Costa Rica Self-Drive Vacation - 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive in San José, Explore

Welcome to Costa Rica, the land of pura vida! After arriving at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, a local representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day you'll have free to explore the city at your leisure.

Perhaps take a stroll through Mercado Central (Central Market), featuring over 200 shops, food stalls, and sodas (traditional restaurants). Then visit the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Church), whose interior combines Greek Orthodox, neoclassical, and Baroque styles and features wood carvings and stained-glass windows. There's also a pair of popular museums in San José: Museo del Oro Precolumbino (pre-Columbian Gold Museum) and Museo del Jade—the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts.

Be sure to explore Barrio Amón, a historic neighborhood home to cafetalero (coffee grower) mansions built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of this area's historic buildings have been converted into hotels, restaurants, and galleries, making Amón a popular bohemian district. For dinner, opt 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 José is filled with great restaurants serving everything from traditional to forward-thinking fusion cuisine.

Day 2: Pick Up Rental Car, Drive to Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs

After breakfast, pick up your car: it's time to make the 3.5-hour journey north toward Arenal Volcano National Park, home of the 5,357 feet (1,633 m) volcano of the same name. Take your time because, along the way, you'll want to stop and appreciate the scenery. In fact, you can kick off your Costa Rican eco-adventure by visiting La Paz Waterfall Gardens, just north of San José. This privately run ecological attraction includes five amazing waterfalls accessed through miles of well-maintained walking trails. It's a great place to visit, thanks in part to wildlife exhibits devoted to wild cats, snakes, frogs, and even a butterfly observatory and a hummingbird garden.

Another nearby option in the central San José highlands is Zarcero. This charming town comes complete with an impressive colonial church and pretty hedge gardens. It's a great place to stop, relax, and enjoy the sweeping views of the surrounding coffee plantations. It also makes a great jumping-off point to Poás, an active stratovolcano home to a crater lake with a shimmering turquoise surface.

After getting back on the road, you'll eventually arrive in La Fortuna, the main town in Arenal Volcano National Park. The afternoon is yours to explore the area. You'll likely want to stretch your legs and decompress from the journey, and there's no better way to do it than with a dip in natural hot springs at Tabacón Resort. It features five mineral-rich pools heated by underground magma. Thermal water flows through the resort, forming the Tabacón River, and the area is home to dozens of cascading waterfalls and over 20 pools of varying temperatures and sizes.

End your day with dinner next to the hot springs at Ave del Paraíso, which serves a mix of local Costa Rican and international cuisine. Or check out one of these recommended restaurants in La Fortuna: 

• Café Mediterraneo, a friendly osteria serving up homemade pasta and pizza.
• La Parrilla de María Bonita, a must-visit for perfectly cooked steak as well as Mediterranean dishes like falafel and baba ghanoush.
• Rancho Perla, a popular open-air restaurant (you may even spot sloths hanging from the nearby trees) serving well-prepared Costa Rican staples.

Day 3: Waterfall Hike & Cooking Class

After breakfast in La Fortuna, pay a visit to La Fortuna Waterfall Reserve, where heavy annual precipitation gives you the chance to see a 210-foot waterfall. As you descend downhill on the trail, you'll check out the falls from the very bottom, where a natural pool awaits if you want to swim in the freshwater of La Fortuna River.

In the afternoon, take a guided journey to the family-owned Arenal Vida Campesina Farm, where you'll find several crops that Costa Rica is best known for: sugar cane, coffee, corn, yucca, cocoa, bananas, and plantains. The trip includes a visit to the mill for fresh-squeezed sugar cane juice and a taste of sugar cane liquor. Next, you'll head to restaurant La Guaria Morada for a cooking class on typical Costa Rican cuisine, followed by a family-style dinner.

Day 4: Whitewater Rafting on the Sarapiquí River

After an early rise and breakfast at the hotel, you'll transfer by car to the Sarapiquí River for your whitewater rafting adventure. After a lesson from your professional guide, you'll embark on a 7-mile (11 km) river journey featuring over 30 Class III and IV rapids. About halfway through the trip, you'll take a break on shore for some tropical fruit and a traditional Costa Rican lunch. After the second leg of the rafting journey, you'll be driven back to your hotel.

