Prices per person, in US dollars, including accommodation, breakfasts and the services listed in the program. The package details are listed below.
This Costa Rica self-drive itinerary, which we call the Leatherback Turtle Circuit, crosses the country in 17 days and 16 nights, from the cool highlands of San Gerardo de Dota to the palm-lined beaches of Cahuita. You drive your own rental car and set your own pace, while every night, every boat transfer and the key guided activities are reserved before you leave home.
The route follows the land as it changes. You look for the resplendent quetzal in the cloud forest at dawn, then leave the car in Sierpe and glide through the mangroves to Bahía Drake, your base for Corcovado National Park and a day of snorkeling off Caño Island. Back on the road, this self-drive tour of Costa Rica takes you to the beaches of Manuel Antonio, the scarlet macaws of Carara, the Monteverde cloud forest by day and by night, the hanging bridges and hot springs of Arenal, the rivers of Sarapiquí and, finally, the Caribbean coast, before a last stop among the coffee farms of Turrialba.
Vacances au Costa Rica has been designing trips from San Francisco de Heredia since 2014. We built this Costa Rica road trip to balance wildlife, gentle adventure and genuine encounters with farmers, guides and conservation teams, with free time woven in so the days never feel rushed. Our team plans in English, French, Spanish and German, and stays reachable throughout your stay.
Your itinerary
San José · 1 night
San Gerardo de Dota · 1 night
Bahía Drake · 3 nights
Manuel Antonio · 1 night
Monteverde · 2 nights
Volcán Arenal · 2 nights
Sarapiquí · 1 night
Cahuita · 4 nights
San José · 1 night
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
San José: arrival and your first miles on the road
Welcome to Costa Rica. When you land at Juan Santamaría International Airport, in the province of Alajuela, a representative of the agency is waiting in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. A welcome note from Vincent, who founded the agency and has called Costa Rica home for more than 40 years, sets the tone: leave the watch and the everyday rush behind, because the details are taken care of. A private transfer takes you to the rental agency, where you pick up your car, then you drive on to San José. This first stretch is an easy way to settle into the warm tropical air before the journey truly begins. Overnight in San José.
Day 1 of the Costa Rica self-drive itinerary begins with a night in San José, close to SJO airport.
Day 2
San José and San Gerardo de Dota: from market stalls to cloud forest trails
Begin with a walking tour of the capital's historic center. At the Central Market, stalls overflow with tropical fruit, spices and crafts, and the scent of Costa Rican coffee drifts through the aisles. Continue to the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Theatre, opened at the end of the 19th century, whose elegant facade and ornate interior speak of the place the arts hold in the country's history. Time permitting, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum or the Jade Museum complete the picture; entrance fees for monuments, the theatre and museums are not included. Then the road heads south and up to San Gerardo de Dota. On your lodge's trails, among mosses, ferns and trees draped in epiphytes, a guide helps you look for hummingbirds, trogons and perhaps the quetzal.
The neoclassical facade of the National Theater in San José, a stop on day 2 of this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 3
The resplendent quetzal at dawn, then by boat to Bahía Drake
Early in the morning, a naturalist guide leads you through the cloud forest in search of the resplendent quetzal: emerald plumage, crimson breast and, on the male, long tail feathers that seem to float in the mist. Patience is part of the experience, and the bird often feeds near the small wild avocado trees called aguacatillos. After breakfast, drive south along the coastal road to Sierpe, aiming to arrive by 3 p.m. so you have time to leave your car in one of the secure lots near the dock. Between 3:30 and 4 p.m., your captain takes you aboard a fast boat through the Sierpe mangroves and out along the Osa Peninsula, a ride of about 1h30. The landing is on the beach: wear shoes you can slip off and keep electronics dry.
A male resplendent quetzal perches on a moss-covered branch in the forest of San Gerardo de Dota.
Day 4
Corcovado National Park: a day in the primary rainforest
From Bahía Drake, a boat follows the wild coastline of the Osa Peninsula to one of the accessible sectors of Corcovado National Park: San Pedrillo, closer to Drake, or La Sirena, deeper in the park and known for the diversity of its wildlife. The sector depends on permits and park access on the day of your visit. With a naturalist guide who speaks English or Spanish, you walk through dense primary forest where howler, capuchin and spider monkeys move through the canopy, and tropical birds and reptiles may cross your path. Lunch is included. In the afternoon, the boat brings you back along the South Pacific coast, the forest still echoing in your ears.
