Travel Type
Self-Drive
Duration
8 Days/7 Nights
Country
Costa Rica
 

This itinerary is ideal for your first visit to Costa Rica. This 7-night package combines the country’s most popular and interesting attractions allowing you to experience beautiful scenery, fascinating culture, and friendly people.

Inclusions

Regular transportation from Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport (SJO) to San José area
7-night accommodation
Regular package at Pachira Lodge, including transport by road and boat (San José – Tortuguero – Guapiles), boat tour of the canals and visit to the village of Tortuguero, English-speaking guide
Five (5) day rental of a four-wheel-drive SUV Standard manual vehicle (Hyundai Tuscon Superior or similar)
Includes: Free mileage
Pick up place: Guapiles area (connection point after Tortuguero) on day 4
Drop off place: SJO International Airport on day 8
Regular half day tour to the Arenal Volcano surroundings and Hot Springs. Includes: Transportation, English guide, entrance fee and dinner
Regular Half day Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Transportation, English guide and entrance fee
13 meals : 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

RENT A CAR POLICIES
Drivers must be minimum 21 years old
Drivers must bring a valid international driver’s license and passport
Drivers must bring a personal credit card to cover the insurance and deposit
Mandatory Loss Damage Waive (LDW) insurance is not included, cost vary from $USD25 – $35 per day, depending on the selected car
Additional Supplemental Protection Plan insurance (SPP) is also available, at a cost of $USD22.00 per day
Mandatory Deposit is $USD1,000.00 with just LDW coverage, or $USD100.00 with full coverage (LDW and SSP)
Unlimited mileage is included
Fuel is not included
GPS, mobile phone, Wi-Fi and/or child seats are available at an additional charge, if requested in advance

Exclusions

International airfare – Optional excursions – Beverages – Gratuities to hotel personnel and guides

Additional Information

Special Notes

The opening hours of Rental Car offices at the airports are usually from 5am until 10pm. Please check your flight arrival and departure and contact us if you need the car rental outside this time frame.

1

DAY 1 SAN JOSÉ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT · SAN JOSÉ

Welcome to Costa Rica!
Arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Our representative will meet and greet you at the exit of the Airport and afterwards you will be taken on a regular transfer to San José surroundings.

Accommodation : Standard option: Country Inn & Suites, 3*, Superior option: Doubletree Cariari, 4* or similar

2

DAY 2 SAN JOSÉ · TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Early morning start from your hotel in San José, as we will head into the Tortuguero 3 days / 2 nights mini package. You will be traveling first on a total ground transfer for the next three hours passing through (no stops) one of Costa Rica’s biggest National Parks, the Braulio Carrillo. Breakfast will take place at a local restaurant on route. Further on you will be traveling around a 1 ½ hour boat ride through waterways and canals until reaching the Tortuguero area. This journey will take you through the canals sheltered in the jungle of the rain forest and you will be able to admire the unique flora and fauna of this area. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the tiny Caribbean village of Tortuguero. Lunch, dinner and overnight at selected Lodge.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation : Standard option: Laguna Lodge, 3*, Superior option: Pachira Lodge, 4* or similar

3

DAY 3 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

In the morning, we will visit Tortuguero National Park’s secondary canals that will dazzle you with its enormous biodiversity. From the boat, you can feel a pure contact with nature in a paradise that offers visitors 2000 species of plants and 400 species of trees, just as you can observe some of the 405 bird species here is also the presence of crocodiles, different species of turtles and freshwater fish. Tortuguero will offer a unique and unforgettable experience. Much of the National Park extends along its unspoiled beaches that serve as refuge for spawning of the sea turtles, this event occurs between the months of July to September (extra cost visit). Rest of the day at leisure.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation : Standard option: Laguna Lodge, 3*, Superior option: Pachira Lodge, 4* or similar

4

DAY 4 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK · ARENAL VOLCANO

Breakfast at the lodge. Mid-morning boat transfer from Tortuguero to port of embarkment; from this point on continue on a ground transfer to local restaurant on route for lunch. In the area of Guapiles you will be provided with a 4x4 car rental, and, from this point on you will be driving on your own to the rest of the areas of the program. Today’s driving experience will be taking you to the Arenal volcano area. You will be staying the following two nights in the area.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation : Standard option: Magic Mountain, 3*, Superior option: Volcano Lodge, 4* or similar

