COSTA RICA SELF-DRIVE FAMILY ADVENTURE
DISCOVER AMAZING COSTA RICA WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY
17 DAYS / 16 NIGHTS
(shorter tour available on request)
PRIVATE SELF-DRIVE TOUR
Looking for a tour the whole family will enjoy? Look no further. This Costa Rica self-drive adventure tour is definitely it. You can travel at your own pace while enjoying a self-guided driving tour of Costa Rica. This tiny country is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. On this Costa Rica self-drive tour, you will get the chance to see many different types of animals, plants, and insects in their natural habitat. We have planned a trip that takes you to some of Costa Rica’s most unique regions – each with its own characteristics, weather, wildlife, and people.
This trip was specially put together for the enjoyment of kids in mind. There are many opportunities to see animals, as well as tours and activities that will certainly entertain your children. The hotels were chosen because of their family-friendly service and facilities. Costa Ricans (or ‘’Ticos’’ as they are commonly referred to) are known for their positive attitude and friendly ways, which can be summarised in their favorite expression: Pura Vida.
Costa Rica has also been nominated as “the happiest country on planet Earth” many times by different studies. So don’t hesitate to bring your whole family. We promise you a good time for the young and the young at heart!
But now, let’s dive into our Costa Rica Self-Drive Adventure Tour for the whole family!
From/To
Tour start & end: San José airport (SJO)
HOTELS on your Costa Rica Self-Drive Family Adventure
- Hotel Tryp San José ***(*), Family Suite – San José, 1 night
- Mawamba Lodge ***, Standard – Tortuguero, 2 nights
- Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort ***, Bungalow – Puerto Viejo de Limón, 3 nights
- La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge ***, Standard – Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, 2 nightS
- Arenal Paraiso Resort Spa & Thermo Mineral Hotsprings ***, Standard – La Fortuna, 2 nights
- Cloud Forest Lodge ***, Family Room – Monteverde, 2 nights
- Bahía del Sol Hotel ***(*), Standard Room – Potrero, 3 nights
- Buena Vista Chic Hotel ***(*), Junior Suite – Poás, 1 night
TOUR MAP
OF YOUR COSTA RICA SELF-DRIVE
TOUR ITINERARY
OF YOUR COSTA RICA SELF-DRIVE
DAY 1
SAN JOSE – TRANSFER IN (-)
Individual arrival at the international airport of San Jose (SJO). An English-speaking airport guide will give you your travel documents. Shared transfer to your family-friendly hotel in the city center. Paseo Colon with its numerous shops and restaurants is behind the hotel and nearby Sabana Park features a lake and many trails.
DAY 2
SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (B/L)
DAY 3
TORTUGUERO (B/L/D)
Tortuguero National Park covers more than 18’900 hectares of rainforest and coastline. It can only be reached by boat or plane. Over 300 bird, 30 frog and toad, 28 snake, and 6 sea turtle species can be found in this humid part of the country.
During two boat tours in the canals, you have the opportunity to spot a variety of different bird and animal species. In the months of July to September (during the nesting season of the sea turtles), you can take your whole family on an adventurous turtle tour. You can watch the turtles lay their eggs on the protected beach. A one-of-a-kind sight!
DAY 4
TORTUGUERO – PUERTO VIEJO (B/L)
Today a boat will take you back to La Pavona, where your bus is already waiting for you. After lunch, your Costa Rica self-drive adventure starts. You will pick up your rental car (pick-up fee not included). Then you drive to Puerto Viejo de Limón. It is located on one of Costa Rica’s most popular beaches, full of wonderful people and nature, and offers lots of activities.
Family-friendly Hotel Cariblue’s bungalows can accommodate any size of family, plus they pride themselves in offering a nature lover’s atmosphere. Their pool has a kids’ section, and they have a surf school.
