood for relaxing and swimming, cultural exchanges with the Afro-Caribbean or Talamanca indigenous communities, exploring the nature reserves of Hitoy Cerrere, Cahuita, or Gandoca Manzanillo, to observe local wildlife such as leatherback turtles or tucuxi dolphins, or to enjoy sports (surfing, horseback riding, scuba diving)… All of this is possible!

Here is a list of suggested activities and places:

– Cahuita National Park (hiking, wildlife, flora, marine life, swimming)

– Gandoca Manzanillo Reserve (hiking, wildlife, flora, swimming, dolphins)

– Wildlife viewing (leatherback turtles, dolphins, birds, sloths, iguanas)

– Visits to animal sanctuaries (sloths, jaguars)

– Sport or artisanal fishing

– Agricultural plantations (cacao, bananas, etc.) and botanical gardens

– Surfing, biking, kayaking, horseback riding

– Scuba diving (Punta Uva, Manzanillo)

Overnight stay at a charming ecolodge in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, with which we’ve been working for many years.

Option for unique overnight stays in luxurious cabins perched on the hillside. 

Off to the Turrialba Valley!

The area around Turrialba is renowned for its lush landscapes, fresh, clean air, and whitewater rafting.

Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Guayabo National Monument, one of the few archaeological sites unearthed in Costa Rica. This still-mysterious 218-hectare site, located on the southern slope of the Turrialba Volcano, is of great cultural and religious significance. Inhabited from 1,500 B.C. to 1,400 A.D., Guayabo is believed to have been home to as many as 10,000 people before being abandoned for unknown reasons.

Turrialba National Park, meanwhile, has been closed for several years due tovolcanic activity. However, for hiking enthusiasts, numerous trails in the surrounding area remain accessible, so the region’s appeal remains undiminished.

Approximate driving time: three and a half hours 

Spend the night at an authentic ecolodge in the Turrialba Valley, offering a unique experience with“eco-decks” nestled in the heart of a coffee farm—enjoy a comfortable night under the stars with incredible views of the valley.

Off to Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast and the charming beach resort of Dominical! 

Along the way, you’ll stop in Cartago, Costa Rica’s first city and former colonial capital, founded in 1563 by the Spanish conquistador Juan Vásquez de Coronado, who named it Carthage.

You’ll have the opportunity to visit the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles, named in honor of La Negrita, the country’s patron saint. Then, you’ll cross the Cerro de la Muerte (3,400 meters above sea level), named in memory of the farmers who froze to death while transporting their harvest to San José before the Pan-American Highway was built. Continue through San Isidro del General and arrive in Dominical, a small seaside resort at the mouth of the Río Barú.

Approximate driving time: four hours

Check in at your seaside hotel for a unique night on the beach in a luxury tent, complete with a private, permanent bathroom.

A free day to enjoy Dominical and Marino Ballena National Park.

Created to protect the country’s largest coral reef, the national park owes its name to the humpback whales that migrate through its warm waters to breed.

You can also explore the Barú National Wildlife Refuge, a tropical rainforest located along a beautiful beach at the mouth of the Barú River.

A more detailed list of suggested activities in the region:

– Horseback riding or hiking to the Nauyaca waterfalls

– Zip line – “Toucan Flight”

– Day trip to Corcovado National Park from Uvita

– Night hike in the Barú Reserve

– Snorkeling at Isla del Caño from Uvita

– Whale and dolphin watching tour

Second unique night at your seaside hotelin a luxury tent, with a private, permanent bathroom.

Departure for the La Fortuna region and the majestic Arenal Volcano!

Along the way, weather permitting, you’ll have the chance to spot crocodiles on the Tarcoles River or visit Carara National Park, which, although fairly small (52 km²), boasts one of the country’s greatest levels of biodiversity.

Approximate driving time: 5.5 hours

To unwind after this day onthe road, we suggest treating yourself to some relaxation in the hot springs of an intimate spa with elegant décor, set among waterfalls and therapeutic pools.

Overnight stay at a beautiful hotel in the Arenal region featuring a nature reserve and a view of the perfectly conical volcano.

Explore the Tenorio region and the Rio Celeste!

Today you’ll head a little further north to discover one of Costa Rica’s must-see destinations: the Rio Celeste.

This turquoise-blue river is sure to amaze you! You’ll have the chance to walk along its banks during a beautiful hike through Tenorio National Park, a reserve featuring lush vegetation thanks to the region’s more tropical climate, where you can spot numerous animals and pass by magnificent waterfalls and natural pools.

Enjoy an authentic overnight stay at an ecolodge in the Tenorio region, nestled between cacao plantations and a nature reserve. 

Discover the Tenorio region!

A free day immersed in nature, to explore this region off the beaten path however you like: observing tropical flora and fauna, meeting the locals, enjoying outdoor activities…

Non-exhaustive list of suggested activities in the Tenorio region:

– Guided hiking and/or horseback riding tours – Tenorio National Park

– Meeting with the Maleku Indigenous people (culture, traditions, nature)

– Wildlife (including numerous birds) and plant life observation

– Visits to community and/or agricultural projects

– Coffee and/or cacao tours

– Rafting or tubing on the Tenorio River

– 4×4 driving experience

And many other options…

Off to the stunning Nicoya Peninsula!

Heading towardthe Pacific Coast and the famous Nicoya Peninsula (which straddles the provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas), with the small beach town of Samara as our destination.

To get there, you’ll cross the Puente de la Amistad before reaching Nicoya, the peninsula’s administrative center, which bustles with the comings and goings of campesinos (farmers) and cowboys. You’ll pass through varied landscapes before reaching the Pacific Coast, famous for its stunning sunsets, its beaches ideal for surfing, and its incredible quality of life ( see Blue Zone).

Approximate driving time: 4 hours

Check-in at a hotel near the beach so you can enjoy beach activities.

Explore the Samara region and the Pacific Coast!

Enjoy a free day in this small seaside resort nestled in a four-kilometer-long bay, where the sea is relatively calm.

You can enjoy the beaches and tropical vegetation, explore the seabed with a mask and snorkel, go for a ride on horseback or a walk, or even take a boat trip on the Pacific…

Non-exhaustive list of activities in Samara:

– Observing olive ridley sea turtles laying their eggs (June through December).

– Dolphin watching.

– Kayaking (ocean, river, mangroves).

– Barra Honda National Park (rainforest, caves).

– Water sports: fishing, surfing, catamaran sailing…

– Snorkeling.

– Gyrocopter flight over the region.

Second night at your hotel near the beach, so you can enjoy the beach activities in the Samara area. 

Back to the capital, San José!

Along the way, you’ll cross the Gulf of Nicoya via the Tempisque Bridge before joining the famous Pan-American Highway and arriving in the Central Valley.

Approximate driving time: 3.5 hours

Three hours before your international flight departs, return your rental car at Juan Santamaria Airport.

Then it will be time to depart, with your mind full of memories from your trip through Costa Rica!