COMPLETE FILE

Overview

Self drive family trip to Costa Rica

This self drive trip of Costa Rica is tailor made for families. Start off with the discovery of Tortuguero National Park, and enjoy a canal boat tour of the park. The children will be able to see crocodiles, manatees, monkeys and a lot of other animals, always in a safe environment. On your way to Sarapiqui, you will stop at La Tirimbina for a very special visit. You will tour a chocolate plantation and not only you will learn how chocolate is made, but you also will be able to make your own chocolate bar. Yummy! At Arenal, enjoy the natural and warm water of a volcano at the Ecotermales Hot Spings. This fantastic region also boasts a River safari during which you will meet “Don Pedro” who will explain the day-to-day life of a local family.
In Monteverde, the kids will love the Frog Pound Tour! Take the time to observe over 20 species of frogs, including the famous red eyed tree species. A bit further, don’t miss the opportunity to take the Monteverde Train Forest Tour, an unforgettable moment. In Quepos, choose between exotic activities such as the Crocodiles Tour and the Kayaking Tour. At the end of the day, this self drive family trip allows you to show your children the beauty of nature and the importance to take care of it.

Do not hesitate to contact our Uniktour expert for more information about this self drive family trip to Costa Rica!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight - Arrival in San Jose
Arrive San Jose which is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub. The city lies at a mean elevation of 1,161 m above sea level, and enjoys a stable climate throughout the year Private transfer to your hotel. No meals included this day. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in San Jose.

Day 2| Tortuguero
This day you will be picked up at your hotel to start the transfer to Tortuguero area. After a 2 hours land transfer you will stop at a local restaurant to enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast. After breakfast you will be transfer to Caño Blanco dock to take the boat that will take you to Tortuguero. Lunch and dinner will be served at the lodge. This afternoon you will visit the Tortuguero downtown on a regular non private tour. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Tortuguero.

Day 3| Tortuguero
Day for programmed activities: canal boat tour & hiking at nature trails. The nature reserve of Tortuguero is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, and its beaches are key nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. The rivers within the park are home to sensitive populations of manatees, as well as caimans, crocodiles, and Tropical Gar, which is considered a living fossil. The forests are home to jaguars, three-toed sloths, and three of Costa Rica's four species of monkey. Basilisk lizards and poisonous frogs also inhabit the area, along with 375 species of birds, including kingfishers, toucans, blue herons, peacocks, and parrots. There are more than 400 species of trees and approximately 2,200 species of other plants.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included at the hotel. Overnight at your hotel in Tortuguero. Shared transportation to activities sites, services of a bilingual local guide.

Day 4| Sarapiqui
Breakfast is included at the lodge. After breakfast you will be transfer by boat to Caño Blanco dock, there a land transfer will take to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch the car rental representative will meet you at the restaurant to drop rented car, off Hyundai Tucson 4X2 or similar, including basic insurance & GPS System off. Drive on own to Sarapiquí area with the Chocolate Tour at La Tirimbina on route. There you will pass through a hanged bridge to get to a Chocolate plantation where a guide will deliver some importation information about this exquisite fruit, then you will have the opportunity to process your own chocolate until make a very special homemade chocolate bar. Sarapiquí is known throughout Costa Rica for its amazing and rich biodiversity as well as for being an adventure seeker’s dream destination. Lying in the north east of the country and bordered by Nicaragua in the north, Sarapiquí is now a very popular tourist getaway for families and thrill seekers alike.
One of the few remaining areas in Costa Rica that is the dwelling of the endangered Green Macaw, Sarapiquí is also home to a number of nature reserves and national parks including the Braulio Carrillo National Park and the Sarapiquí Protected zone. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Sarapiquí.

Day 5| Sarapiqui - Arenal
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. This morning you will enjoy the Sarapiquí River Rafting Tour on a regular non private basis. After tour you will drive on your own to Arenal area. The Arenal volcano measures at least 1,633 meters (5,358 ft), It is conically shaped with a crater spanning 140 meters (460 ft). Arenal is geologically considered a young volcano and its age is estimated to be less than 7,000 years. Lunch is on your own. During the afternoon you will enjoy the Ecotermales Hot Springs tour to get relax with it natural warm and hot water. Dinner is included on this tour. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Arenal.

Day 6| Arenal – River safari
Breakfast at the hotel is included. After breakfast you will enjoy the Safari Peñas Blancas tour, a regular non private floating tour through Peñas Blancas River with a visit to “Don Pedro” who is a man that will share part of the activities a typical family do on the zone. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy hotel and local attractions. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Arenal.

Day 7| Monteverde
This morning breakfast at the hotel is included. Self drive to Monteverde area. Monteverde is a world above the coastal towns that dot the country's famous shoreline. It is a place of cloud forests and coffee plantations, monkeys, mist, and friendly locals. The town of Santa Elena is small and quaint, filled with tasty restaurants and folksy artisan shops, while the nearby rainforest hosts a remarkable amount of biodiversity.
Due to its high altitude – some 4,662 ft (1,440 m) above sea level Monteverde is privileged to receive a steady supply of clouds and the life-giving moisture that they contain. During afternoon you will enjoy the Frog Pound Tour. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Monteverde.

Day 8| Selvatura Park - Monteverde
You will enjoy the breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast you have to choose between visiting the Selvatura Park or the Monteverde Train Forest Tour. (Both activities are the same price.)
After tour, you will have the rest of the day at leisure to explore the area on your own or simply enjoy the hotel facilities. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Monteverde.

