15-Day Costa Rica Self-Drive Tour: Santa Teresa, Beaches & Nature

Day 1: ARRIVAL LIBERIA – TAMARINDO (85km – 1.5 hrs)

1. 12h
   Your Costa Rican adventure begins on arrival at Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, in the north-western part of the country. Here, a Destination Services representative awaits to greet you and assist collecting your rental car. Then, depart to the region of Tamarindo Beach for your first night in Costa Rica. Tamarindo is a great place to have some fun and the perfect starting point to your holiday.
   
   Overnight in Tamarindo.

Day 2: TAMARINDO – SAMARA (110km – 2 hrs)

1. 12h
   After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Samara. This is a mesmerising beach location perfect for soaking up the sun in an unpretentious, laid-back, beachy atmosphere. The village resort is shaped by its half-moon bay and features a long white sand beach shaded by picturesque palm trees. Relax and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
   
   Overnight in Samara.

Day 3: SAMARA

1. 12h
   Indulge in a tasty breakfast at the hotel before you begin a new adventure. Today, you can relax at the beach and explore the surroundings, or have fun in the sun on an optional ocean safari, including a boat tour and an exciting snorkelling session. Enjoy this adventure as you search for amazing local marine life, such as dolphins, whales, and sea turtles, with the most exotic coastal landscape as your background. Back on land, return to your hotel with the remainder of the day free to enjoy the area and the hotel facilities. The ocean safari is not included.
   
   Overnight in Samara.

Day 4: SAMARA – SANTA TERESA (170km – 4 hrs)

1. 12h
   After breakfast, hop into your rental car and drive from Samara to Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa and the Nicoya Peninsula are considered a Blue Zone – areas where inhabitants live longer, healthier lives. Santa Teresa is a booming new travel destination in Costa Rica, attracting beach enthusiasts and surfers alike who come to catch a wave or enjoy the exotic beach surrounds. Many travellers who arrived only for a surf vacation fell in love with Santa Teresa and decided to call this place their new home. The new residents from around the globe provide a trendy international flare to the local Costa Rican scene, which can be appreciated in the local shops and restaurants of the area.
   
   Overnight in Santa Teresa.

Day 5: SANTA TERESA

1. 12h
   Begin your day with a tasty breakfast at the hotel. Savour today at leisure to relax at your hotel or on the beach, take part in one of numerous activities offered in the region or explore the surrounding areas on your own.
   
   Overnight in Santa Teresa .

Day 6: SANTA TERESA – SAN JOSE (170km – 4 hrs by road / 1 hr by ferry)

1. 12h
   After breakfast, drive to San Jose, reaching the capital city in the early afternoon. Check in to your hotel and have the rest of day at leisure to explore this fascinating city on your own. Wander around its beautifully arranged streets and catch a glimpse of its main landmarks.
   
   Overnight in San Jose.

Day 7: SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (135km – 4 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)

1. 12h
   Your day begins early with a morning departure, travelling by road through the Braulio Carrillo National Park to the Caribbean plains, enjoying the spectacular mountain scenery and quaint villages. Meet your guide for the following days and savour a rich breakfast at a local restaurant. Leave the car locked in the restaurant’s parking lot and continue by shared transport to a pier, where you hop on a boat and cruise the rivers and canals of Tortuguero National Park. Arrive, check in, and luxuriate in a mouthwatering lunch at your eco-lodge. Board the boat again for a visit to Tortuguero village, where you have the incredible opportunity to stroll its beautifully arranged paths, explore the bewildering beaches, and experience the locals' way of life. During turtle hatching season, we will look for the baby turtles trying to find their way down to the ocean. Nesting is from July to September, hatching from September to December. Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, surrounded by the beautiful tropical forest and wildlife.
   
   Overnight in Tortuguero.

Day 8: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

1. 12h
   Today enjoy some free time to relax by the pool. You can also indulge in a three-hour trip exploring the famous Tortuguero National Park to observe over 350 protected species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and sloths, as well as admire its lush vegetation. During the July to September season, you can join an optional late night turtle nesting tour, purchasable directly at the lodge. Entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park is not included.
   
   Overnight in Tortuguero.

Day 9: TORTUGUERO – SARAPIQUI (85km – 3 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)

1. 12h
   After breakfast, depart by boat back to Guapiles. Here, stop for a tasty lunch and to pick up your rental car before driving yourself to Sarapiqui, just north of San Jose. Hidden in the foothills of the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park and set alongside mountain streams, exuberant rainforest and pasturelands, this spellbinding area is truly a sight for sore eyes. Encounter the mysteries of the rainforest while enjoying a comfortable stay in the beautifully designed rooms of the lodge.
   
   Overnight in Sarapiquí.

