Prices per person, in US dollars, including accommodation, breakfasts and the services listed in the program. The package details are listed below.
The Rainbow Toucan circuit is a Costa Rica self-drive tour of 9 days and 8 nights that links the plains of Guanacaste, the volcanic north and the Caribbean coast. You pick up your rental car on the day you land and follow a route designed by our team in San Francisco de Heredia, where Vacances au Costa Rica has been planning trips since 2014.
Each stage of this self-drive itinerary balances time on the road with planned visits: a wildlife rescue center near Cañas, a boat ride on the Río Corobicí, the Río Celeste waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Arenal hanging bridges, rafting on the Sarapiquí River, family farms growing heart of palm and pineapple, and two wildlife conservation visits near Cahuita.
This Costa Rica road trip also leaves room to slow down: an evening in hot springs fed by the warmth of Arenal Volcano, a free day on the trails and beaches of Cahuita National Park, and nights in places chosen for their natural setting. You drive at your own pace between stops, while lodging, most activities and the key timings are arranged in advance.
Your itinerary
San José · 1 night
Volcán Tenorio and Río Celeste · 1 night
Volcán Arenal · 2 nights
Sarapiquí · 1 night
Cahuita · 3 nights
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Costa Rica: your car and the road to San José
Your trip begins at Juan Santamaría International Airport, in the province of Alajuela. In the arrivals hall, an agency representative waits for you 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 daily rush behind, the team takes care of the details. A private transfer then brings you to the rental agency, where you pick up your vehicle. Once settled behind the wheel, you drive to San José, a first easy stretch to get used to the roads, the warm air and the rhythm of the country. Overnight in San José.
First night in San José after arriving at SJO airport, the starting point of a Costa Rica self-drive tour.
Day 2
Cañas and the Río Corobicí: wildlife of the Guanacaste dry forest
After breakfast, you set off around 7:30 a.m. toward Cañas, crossing the green plains and open pastures of northwestern Costa Rica. Near this small Guanacaste town, a wildlife rescue center cares for animals that can no longer return to the wild: pumas, jaguars, ocelots, several monkey species and other local fauna. Founded through the work of Lilly and Werner Hagnauer, it has been supported since 2003 by a foundation funded by visits, donations and sponsors. At 11:30 a.m., you board a boat on the Río Corobicí for a calm ride of about 1.5 hours, watching for American crocodiles and the birds along the banks, amid tropical dry forest. Lunch is included. You then drive on toward Río Celeste, where a guided night walk reveals frogs, insects, reptiles and spiders as the forest wakes up.
A puma gazes to the side, its tawny coat and amber eyes set against green foliage.
Day 3
The Río Celeste waterfall and an evening in Arenal hot springs
Leave around 7:30 a.m. for Tenorio Volcano National Park, reaching the entrance between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. (park entrance included). A hike of about three hours follows a trail through dense rainforest of ferns, vines and tall trees, with the sound of water growing closer. To reach the Río Celeste waterfall, you walk down, then back up, 253 steps, and find a cascade pouring into a turquoise pool. The color comes from minerals in the water that change the way light is scattered, most visible at El Teñidero, where the river takes on its blue hue. In the afternoon, you drive to Arenal and relax in a hot springs complex fed by geothermal waters: pools of different temperatures, waterfalls and tropical gardens. A buffet dinner is served there at 7 p.m.
The Río Celeste waterfall and its turquoise pool, reached by a wooden staircase through the rainforest, a stop on day 3 of this Costa Rica self-drive tour.
Day 4
Arenal Volcano: old lava flows and hanging bridges
In the morning, you may choose an optional hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, with the entrance fee paid on site. Departing around 8:30 a.m., the walk of 1.5 to 2 hours is mostly flat, with a rougher section of 200 to 300 meters over old lava rock. From the top, the view opens onto the volcano and the 1992 lava flows, now reclaimed by forest, and along the trail stands a ceiba tree more than 400 years old. In the afternoon, a walk of about two hours covers nearly 3 kilometers of trails with 8 fixed bridges and 6 hanging bridges, some 48 to 98 meters long. From these secure walkways you look straight into the canopy, listening for birdsong and scanning the branches, with views of Arenal Volcano along the way.
