From the Caribbean to the Pacific, this program has been designed for those who want to experience and adventure on their own, by driving in Costa Rica through the wonderful and revealing natural landscapes. With the help of a 4×4 Car rental, you will discover the different spots established in the program. Beginning with the visit to Costa Rica’s Northern area, specifically to the Arenal Volcano, which is known for its impressive conic shape. Afterwards you will be driving to the Sarapiqui plains, identified for its tropical rain forest, diversity of crops and different types of activities that takes place in the area.
Our South Caribbean coast will provide you with an interesting combination of beach, culture and nature all mixed in a rustic but charming environment. Afterwards you will continue to the Turrialba Valley region and the San Gerardo de Dota village, in which spectacular mountain scenarios, rivers, lakes will be part of the secrets to discover in the wonderful area.
Toward the end of the program, you will combine two destinations in our Pacific Coast. A bit toward the South Pacific, you will visit the Ballena Bay area, immerse in the mountain but with great views to the ocean, in which on your own you can also visit the Marino Ballena National Park. Finally, your driving experience will be taking you to the central pacific, in the famous Manuel Antonio area where you will find a combination of tropical forest and white sand beaches. This is an ideal place to conclude your trip in which you can rest, enjoy the sun, beach and the different activities, which are offered in the area.
Program summary:
Day 1: Arrival to San Jose International Airport (SJO) and Overnight in San Jose.
Day 2: Arenal Volcano
Day 3: Arenal Volcano
Day 4: Sarapiqui
Day 5: South Caribbean, near Puerto Viejo de Limon
Day 6: South Caribbean, near Puerto Viejo de Limon
Day 7: Turrialba Valley
Day 8: San Gerardo de Dota
Day 9: San Gerardo de Dota
Day 10: South Pacific, Ballena Bay
Day 11: Ballena Bay
Day 12: Central Pacific, Manuel Antonio
Day 13: Manuel Antonio
Day 14: Manuel Antonio
Day 15: Drive to San Jose International Airport (SJO) ** Please review important notes.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – SAN JOSE
Arrival to Juan Santamaria International Airport. A Swiss Travel representative will meet upon your arrival and take you to your selected hotel in San José.
San José is the capital Costa Rica and it is located in the Central Valley of the country. The diversity of restaurants and places to visit such as museums become San Jose a great place to start your adventure in Costa Rica. Overnight at Selected hotel for one night.
Day 2: SAN JOSE – ARENAL VOLCANO
Breakfast
Today in the morning at the Hotel, you will be provided with a 4×4-car rental vehicle. From this moment, you will continue on your own by driving the car to the different locations set in the program. Your journey will be taken you to Northern area of Costa Rica, specifically to the Arenal
Volcano area. There are two main routes to access this region, via Naranjo-Ciudad Quesada or via San Ramon.
This whole area represents some of the countryside of our towns, with lands dedicated to agriculture and cattle ranches that become what many people have called the heart of the country. A striking characteristic of this area is the dramatic contrast in topography. Several small and medium-sized rivers that range throughout the plains make the region very fertile. The residents practice fruit trees, rice paddies and cattle ranching. Yet there are many expanses of protected areas dotting the region. The main attraction of this area is by far the Arenal Volcano, which rises 1,633 meters above sea level showing off one of the main characteristics with its almost perfect conic shape. In the area, there is a diverse line of activities and attractions to discover on your own.
You will be staying the following two nights at selected Hotel in the area.
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.
Day 3: ARENAL VOLCANO
Breakfast
This day is at leisure in which you can enjoy the different tourist attractions at an extra cost that can be found in the area or just relax and enjoy nature from your hotel facilities. Some ideas on activities in the surroundings are The Arenal Volcano National Park, hanging bridges, the sky Tram/sky trek, Arenal Vida Campesina, Boat tour, horseback riding and much more for you to discover on your own.
Day 4: ARENAL VOLCANO – SARAPIQUI
Breakfast
Today we recommend you to leave in the early morning toward the Sarapiqui area. You will be driving through the northern plains, which are characterized, by fertile lands, which are used to different standing crops of pineapple, yucca, papaya and bananas. Once closer to the Sarapiqui area, also the highlight are the biological reserves and the tropical rain forests that seem as havens for eco-tourism, as well as family tourism projects, which offers a different way of using natural resources with a large number of adventure activities.