Day 5: Drive to Monteverde, Nocturnal Nature Walk

After breakfast, you'll leave La Fortuna for Monteverde. Known as the "Green Lung" of Costa Rica, this biodiverse region is located in the mountainous northwest of the country. Be sure to head out early, as the 3.5-hour trip will take you almost all the way around Lake Arenal.

That's not to say you won't have ample opportunity to stop and enjoy the scenery. On the southwest side of Lake Arenal, for example, there's 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. There are good birding opportunities here as well, with herons and egrets a common site. If you get peckish on the drive, pull off at a roadside soda for a local lunch. Typical options at these traditional, family-run eateries include the casado, a combo plate featuring rice, beans, and your choice of chicken, beef, pork, or fish.

Eventually, you'll arrive in Monteverde and the famous 26,000-acre (10,522 ha) Cloud Forest Reserve, home to countless species of flora and fauna. Suspension bridges throughout the reserve allow for walks above the forest canopy—keep your eyes peeled for the colorfully plumed resplendent quetzal, the David Bowie of birds. The reserve's marked trails also pass through exotic fauna and flora, including the greatest number of orchid species on the planet (a whopping 500), with new ones discovered regularly. 

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

Day 6: Zipline Fun in the Cloud Forest

Today you'll enjoy an adrenaline-pumping zipline ride in the country where that activity was invented. You'll start by ascending hundreds of feet above the jungle canopy via a network of trails and suspension bridges. The exotic flora and fauna of the region will be on full display, and our specialized guides will point out the most interesting specimens.

Upon reaching the end of the line, the exhilarating adventure of whizzing down the mountain begins. You'll connect to a zipline cable that stretches over the treetops and across canyons, ultimately returning you to the starting point. The whole excursion is regarded as the most thrilling zipline adventure in the country.

Day 7: Drive to Playa Sámara

Today the Pacific Coast is in your sights. You'll depart Monteverde for a three-hour drive to the beautiful coastal hamlet of Playa Sámara (Sámara Beach) on the Nicoya Peninsula's western shore. Famous for its golden sand and gentle waves, Sámara's horseshoe-shaped beach is wide and inviting. The area has a thriving fishing and farming economy, and its laid-back feel makes it a favorite of travelers and locals alike.

Since this is a road trip, why not stop and enjoy the lovely Costa Rican scenery along the way? On the Nicoya Peninsula, there are many coastal villages and beaches you can stop on your way south to Sámara. With a slight detour, you can hit the tropical cove of Playa Hermosa, the crescent-shaped white sands of Playa Flamingo, and the popular surf village of Tamarindo. Note that the coastal roads are rougher than Costa Rica's main highways, so if you do travel south along this route, it will take you longer to reach Sámara (it's about 1.5 hours just from Tamarindo).

Farther south and just above Sámara, you can stop at Nosara. This coastal village is known as the unofficial wellness capital of the country. Residents here routinely live to be 100, and there's no shortage of activities to replenish mind, body, and soul. Make a pit stop for some yoga on the beach, book a surf lesson, or take a leisurely river cruise with a naturalist guide. You can also visit the Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary, which rescues and rehabilitates exotic animals. You'll tour the grounds, visit their greenhouse, and get up close and personal with wildlife residents like monkeys and coatis.

Once you arrive at Playa Sámara, the options for activities are many. Laze on the beach, enjoy a snorkel through the aquamarine sea or join a whale/dolphin-spotting boat tour. There's plenty to do on land, too. Hike through a mango plantation (which includes all the mangos you can eat) and into the Werner Sauter Biological Preserve to spot monkeys, birds, and butterflies with a guide. You can also explore the region on horseback, starting on the beach before heading into the hills.

While in Sámara, consider dining in one of these restaurants:

• Bouticafé Bohemia, a colorful and charming option serving healthy breakfast and lunch options like smoothies and salads. It's also a perfect stop for your morning coffee.
• Gusto Beach, an upscale beachside restaurant serving everything from pizza to ceviche.
• Lo Que Hay, a convivial taqueria and pub serving six taco options. Its beachside setting makes it the perfect spot to watch the sunset with your feet in the sand and a cold drink in hand.
• LuvBurger offers gluten-free, vegan fare (tacos, salads, burgers, and sandwiches) right on the sand. 

