Fly & Drive
This program provides you with a glance of Costa Rica and Nicaragua’s highlights.
In Costa Rica, you will start in San Jose our capital city. You will be driving on your own to the different areas set in the itinerary. Your first destination will be Arenal Volcano, known for impressive conic shape along with a diverse line of attractions and activities that can be done in this tropical rainforest location. Next, you will get to know the rural areas, heading around the impressive Arenal Lake until reaching the cloud forest area of Monteverde, a nice place to settle and explore, with the charm of the local culture and the different optional activities.
You will be combining this driving experience with our neighbor country, Nicaragua. The first place in the agenda will be the beach village of San Juan del Sur in the Pacific Ocean. There you will also visit on your own, Granada, which is one of Latin America’s most beautiful colonial cities. This ancient town on the shores of mighty Lake Nicaragua is full of history and Spanish colonial charm and is one of the oldest European settlements in the western hemisphere.
Also further up north you will have also the change to visit Leon, Nicaragua’s colonial former capital which was founded in the early 17th century and is home to more than 12 colonial period churches, each one unique in its design from tiny parish size chapels to the mighty Cathedral, Central America’s largest church.
The program ends in Nicaragua.
Program summary:
Day 1: Arrival (SJO) San Jose, Costa Rica and overnight in San Jose.
Day 2: Car Rental, Arenal Volcano.
Day 3: Arenal Volcano
Day 4: Monteverde
Day 5: Monteverde
Day 6: Peñas Blancas Frontier, Costa Rica car rental drop off and Nicaragua car rental pick up with continuing services to Nicaragua. Drive to San Juan del Sur.
Day 7: San Juan del Sur
Day 8: San Juan del Sur.
Day 9: Granada
Day 10: Granada
Day 11: Leon
Day 12: Leon
Day 13: Departure Day from Managua, Nicaragua (MGA).
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT– SAN JOSE
Upon arrival at SJO International Airport, a Swiss Travel representative will meet you and will provide you with all the necessary documentation you will need during your vacation. Then, you will be transferred to Sleep Inn hotel located in San Jose downtown for a one-night stay.
Day 2: SAN JOSE – ARENAL VOLCANO
Breakfast
Today in the morning at the hotel in San Jose, you will be provided with a 4×4-car rental.
From this point on you will be driving on your own to the different locations in the itinerary.
Today you will be heading up to the Arenal Volcano. On the way, you can make a stop to visit Sarchi known for the artisanship especially in wood. There is also the known Zarcero Park and church and overall in the whole route there is diverse of agricultural plantations, ornamental plants and cattle ranches until arrive to Arenal Volcano area.
You will be staying the following two nights at Lomas del Volcan Hotel.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 3 ½ hour depending on route.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 5 – 7 Hours
Possible Places to visit: Poas Volcano, Sarchi artisan town, Zarcero church and park or via San Ramon with Canopy San Luis. Sites to visit on your own in which entrance fees are not included. Timings subject to changes according to route and exact places to stopover
Day 3: ARENAL VOLCANO
Breakfast
Explore on your own with your car rental the surrounding and visit some of the attractions available (extra cost) in the area, such as: Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna Waterfall, Canopy, Hot Springs, Hanging bridges and many others for you to discover.
Day 4: ARENAL – MONTEVERDE
Breakfast
After breakfast, continue heading up to the Cloud Forest area in Monteverde. Roads in some portions are in gravel, a little bit bumpy and dusty but this is a beautiful sightseeing drive bordering the Arenal Lake with great views of the mountains and the Arenal Volcano. The highlands of the cloud forests of Monteverde is a special area for the adventure and ecotourism lover. Small settlements devoted to agriculture and livestock made this area the heart of the country. Overnight at Hotel Trapp Family Lodge.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 3 ½ hour.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 4 ½ – 6 hours
Possible Places to visit: Arenal Lake, Eolics, Tilaran. Sites to visit on your own in which entrance fees are not included. Timings subject to changes according to route and exact places to stopover
Day 5: MONTEVERDE
Breakfast
This day is at leisure to enjoy the optional (extra cost) activities in the area. Monteverde offers a wide range of activities ranging from the visit to the town of Santa Elena, where you will find the frog pound, the serpentarium and art galleries. Hanging bridges, sky tram, canopy tour, Monteverde Reserve, Trapiche and more are part of the of activities you can find in this area.