The wooden entrance sign of Corcovado National Park, a highlight of day 4 near Drake Bay on this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 5
Caño Island: whales, dolphins and snorkeling off the Osa Peninsula
Around 7 a.m., you head out to sea with a boatman-guide for a crossing of about an hour and a half to the Caño Island Biological Reserve. Depending on the season, humpback whales, Bryde's whales, spotted and spinner dolphins or flying fish may appear, though sightings can never be guaranteed. At the island, an official park guide, English- or Spanish-speaking, takes over. Mask and snorkel are provided for a snorkeling session over coral, tropical fish and rays, visibility permitting. You then land on the island's only accessible beach, with pale sand and turquoise water, where scarlet macaws sometimes cross the sky. A practical tip: stop by the dive center the day before to try on and adjust your mask and fins.
A snorkeler glides above the coral reef in clear blue water during a day trip on a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 6
Manuel Antonio: from the Osa mangroves to Pacific beaches
After breakfast, the boat leaves Bahía Drake at 7:15 a.m., running along the coast before winding back through the Sierpe mangroves, a refuge for many birds. You arrive around 8:45 a.m.; since boarding is from the beach, light, quick-drying clothes are a good idea. Collect your car and drive to Manuel Antonio National Park, which you explore at your own pace. Trails wind through the rainforest to ocean viewpoints and beaches where you can swim when conditions allow. Keep your eyes on the branches: capuchin monkeys, sloths, iguanas and tropical birds live here. Late in the afternoon, return to your hotel pool or linger on the sand to the sound of the waves.
The welcome sign at Manuel Antonio National Park, a stop on day 6 of this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 7
Carara and Monteverde: scarlet macaws and the cloud forest by night
Leave the coast and drive toward Tárcoles to visit Carara National Park, a transition zone between the humid forests of the Central Pacific and the drier landscapes of Guanacaste. Along its trails, beneath tall trees, look for monkeys, iguanas and many birds, above all the scarlet macaw, whose raucous calls often give it away before you catch a flash of red. Bring comfortable shoes, water and insect repellent. The road then climbs to Monteverde. At nightfall, a local naturalist guide leads you on foot through a reserve by flashlight: tree frogs, insects, spiders, reptiles and small nocturnal mammals emerge, while croaking, chirping and rustling leaves fill the misty air.
The entrance sign of Carara National Park, decorated with a scarlet macaw, a stop on day 7 of this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 8
Monteverde cloud forest, on foot and above the canopy
Return to the cloud forest on your own, without a guide, and walk its marked trails at your own pace. Mist clings to mosses, lichens and bromeliads, orchids hide among the branches, and hummingbirds dart past if you walk quietly. Please stay on the trails and carry your litter out. Later, an adventure park offers a full program of about 4h30: an aerial tram up the mountain, a circuit of 7 ziplines over the canopy, then an extra course with a bicycle zipline of about 200 meters, two tree climbs up to 12 meters, four monkey bridges, a 13-meter tree jump and a 20-meter Tarzan swing. You finish calmly on step-free trails crossing 6 hanging bridges. Closed shoes are required, and height, weight and fitness restrictions apply.
A red wooden visitor building framed by lush cloud forest, a day 8 stop on a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary in Monteverde.
Day 9
Arenal hanging bridges: the rainforest from above
Today the road leads to the Arenal Volcano area. In the afternoon, set out on a walk of about two hours along nearly 3 kilometers of trails, crossing 8 fixed bridges and 6 hanging bridges, some of them between 48 and 98 meters long. Fully secured, they span forested canyons and bring you level with the treetops, with viewpoints over the volcano and the surrounding forest. Take your time: listen for birdsong, scan the foliage and look closely at each layer of the forest, from the shaded understory to the sunlit canopy, where many discreet species reveal themselves only to patient eyes.
Walking a suspended bridge through the rainforest canopy near Arenal, a highlight of a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 10
Arenal Volcano: old lava flows and an evening in the hot springs
Optional morning: around 8:30 a.m., head into Arenal Volcano National Park for a walk of 1h30 to 2 hours (entrance fee not included, paid on site). The mostly flat trail crosses rainforest that has gradually reclaimed the 1992 lava flows and passes a ceiba tree more than 400 years old. A rougher section of 200 to 300 meters over volcanic rock leads to a viewpoint over the lava fields and, on clear days, the volcano's near-perfect cone. In the afternoon, unwind at a hot springs resort where waterfalls and pools of different temperatures are fed by geothermal water, surrounded by tropical gardens. At 7 p.m., a buffet dinner is included at the resort's restaurant.
The cone of Arenal Volcano towers over the entrance sign of Arenal Volcano National Park, a stop on a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 11
Sarapiquí: rafting, leaf-cutter ants and red-eyed tree frogs
After breakfast, drive to an adventure center in Sarapiquí, arriving no later than 9:15 a.m. After a safety briefing, a professional guide leads you down the Sarapiquí River for about half a day on class II and III rapids, with calmer stretches to take in the lush riverbanks. Prefer something gentler? A safari float of about 2h30, in a non-motorized raft or a motorboat, is well suited to spotting birds, monkeys and reptiles. A typical Costa Rican lunch follows at the center. Next, discover the busy, highly organized world of leaf-cutter ants, then check in at your lodging. At 6 p.m., an evening walk sets out in search of the red-eyed tree frog.