The conical Arenal Volcano rises behind the national park entrance sign, a day 4 stop on this Costa Rica self-drive tour.
Day 5
Sarapiquí: rafting, leaf-cutter ants and red-eyed tree frogs
After breakfast, drive to an adventure center in Sarapiquí, where you need to arrive by 9:15 a.m. at the latest. A professional guide gives the safety briefing before a half-day descent of the Sarapiquí River, with Class II and III rapids between calmer stretches lined with lush vegetation. If you prefer a gentler outing, you can swap the rafting for a safari float of about 2.5 hours, in a non-motorized raft or a motorboat, well suited to spotting birds, monkeys and reptiles. A typical Costa Rican lunch is then served at the center. Next, you discover the leaf-cutter ant and its surprisingly complex organization. After checking in to your lodging, you head out from 6 p.m. in search of the red-eyed tree frog and other night creatures.
A group paddles through foaming rapids on a rafting excursion in Sarapiquí, a day-five stop on this Costa Rica self-drive tour.
Day 6
From Sarapiquí to the Caribbean: heart of palm and pineapple farms
Departing around 8:30 a.m., you drive to Horquetas de Sarapiquí, a rural area known for its family farming. Around 11:30 a.m., the owner of a small family farm introduces you to the cultivation of heart of palm, or palmito, and to pejibaye, the fruit of mature palms. After tasting fresh palmito, you sit down at the family soda for lunch, with dishes that may include palmito ceviche, lasagna, bread, chorreada, picadillo or simply plain heart of palm. Another visit takes you to an organic pineapple and sugarcane farm, where you follow each step from planting to harvest and plant a young pineapple yourself. The road then leads to Cahuita, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, your base for the next three nights.
A local farmer shows a freshly picked pineapple in his field, a stop to consider on a Costa Rica self-drive tour.
Day 7
Southern Caribbean coast: wildlife rescue and conservation
Around 8:45 a.m., you leave for a private wildlife rescue center about 20 kilometers from Cahuita, on the coast toward Punta Cocles and Manzanillo, for a 9:30 a.m. visit. In the heart of the forest, the team cares for injured, sick or orphaned animals and, whenever their condition allows, prepares them to return to the wild. Depending on the day, you may see sloths, frogs, reptiles, butterflies and birds. In the afternoon, a second visit focuses on a conservation project working on breeding, reintroduction and habitat protection. After a presentation, your guide leads a walk through the surrounding forest, where birds, monkeys, sloths, frogs and reptiles may appear, depending on conditions and a little luck.
A guide shares explanations with a small group of visitors next to wooden and mesh enclosures in the rainforest.
Day 8
Cahuita National Park: forest trails and Playa Blanca
Today you explore Cahuita National Park at your own pace (optional entrance, paid on site), protected for both its rainforest and its coral reefs. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The full trail between the Puerto Vargas and Cahuita entrances is about 11 kilometers; you can also enter at Cahuita, walk part of the way and return when you wish. The path often runs just a few meters from the shore, with glimpses of the Caribbean Sea between palms and vines. Watch for monkeys, iguanas, raccoons, coatis, sloths, basilisks and tropical birds. At Playa Blanca, pale sand meets turquoise water: time for a swim, a rest in the shade or a picnic you bring along, to the sound of the waves.
A sandy beach curves along the Caribbean coast at the edge of Cahuita National Park, a stop on day 8 of a Costa Rica self-drive tour.