Day 10: SARAPIQUI

1. 12h
   After breakfast, you can join the optional activities in the area that we propose below. Today you can choose between a floating safari tour or rafting on Sarapiqui River, an interesting chocolate tour, or an exciting Canopy experience. The floating safari tour on the River Sarapiqui gives you the chance to appreciate the beauty and the diversity of the flora and fauna of the Sarapiqui rainforest. Rafting on the Sarapiqui River offers you the perfect combination of adventure and nature. This section is filled with class II-III rapids and clear, refreshing water that swerves its way through the tropical rainforest of Sarapiqui, making it a true paradise! Rapids with names like “Roller Coaster”, “Superman”, and “Air Force” will thrill you while the incredible surroundings filled with flora and fauna will leave you breathless. If you don´t feel adventurous today, you can enjoy an interesting Chocolate tour. This 2.5-hour experience will open the secrets and wonders of one of mankind’s favourite foods: chocolate. The tour will be led by a trained guide across the suspension bridge and a sector of the Tirimbina forest to a former cacao-growing plot. During the hike, the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree will be explained. The cacao plot, which is not in commercial use, was formerly cultivated in an ancient way – mixed with other forest trees. It was used for research purposes several decades ago and is currently used for environmental education, showing the traditional processes. If chocolate is not something you want to learn about, get closer to nature during an exciting Canopy Tour. While from the ground you get visual access to a part of the forest, on the canopy tour you can discover a different perspective. Fill your eyes with nature and your body with adrenaline whole exploring Sarapiqui, one of the most diverse areas in Costa Rica. The zip line adventure is one of the best ways to discover and admire the green world of the treetops. The optional activities mentioned are not included.
   
   Overnight in Sarapiqui.

Day 11: SARAPIQUÍ – ARENAL (130km – 2.5 hrs)

1. Arenal Hanging Bridges
   12h
   Have a tasty breakfast, depart the hotel, and drive from Sarapiqui to Arenal. Arenal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica and this area is a small paradise for adventure lovers. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore the surroundings of the hotel on your own or join an optional activity. You can choose between a Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide, a Kayaking experience, an ATV tour or a relaxing session at the stunning Tabacon Hot Springs.
   
   A great choice is the Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide Park, known for having two separate cables, one you glide on and one for major safety precautions. The canopy consists of 15 cables and 18 platforms. These are divided into three sections found mostly in the trees, designed to provide you with greater contact with nature. One of the major attractions is the Tarzan Swing, the part of the tour that guarantees you will have the greatest adventure. All your worries will disappear as you fly through the trees like Tarzan!
   
   If this is not your cup of tea, you can always choose to spend your afternoon kayaking. After a short drive, arrive at Arenal Lake, where your guides will give you the equipment, consisting of a life jacket and a paddle, and introduce you to paddling. You will learn basic paddle strokes, safety, and rules of the water. Once on the water, our guides will lead you along the shoreline for an incredible view of the volcano. On your journey, you may observe different species of birds like the Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, Flycatcher, Anhinga and may also possibly hear the Howler Monkey. The optional activities mentioned are not included.
   
   Overnight in Arenal.

Day 12: ARENAL

1. 12h
   After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to visit the Arenal Volcano National Park on your own. During the hike, enjoy the verdant landscapes and the backdrop of the now-dormant volcano as you keep a lookout for animals that live in this national park. You have the chance to see sloths, howler monkeys, and even anteaters, to name a few. For adventurers, there are more exciting activities in this area, such as zip line, hanging bridges and kayaking, among others. Spend the afternoon relaxing, exploring the surroundings on your own, or participating in an optional activity.
   
   You can again choose between Canopy Tour in Arenal Ecoglide, a Kayaking experience, an ATV tour or the relaxing session at the stunning Tabacon Hot Springs, depending on the choice you made yesterday, of course.
   
   If you are a nature lover and an adrenaline seeker, the ATV tour is a great choice. The Quads Adventure ATV tour not only gives you the opportunity for adventure and fun but also includes nature and unique views of the majestic Arenal Volcano. The trail you will traverse goes through pastureland at the base of the volcano from which you will have numerous opportunities to view the imposing mountain. You will then continue passing through Tropical Humid Forest and observe the area’s flora and fauna before arriving at the lookout point. There, enjoy one of the best views of the volcano and some of its most recent flows! And if you prefer to unwind and recharge your batteries, spend the afternoon at the Tabacon Hot Springs. Take time to relax your mind and body as you enjoy these therapeutic volcanic hot water springs, surrounded by natural beauty, the rainforest, and the volcano. The magnificent infrastructure of pools, mesmerising waterfalls and the inviting wet bars will make your visit memorable! The optional activities mentioned are not included.
   
   Overnight in Arenal.

Day 13: ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (60km – 2.5 hrs by road / 45 min by boat)

1. 12h
   Begin the day with an early breakfast. You can have the morning at leisure or start your journey early to Monteverde Cloud forest area. Admire the transition of the rainforest to the cloud forest where you will reach an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level. Monteverde, located in the Puntarenas province, 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 or enjoy our optional activities, 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 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. The optional activities mentioned are not included.
   
   Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 14: MONTEVERDE

1. 12h
   After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, enjoy you can a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is world-famous for its outstanding biodiversity, conservation actions and contributions, as well as scientific research. The reserve is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, and it is one of the most important private reserves, not just in Costa Rica but the world. It hosts 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. Afterwards, enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax or participate in an optional activity. 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. Entrance to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the optional tours are not included.
   
   Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 15: MONTEVERDE – DEPART LIBERIA (130km – 3 hrs)

1. 12h
   At the appropriate time, drive from Monteverde to Daniel Oduber International 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.

Pickup details

A Destination Services representative awaits to greet you and assist collecting your rental car.

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• 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 outsideof these times are subject to a surcharg
• 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 15hrs.
• What do I need to bring? Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Costa Rica. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.