Overnight at Hotel Trapp Family Lodge.
Day 6: MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA – SAN JUAN DEL SUR, NICARAGUA
Breakfast
Today you will be heading on to San Juan del Sur Nicaragua. The first portion of your drive will be taking you up to Peñas Blancas frontier (Costa Rica – Nicaragua border), estimated 4-hour drive. This journey is accompanied by incredible views of the Gulf of Nicoya and quaint rural villages until you reach the Pan-American Highway, where you can notice the change between the tropical rain forest and tropical dry forest that characterizes the province of Guanacaste.
After the migratory crossings on your own and obtaining a new car rental, you will continue driving to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, around 1 hour away from the Border (please review important notes in the program).
San Juan del Sur has a little more than 20,000 habitants. The main activity is fishing, which is plentiful and of great benefit for the population. San Juan del Sur is a horseshoe shaped bay. Because of the color of its waters, this beach will remind you of the Caribbean.
You will be staying the following three nights at Colonial Hotel, San Juan del Sur.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 4 hour in Costa Rica and 1 hour in Nicaragua (however, it does not contemplate Migration and Customs at the border, plus the car rental drop off and new pick up).
Days 7 & 8: SAN JUAN DEL SUR
Breakfast
On your own, you can enjoy the different beaches close to San Juan del Sur like Chacocente, Punta Sardinas, Popoyo, El Yanqui, La Flor and Majahual. There is also in the surroundings La Flor Wildlife refuge and Playa Hermosa Surf Camp situated in a 2000 acres of virgin beach.
Day 9: SAN JUAN DEL SUR – GRANADA
Breakfast
Today you will continue the adventure by driving to the Granada City (approximately 2-hour drive). Granada is the oldest city in Central America founded in 1524, keeping like treasure its old colonial architecture. This city also lays in the north shore of the Nicaragua Lake, the biggest in Central America. Overnight at selected hotel in the Granada area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 2 Hours.
Places of interest to visit on route: NA (for this day we recommend to go directly to Granada
Day 10: GRANADA
Breakfast
Day at leisure. Enjoy the local atmosphere. The “Central Plaza”, surrounded by the Cathedral (1900) is a perfect place to enjoy a delicious Nicaraguan Coffee. The beautiful neo- classical building of the Casa Pellas and the old City Hall creates a perfect setting. Other options are Fortín de la Pólvora, San Francisco Convent, The Islets, and Mombacho Volcano etc.
Overnight at selected hotel in the Granada area.
Day 11: GRANADA – LEON
Breakfast
Today you will continue the driving to Leon City (2 ½-hour drive). The scenic road to León borders the Lake Managua with impressive view of Momotombo. The Spanish “Conquistadors” founded the first city of León in 1524 at the slopes of the Momotombo Volcano. Due to constant earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in 1610, this city was later relocated 53 miles (90 km) further north from Managua. Two night stay at Hotel Los Balcones in Leon.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 2 ½ Hours.
Day 12: LEON
Breakfast
Day at leisure. On your own, you could visit the Cathedral of León, The Sutiaba Church, Hervideros de San Jacinto, a Rum Distillery or Juan Venado Natural Reserve.
Day 13: LEON – MANAGUA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MGA)
Breakfast
Today you will be making your way to Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport in Managua, which is approximately 2 hours away.You will be dropping off the car in the airport surroundings, please leave additional timing to drop off the car and also consider that passengers are requested to be 2 hours in advance (before flight departure time) at the Airport for checking in process.
Remark: We suggest the International Departure Flight in the afternoon.
End of Services
Details of Hotels
Location Hotel Name Category Type of Room CST
San José Sleep Inn 3 stars Standard 4
Arenal Volcano Lomas del Volcan 3 stars Standard N/A
Monteverde Trapp Family Lodge Lodge Superior 4
San Juan del Sur Colonial 2 Stars Standard N/A
Granada Patio del Malinche 3 stars Standard N/A
Leon Los Balcones 3 stars Standard N/A