Discover Costa Rica's Stunning Landscapes: Self-Guided Driving Tour

Discover Costa Rica’s Exotic Side: 8-Day Adventure Itinerary

Discover Costa Rica’s exotic side during this eight-day nature-filled adventure. Visit the most predominant natural areas of western Costa Rica, seeing an active volcano, a cloud forest high up in the canopy, verdant rainforests and beautiful beaches. Keep on the lookout for an extensive variety of wild animals, bugs, and fascinating plants. Accommodation is in eco-friendly, sustainable properties to enhance the trip’s natural experience.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Rincon de la Vieja: Enjoy the volcanic views this idyllic national park offers and let the steaming mud pots and boiling water amaze you.

Bijagua: With a system of sustainable tourism that helps the local community protect and preserve the surrounding natural environment, this captivating rural retreat is a leader in eco-tourism.

Monteverde: Settled by American Quakers in the 1950s, this primary cloud forest is made up of six unique ‘life zones’ and is home to endangered species and an enormous variety of plant life.

Manuel Antonio: Though it is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, the picturesque Manuel Antonio is full of wild animals, lush vegetation and beautiful beaches.

Itinerary

Day 1: Your Costa Rican adventure begins on arrival to Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, in the north-western part of the country. Here, our representative awaits to greet and assist you as you collect your rental car for this exciting trip. Afterward, depart to the region of Rincon de la Vieja for your first night in Costa Rica. Overnight in Rincon de la Vieja.

Day 2: Begin your day with a tasty breakfast at the hotel. Today you can visit the Rincon de la Vieja National Park in the section known as Las Pailas. The Las Pailas area, which means ‘the cauldrons’ in Spanish, spectacularly showcases 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, exploding in large pits. This special volcano experience is like no other in Costa Rica. Hike the 3.5 kilometre Las Pailas loop trail through the dry tropical forest to discover spectacular nature, mesmerizing volcanic activity, and impressive 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. After your park visit, walk back to the hotel to collect your bags. In the early afternoon, transfer from Rincon de la Vieja to Bijagua, a small town located between two volcanoes, Miravalles and Tenorio. There are many activities to enjoy, such as hiking, natural hot springs, horseback riding, agricultural tours, bird-watching or butterfly spotting. Rincon de la Vieja National Park entrance fee is not included. Overnight in Bijagua.

Day 3: Have breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the day at leisure, exploring on your own or participating in an optional activity, for example, a horseback ride and hike to Rio Celeste, whose name translates to ‘Light Blue River’. The mysterious colour of the sky-blue waters is one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the country. As you follow the river’s trail, encounter hot springs, an abundance of tranquillity, and a remarkable waterfall. Horseback riding lasts one and a half hour each way, followed by a three-hour hike to arrive at Rio Celeste. Later, return to the hotel to relax. Overnight in Bijagua.

Day 4: Have a delectable breakfast at the hotel before you are transferred to mystical Monteverde. Located in the Puntarenas province, this is a place of cloud forests and mist, coffee plantations, monkeys, and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with inviting restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore on your own participate in an exciting optional activity like the Sky Walk or the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tours. The first choice includes a 3-hour hike along a network of trails and suspension bridges in the cloud forest of Monteverde. Be on the lookout for birds, monkeys, sloths, insects, and interesting plants of all shapes and sizes. The Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tour takes you through and above the rainforest. A series of eight suspension bridges, connected by trails for a total 3 km in length, provides a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest canopy! If adventure is not something you are interested in, join the interesting Don Juan Coffee Tour to understand Costa Rica´s coffee, chocolate and sugar cane production (with the emphasis on coffee!). The tour offers an interesting opportunity to learn about coffee and its production as well as to get close to the fascinating Costa Rican folklore. Sky Walk, Selvatura Treetop Walkaway and Don Juan Coffee tours are not included. Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 5: After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, we recommend you drive and enjoy a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is world-renowned for its incredible biodiversity, conservation actions and contributions, as well as scientific research. The reserve’s 3,500 hectare of land hosts 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves in the world. It has four ecological ‘life zones’ with different ecosystems and hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and arachnids, as well as a large variety of flora, such as mosses, vines or the autochthonous trees of the cloud forest. You can enhance today´s experience by joining one of the memorable tours you missed yesterday. Whether you choose to explore the cloud forest during the Sky Walk or the Selvatura Treetop Walkway guided tours, or you prefer getting closer to the fascinating Costa Rican culture while on the Don Juan Coffee tour, your day will be unforgettable. Sky Walk, Selvatura Treetop Walkaway and Don Juan Coffee tours are not included. Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 6: This morning after breakfast, descend towards the Quepos area, the proud home of the Manuel Antonio National Park, the country’s smallest natural park, but one of the most visited parks of all Costa Rican National System of Conservation Areas. Manuel Antonio National Park is a small biological peninsula found within an area devoted to different economic activities, such as agriculture, cattle and tourism development. It is one of the country’s most scenic and beautiful national parks as it covers pristine beaches, mangroves, and spectacular forests. Once you are checked in at the selected hotel, take the rest of the day at leisure or participate in an optional excursion like the Catamaran Relaxing or the Ocean Kayaking Tours. The catamaran will depart from Quepos and glide around the back of the Manuel Antonio National Park, touring the beautiful coastline. Afterwards, your captain will set anchor at Biesanz Bay, giving you the freedom to snorkel or simply rest on board, followed by a delicious barbecue lunch. And if you want an adventure, choose the thrilling Ocean Kayaking Tour and venture out on a kayak from Quepos Pier for a 2.5-hour journey. The tour allows you to discover stunning examples of nature, above and below the ocean’s surface, from pelicans to flying fish. Round-trip transportation from the hotel will be provided. The Catamaran Relaxing and Ocean Kayaking Tours are not included. Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 7: Begin your day with a luscious breakfast and then, take the opportunity to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park on your own. The trail is flat, picturesque and loops through the park, making your course about two miles long. The park is a great place to take pictures or just to admire the impressive views. One of the highlights of this tour is that Manuel Antonio is home to three of the four existing tropical primates living in Costa Rica. Halfway through the hike, enjoy a leisurely stop at the world-famous ‘Third Beach’. Take a rest on the soft sand or play in the waves. Throughout the hike, it is common to see sloths, birds and reptiles as well as admire wild orchids, butterflies and tropical vegetation. The entrance fee to the Manuel Antonio National Park is not included. You can spend the day at leisure or enjoy an optional activity. You have again the great opportunity to unwind while enjoying the Catamaran Relaxing Tour or feel the thrills given by the exciting Ocean Kayaking tour. The Catamaran Relaxing and Ocean Kayaking Tours are not included. Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Day 8: Indulge in a flavourful breakfast and, at the appropriate time, drive from Manuel Antonio to Daniel Oduber International Airport to catch your flight back home.

