Costa Rica road trip
17 days – from €6,400 per person
driving – wildlife and birdwatching – rainforests
- Immerse yourself in the Caribbean atmosphere in Puerto Viejo
- Discover the lush natural surroundings of Sarapiquí, by car, boat or on foot
- Walk across solidified lava fields near the Arenal Volcano
- Swim in the Pacific Ocean at Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Spot hummingbirds, toucans and proboscis monkeys in the beautiful rainforests of Corcovado N.P.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Amsterdam – San José
Your special road trip through Costa Rica begins today. You’ll fly from Amsterdam to San José. Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll be welcomed by one of our local staff and taken to your hotel. San José is surrounded on the north by the rugged Talamanca Mountains. To the south of the city lies the Poás volcano.
Overnight stay: Hotel Presidente | bed and breakfast
Day 2 | San José – Puerto Viejo
(approx. 220 km | 4.5-hour drive)
In the morning, your car for this road trip through Costa Rica will be delivered to your hotel. You’ll be setting off on the rest of your journey in it. Today you’ll drive to the town of Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. On the way, you might want to stop off at the port city of Limón, situated on the bay where Columbus dropped anchor in 1502. His landing is commemorated by a bronze bust. Here you’ll also find a stunning mural by artist Guadalupe Alvarez, which beautifully captures the local history. There are several national parks and nature reserves in the vicinity of Puerto Viejo.
Overnight stay: Hotel Aguas Claras | bed and breakfast
Day 3 | Puerto Viejo
Today you’ll visit the iguana and medicinal plant garden at the Kekoldy Reserve, where an indigenous family is dedicated to the conservation of the green iguana, a species that was once threatened with extinction but is now recovering thanks to these initiatives. From here, you’ll head to a small farm in the Bribri indigenous reserve, where you’ll be given a demonstration of how chocolate is made. Cocoa is very important within Bribri culture, as they use it as a purifying agent, food and medicine. You’ll also take a look at the medicinal plants and learn about their properties. Finally, you’ll be taken to a beautiful waterfall in the jungle, where you can take a refreshing dip. A Caribbean lunch will be provided.
Overnight stay: Hotel Aguas Claras | bed and breakfast
Day 4 | Puerto Viejo – Sarapiquí
(approx. 210 km | 2.5-hour drive)
After breakfast, you’ll get in the car and drive to Sarapiquí, situated at the foot of the Cordillera Central and on the banks of the Rio Sarapiquí. On the way, you can visit the Costa Flores Tropical Garden, where you can admire a variety of tropical flowers and plants. You will then continue on to Sarapiquí, noticing the landscape change as you go. Sarapiquí has been an important port town since colonial times. Before the Atlantic railway line opened in 1890, the port town served as San José’s gateway to the Caribbean Sea. The Llanura de San Carlos plain surrounding Sarapiquí is almost entirely covered by banana plantations.
Overnight stay: Selva Verde Lodge | bed and breakfast
Day 5 | Sarapiquí
Today is a day off. A great thing to do is visit Braulio Carrillo National Park. Here, you can admire the natural surroundings from a gondola on the ‘aerial tram’. This allows you to view the rainforest from a height of 30 metres. You can also go on various walks in the park. There’s a good chance of spotting wildlife. Another option is to take a boat trip on the Sarapiquí River, where you’ll see caimans, amongst other things. And as you’re travelling round Costa Rica by car, you can also hop in the car and visit the national park near the Poás Volcano. Be sure to set off early in the morning, as the volcano is often shrouded in cloud by midday. After a beautiful drive through coffee plantations, vegetable gardens and meadows – with stunning views all along the way – you’ll arrive at the summit of the volcano. After a short walk, you’ll find yourself standing on the rim of one of the world’s largest craters. A truly special experience!
Overnight stay: Selva Verde Lodge | bed and breakfast
Day 6 | Sarapiquí – La Fortuna
(approx. 80 km | 2.5-hour drive)
Today you’ll continue your journey through Costa Rica in your car. The itinerary includes a drive to the stunning surroundings of the Arenal volcano. The 1,633-metre-high Arenal Volcano, with its almost perfect conical shape, rises majestically above the meadows and forests on the eastern side of Laguna de Arenal. However, due to its height, the summit is often hidden behind the clouds. The volcano is currently dormant, with its last eruption having taken place in 2012. You will be staying at the eco-friendly Hotel Casa Luna, just outside the Arenal Volcano National Park.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Luna | bed and breakfast
Day 7 | La Fortuna
A walk in Arenal National Park is an absolute must during your stay in this area. In the morning, a guide will take you on a walk through the lush rainforest, across the vast savannah and past two volcanoes. The 1968 eruption devastated much of the area, yet the park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. You might even spot butterflies, toucans or other wildlife. You’ll walk along a sandy path and across a lava field whilst your guide tells you about the volcanoes and the history of Arenal. You’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of Lake Arenal whilst enjoying a picnic lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish.
Overnight: Hotel Casa Luna | bed and breakfast
Day 8 | La Fortuna
Today you can explore the diverse surroundings of Arenal at your leisure. Why not go on a jungle walk across suspension bridges, offering stunning views of the volcano? You can also see the rainforest from above via a cable car with open gondolas, with views of the lake and the volcano. We also highly recommend the Baldi hot springs, where you can relax and enjoy the naturally warm water at a pleasant temperature. Or perhaps you’d like to visit the Rio Celeste, also known as ‘the light blue river’, situated in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Luna | bed and breakfast
Day 9 | La Fortuna – Monteverde
(approx. 100 km | 2.5-hour drive)
Today you’ll get back in your car and drive on to the cloud forests of Monteverde. As the cloud forest is situated at an altitude of around 2,000 metres above sea level, it is fairly cool there, with average temperatures of around 15 degrees. As the name suggests, a cloud forest is very often shrouded in mist. This mist forms when warm air from lower-lying areas collides with the steep mountain slopes and rises as a result. As it rises, the moisture in the air condenses into fine droplets: the mist. Due to their high humidity, cloud forests are home to a very specific flora; tree branches and trunks are usually covered in thick layers of mosses, ferns, bromeliads and orchids.