Driving time today: about 4.5 hrs
DAY 5
PUERTO VIEJO (B/L)
Today you will learn more about Caribbean cooking. Meet an Afro-Caribbean family that has spent their life in this region. The family will show you how to prepare a typical Caribbean dish. You will learn about family life and hear many stories that will give insight into the culture. Of course, the old Caribbean grandmother’s cooking recipes will be revealed. The chefs speak English. In a relaxed get-together in the family’s home, you can enjoy the jointly prepared meal with the family. Definitely an unforgettable and authentic experience.
DAY 6
PUERTO VIEJO (B)
Day at leisure.
Explore the famous beaches of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Limón. Reggae music accompanies you everywhere. The countless restaurants and bars invite locals and visitors to relax. Rent bicycles and cruise along the beach. You can also book horseback-riding tours or visit the Bribri indigenous reserve. Here you will get to know an iguana farm, visit a waterfall, and learn about flora and fauna from the Bribri tribe. Another option is to explore the Gandoca Manzanillo Reserve or beautiful Cahuita National Park. You can hike through the forest or go snorkeling! Plenty of options for a wonderful family day!
DAY 7
PUERTO VIEJO – PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI (B)
Continue your Costa Rica self-drive to the village of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. The region with its wide choice of activities attracts adventure-seeking tourists and nature enthusiasts. White-water rafting is one of the most popular activities here. However, the area is also a very important destination for eco-tourism with several protected areas nearby. And it is famous for its banana, cocoa, and coffee plantations.
Your hotel, La Quinta de Sarapiquí, has ornamental flower gardens, trails, a butterfly garden, a frog sanctuary, and an insect gallery. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Driving time today: about 3.5-4 hrs
DAY 8
PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI (B/L)
A day full of adventure awaits you! You will participate in La Quintas Ant Colony Tour. Learn about the fascinating organization of a leafcutter ant colony and the mutual relationship between the fungus and the ants. Later, the Gómez family will welcome you to their Finca Surá, where you will go on an Organic Farm Tour. Don Rodolfo will proudly guide you to his citrus and manioc plants, the sugarcane, and the pineapple plantations. Everything is cultivated in the most natural way possible. You will also have the chance to plant some pineapple seedlings before enjoying a typical lunch.
DAY 9
PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI – LA FORTUNA (B)
Experience the traditional process of making chocolate during a Chocolate tour! Cocoa was one of the most important products for the Mayan & Aztec. The tour begins with a short walk to a former cocoa plantation, located in a part of the Tirimbina forest. You are shown the artisanal process which transforms the cocoa fruit into chocolate while learning about pre and post-colonial chocolate. Of course, you will also have the opportunity to taste some too!
Afterward, your Costa Rica self-drive tour continues to La Fortuna at the majestic Arenal Volcano.
Driving time today: about 2-2.5 hrs
DAY 10
LA FORTUNA (B)
A special experience awaits your family today: a visit to a local school. Learn about Costa Rican education. Communicate with the children, ask questions, and participate in traditional games. After about an hour, engage in a tree reforestation project. Visit a local family and learn how to prepare sugar cane juice. The kids can help to feed the various farm animals.
The rest of the day is at leisure. Despite little activity, Arenal Volcano still has a fascinating presence. The well-developed, peaceful town of La Fortuna is close to the beautiful Lake Arenal. Optional activities include hot springs, hiking over cold lava fields, suspension bridges, birdwatching, mountain bike tours, horseback riding, hiking to the La Fortuna waterfall, or adrenaline-fueled canopy tours.
DAY 11
LA FORTUNA – MONTEVERDE (B)
Today you will leave La Fortuna for another beautiful place on your Costa Rica Self-Drive Family Adventure: Monteverde. Many small and rustic hotels, restaurants, and bars, mostly run by locals, have sprung up here. While in the beginning, the Monteverde Reserve was more or less the only major tourist attraction in the area, several interesting ways of experiencing the fascinating natural variety have been developed in the last years. With a bit of luck, you may even catch a glimpse of the mystic Quetzal, once worshipped by the Mayans. A butterfly garden, a snake museum, and various other attractions are good entertainment options for the kids.
