Costa Rica
Suggestions for selfdrive touring routes
Starting points when you are planning
your pre-booked selfdrive holiday.
Call us to talk through the route you prefer and any modifications. There are many hotel choices, see the examples on pages 23-25 and 27.
Route 1: Classic Costa Rica
11days/10 nights: volcanoes, cloud forest, jungle at the beach
Day 1 arrive San José.
Day 2 Visit Poás Volcano then to La Fortuna for 1 night near Arenal Volcano, perhaps visit hot springs this evening.
Day 3 North shore of Lake Arenal via Tilarán to Monteverde 3 nights.
Day 4-5 Free at Monteverde e.g. cloud forest walk, canopy tour.
Day 6 Drive to mid-Pacific area, 1 night at Carara / Jacó.
Day 7 Visit Carara NP and/or Jacó beach, continue to Manuel Antonio/Quepos 3 nights.
Day 8-9 Free at Quepos e.g. beaches and jungle of Manuel Antonio NP.
Day 10 Drive back to San José or Alajuela for final night.
Day 11 Drop car at airport, fly home.
Route 2: Nature & wildlife
15 days/14 nights: dry/cloud/rainforest, páramo, volcanoes, wetland
Day 1 arrive San José.
Day 2 Irazú volcano, Orosí, Lankester Gardens, to San Gerardo de Dota 2 nights.
Day 3 Free, e.g. quetzals, forest walk.
Day 4 Via Braulio Carrillo NP to Sarapiquí 2 nights via Aerial Tram.
Day 5 In Sarapiquí, e.g. La Selva, river float.
Day 6 In Sarapiquí, then via La Paz to Alajuela 1 night.
Day 7 Poás Volcano on via Sarchí, Zarcero to Arenal Volcano 2 nights.
Day 8 Free, e.g. hot springs, La Fortuna, Caño Negro.
Day 9 To Rincón de la Vieja 2 nights.
Day 10 Free, e.g. riding, hiking.
Day 11 To Carara/Jacó 2 nights.
Days 12-13 Free, e.g. Carara NP, beach.
Day 14 To San José or Alajuela.
Day 15 Drop car at airport, fly home.
Route 3: North-West Explorer
15 days/14 nights: volcanoes, jungle, cattle ranching, beach
Day 1 arrive San José.
Day 2 Visit Poás Volcano and La Paz waterfall, on to Sarapiquí 2 nights.
Day 3 Free in Sarapiquí e.g. La Selva or river float.
Day 4 Drive to La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano 2 nights.
Day 5 Free in Arenal area e.g. hot springs, walking, riding, windsurfing, Caño Negro wildlife river trip.
Day 6 Via Liberia to ranch at Rincón de la Vieja 3 nights.
Day 7-8 Free at ranch, e.g. riding, hike up volcano, walk in dry forest.
Day 9-13 Drive to beach on Nicoya Peninsula 5 nights e.g. Tamarindo, Nosara, Samara.
Day 14 To San José or Alajuela.
Day 15 Drop car at airport, fly home.
Route 4: South Pacific Explorer
14 days/13 nights: cloud forest, páramo, Wilson Bot Gdns, Osa Peninsula
Day 1 arrive San José.
Day 2 Visit Irazú volcano, Cartago, Orosí Valley and Lankester Gardens, on to San Gerardo de Dota for 2 nights.
Day 3 Optional quetzal tour, forest walk, páramo.
Day 4 To Wilson Botanical Gardens for 3 nights.
Days 5 & 6 Free.
Day 7 To Villas Gaia Lodge on coast north-west of Palmar Sur, stay 3 nights.
Days 8 & 9 Free to relax on the beach, optional visits to Marino Ballena NP or Corcovado NP, Drake Bay and Caño Island.
Day 10 To Quepos for 3 nights.
Days 11 & 12 Free, e.g. visit Manuel Antonio NP.
Day 13 To San José or Alajuela.
Day 14 Drop car at airport, fly home.
Route 5: Caribbean Explorer
8 days/7 nights: volcano, coffee, bananas, jungle, Caribbean beach
Day 1 arrive San José.
Day 2 Visit Irazú volcano, Cartago, Orosí Valley and Lankester Gardens, continuing to Turrialba for 2 nights.
Day 3 Free in Turrialba area e.g. whitewater rafting, visit CATIE, coffee plantations, Guayabo monument.
Day 4 Drive down to the Caribbean coast passing banana plantations on route to Cahuita or Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for 3 nights.
Day 5 & 6 Two free days on the Caribbean coast for beach, coral reef and rainforest. Visit Gandoca-Manzanillo, perhaps stay at Almonds & Corals tented jungle lodge.
Day 7 Return drive to San José or Alajuela for final night.
Route 6: Central Valley
8 days/7 nights: volcanoes, coffee, culture, sightseeing.
Day 1 arrive, stay in San José or Alajuela 3 nights.
Day 2 Day trip to Irazú volcano, Lankester Gardens, Orosí Valley.
Day 3 Day trip to Poás volcano and La Paz waterfall gardens.
Day 4 Drive through Braulio Carrillo NP to Sarapiquí for 1 night, perhaps Aerial Tram en route.
Day 5 visit La Selva reserve, on to La Fortuna for 2 nights near Arenal Volcano.
Day 6 Free in Arenal Area e.g. hot springs, walking, birdwatching, riding, or nature tour by boat along Caño Negro.
Day 7 Return via Zarcero, Grecia and Sarchí to San José for final night.
Day 8 drop car at airport, fly home.
Route 1 guide price
from £990 to £1.095*
11 days / 10 nights Starts and ends in San Jose.
Route 2 guide price from £ to £1,100 to 1,255*
15 days / 14 nights Starts and ends in San Jose.
Route 3 guide price from £1,120 to £1,215*
15 days / 14 nights Starts and ends in San Jose.
Route 4 guide price from £1,270 to £1,370*
14 days / 13 nights Starts and ends in San Jose.
Route 5 guide price from £620 to £635*
8 days / 7 nights Starts and ends in San Jose.
Route 6 guide price from £635 to £650*
8 days / 7 nights Starts and ends in San Jose.
* There is a supplement at Xmas/New Year and Easter
Brochures and quotes
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