Caribbean to Pacific, Self-drive

Itinerary

ARRIVAL SAN JOSE

Upon arrival to San Jose, the meet and greet services at Juan Santamaria International Airport will direct you to your transport. You will be transferred to the selected hotel in San Jose for your first night in Costa Rica.

• Overnight in San Jose.

SAN JOSE – PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA (215km – 5 hrs)

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, a representative of the car rental company will meet you in the hotel lobby to give you the rental car you will be using for your trip. Drive yourself towards the beautiful Puerto Viejo, passing through Braulio Carrillo National Park and its rainforest and admiring the spectacular mountain scenery, as well as the quaint villages of Costa Rica Caribbean region. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the surroundings on your own or join an optional activity like a Horseback riding session. Meet your experienced guide, a great horse lover with whom you will share this wonderful experience. Once assigned to a horse, you are ready to ride towards Punta Uva to enjoy a beautiful stroll along the shores of the Caribbean Sea and reach the estuaries of Punta Uva River. Afterwards, begin returning along the paths of the wetland, an ideal time to learn about the different species of animals and plants encountered on your way. And if horseback riding is not your cup of tea, enjoy a memorable Canopy Tour. This consists of 9 aerial platforms and 13 ground platforms, with a total of 2,760 m of cable. The guide will teach you about the flora and fauna of the primary forest, including its use by the indigenous people. It is a great way to indulge in the Southern Caribbean coastal experience. The Canopy Tour and Horseback Riding are not included.

•  Overnight in Puerto Viejo.

CAHUITA NATIONAL PARK

Indulge in a flavorous breakfast at your hotel and enjoy the day at leisure, exploring on your own or participating in an optional activity, such as snorkelling and hiking through the nearby Cahuita National Park. This is the most important coral reef of Costa Rica. Full of sea life, be prepared to see many different species of coral, an abundance of tropical fish, sharks, eels, sea urchins, shellfish, crustaceans, algae, sea turtles, and more. After discovering the beauty of the underwater world, you can hike through Cahuita National Park, with the possibility of observing various types of snakes, sloths, white-faced and howler monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, and many others. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure relaxing or participating in an optional activity. If you didn´t adventure yourself into joining the exciting Canopy Tour or the relaxing Horseback Riding experience, today you have another chance! The optional activities mentioned, as well as snorkelling and hiking through Cahuita National Park are not included.

• Overnight in Puerto Viejo.

PUERTO VIEJO – TURRIABLA (180km – 4 hrs)

Start the day with a rich breakfast at your hotel. Then, drive to the village of Turrialba. Enjoy a four-hour journey and have the rest of the day at leisure. Explore the mesmerising surroundings or just relax, luxuriating in the hotel facilities. Unwind and prepare yourself for an optional rafting adventure down the River Pacuare or a memorable river canyoning experience tomorrow.

• Overnight in Turrialba.

PACUARE RIVER

Have a nice breakfast to make sure your energy reserves are high for today’s adventurous outing. Adventure in the optional Pacuare white-water rafting experience, keeping in mind that this considered one of the best rafting rivers in Costa Rica! Feel the adrenaline rush as you paddle through the thrill of the rapids, and observe the natural beauty that surrounds you, admiring the paradisiacal cascading waterfalls and a variety of tropical flora and fauna. The Pacuare white-water rafting experience is not included.

• Overnight in Turrialba.
  

TURRIABLA – SAN GERARDO DE DOTA (120km – 3 hrs)

After a delectable breakfast at your designated hotel, drive yourself to San Gerardo de Dota, in the Los Quetzales National Park, a cloud forest reserve where the iconic quetzal bird lives. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the area on your own or join an optional activity. Visiting the Guayabo Monument is a fantastic choice. Veiled in the shadow of the Turrialba Volcano, like a mythical lost city from a storybook, lies a mysterious ancient city that was home to over 10,000 people who seemed to have mysteriously vanished just before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. This area, known as Guayabo National Monument, is Costa Rica’s most important archaeological site and its only named national monument. A guide will walk you through the park while explaining the findings of the excavations and the history of the people that once lived there. Another great activity is the Tropical Biking Tour at CATIE. This tour takes place in and around the plantations and botanical gardens of CATIE. The topography of the trails used on this tour is for all levels of bike riders and children over eight years old. As you go along, your naturalist guide will explain the great diversity of forest and fruit plantations, which can include coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, citrus, plantain, bananas, macadamia, pineapple, mangosteen, mango, avocado and many other exotic species from tropical countries all over the world. Thanks to the diversity in flowers and fruits, the plantation is also an ideal site for the observation of birds, mammals and some reptiles. The Canyoneering and Canopy Tour is another memorable activity availed today. Canyoning involves rappelling and descending cliffs and waterfalls within the canyon. Begin this exciting tour with an introduction of our guides and the equipment, as well as with a safety speech, to help you familiarise with the activity. Your guide will make sure you know the mechanisms and procedures for canyoning, ensuring you a safe and fun experience. You are off on a 2-3 hour adventure, rappelling down four waterfalls, zip lining down four canopy cables, and walking across a 40m hanging bridge – all giving you an unforgettable adrenaline rush! The optional activities mentioned are not included.

• Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota.
  

SAN GERARDO DE DOTA

Wake up and savour a tasty breakfast at the hotel. Spend a new day exploring the magnificent beauty of Costa Rica. Join an optional activity in San Gerardo de Dota or just wander around this area and admire the landscaped surroundings. San Gerardo de Dota is proudly hosting a large population of quetzal birds. And one of the most interesting options is to go out on an optional ‘quetzal quest’. This bird’s metallic green plumage, bright red breast, spikey head, and its incredible tail feathers make spotting a quetzal in flight a magical experience.

•  Overnight in San Gerardo de Dota.

SAN GERARDO DE DOTA – MANUEL ANTONIO (150km – 3 hrs)

After indulging in a delicious breakfast, drive to the Central Pacific Coast down the Pan-American Highway to San Isidro de El General. Enjoy a beautiful drive, admiring the stunning surroundings, take the road to the South Pacific, and finally the coastal route will take you to the town of Quepos, just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park. Check in to your hotel and have the afternoon to enjoy the inspiring area.

• Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

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. 

• Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

MANUEL ANTONIO – DEPART SAN JOSE (160km – 3 hrs)

Enjoy a tasty breakfast and, at the appropriate time, drive from Manuel Antonio to the airport for your flight back home. Drop off your car at the car rental office and take a shuttle transfer to the airport.

• Breakfast included.