Day 9
Returning your car and flying home
After a last breakfast, you drive to the car rental agency near the airport. Once the vehicle is returned, the rental agency takes you to the airport. Allow about 4.5 hours of driving to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José; departure is planned so that you arrive at least three hours before takeoff. If your return flight leaves from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, the timing is adjusted accordingly. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours to explore San José or Liberia: museums, parks, monuments or simply the streets and local life, with entrance fees not included. Then it is time to head home, with a sincere ¡Pura vida! from the whole team.
Where you will stay
San José · 1 night
A city hotel in San José for your first night, with an executive room with two beds, a practical stop after picking up your car near the airport. Breakfast included.
Volcán Tenorio and Río Celeste · 1 night
Bungalows in the green countryside around Tenorio Volcano, a quiet base after the night walk and before the early start to the national park. Breakfast included.
Volcán Arenal · 2 nights
A hotel in the Arenal Volcano area with a junior suite for two nights, well placed for the hot springs, the national park and the hanging bridges. Breakfast included.
Sarapiquí · 1 night
Family cabins in the rural, river-laced region of Sarapiquí, surrounded by tropical vegetation, a simple and comfortable setting for families. Breakfast included.
Cahuita · 3 nights
A hotel on the Caribbean coast near Cahuita with a superior room for three nights, a relaxed base for the national park, the wildlife visits and the beaches of the south. Breakfast included.
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 trip suits travelers who enjoy driving and want the freedom of their own car without having to plan every stop. It works for couples as well as families and small groups of three or four, with room setups ranging from one double room to a triple, a quadruple or two doubles. Nature lovers will appreciate the wildlife rescue and conservation visits, the night walks and the time spent in rainforest, while those curious about rural life will enjoy the family farms of Sarapiquí. A moderate level of fitness is helpful for the Río Celeste hike and its steps; the rafting can be replaced by a calmer float trip, and the trails of Cahuita can be walked in full or in part.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Costa Rica self-drive tour suitable for families?
Yes. The tour can be booked for 2 to 4 travelers, in one double, triple or quadruple room or in two double rooms. Several activities lend themselves to family travel, such as the pineapple farm where you plant a young pineapple, the frog walk and the wildlife visits. On day 5, the rafting can be replaced by a gentler safari float or motorboat ride on the Sarapiquí River.
What does the rental car include?
The car rental includes the mandatory PLI/LWD insurance, along with private transfers between the airport and the rental agency on arrival and departure. Fuel, tolls, parking and ferry fees are not included. The optional SPP deductible waiver is not included and is strongly recommended.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. Lunch is included on day 2 (after the Río Corobicí boat ride), day 5 (a typical Costa Rican lunch after rafting) and day 6 (at the heart of palm farm), and a buffet dinner is served at the hot springs on day 3. Included meals cover a main course and one non-alcoholic drink.
Which entrance fees are not included?
Entrance to Tenorio Volcano National Park is included. Entrances to Arenal Volcano National Park (day 4) and Cahuita National Park (day 8) are optional and paid directly on site. Any museum or monument fees during a visit of San José or Liberia on the last day are also not included.
How demanding are the hikes?
The Río Celeste hike lasts about three hours and includes 253 steps down to the waterfall and back up. The Arenal lava flow trail is mostly flat, with a rocky section of 200 to 300 meters. In Cahuita National Park, the full trail is about 11 kilometers, but you can walk only part of it and return the same way.
From the turquoise waters of Río Celeste to the beaches of Cahuita, this Costa Rica self-drive tour lets you discover the country at your own pace while relying on a route that has been carefully prepared. Our team in San Francisco de Heredia can adapt it to your travel dates, room setup and flight times, and answers your questions in English. If this itinerary speaks to you, feel free to send us a quote request.
Request this tour
Tell us your dates and who is traveling: we will reply with a personalized quote for “Rainbow Toucan Tour”.
Manage consent
We use cookies to measure site traffic, display certain content (videos, maps, reviews) and improve your visit. You can accept them, refuse them or choose which ones you allow; you can change your choice at any time.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