In this area you can discover on your own some of the optional activities in the area such as zip line, horseback riding, hiking, river boat tour, chocolate tour and many others.
You will be staying one night in Sarapiqui region.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 2 ½ hour.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 4 – 6 Hours
Places to possible visit: San Carlos River, Indigenous culture museum, Dave and Dave nature park, Sarapiqui River.
Day 5: SARAPIQUI – PUERTO VIEJO DE LIMON
Breakfast
The journey continues as you head on to our South Caribbean coast, to the Puerto Viejo of Limon area, a less than a four-hour drive.
Check in and two night stays at your selected Hotel in the area.
Puerto Viejo of Limon located south from Limon City and in general, the area of the South Caribbean provides a unique combination of beaches, natural resource and Afro Caribbean culture. This area is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for relaxation. High quality beaches allow adventure and natural history activities that definitely compliment with culture, gastronomy and music. Local people are open and friendly and the town of Puerto Viejo is perfect to explore our Caribbean flavors in a rustic but charming environment. This area has been the birthplace of important Costa Rican figures such as poets, musicians, storytelling and painters, who have popularized their work with their own culture and projecting beyond the borders of the province of Limon, filling all of its culture.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 4 hour.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 5 – 7 Hours
Places to possible visit: La Selva Biological Station (depending), Limon City.
Day 6: PUERTO VIEJO DE LIMON
Breakfast
Day at leisure in which you can relax, enjoy the beaches and even interact with locals.
There is a well different activity, which take place in the area at an extra cost such as Cahuita National Park, Horseback riding, Indian Reserves and others for you to discover.
Day 7: PUERTO VIEJO DE LIMON – TURRIALBA VALLEY
Breakfast
This day you will drive to the Turrialba Valley.
You will be staying one night in the area. The Turrialba Valley is a rural countryside zone, a quiet region, but very popular because of its good quality of coffee plantations and sugar cane fields that shows part of their culture and way of life.
Depending on your itinerary timings, during your stay in the area and on your own you can take an optional (extra cost): Rafting, visit to CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), Horseback riding, Guayabo Archaeological Monument and others.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 3 ½ hour.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 5 – 9 Hours
Places to possible visit: Pacuare River, Turrialba town, Catie, Hydroelectric Angostura Power Plant.
Day 8: TURRIALBA VALLEY –SAN GERARDO DE DOTA
Breakfast
Today’s driving experience will be taken you to different rural towns and through the Cartago city, in the long past the capital city of Costa Rica. This city is home to the Lady of our Angels church, the most catholic religion place for Costa Rican’s and where large peregrinate take place.
Afterwards you will be ascending into the Talamanca Mountain range until reaching the cloud forest area of San Gerardo de Dota. This area is one of the most important regions in the exportation and quality of coffee, however it is more known as per its cloud forest, which is the perfect habitat for different species of flora and fauna.
You will be checking in for the following two nights at selected hotel in the area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 3 hours.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 5 – 7 Hours
Places to possible visit: Irazu Volcano, Cartago town and Orosi Valley and colonial church
Day 9: SAN GERARDO DE DOTA
Breakfast
Day at leisure in the area. You can enjoy the Cloud Forest and the surroundings on your own in which you will discover the charm of this zone.
There is also a large number of birds, since San Gerardo de Dota is located in a biological corridor that serves as a bird sanctuary for the over 170 species of birds found in the area.
Day 10: SAN GERARDO DE DOTA – BALLENA BAY
Breakfast
Today’s driving experience in your car rental will be taken you to the to the South Pacific area near the outskirts of Ballena National Marine Park. You will notice along route the variety in altitudes and changes on climate, passing through interesting towns such as San Isidro del General, until reaching the Dominical Beach. From there you will continue south along the coastal road until reaching the fisher village of Uvita and afterwards heading a little bit into the mountains, which surrounds the area.
Two night stay in the Ballena Bay area.
