Costa Rica Fly & Drive 14 nights
ABOUT THIS ITINERARY
Discover Costa Rica’s wild heart on this 11-day journey that blends rainforest, wildlife, volcanoes and pristine beaches. Begin in San José before venturing to remote cloud forests and the iconic Arenal region. Float along hanging bridges, spot toucans and sloths, soak in natural hot springs, then unwind on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
Price Includes
International flights
Private transfers
Activities and tours as mentioned
All accommodation
24/7 support while you're away
UK airport transfers (conditions apply)
DAY 1
SAN JOSE
Upon arrival, you will be met by a Tailored Journeys representative and transferred to your hotel for the night, 20 minutes from San Jose.
Once you have settled in, the rest of the day is yours to unwind. Explore San Jose or simply relax and get ready for the adventures ahead!
Accommodation: Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort
DAY 2-3
SANTA ELENA
This morning your hire car will be delivered to your hotel (or the car can be picked up on arrival at the airport) so you could leave San Jose behind and head to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Optional tour: Head to the nearby ‘Children’s Eternal Rainforest’, the largest private reserve in Costa Rica. Here you can enter a weird and wonderful terrain of giant ferns, huge trees dripping with glossy lichen and moss and dashes of colour from the many birds that flit through the canopy. Keep your eyes peeled for white-faced monkeys, porcupines, blue-crowned motmots and squirrel cuckoos.
Or you may wish to do some horseback riding through the cloud forest.
Explore the cloud forest at Sky Adventures. Start your tour with a walk over the hanging bridges. If you are lucky you might come across a troupe of howler monkeys but there are birds galore as well as iridescent flying beetles that will keep the children entertained.
Later, strap yourselves into a harness and ride to the top of the mountain in a bubble car before flying across the valley on ziplines, each several hundred metres long and high above the hillside.
Accommodation: El Establo Mountain Hotel
DAY 5-6
LA FORTUNA
Take a raft trip on the quiet waters of Peñas Blancas River to get up close with nature. As you float along the river you have an excellent chance of seeing sloths, monkeys, toucans, crocodiles, Jesus Christ Lizards and turtles along the way as well as a huge variety of plants and large trees. You will also stop in a local farm where you will enjoy refreshments with the local family – delicious local cheese, fresh coffee or homemade lemonade, and local fruit.
You'll also have a half day tour on 4x4 ATVs. You'll start the tour in a local farm before riding across the rainforest discovering large trees, animals and birds to the base of a volcano with views of the majestic Arenal Volcano. After a short rest by the volcano, you will ride along the Arenal river and even enjoy a refreshing dip followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
You could also visit the Tabacon Hot Springs, where you can enjoy the hot springs under the night sky followed by dinner at the resort.
Accommodation: Amor Arenal
DAY 7
PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI
After a leisurely morning, you will set off slightly later than usual to Sarapiquis. There are a number of different optional excursions that you can book with your lodge, including walking, horse riding, a visit to an ant farm, a cookery lesson or even dance classes and more.
Approximate driving time from La Fortuna to Sarapiqui is around 2 hours.
In the evening you can enjoy a guided night hike through the forest, this educational walk is arranged by the hotel.
Accommodation: Selva Verde Lodge Puerto Viejo Rainforest Reserve
DAY 8-9
TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Head to Tortuguero National Park. You will drive to Guapiles for a midday snack and park your car at the local El Guarumo Restaurant, this is also your meeting point for the shuttle transfer to Tortuguero National Park. The next part of the journey is by boat through small canals that you will navigate through before arriving at your jungle lodge.
In the afternoon you can visit the small local museum or just relax on your porch and enjoy watching the local visitors! Howler and spider monkeys jumping through the forest canopy as well as tree frogs and even iguana and sloth.
Enjoy the surrounding canals by boat. Accompanied by a local specialist guide, you will see some incredible varied wildlife, including sloths, snakes, bats, iguanas, monkeys, caiman and a huge variety of birds.
Accommodation: Mawamba Lodge
DAY 10-13
PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA
After breakfast you will take the boat back to Guapiles to pick your car and drive on to the stunning Caribbean coast.
The Caribblue Beach & Jungle Resort has a beautiful room for your Caribbean coast adventure! If you are you looking for a relaxing and comfortable place to enjoy the Costa Rican Caribbean, you are in the right place!
You have 4 nights here to completely relax and unwind!
Accommodation: Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort
DAY 14
SAN JOSE
Later today you will make your way back to San Jose.
The approximate drive time on this long journey can be anything from 4-5 hours.
Check in on arrival and spend the evening free.
Accommodation: Country Inn & Suites By Radisson
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