Day 1: Arrive to San José.
Welcome to Costa Rica! For your added comfort, once you have passed immigration and customs and stepped out of the airport doors, you will have one of our representatives waiting for you outside with a sign with your name on it. He will drive you to your hotel in San José.
Hilton Garden Inn San Jose La Sabana
Day 2: In the morning take your rented car and enjoy a scenic drive to Fortuna, followed by a free afternoon in town to relax and explore at your own pace.
The Northern Plains of Costa Rica showcases some very scenic countryside towns. Small agriculture communities and cattle ranches cover rolling hills and deep valleys. The plains, rainforests and rivers make the north central a must-see in any Costa Rica program. The main attraction is the iconic Arenal Volcano. Feel transformed by the beauty and variety of our wildlife and tropical jungle. Get ready for a life changing adventure!
MIDSIZE 4X4 (Suzuki Vitara Automatic or Similar) (12 Days of Rent)
Basic Cover Insurance & Unlimited Mileage Included
Arenal Volcano Inn (2 Nights)
Day 3: Free Day at Arenal/Fortuna
Spend the day unwinding at your hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
Day 4: Enjoy the landscapes driving / Self-drive from Fortuna to Flamingo
Playa Flamingo, located on Guanacaste’s North Pacific coast, is famous for its white sands and turquoise waters. This scenic beach, with its clear sea and views of the Catalina Islands, attracts both locals and tourists. Surrounded by luxurious homes and yachts, it’s a top spot for fishing. Visitors can enjoy activities like snorkeling, boogie boarding, paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing, along with nearby restaurants and cafés.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo (3 Nights)
Day 5: Free Day at Flamingo
Spend the day unwinding at your hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
Day 6: Free Day at Flamingo
Spend the day unwinding at your hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
Day 7: Enjoy the landscapes driving / Self-drive from Flamingo to Monteverde
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, located in the Cordillera de Tilarán, is a top ecotourism destination, known for its rich biodiversity. Home to endangered species, it spans from 600 to 1800 meters above sea level and hosts 2,000 plant species, 400 birds, 100 mammals, and 1,200 reptiles and amphibians. Famous birds like quetzals and the Bellbird thrive here.
Activities include hiking on hanging bridges and trails, private birding tours, and zip-lining. Due to the chilly, misty weather, be sure to bring warm clothing.
Cala Lodge (2 Nights)
Day 8: Free Day at Monteverde
Spend the day unwinding at your hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
Day 9: Enjoy the landscapes driving / Self-drive from Monteverde to Uvita
Uvita is a laid-back village south of Dominical, known for its lush hills, quiet beaches, and the stunning Marino Ballena National Park—famous for humpback whale sightings and its whale tail-shaped sandbar. It’s ideal for off-the-beaten-path travelers and hosts the annual Whale and Dolphin Festival. Nearby waterfalls like Cascada Verde and Catarata Pavón offer great spots for swimming in crystal-clear waters.
Cristal Ballena Hotel Resort & Spa (1 Night)
Day 10: Enjoy the landscapes driving / Self-drive from Uvita to Drake Bay Area
Bahía Drake, one of Costa Rica’s most isolated destinations, is bordered by Parque Nacional Corcovado. In this wildlife-rich area, howler monkeys and macaws fill the rainforest, while migrating dolphins glide through the turquoise waters of Isla del Caño. Its remote location makes it a perfect escape, with wilderness lodges offering an unforgettable experience.
Arriving by boat from Sierpe along the beautiful river and coastline adds to the adventure. In Drake Bay, you can relax in nature or explore outdoor activities to discover even more wildlife.
Pirate Cove Hotel (3 Nights)
Day 11: Shared Excursion | Scuba Diving at Caño Island
We leave each day at 7:00 a. m. The transfer to the island takes between 50 minutes to 1 hour. When the boat arrives to the Island, the instructor will go to the Minaet Station on the Island in order to give the register and show the documents with the reservation and the entrances fees. After that the divers go with the instructor for the first dive. The dive takes 40 minutes or less, depending on the group. Afterwards the group can rest in the island and drink water. It is not allowed to eat on the island, neither are there toilets. After the short rest we will do the second dive. Our diving groups are small and always accompanied by PADI dive masters, assistant instructors or instructors
Transport, Equipment, Bilingual Guide
Day 12: Shared Excursion | Corcovado National Park, San Pedrillo Station
Corcovado National Park is a reserve on southwest Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula that protects varied tropical ecosystems. Considered one of the world’s most biodiversity regions, its wildlife includes scarlet macaws, trogons, toucans, tapirs, jaguars, four types of monkeys, sloths, anteaters, and much more.
San Pedrillo is the closest Corcovado National Park Ranger Station to Drake Bay, Costa Rica and the 20-minute boat ride from Drake Bay offers possible sightings of dolphins and other marine and aquatic marine life, passing an island nesting spot for the Brown Booby. Our bilingual naturalist guide will lead a 3-hour hike through the primary and secondary forest, locating and explaining the extensive rainforest wildlife and flora.
After a lunch at the park ranger station, there is a second shorter hike to a beautiful waterfall – bring your bathing suite for a refreshing swim in the cool clear water!
We recommend that you bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, bug repellent, binoculars, bathing suit
and most importantly hiking shoes.
Transfer, tickets and guide
Day 13: Enjoy the landscapes driving / Self-drive from Drake Bay Area to Alajuela.
Enjoy your day relaxing at your hotel and surroundings or ask your travel consultant about the many optional activities that are offered in the area.
DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari (1 Night)
Day 14: Departure from San Jose to the International Airport
A privately driven vehicle will provide you with a transfer from your hotel to San José Airport today. Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary
Private Transfer from San José to International Airport