Inclusions

• 7 nights accommodation
• Accommodation Options across various locations including Rincon de la Vieja, Bijagua, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio with standard, superior, and deluxe categories
• Car Hire Options: Car Group A (Daihatsu Bego or similar), Car Group B (Suzuki Grand Vitara or similar), Car Group C (Toyota Fortuner or similar)
• 7 breakfasts
• Air-conditioned transportation for the arrival and departure transfer on a shared basis
• Tour guides do not accompany guests during transport
• Car Hire includes unlimited mileage, applicable local taxes (VAT), insurance with no excess, loss damage waiver (LDW), supplemental liability coverage (SLC), emergency contact service, replacement car in case of accident, full-full petrol rate, second driver, and coverage up to 70,000 USD per person or 175,000 USD per accident
• Other inclusions: Meet and greet on Day 1, Hotel taxes

Exclusions

• Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme
• Airport taxes
• Airport porterage
• Optional tours
• International / domestic flight tickets or visa fees and local taxes
• Gratuities for drivers and guides
• Entrance fees for optional activities mentioned in the itinerary
• Not included in Car Hire: Damage to a third party or to the hire vehicle due to negligence or inappropriate driving, loss or damage to fixed or mobile components of the vehicle, damage to the engine through negligence, theft of the vehicle with keys left in the ignition, damage caused by driving under the influence, fines for traffic law violations, any extra equipment, and petrol deposit 100 USD (refunded when returning full)

Discover Costa Rica’s exotic side during this eight-day nature-filled adventure. Visit the most predominant natural areas of western Costa Rica, seeing an active volcano, a cloud forest high up in the canopy, verdant rainforests and beautiful beaches. Keep on the lookout for an extensive variety of wild animals, bugs, and fascinating plants. Accommodation is in eco-friendly, sustainable properties to enhance the trip’s natural experience.

• TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
• Rincon de la Vieja: Enjoy the volcanic views this idyllic national park offers and let the steaming mud pots and boiling water amaze you.
• Bijagua: With a system of sustainable tourism that helps the local community protect and preserve the surrounding natural environment, this captivating rural retreat is a leader in eco-tourism.
• Monteverde: Settled by American Quakers in the 1950s, this primary cloud forest is made up of six unique ‘life zones’ and is home to endangered species and an enormous variety of plant life.
• Manuel Antonio: Though it is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, the picturesque Manuel Antonio is full of wild animals, lush vegetation and beautiful beaches.

• The minimum age to rent a vehicle or be a driver is 21 years
• All drivers must have a valid driver's license
• The person who signs the contract must have an international credit card, Visa or Master Card, AMEX
• Pick-up service at the San José Airport is 24 hours
• Pick-up service at the Liberia Airport are from Monday to Sunday, 05:00 to 21:00 hrs. Pick-up outside of these times are subject to a surcharge.
• Pick-up hours at other locations are from Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 17:00 hrs
• All pick-up times at other locations will be set according to the office hours.
• Accident/theft reporting must be notified within 24 hours of incident
• If the customer returns the vehicle earlier than the agreed upon drop-off date stated in the rental contract, the rental company will not refund the customer for any unused days.
• Deposit by credit card: Visa or Master Card only
• Please note that local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to tour contents without prior notice
• For self-guided visits, you must pay your entrance fee directly at the front desk of each park or attraction
• Recommended arrival before 14:00 hrs.
• Recommended departure time after 15:00 hrs.