5

DAY 5 ARENAL VOLCANO

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure. By midafternoon, you will be taken on a regular half day tour of Arenal Volcano and surrounding Hot Springs. A short hike in the surroundings of the Arenal Volcano will give you a chance to enjoy some of the surrounding forest and different views of past activity. Later on, at the Ecotermales Hot Springs, you will enjoy a healthy and relaxing soak in the thermal waters produced by the volcano internal earth activity. Dinner will also take place at Ecotermales.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation : Standard option: Magic Mountain, 3*, Superior option: Volcano Lodge, 4* or similar

6

DAY 6 ARENAL VOLCANO · MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, with the car rental, you will be making the drive to the Monteverde area. This is a very scenic drive around the 12,400 hectares of Arenal Lake especially towards the last portion of the journey, you will enjoy beautiful mountain scenery (the trip takes around 3 ½ hours). Monteverde is known for its diverse and rich tropical cloud forests. Wind-sculptured elfin woodlands on the exposed ridges are spectacularly dwarfed, whereas protected cove Monteverde cloud forests have majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. Alpine like weather will revive the rural experience of the country. Afternoon at leisure. You will be staying one night at selected accommodation in Monteverde.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Standard option: Trapp Family Lodge, 3*, Superior option: Monteverde Ficus Lodge, 3* or El Establo 4*

7

DAY 7 MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST · SAN JOSÉ

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will be visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This is one of the most important private reserves in the country which has over 10,500 hectares. Located at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,600 m, this cloud forest gives you the chance of exploring a different type of forest, allowing you to make your very own comparison between the biodiversity found in a rainforest and a cloud forest, proving that Costa Rica is full of natural treasures. This tour will show you all the different types of ecosystems to be found in the region, as you learn more about the unique wildlife, many of which is endemic to the area.
In the afternoon you will be making your way to San José, on route from the vehicle you will observe, the plains and even on a clear day, our pacific coastal side. Further on you will be driving through the mountainous range and into the central valley, right in the heart of Costa Rica. You will be staying the last night of the program at selected hotel in the San José area.

Meals : Breakfast

Accommodation : Standard option: Country Inn & Suites, 3*, Superior option: Doubletree Cariari, 4* or similar

8

DAY 8 SAN JOSÉ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

You will return the car rental at the (SJO) Juan Santamaria International Airport surroundings and take your flight home.

Meals : Breakfast

HOTEL OPTIONS OR SIMILAR

SAN JOSE
Standard option: Country Inn & Suites, 3*
Superior option: Doubletree Cariari, 4*

TORTUGUERO
Standard option: Laguna Lodge, 3*
Superior option: Pachira Lodge, 4*

ARENAL
Standard option: Magic Mountain, 3*
Superior option: Volcano Lodge, 4*

MONTEVERDE
Standard option: Trapp Family Lodge, 3*
Superior option: Monteverde Ficus Lodge, 3* (until November 30, 2024) / El Establo 4* (from December 1, 2024)

Rates in CA$, per person, starting from

Land Package

Standard option 3*

Daily departuresDoubleSingle Travel Alone
 
December 1 – 20, 202422293579
December 21, 2024 – January 6, 2025On requestOn request
January 7 – April 16, 202522293579
April 17 – 22, 2025On requestOn request
April 23 – 30, 202522293579
May 1 – June 30, 202520793339
July 1 – November 30, 202521493439
Seasonal surcharge may apply.

Rates in CA$, per person, starting from

Land Package

Superior option 3* and 4*

Daily departuresDoubleSingle Travel Alone
 
December 1 – 20, 202425494299
December 21, 2024 – January 6, 2025On requestOn request
January 7 – April 16, 202525494299
April 17 – 22, 2025On requestOn request
April 23 – 30, 202525494299
May 1 – June 30, 202524594139
July 1 – November 30, 202524994179
Seasonal surcharge may apply.

**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.

*** PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR TERMS & CONDITIONS. ***

Highlights of Costa Rica, Self-Drive-Detailed itinerary
Highlights of Costa Rica, Self-Drive-Detailed itinerary