Day 8: Paddle to & Snorkel Around Isla Chora

Today join a kayak and snorkeling tour to investigate the nooks and crannies of this exceptionally unique coastal area. After breakfast, grab a paddleboard or kayak, and set out with your guide to the petite Isla Chora (Chora Island), a 25-45 minute paddle across the lagoon from Sámara.

Once there, snorkel around the island's reefs keeping on the lookout for sea turtles, then savor some well-earned snacks and beverages on the beach. And be sure to check out the island's iguanas as they sun themselves on the hillside. 

Day 9: Barra Honda Cave Spelunking

Climbing down into the depths of the earth on the Barra Honda Cave spelunking tour is an amazing adventure. Spelunking, or cave exploration, is an enticing activity allowing you to explore ancient caves that were created hundreds of years ago by tectonic activity.

You'll be picked up from your beach area hotel and then driven to the beautiful Barra Honda National Park. When you reach park headquarters, you will be greeted by your guide, who will take you on a 30-minute hike up to the entrance to the caves. Your guide will be sure to point out any interesting wildlife you may come across along the way that lives in this region, such as monkeys, iguanas, sloths, and anteaters, to name a few. The slightly rugged but well-maintained path provides an opportunity to experience the park's rare protected dry tropical forest environment. You'll also stop at a scenic lookout to get a panoramic view of the Gulf of Nicoya.

During your exploration, your guide will carefully lead you into different chambers along a slippery, rocky floor and point out any cave creatures you may encounter, including bats, snakes, and frogs. The steady drip of water on calcium has created hundreds of gorgeous rock formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, bringing beauty and life into this underground world.

Day 10: Drive to Tamarindo

Today you'll be following the windy roads about 55 miles (95km) up the coast from Playa Sámara to the surf haven of Tamarindo. However, plan on this journey taking quite a bit longer than the expected 3 hrs, as you'll want to stop and take in the amazing sights and beautiful beaches along the way. Here are some ideas for exactly what to do.

Just north of the town of Nosara, at the Refugio Nacional Ostional (Ostional Wildlife Refuge), you'll find one of the greatest biological wonders in the country. This protected mile of beach is where hundreds or even thousands of olive ridley sea turtles come during nesting season to lay their eggs. The peak time is from August-December, but the turtles lay their eggs all year, particularly the week before the new moon.

If you're looking for a bit of paradise of the "Blue Lagoon" variety, stop in at San Juanillo. Located just up the road from Ostional. This little fishing village is a bit remote, so you're guaranteed to avoid masses of tourists. It's a great place to come and mingle with the locals while enjoying the crystalline waters and soft white sands.

Farther north, just south of Tamarindo, you can stop at Playa Avellanas. This long crescent beach is where some serious wave riders come to ply their trade. Waves here can reach as high as 18 feet (5.5 m), which is why the area is nicknamed "little Hawaii." If the waves are too gnarly for your liking, feel free to relax at Lola's and enjoy lunch and a beer. This is probably the most famous beach bar on the entire Nicoya Peninsula, thanks to its resident pig, Lolita (replacement of the original Lola).

If you happen to visit between October and March, head to Las Baulas National Marine Park to see leatherback turtles come ashore. Every night during high tide in the nesting season, female leatherbacks make their way up the beach to lay eggs. Watch the turtles come and go before the hatchlings follow suit into the water, a once-in-a-lifetime sight. 

Day 11: Free Morning, Afternoon Snorkel & Sunset Catamaran Cruise

Spend the morning relaxing on the beaches of Tamarindo. In the afternoon, you'll embark on a sailing trip. The boat will stop in a tranquil bay, drop anchor, and you'll be free to swim and snorkel. It's not uncommon to see schools of tropical fish, sea turtles, and even dolphins frolicking in the surf. Admire the sunset from the water with a tropical beverage in hand.

Day 12: Drive to Liberia

It's your last day in Tamarindo, make the most of your time on the beach. Maybe take a surfing lesson or catch a wave on Tamarindo beach. After a full day at the beach, head to Liberia late in the evening, ready for your early flight out of Costa Rica.

Day 13: Depart Liberia

It's time to say adiós to Costa Rica. Depending on your departure time, you'll have the morning to explore a bit of Liberia, relax in a café, and/or browse some shops before boarding your flight home.

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