COMPLETE FILE

Overview

Self drive tour in Costa Rica

This self drive tour will allow you to discover Costa Rica at your own pace, and will first take you to deep rain forest in the Sarapiquí protected zone, to enjoy majestic views on the Arenal Volcano and hot springs at the El Silencio Nature Reserve. Situated near the village of Bijagua, in the Volcano Tenario National park, don't miss the waterfall that takes a deep blue color when merging with a small creek. Costa Rica is recognized for the wide range of natural beauties it has to offers to visitors, and this type of setting will sure prove it! Speaking of natural wonders, you’ll also be able to observe the Quetzal, the resplendent and mythical emblem of the Mayas.
The tour will also bring you to the region and city of Cartago, in the verdant and lush Central Valley. This town, the first capital of the country, was established in 1563, but was destroyed by the eruption of the Irazu Volcano in 1732. Take a moment to drive to one of the volcano’s craters and admire its acid lake. Finally, visit Orotina, often nicknamed the ‘the fruit town’ and just a 25 minute drive to the nearby Pacific Coast beaches. And don’t forget the Ticos (people from Costa Rica) are warm and kind: they are always more than happy to welcome visitors and proud of sharing the nature’s wonders of this beautiful country.

Do not hesitate to contact our Costa Rica expert at Uniktour for more information about this unique self drive tour in Costa Rica!

Itinerary

Day 1| San Jose
Arrive San José 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. After getting to airport a private transfer will take you to your hotel. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in San Jose.

Day 2| Sarapiqui
Today breakfast will be served at the hotel. The car rental representative will meet you at your hotel to pick up your vehicle including basic insurance & GPS System off. Drive on own to Sarapiquí Area. Sarapiquí is lying in the north east of the country and bordered by Nicaragua in the north, 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. Explore the area on your own and visit optional activities available at extra cost like zip line, rafting, chocolate tour, hiking on the forest, bat tour and many others. Lunch and dinner will be at your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Sarapiquí.

Day 3| Arenal
Breakfast will be at the hotel. The morning is at leisure to rest and enjoy the hotel facilities; check out time is at noon. After leaving Sarapiquí you will drive on own to Arenal Volcano 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 the age is estimated to be less than 7,000 years. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Rest of evening at leisure. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Arenal.

Day 4| El Silencio Nature Reserve
This morning breakfast will be served at your hotel. After lunch you will be picked up at your hotel for a walk to El Silencio Private Reserve to enjoy a scenic volcano view with a naturalistic guide. After the trails you will visit the hot springs to relax and have dinner. Lunch will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Arenal.

Day 5| Bijagua
Today’s breakfast is included at your hotel. After check hotel out, you will drive on own to Bijagua area. Bijagua is a small town approximately 26 km south of Upala in Northern Costa Rica.
The town is situated in a valley between the volcanoes Miravalles and Tenorio. The population is approximately 2000 within the town and 5000 in the region. The local economy is primarily farming, including vegetable production and cattle raising. Tourism exists due in part to the primary growth rainforest located in the area. Rest of day at leisure. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Bijagua.

Day 6| Rincon de la Vieja
This day breakfast will be served at the hotel. Morning is at leisure to rest and enjoy hotel facilities. This day you will drive on your own to Rincon de la Vieja Area which is one of the protected parks within the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG). The Rincon de la Vieja National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most diverse ecological parks. Known for its stunning diversity of flora and fauna, this national park is home to two volcanoes, the Rincon de la Vieja and the Santa Maria, as well as six different volcanic peaks, and thirty two rivers and streams.
It also boasts fantastic sceneries, beautiful waterfalls, soothing hot springs, boiling mud pits, a fresh water volcanic lagoon, picnic areas and long-winding trails that one can hike or horse back ride. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Rincon de la Vieja.

Day 7| Rincon de la Vieja
Breakfast served at your hotel. This morning you will enjoy a horseback riding tour to visit the Oropendola waterfall on the Rincón de La Vieja National Park, after this adventure, you will visit a natural spa to relax surrounded by nature. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Rincon de la vieja.

Day 8| Orotina
Today the breakfast is included on your hotel. After check the hotel out, you will drive on own to Central Pacific Coast, towards Orotina. This town, located in Alajuela province, is a small fruit-growing town lying in Costa Rica’s lush and green Central Valley. Situated in the north Pacific region of the country, Orotina is a very typical agricultural Costa Rican town. Found at the foot of the Avocado Mountains and serving as a halfway point between Atenas and Quepos, it is a great place to visit any time of the year due to the excellent weather conditions that prevail here. Lunch and dinner are on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Orotina.

Day 9| Dominical – Manuel Antonio National Park
Breakfast served at your hotel. Today you will drive on own towards Dominical Beach, a tiny coastal town 28 miles south of Quepos and the gorgeous Manuel Antonio National Park. Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. With its stunning backdrop of lush green forests and palm tress, this beach is also a great place to bird watch or take a canopy tour of the surrounding locale. Rest of day at leisure. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Dominical.

Day 10| Dominical – Manuel Antonio National Park
Today breakfast will be taken on your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to explore the area on your own and enjoy hotel facilities. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Dominical.

Day 11| Marino Ballena National Park
Breakfast served at the hotel. Today you will be picked up at your hotel to visit the Marino Ballena National Park and practice some snorkelling. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Dominical.

Day 12| Cartago – Irazu Volcano
This morning breakfast is included at the hotel. After checking out you will drive on your own to Cartago area. Cartago is situated in the verdant and lush Central Valley at the base of the Volcan Irazu. It was the capital of Costa Rica until 1832. A 40-minute bus drive from the capital city of San Jose, this town sits amid some of the richest and greenest pieces of land in Latin America. Considered to be among the oldest towns in the country, Cartago was established in 1563 by Juan Vásquez de Coronado, a Spanish Governor and conquistador along the banks between the Rios Coris and Purires. One of the finest Spanish colonial cities in terms of architecture during its time, much of Cartago was destroyed in 1732 by the eruption of the Irazu Volcano. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Cartago.

Day 13| Cartago
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure to enjoy hotel facilities. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight at selected hotel or similar in Cartago.

Day 14| Departure
This morning breakfast is included at your hotel. Drive on own to the International Airport to catch your flight back home. The car will be returned at the airport.

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 information:

Daihatsu Bego 4X4 or similar (Maximum capacity 4 pax with light luggage)
Hyundai Tucson 4x4 or similar (Maximum capacity 4 pax)
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.