A family paddles through foaming rapids with their guide on a rafting outing in Sarapiquí, a stop on a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 12
Pineapples, palm hearts and the road to Cahuita
Leave around 8:30 a.m. for the farming country around Horquetas de Sarapiquí. On an organic pineapple and sugarcane farm, follow the fruit from planting to harvest, set a young pineapple plant in the ground yourself, then learn about sugarcane and its place in rural life. Around 11:30 a.m., the owner of a small family farm explains how palm heart, or palmito, is grown, and how mature palms produce pejibaye, a fruit cherished in Costa Rican cooking. After a tasting of fresh palm heart, lunch at the family's small soda brings traditional dishes such as palmito ceviche, lasagna, bread, chorreada or picadillo, depending on the day. Then drive on to the Caribbean coast and Cahuita.
A local farmer shows a freshly picked pineapple in his field, a stop on a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 13
Wildlife rescue and conservation toward Punta Cocles and Manzanillo
The day unfolds along the southern Caribbean coast, toward Punta Cocles and Manzanillo. Around 8:45 a.m., drive about 20 kilometers from Cahuita to a private wildlife rescue center in the rainforest, for a 9:30 a.m. visit. Its teams care for injured, sick or orphaned animals and, whenever possible, prepare them to return to the wild. You learn about their daily work and may see sloths, frogs, reptiles, birds and butterflies. In the afternoon, visit a wildlife conservation project: a presentation of its breeding, reintroduction and habitat protection programs is followed by a guided walk through the surrounding forest, where birds, monkeys, sloths and frogs live in their natural setting.
A guide shares information with visitors next to animal enclosures surrounded by tropical forest.
Day 14
Cahuita National Park: rainforest trails and coral-fringed beaches
Today belongs to Cahuita National Park, protected for both its rainforest and its coral reefs (optional entrance fee, paid on site). The park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The full trail between the Puerto Vargas and Cahuita entrances covers about 11 kilometers, but you can also enter at Cahuita, walk part of the way and return at your own pace. The path often runs a few meters from the shore, with glimpses of the Caribbean between palms and vines. Watch for monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, coatis, sloths and basilisks, and occasionally snakes. At Playa Blanca, pale sand meets shades of turquoise: swim, rest in the shade or enjoy a picnic if you have brought one.
A curving sand beach backed by dense green forest at Cahuita National Park, a stop on day 14 of this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 15
Cahuita: a day on the river with a local guide
At 9 a.m., you meet your local guide for a day devoted to nature and genuine encounters. It begins at an organic farm, where you discover tropical crops and the know-how of people who work in step with their environment. Then you settle into a kayak for a calm paddle downriver between green banks. The river acts as a natural corridor: howler monkeys, toucans, iguanas and many birds may appear, and your guide helps you spot the shyer animals and the plants along the water. Lunch is included. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel for free time by the pool and a quiet evening on the Caribbean coast.
A yellow kayak glides along a still, forest-lined river near Cahuita, a relaxed outing on a Costa Rica self-drive itinerary.
Day 16
Turrialba coffee country and the road back to San José
After breakfast, leave around 9 a.m. for Turrialba, as the landscape shifts along the road between mountains, plantations and green valleys. Around 11:30 a.m., you visit a farm devoted to organic coffee, grown and processed under international standards with close attention to quality and the environment. In the beneficio, the mill where the harvest is handled, you see each step that turns the coffee cherry into beans ready for roasting. The visit ends with a tasting, a chance to appreciate the aromas of a locally grown cup. Then continue to San José for your last night in Costa Rica.
Coffee cherries laid out in rows to dry under a white plastic tunnel, a step in coffee processing seen around Turrialba.
Day 17
Last morning in Costa Rica and departure
After breakfast, drive to the car rental agency near the airport and return your car; the rental agency then takes you to the airport. Departure is timed so that you arrive at least three hours before your flight, as recommended for check-in and formalities. If your flight schedule allows, you may spend your last hours strolling through San José, its parks, museums and monuments, or simply watching everyday street life; any entrance fees are not included. Then it is time to fly home, with the forests, volcanoes, rivers and beaches of the past seventeen days still close at heart. ¡Pura vida, and we hope to welcome you back one day.
Where you will stay
San José · 1 night
An executive room with a king bed in a comfortable city hotel in San José, a calm first stop after your flight and a convenient base for the next morning's walking tour of the historic center.
San Gerardo de Dota · 1 night
A classic bungalow in a mountain lodge in the highlands of San Gerardo de Dota, with nature trails leading straight into the cloud forest, where cool air and morning mist set the mood.
