Best of Costa Rica, Self-Drive

Welcome to Costa Rica!
Make sure to book a flight arriving up to early afternoon. After arriving at Juan Santamaría Int’l Airport (SJO), our local representative will meet and greet you upon arrival and will provide some information and eventually traveling tips. Pick up your car and start your journey throughout Costa Rica.
Your drive through the Central Mountain Range will take approximately 1 hour; it is easy and will offer a first look of the diversity that the country has to offer, including the beautiful Naranjo Coffee Plantations and great views to valleys, mountains, and volcanoes. After checking in at Chayote hotel, enjoy the rest of the day and evening at leisure. Chayote Lodge sits amidst the coffee region of Llano Bonito de Naranjo. The intimate lodge boasts itself as a unique experience combining nature, culture, and of course, coffee.

Extensive coffee plantations and a beautiful view of the central valley of Costa Rica, will wake you up this morning, then you will be pleased with a delicious Costa Rican breakfast without missing of course, the aroma of fresh coffee, the perfect ingredients to start a day and go deep into the history and culture of this ancient beverage. Drive 15 minutes to Espiritu Santo Coffee tour, where you will learn the traditional methods that transform small reddish fruits into a fine coffee export worldwide. In the afternoon, you can explore the surroundings areas or eventually relax and enjoy the hotel grounds.

Drive to Arenal Volcano area, this route offers the experience to pass through different towns such as Zarcero, San Carlos and Florencia. Also, along the way, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery which includes amazing views of the mountains and one of the major sources of revenue in the area: the agriculture, so you will have the opportunity, according with the season, to observe the crops of pineapple, bananas, and sugar cane.
Arrive in the town of La Fortuna where the mighty Arenal Volcano will welcome you with its impressive perfect conic shape.
Check in at the Arenal Kioro Hotel, where you will find a unique blend between the hospitality of the local culture and the warm tropical climate, making your escape an unparalleled experience for the next two nights.

The hotel offers its own hot springs, therefore, enjoy the pools and relax in one of the most beautiful settings in Costa Rica.

Morning hike to Arenal Volcano surroundings. In this hike, you will enjoy the most extraordinary view of this impressive landmark, and hiking along the volcano’s skirts, little portions of green vegetation to the east, north and south sides of the volcano. The hike begins on one the closest trails to the volcano that will take you through the forest, over lava flows that turned to stone and the area that was destroyed during the eruptions of 1968 and that are now in the process of regeneration. This hike will take approximately 2.5 hours to complete. *Children under 6 years old are not allowed on this tour.
Afternoon at leisure for optional (extra cost) activities.

Drive to Manuel Antonio beach area located in the country’s Central Pacific. Manuel Antonio, a paradise that mixes lovely white sandy beaches with jungle and rain forest full of wildlife. The vast variety of activities to do and places to visit in the area adds value to your experience. This tropical place is one of the main attractions in Costa Rica, and one of the icons of ecotourism in the country.

Half day guided visit to Manuel Antonio National Park, including transportation. Considered as one of the most beautiful national parks in Costa Rica, this natural paradise combines the magic of its crystal-clear beaches and coral reefs with the exuberant tropical rainforest. Manuel Antonio was established in 1972 as a protected area by visionaries who decided to preserve for future generations, one of the most stunning and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country’s smallest national park, its 683 hectares offers a very humid tropical forest where species of flora and fauna coexist, in different habitats, including mangroves, marine environments, islands and a lagoon of 14 hectares. The park is located at 20 minutes approximately from most of the hotels of Manuel Antonio, and once you are inside the main gate, keep your camera handy, as you will be walking through the rainforest along 1.5km of easy-access trails in an estimated time of 3 hours. The experienced naturalist guide is equipped with a high-powered spotting scope, which will help you to observe the abundant flora and fauna in their natural habitat. The flora present in this park is amazing, and it includes primary and secondary rain forest trees, tropical flowers and orchids that serve as home to hundreds of wildlife including Howler, white-faced, and Titi monkeys, iguanas, colorful birds like toucans, sloths, raccoons, white-tailed deer, little crabs and Agutis. If you are lucky, the beautiful Poison Dart Frog can be seen, all while learning about the diet, habits, and many more facts about the variety of species you will encounter during this incredible nature adventure. Spotting them can be tricky at times. The trail ends on a paradisiacal beach where you will have leisure time to rest and enjoy its pristine waters. It´s highly recommend taking the hidden trail that will lead you to Punta Catedral, a secret lookout point that promise to captivate your senses with the spectacular view of the sea. *NOT available on Mondays. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the hotel or take part in optional activities such as rafting, horseback riding, beach swimming.

Drive back to San José International Airport (approximately 4 hours) to take your flight back home. Please note that passengers are requested to be 3 hours in advance at the Airport for check-in and migration process. As well, consider additional timing to drop off the car rental at the Airport.