Without a doubt, your adventure in the South pacific of Costa Rica, is complemented with the gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by an exuberant tropical forest, accompanied by days filled with peace and tranquility but further more in a relaxing environment, great to tribute your vacations.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 3 hours.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 5 – 7 Hours
Places to possible visit: San Isidro del General city, Nauyaca Waterfall, Dominical, Ballena National Park.
Day 11: BALLENA BAY
Breakfast
Day at leisure to discover different attractions in the area.
On your own (extra cost), you can visit the Bahia Ballena Marine National Park which is a small area which protects the surrounding beaches, mangroves, islands, corals and sea portion. The marine platform in front of the park connects in the middle of a sand bridge, which during low tide can be seen from the air or the mountain as similar of whale’s tail. The warm waters form a perfect ecosystem to attract whales and dolphins, which are common near the coastal areas in the reproduction and birth season.
Day 12: BALLENA BAY – MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast
By driving up north the coastal road (1 ½-hour drive), you will be making your way into the Central Pacific region, specifically to the Manuel Antonio area. The route will take you passing again through Uvita, Dominical and finally into Quepos where 6 kilometers away you will find one of the most beautiful places, Manuel Antonio.
In this area, you will find white-sand beaches ideal for swimming, tropical rainforest forest alive with wildlife and of course one of the area’s main attractions, the Manuel Antonio National Park. Here you can watch for sloths, monkeys and iguanas (visit on your own, closed on Mondays). The immense variety of things to do and places to visit in one single day in the area will definitely add value to your experience in this blessed land in a lush tropical place.
You will be staying the following three nights in the Manuel Antonio area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 1 ½ hours.
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 3 Hours
Places to possible visit: Dominical, Matapalo.
Days 13 & 14: MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast
On your own you can rest, enjoy the sun, beaches and eventually take one extra cost activity in the area, some ideas are: Hiking, boat tours, horseback riding, canopy, Kayak, Surfing, cultural and many others for you to discover.
Day 15: MANUEL ANTONIO – SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Breakfast
This is your last day in our country and after some unforgettable days, enjoying the Pacific Coast you will drive the car rental to San Jose (approximate 3 ½-hour drive). Heading specifically to the area of the (SJO) Juan Santamaria International Airport to return the car and take your international departing flight.
***Important Notes: Airport authorities request for passengers to be at the Airport 3 hours before flight time on International Departure, this with the purpose to proceed with checking, security checks at Migration and Customs. In order to combine this program, you must coordinate departing flights in the midafternoon to evening, eventually any doubt or adjustment to the program consult case by case to our Reservations Team.
END OF SERVICES
Tourist Option
| Location | Hotel Name | Category | Type of Room | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José | Country Inn & Suites | 3 Stars | Standard | 4 |
| Arenal Volcano | Lomas del Volcan | 3 Stars | Standard | N/A |
| Sarapiqui | La Quinta de Sarapiqui | Lodge | Superior | 5 |
| South Caribbean | Cariblue Hotel | 3 Stars | Superior | 1 |
| Valle Turrialba | Villa Florencia | 3 Stars | Standard | 5 |
| San Gerardo de Dota | Trogon Lodge | Lodge | Standard | 5 |
| South Pacific | La Cusina Lodge | Lodge | Ocean View Superior | 5 |
| Central Pacific | Villas Lirio | 3 Stars | Garden Sencilla | N/A |
Superior Option
| Location | Hotel Name | Category | Type of Room | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José | Crown Plaza Corobicí | 4 Stars | Deluxe | 5 |
| Arenal Volcano | Arenal Springs | 3+ Stars | Junior Suite | 5 |
| Sarapiqui | Sueño Azul | 3 Stars | Superior | N/A |
| South Caribbean | Shawandha | 3 Stars | Bungalow | N/A |
| Valle Turrialba | Casa Turire | Boutique | Standard | 4 |
| San Gerardo de Dota | Savegre Hotel | Lodge | Junior Suite | 5 |
| South Pacific | Cristal Ballena | 4 Stars | Junior Suite | 5 |
| Central Pacific | Si Como No | 4 Stars | Superior | 5 |