Self-Drive Adventure: From San José to the Pacific Ocean

Welcome to Costa Rica!

After arriving in San Jose, a local representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the day at leisure.

Recommended activities

• Take a stroll through Mercado Central (Central Market), featuring over 200 shops, food stalls, and sodas (traditional restaurants).
• Visit the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral), whose interior combines Greek Orthodox, Neoclassical, and Baroque styles, and features wood carvings and stained-glass windows.
• Learn about the pre-Columbian culture, in one of the two museums in the city that display artifacts of the time: Museo del Oro Precolumbino (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum), and Museo del Jade the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts.
• Delve into Barrio Amon, a historic neighbourhood where coffee moguls built their mansions in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of these historic buildings have been converted into hotels, restaurants, and galleries, making Amon a popular bohemian district.
• When it is time for dinner, look for a restaurant in the hills of Escazú. This elevated region on the western edge of the city offers panoramic views of the valley below. That said, San Jose is filled with great restaurants serving everything from traditional to forward-thinking fusion cuisine.

Arenal Volcano National Park

It is time to start your adventure, after breakfast take your vehicle and head to the wonderful places that Costa Rica treasures to show you. On your way you will find many interesting places to stop and explore its surroundings. Find some suggestions below.

• On the slopes of Poás volcano is the La Paz waterfall garden. With over 2 miles (3.5 km) of trails in the garden, you can explore the 5 striking waterfalls, a Butterfly Observatory, Hummingbird Garden, Serpentarium and a Frog Exhibit on your own. There is also the option of a private tour if you want to learn more about the wildlife and nature around you.
• Continue your journey to Zarcero Gardens. Zarcero is a small town that is known for its topiary gardens located just in front of the church. It was created by local artist Evangelisto Blanco in the 1960s. Hang out with the dinosaur, the elephant and other animals and shapes cut out of the bushes to take some photos and have lunch before continuing your road.

Upon arrival in La Fortuna, stay at a hotel in the area and leave your luggage there. La Fortuna is the regional hub near Arenal Volcano. During the afternoon there are many activities you can participate in, from zip lining to taking in incredible views of the volcano, crossing hanging bridges, and hiking trails in the rainforest. Then relax after a long day by going to Tabacón Hot Springs and Resort, a set of natural pools in an ideal tropical alcove. After a refreshing swim, return to your accommodation for the night.

Arenal and Monteverde

Get ready to leave La Fortuna on the way to Monteverde. Known as the "green lung" of Costa Rica, this biodiverse region is located in the mountainous northwest of the country, be sure to leave early as the 3.5-hour drive will take you almost the entire way around Lake Arenal.

On the southwest side of Lake Arenal, for example, there is the hillside village of Tilaran. This laid-back mountain town is all charm and makes a great place to stop and stretch your legs. Activities include horseback riding over the hills and windsurfing on the lake.

If you are hungry on the way, stop at a roadside “soda” for a local lunch. Typical options at these traditional family-run restaurants include the casado, a combo dish with rice, beans, and your choice of chicken, beef, pork, or fish.

Finally, you will arrive in Monteverde and the famous 26,000-acre Cloud Forest Reserve, home to countless species of flora and fauna. Suspension bridges throughout the reserve allow walking above the forest canopy; keep your eyes peeled for the resplendent and colourful feathered quetzal, the David Bowie of birds. The reserve's marked trails also traverse exotic fauna and flora, including the largest number of orchid species on the planet (a whopping 500) and new ones are discovered regularly.

After the sun sets, you will have the opportunity to see nocturnal wildlife on a guided night tour of the Cloud Forest. A naturalist will point out sloths, armadillos, and kinkajous, as well as sleeping birds. You will see and hear even more wildlife than during the day, like agoutis, porcupines, grey foxes, tarantulas, and frogs.

Between your arrival in Monteverde and the night walk, you will certainly want to enjoy a good dinner. Head to nearby Santa Elena, a charming city with a strong Quaker influence that is known for its excellent coffee and cheese.

Zip Line Tour

Get ready for a zip line ride in the country where the activity was invented. You will begin by ascending hundreds of feet above the jungle canopy through a network of trails and suspension bridges. The exotic flora and fauna of the region will be on full display.

Upon reaching the end of the line, the adventure of speeding down the mountain begins. You will connect to a zip line cable that runs over the treetops and through the canyons, eventually bringing you back to where you started. Zip line tours in Monteverde are considered the most exciting in the country.

Tamarindo

Take advantage of the last morning in Monteverde, to participate in any activity in which yesterday you could not fit. Be sure to book your activities in advance, as you want to hit the road at lunchtime to get to Tamarindo at a reasonable time. Total driving time is approximately 4 hours.

Tamarindo is a small beach town with only half a thousand inhabitants, but in the high tourist season this number can increase up to ten times more. In the months of November and December, waves up to 12 feet high crash against the shores, making it the perfect challenge for experienced surfers. Once you arrive in town, take some time to relax and watch the sunset on the beach before ending the night.

Tamarindo Beach

Today is the time to fully experience the white sand, ocean breeze, and delicious food of Tamarindo Beach. Spend the morning swimming and sunbathing, or try surfing, snorkelling, or scuba diving with some local lessons. When lunchtime rolls around, hundreds of food stalls preparing Costa Rican street delicacies are just steps away.

Once the daylight has faded, take the Leatherback Turtle Tour in Las Baulas National Marine Park for a truly memorable adventure if you visit between October and March. Every night in season at high tide, female leatherback turtles crawl up the beach to lay eggs. Seeing the turtles come and go, or the hatchlings heading into the water to swim for the first time, is a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

Goodbye Costa Rica

It is time to say goodbye, get ready to drive to the airport to catch your flight back.