Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
From £1583
Excluding Flights
9 Nights
Year Round
From the bustling streets of a vibrant capital city to the lofty cloud forests of the Highlands, this budget-friendly self-drive trip packs in all the star highlights. Dive into the wild beauty of Tortuguero, where nature is exciting and alive. Feel the thrill as you navigate hanging bridges for views of majestic Arenal Volcano, and lose yourself on a tour into Monteverde’s mythical cloud forests. Embrace the local pura vida lifestyle on this epic introduction to Costa Rica.
You’ll find yourself transported through lush, primary rainforest and endless banana plantations as you make your way to the captivating Tortuguero National Park. Here you’ll encounter an abundance of wildlife and exotic birds on a boat cruise, hike through forest trails, and learn about the conservation of the sea turtles that nest and hatch at Tortuguero each year. You may even be lucky enough witness the turtle nesting phenomenon on the park’s protected, wild beaches.
A self-drive through stunning mountain scenery will lead you to the impressive Arenal Volcano, with its perfect cone and surrounding rainforest. We’ve included a trip to the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges for a unique perspective of the area’s plants and animals. You’ll also have free time to explore further – Arenal offers a wealth of active adventures like ziplining and white-water rafting, as well as countless natural hot springs for those who prefer a more relaxing experience.
Monteverde’s incredible cloud forests are your final destination – a mist-shrouded wonderland filled with wildlife and thrilling activities. A guided tour through this unique habitat is included, where you’ll learn about the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica’s cloud forests.
This itinerary can be followed as a flexible self-drive or as an independent tour utilising local transfer services.
Upon arrival you’ll be met and transferred to your downtown hotel in San Jose for an overnight stay. Enjoy time to explore the bustling city with its many restaurants and bars.
Today an early transfer will take you to Tortuguero National Park for a 2-night stay. After an awe-inspiring journey by coach and boat through the rainforest you’ll arrive in time for lunch. This afternoon visit the local village where you’ll learn about the colourful houses and lifestyles of the residents, and about turtle conservation in the area.
This morning after breakfast enjoy a guided walk around the trails and gardens of your lodge learning about the local flora and fauns. After lunch you’ll embark on an exploration by boat through some of Tortuguero’s secondary canals, having the opportunity to enjoy an abundance of wildlife including monkeys, sloths and caimans as well as numerous colourful birds. After dinner during season (June- September) we recommend an optional night excursion to see the turtles nesting or hatching (book locally).
Today you’ll depart Tortuguero by boat and land to reach Guapilies in time for lunch. Here you’ll collect your hire car and start the 2-hour drive to Arenal and the town of La Fortuna, a spectacular route through mountains, forests, villages and farmland. A 3-night stay here will allow plenty of time to explore Costa Rica’s volcanic heartland.
After breakfast today you’ll enjoy a guided tour at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges. This 618-acre reserve features 15 hanging bridges, waterfalls and trails, all in a beautiful rainforest setting. Your guide will explain the reserve’s flora and fauna as you take in impressive views of both Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. The rest of the day is at leisure – you may wish to take a tour in search of sloths or hike the lava trails at Arenal 1968.
Today is at your leisure to explore the local area – perhaps try ziplining over the treetops or hiking to the impressive La Fortuna Waterfall. Kayaking, white-water rafting and horse-riding are also available if you’re looking for adventure. Alternatively take a trip further afield to the remote Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, or to Rio Celeste with its vivid turquoise waters. Then why not finish the day in one of Arenal’s many hot springs to recharge and relax!
Today’s destination is the incredible Monteverde Cloud Forest. The scenery along the way is spectacular as you drive the windy roads of the Tilaran Mountain Range and head into the cooler climes of the cloud forest. Monteverde is well known for its diverse and rich tropical cloud forests with majestically tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. On arrival you may wish to take an optional Sky Walk – a network of suspension bridges and trails built within the forest canopy. Other nearby attractions include horseback riding, Sky Trek canopy tour, Trapiche cultural tour or the famous Butterfly Garden.
A guided exploration of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Private Reserve is included this morning. You’ll set out to discover the secrets of the misty cloud forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees, enjoying its climate and hiking trails amongst a variety of plants and over 450 bird species. It protects and provides habitat for hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The reserve is 26.000 acres and is an important link in the growing network of protected areas in Costa Rica. Located at an altitude between 1,200 and 1,600 m, this cloud forest gives you the chance of exploring a different type of forest and wildlife endemic to the area, allowing you to make your very own comparison between the biodiversity found in a rainforest and a cloud forest.
Bid farewell to the cloud forest before heading back to San Jose. On your journey from Monteverde, you’ll observe the plains and on a clear day may spot the Pacific Coast in the far distance. Continue through the mountain ranges into the Central Valley, right in the heart of Costa Rica.
You Costa Rican adventure finishes today as you drop off your car at the airport and board your onward flight.
This flexible itinerary lets you explore Costa Rica exactly how you want to. If you love to travel at your own pace, with the freedom to stop whenever a beautiful beach or breathtaking view catches your eye, then a self-drive is the perfect choice. Or, if you’d rather sit back and soak it all in, opt for the convenience of private or shared transfers.
What's Included
Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
9 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 2 dinners
Car rental with full insurance and WiFi
Airport-hotel transfer on arrival
Tortuguero Village Visit and Canals Cruise
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Natural History Tour
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Tour
24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
No surcharge guarantee
Full financial protection
From £1583 Excluding Flights
9 Nights
Year Round
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Our holiday prices exclude flights. Why? Because we want to offer you the best value, tailored to your needs. Flight prices and offers change daily, so when you’re ready to book, we’ll provide a bespoke quote based on the best options from your local airport. This way, you’ll always get the best prices and the flexibility to choose what works best for you.
Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.
Rail journey on the Ghan
Cradle Mountain climb
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Kieran
Travel Specialist
Samantha
Travel Specialist
Jenna
Travel Specialist
Lauren
Travel Specialist
Dawn
Head of Customer Experience
Freya
Travel Specialist
Doug
Travel Specialist
Rosie
Travel Specialist
Gary
Travel Specialist
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