Bahía Drake · 3 nights
Rooms in a lodge in the small, isolated village of Bahía Drake, reached by boat and set between rainforest and the Pacific, your base for Corcovado National Park and Caño Island.
Manuel Antonio · 1 night
A hotel with a pool in the Manuel Antonio area, close to the national park and the Pacific beaches, ideal for a relaxed evening after a day on the trails.
Monteverde · 2 nights
A standard room in a hotel in Monteverde, near the cloud forest reserves, where the climate is often cool and damp and the evenings invite you to slow down.
Volcán Arenal · 2 nights
A junior suite in a hotel in the Arenal Volcano area, surrounded by tropical greenery and well placed for the hanging bridges, the national park and the hot springs.
Sarapiquí · 1 night
Family-style cabins in the lush, rural lowlands of Sarapiquí, a region of rivers and tropical forest well suited to an evening walk among the frogs.
Cahuita · 4 nights
A superior room in a hotel with a pool near Cahuita, on the southern Caribbean coast, a relaxed base for four nights between rainforest, beaches and wildlife projects.
San José · 1 night
An executive room with a king bed in a San José hotel for your last night, convenient for returning the rental car and heading to the airport the next morning.
What the package includes
Included
Private transfer from the airport to the rental agency
Nights in the hotels listed, or similar if unavailable before final booking
Breakfast every day of the tour
Lunches mentioned in the program *
Dinners mentioned in the program *
Mandatory PLI / LWD insurance
Car rental with the mandatory insurance
National park entrance fees listed as included in the program
Activities and visits listed as included in the program
Private transfer to the airport on departure day
The 13% hotel tax
The 13% tax on tourist activities
Our assistance in English throughout your stay
* Meals include a main course and one non-alcoholic drink
National park entrance fees listed as optional in the program
Activities and visits listed as optional in the program
Extensions, variations and suggestions
Personal expenses and tips
Travel or repatriation insurance
Not included: road costs, fuel, parking, ferries and tolls
Any other service
Optional activities
Arenal Volcano National Park entrance fee: USD 17, payable on site
Cahuita National Park entrance fee: USD 6, payable on site
Who this trip is for
This 17-day Costa Rica itinerary suits travelers who feel at ease behind the wheel and like to set their own pace, yet appreciate knowing that every night and every key activity is already arranged. It is made for nature lovers and curious minds: birdwatching at dawn, primary rainforest, snorkeling, night walks, hanging bridges and visits to farms and conservation projects follow one another without haste. Rates are available for 2, 3 or 4 travelers, so couples, friends or families can share this Costa Rica road trip, keeping in mind that some activities, such as rafting or the Monteverde adventure park, have age, size or fitness requirements, and that gentler alternatives exist for some of them.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary?
The package includes the private transfer from the airport to the rental agency, a rental car with mandatory insurance (PLI and LDW), 16 nights in the hotels listed or similar, daily breakfasts, the lunches and dinner mentioned in the program (main course and one soft drink), the activities and park entrances marked as included, the boat transfers to and from Bahía Drake, the 13% hotel and tourism taxes, the transfer to the airport on departure day and our assistance throughout your stay. International flights, fuel, parking, tolls, ferries, the deductible waiver (SPP, strongly recommended), optional park entrances, tips and travel insurance are not included.
Where do I leave the car during the stay in Bahía Drake?
Bahía Drake is reached by boat from Sierpe. Several secure parking lots near the boat dock in Sierpe keep your car during your three nights on the Osa Peninsula; the daily fee is paid locally and is not included. Plan to reach Sierpe by 3 p.m. on day 3. On day 6, the boat brings you back around 8:45 a.m. so you can collect the car and continue.
Will the guides speak English?
In Corcovado National Park and at Caño Island, the guides speak English or Spanish only. Several visits are self-guided, including Manuel Antonio National Park, the Monteverde forest walk and Cahuita National Park. For the language of the other guided activities, ask us when you book: our team answers your questions in English before and during your self-drive tour of Costa Rica.
Which visits are optional?
Two park entrances are optional and paid on site: Arenal Volcano National Park on day 10 and Cahuita National Park on day 14. Entrance fees for monuments, the National Theatre and museums in San José are also not included.
Does the itinerary require a good level of fitness?
Most days are moderate. The Sarapiquí rafting runs class II and III rapids, with a calmer safari float as an alternative. The Monteverde adventure park has height, weight and fitness restrictions, with ziplines open from age 5. The Arenal lava trail includes a 200 to 300 meter rocky section, and boat landings in Bahía Drake may mean stepping into shallow water.
From the quetzal's misty forest to the slow afternoons of the Caribbean, this Costa Rica self-drive itinerary gives you the freedom of the open road with the reassurance of a carefully prepared route. If it matches the trip you have in mind, simply send us your travel dates and the number of travelers, and our team in San Francisco de Heredia will prepare a detailed quote and answer your questions in English.
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