Deluxe Costa Rica - Self Drive

Your Costa Rican adventure begins on arrival to Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, in the north-western part of the country. Here, a Destination Services representative awaits to greet you and take you to the car hire desk to collect your rental car. Then depart to the region of Rincon de la Vieja for your first night in Costa Rica. Recommended arrival time before 15:00 hrs.  Overnight in Rincon de la Vieja hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you can visit the Rincon de la Vieja National Park in the section known as Las Pailas (entrance fee not included). The Las Pailas area, which means ‘the cauldrons’ in Spanish, spectacularly showcases of the awesome power of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, the largest and most active volcano in the region. Steam and sulphur pour out of the rust-coloured ground from natural fumaroles while coffee-coloured pools boil with hot volcanic water and grey volcanic mud bubbles and explodes in large pits. This special volcano experience is like no other in Costa Rica. Accompanied by your bilingual naturalist guide, hike the 3.5 kilometre Las Pailas loop trail (2.5 miles) through dry tropical forest to discover the best views of the volcano, incredible nature, volcanic activity and wildlife. The park is home to more than 300 bird species and other animals like armadillos, collared peccaries, iguanas, snakes, white-nosed coatis, and white-faced howler and spider monkeys. Once finished with our park visit, our day tour in ends with a walk back to the hotel to collect your bags. (Entrance fee to the park is not included). In the early afternoon, drive yourself from Rincon de la Vieja to Arenal. Arenal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica and this area is a paradise for adventure lovers. On arrival to the hotel, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore the surroundings on your own or join an optional activity.

After breakfast, take the opportunity to visit Arenal Volcano National Park on your own (entrance fee not included). During the hike, enjoy the verdant landscapes and the backdrop of the now-dormant volcano as you keep a lookout for animals that live in this national park, such as sloths, howler monkeys and even anteaters, to name a few. In case you are feeling adventurous, this area also offers activities such as zip lines, hanging bridges and kayaking, among others. Also, a visit to one of the numerous hot springs available in the area is a must.

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by check-out and a drive to the Sarapiqui area. Hidden in the foothills of the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park, its setting alongside mountain streams and exuberant rainforest and pasturelands is truly a sight for sore eyes. Encounter the mysteries of the rainforest while enjoying a comfortable stay in the beautifully designed rooms of the lodge. Enjoy the natural surrounds and perhaps participate in one of the optional activities available.

Your day begins early as you drive yourself to the town of Guapiles. You will need to arrive to a local restaurant to enjoy breakfast and to meet your guide for the following days. You must leave the car locked in the restaurant’s parking lot. After, continue by shared transport to a pier and then continue by boat and cruise the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park (Admission not included) Arrive and check in at your eco-lodge, followed by lunch at the lodge. Board the boat again for a visit to Tortuguero village, where you will get to walk around town and experience the locals’ way of life and stroll along the beach. During turtle hatching season, we will look for the baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Nesting is from July to September, hatching from September to December. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and wildlife.​​​​​​​

Today enjoy some free time to relax by the pool and also experience Tortuguero National Park (entrance fee not included) on a three-hour trip, where you can observe over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles and sloths and its lush vegetation. During the July to September season you can join an optional late night turtle nesting tour, purchasable directly at the lodge

After breakfast, around 09:00 hrs, depart by boat back to Guapiles. Here, stop for lunch (included) before you collect your rental car. Drive yourself to San Jose city, arriving in time to see some of the city highlights such as its parks, museums and monuments.​​​​​​​

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the area of Vara Blanca where you can enjoy of optional activities as a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens (entrance not included), a privately owned ecological attraction featuring five waterfalls, cloud and rain forest, and with great hiking trails. Visit the various exhibits of the gardens, including the butterfly observatory, insect exhibit, and over 100 species of animals, along with an environmental education programme

Begin the day with breakfast at the hotel before you drive yourself from Vara Blanca to the Central Pacific coast. Sandy beaches and protected wildlife are two primary draws to this area that creates an inspiring landscape, and with its combination of ocean views and lush tropical vegetation, the Central Pacific has scenery unlike any other

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure to enjoy the hotel, optional activities or explore the area on your own.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

At the appropriate time, drive from Herradura Beach to Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, to catch your onward flight. En route to the airport, you will find the main office of the car rental company. Drop off your car here and then take a shuttle transfer to the Daniel Oduber International Airport. Recommended departure time from 15:00 hrs onwards.  Breakfast included.