Overnight stay: Senda Monteverde | bed and breakfast
Day 10 | Monteverde
Early in the morning, you’ll set off with your guide to the enchanting Curi-Cancha private reserve. Early morning is the best time to spot the most extraordinary wildlife. Your guide will take you on a walk through the stunning surroundings, which transition from dry forest to misty cloud forest. Along the way, you’ll search together for animals such as hummingbirds, toucans, coati and white-faced monkeys. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.
Overnight stay: Senda Monteverde | bed and breakfast
Day 11 | Monteverde – Manuel Antonio
(approx. 195 km | 4.5-hour drive)
From Monteverde, you’ll drive south through Costa Rica. You’ll be staying on the Pacific coast between the town of Quepos and the tropical rainforest of Manuel Antonio. Here, the lush rainforest gives way to an idyllic coastline dotted with beautiful little beaches. Here, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the lovely climate in complete tranquillity. You’ll be staying at the Boutique Hotel Makanda by the Sea. Here, you can enjoy a stunning sunset in a setting rich in flora and fauna.
Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Makanda by the Sea | bed and breakfast.
Please note: this is an adults-only hotel (aged 16 and over)
Day 12 | Manuel Antonio
Today you can visit Manuel Antonio National Park at your leisure. Manuel Antonio is often regarded as one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful national parks. This 683 ha park consists of white sandy beaches fringed by rainforests, home to various species of monkeys and sloths, and where the poisonous Manzanilla tree grows. There are countless monkeys here (including the endangered squirrel monkey), iguanas and three-toed sloths. You can go on wonderful walks here and discover the rich wildlife. Do you love marine life? Then we definitely recommend exploring it in Manuel Antonio National Park. The national park’s underwater world is truly magnificent. It’s also very common to spot whales here during the season (from late July to October).
Accommodation: Boutique Hotel Makanda by the Sea | bed and breakfast
Day 13 | Manuel Antonio – Corcovado
In the morning, you’ll drive to the port of Sierpe (approx. 135 km | 3-hour drive), where you’ll hand over your car. You’ll then be taken by boat to your lodge (approx. 1-hour boat trip). Corcovado National Park is situated on the Osa Peninsula in the south of the country. This national park is also known by the Ticos (Costa Ricans) as ‘our Amazon’. It is a 54,600-hectare park, established in 1975. Before the area was designated a national park, it was mainly home to gold prospectors. The hilly forest of Corcovado is bordered on the western side by a number of deserted, palm-fringed white beaches. Further inland, you’ll find rivers and waterfalls.
Accommodation: SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge | full board including organised activities
Days 14 and 15 | Corcovado
During these days, you can take part in a number of activities with a guide, alongside an international group. Think of a walk through Corcovado National Park. The tropical rainforest is home to an incredibly rich variety of flora and fauna. Annual rainfall can reach up to 5,000 millimetres; around 500 species of trees grow here, and the area is home to numerous mammals and birds. Opposite the park, in the open ocean, lies the island of Caño. From July to October and from December to March, whales come close to the coast here. On rare occasions, whale sharks are even spotted here. Your guide will also take you snorkelling in the coral reef surrounding Caño Island. This large, uninhabited island is surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters. Here you’ll find 18 different species of coral, many exotic fish and, with a bit of luck, you might also spot hammerhead sharks and turtles. As well as these planned activities, you’ll have plenty of time to follow one of the lodge’s walking trails, relax at your bungalow or, for an additional charge, choose from the other activities offered by the lodge.
Accommodation: SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge | full board including included activities
Day 16 | Corcovado – San José – Amsterdam
Unfortunately, your unique Costa Rica road trip has come to an end. In the morning, you will be taken by boat to the harbour at Drake Bay. You will then take a domestic flight to San José. Here, you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam, where you will arrive the following day.
Day 17 | Amsterdam
You will arrive in Amsterdam today.
Travel price
From € 6,400 per person
- Based on 2 people travelling together
- Subject to the time of booking, accommodation availability and the travel period
Included:
- 12 nights’ accommodation, meals as stated
- 3 nights’ accommodation at Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge on a full-board basis, including all excursions led by a professional guide
- 11 days’ car hire (SUV intermediate category): Hyundai Tucson automatic or a comparable alternative, including comprehensive insurance and GPS, starting from San José and dropping off in Sierpe
- Domestic flight from Drake Bay to San José (14kg hold luggage)
- all transfers and excursions as listed
- 24/7 our backup; locally and in the Netherlands
- comprehensive travel pack with small gift
Not included:
- International flights, we will book them for you if required
- Early check-in/late check-out, based on availability sometimes given by hotel. If you want to make sure you have this, please enquire with us about the extra cost.
- Public levy Calamity Fund travel; €2.50 per booking
- SGR contribution of €5 per person per booking
- travel and cancellation insurance
Request a travel proposal - For this Costa Rica road trip
Would you also like to go on this Costa Rica road trip? We can, of course, organise the above itinerary for you, but we’d also be happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Please feel free to get in touch. Call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a bespoke quote below. We’d be happy to help.
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