Day 9| Quepos – Manuel Antonio
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive on own to Quepos area. Quepos is known as one of the best places in the world for big game sport fishing, Quepos is a small town some 160 km from San Jose in Puntarenas province. Located on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, Quepos is a beautiful place to enjoy a nice relaxing weekend. This day you will choose one of the two optional activities we offer: Crocodiles Tour or Kayaking Tour. (Both activities are the same price.)
After activity you will continue towards your hotel in Manuel Antonio. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Manuel Antonio area.

Day 10| Manuel Antonio
Breakfast at hotel is included. This day is at leisure to enjoy hotel facilities and local attractions. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Manuel Antonio.

Day 11| Manuel Antonio – San José
Breakfast will be taken at the hotel. Morning at leisure to explore the area on your own. During afternoon self drive to San José area. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in San José.

Day 12| Departure
This morning breakfast at the hotel is included. Drive on own to the International Airport to catch your flight back home. Car will be returned at the airport.

IMPORTANT:
Please note that activities on days 8 and 9 must be picked when booking the tour with your travel specialist. No further modificiation will be considered.

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

Car Rental:
Hyundai Tucson 4X2 or similar (Maximum capacity 4 pax with light luggage)
The price includes the car rental daily rate, daily basic insurance & GPS system. Additional full cover insurance SPP – Supplemental Protection Plan US $ 17.00 per day and mandatory deposit US $1000.00 are not included. Those amounts must be paid directly to the car rental company with an International Credit Card.

Requirements to rent a car:
• Valid driver license
• Minimum age 23 years old
• International Credit card.

Overview

Costa Rica is a country located in Central America that has unlimited tourist potential and is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations. One of Costa Rica's main sources of income is tourism. Costa Rica is a democratic and peaceful country, and it has not had an army since the year 1949.

Although the country is small and it covers only 0.03 % of the surface of the globe, it proudly shelters a 6% of the existing biodiversity in the entire world. 25.58 % of the country is composed of conservation and natural protected territory.

Costa Rica is also an attractive country for investment and it offers great potential for the establishment of important multinational companies, thanks to the outstanding academic level of its population, as well as the high standard of modern services and social and political stability.

Geography

Costa Rica extends majestically from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and its distance is barely 200 miles.
Its land portion occupies only 20 thousand square miles.

If you travel throughout the provinces of Costa Rica, it's easy to notice that in no other place you shall find fields with so many variations in their landscape and climate as here.

Costa Rica is one of most highly valued tourist destinations in this planet. This small piece of land includes all of the necessary components to satisfy the taste of thousands of travelers visiting each year.

Costa Rica's territorial division includes 7 provinces, which are: San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and Limón. Together they offer an attractive tourist destination, of almost limitless possibilities, that include extensive rainforests, volcanoes, rivers traveling through the mountains, beaches and natural resources safeguarded by an important organization of national parks and forest reserves.

Culture

Heritage and Culture
Costa Rican culture is in many ways a reflection of its racial diversity. The predominant influence has long been European, which is reflected in everything from the official language -- Spanish -- to the architecture of the country's churches and other historic buildings. The indigenous influence is less visible, but can be found in everything from the tortillas that make part of a typical Costa Rican meal, to the handmade ceramics sold at roadside stands.

An important aspect of Costa Rica's cultural legacy is their love for peace and democracy. The Ticos like to stand out that their nation is the exception in Latin America, where military dictatorships have long dominated politics.

They take pride in having more than one hundred years of democratic tradition, and almost half a century without an army. The army was abolished in 1948, and the money the country saves by not expending in military issues is invested in improving the Costa Ricans' standard of living, which has fostered a culture of social peace that makes it such a pleasant place to visit.

The Ticos
The Ticos, as Costa Ricans are commonly known, are famous for their hospitality, and are quite happy to live up to their reputation. They are well-educated and hard working people, who are quick with a handshake and a smile. They are well aware of the special land they have, and most likely they will help foreigners when they get lost, even explaining things that might seem bizarre to foreigners, and making their stay as enjoyable as possible.

People say the Ticos are their nation's greatest asset, and once you've experienced their friendliness and spontaneity, you'll have no doubt to that regard.

Climate

Although Costa Rica is a small country in terms of area, there is a lot going on here in terms of weather in Costa Rica. With a climate that is diverse and varied, Costa Rica can be divided into several climatic zones, each of which are distinct and individual. Though generally classified as a tropical country because of its close proximity to the equator, Costa Rica has no real winter period, and the sun shines here throughout the year. With over 12 hours of sunshine a day, the sun rises at about 5 am and sets at about 6 pm consistently throughout the year.

The main reason for the diversity in Costa Rica's weather is the various elevations at which different parts of the country are located. For example Guanacaste has a dry arid climate as it sits on the lowlands, while Montverde a highland city that is misty and foggy throughout the year due to its higher elevation. The Central Valley with San Jose enjoys the best climate in the country as the weather here has an average of 22 degrees Celsius or 72 degrees Fahrenheit and is tempered with a cool coastal breeze. In the highlands the temperature averages 13 degree Celsius, while in the lowlands or at sea level the temperature stays at around 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with hot days and sultry evenings.

In Costa Rica the average annual temperature is around 21 to 27 degrees Celsius or 70 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit and the coolest months of the year are November, December and January. Avoid visiting Costa Rica from March through May as the weather can get quite sizzling and humid during this period.

There is no real summer or winter in Costa Rica and the rainy season here lasts from May to November, with the months of December through April having little to no rain and September and October being the heaviest rain period. While the average rainfall in the country is around 100 inches, some mountainous areas get as much as 25 feet of rainfall on a yearly basis. It is also important to keep in mind that Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is rather unique and has its own microclimate. With tradewinds keeping the weather hot and humid most of the year, there is no real dry season out here and it rains very often.