Driving time today: about 3.5 hrs
DAY 12
MONTEVERDE (B)
Guests of the Cloud Forest Lodge love its tranquil ambiance and outdoor accessibility. Around 3 miles of trails extend all over the forested property, where at least 180 species of birds have been recorded. You can search for bare-necked umbrella-birds, three-toed sloths, white-faced monkeys, and more. Trips to the butterfly and orchid gardens can also be arranged. The trails around the property are perfect for a morning walk with the whole family. The Cloud Forest Lodge was a pioneer in the field of Canopy tours, being the first hotel in the region to offer one. So if you would like to do some zip-lining today, go for it! No visit to Costa Rica is complete without it. For something a bit quieter check out a suspension bridge tour at the Selvatura Private Reserve.
DAY 13
MONTEVERDE – POTRERO (B)
Your next stop on this Costa Rica self-drive tour takes you to Potrero, a small fishing village and home to one of Costa Rica´s most beautiful beaches. The wide and quiet bay of Potrero Beach is located about 12 miles north of Tamarindo. You will be expected at Hotel Bahía del Sol. Great views of the Pacific Ocean and romantic sunsets are part of what you can expect from a stay here. The hotel´s great location directly on the beach is perfect for a family stay.
Driving time today: about 3.5 hrs
DAYS 14-15
POTRERO (B)
Days at leisure.
The long and sandy beach is ideal for walks and to observe the beautiful sunsets. There are several interesting points for scuba diving, among them Las Catalinas islands, where with a little bit of luck eagle rays, manta rays, different kinds of sharks and much more may be observed. Depending on the season, even humpback whales have been spotted in the area. Fishing and horseback riding are other excursions offered on the spot.
Or just relax at the beach, swim in the ocean, and enjoy the pool…
DAY 16
POTRERO – ALAJUELA/POAS (B)
Today, the last leg of your Costa Rica self-drive awaits you. It is long but also very scenic. From Buena Vista Hotel you can gaze at the Poás, Barva, and lrazú volcanoes, as well as coffee plantations, and the city of San José. At the family-oriented hotel with trails, a kid’s park, and a pool, you will also return your rental car.
Driving time today: about 4.5 hrs
DAY 17
ALAJUELA/POAS – TRANSFER OUT (B)
Today a shuttle bus (5 am – 11 pm) will take you to the airport (SJO). If your flight is scheduled for the afternoon, you could still visit Poás Volcano National Park in the morning. Time to say goodbye and start planning your next adventure. Pura Vida!
Price:
from US$ 2,325.00 per adult
from US$ 670.00 per child (ages 5-11 years)
from US$ 150.00 per child (ages 0-4 years)
Included services
- Group transfers to/from airport
- Accommodation at the mentioned hotels
- Meals as per description
- Tortuguero package Day 2 San José to Day 4 Guápiles on seat-in basis together with other guests (including English-speaking local guide, entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park and boat tour)
- Ant Farm Tour at Hotel La Quinta de Sarapiquí (with Spanish-speaking guide)
- Finca Sura Organic Farm tour (with lunch)
- Chocolate Tour & Tirimbina
- Experiences: Cooking Caribbean style & Local school visit
- Rental car SUV Intermediate 4WD AT/B (Mitsubishi ASX Automatic or similar) with basic insurance, car and booster seats for children. We recommend bringing your own car seats for any children under 2.
Not included
- International airfare (to/from SJO)
- Further services for the rental car (insurances except for basic insurance, GPS, Drive Relaxed Package, fuel, highway tolls)
- Transfer Out between 11 pm and 5 am
- Voluntary Tips
- Airport departure tax, currently USD 29 per person (but mostly included in flight ticket)
Rate Conditions
- The rates apply for families sharing the same room during the whole itinerary (maximum of 4 persons per room).
- We recommend the booking of a GPS system.
Looking for a shorter tour?
Contact us and we’ll customize it for you at no extra charge!
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