Overview & Highlights
Costa Rica, with a comprehensive road network is ideal for independent exploration by self-drive 4WD car hire. This action-packed holiday visits off-the-beaten-track national parks with a backdrop of volcanoes, mangroves or jungle. Your hotels are pre-booked.
- Tortuguero: Explorations at Tortuguero National Park
- Monteverde: Activities organised from the hotel
Much of the enjoyment of self-drive in Costa Rica is getting off the beaten track and onto the dirt tracks and rural roads where you can stop to explore at leisure. Begin your adventure among the mangrove forests of the wildlife-filled Tortuguero reserve. Discover the mysterious bird-filled cloud forest with its misty landscape of ferns and orchids, scramble over hanging bridges suspended over waterfalls and forest in the shadow of Arenal volcano and end your visit on a Pacific beach.
Costa Rica is a peaceful and stable country and its people are among the friendliest in Latin America. The comprehensive network of roads means that the national parks with their extensive trails are always accessible and self-drive is the perfect way for independent-minded, confident drivers and companions to explore.
In line with its respect for the great outdoors, Costa Rica has been at the vanguard of adventure tourism, with lots of activities on offer from zip-lining to white-water rafting. The tiny country is bursting with an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna.
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in San José and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2
Drive and boat to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast.
Day 3
Wildlife spotting excursions from your lodge.
Day 4
Drive to Sarapiqui.
Day 5
Explore Tirimbina Reserve. Drive to Monteverde in the cloud forest.
Day 6
At leisure to discover forest trails and ride on a zip line.
Day 7
Drive from Monteverde to Arenal volcano area.
Day 8
Visit La Fortuna Falls and the hanging bridges.
Day 9
Discover Caño Negro wildlife.
Day 10
Drive to Rincón de la Vieja.
Day 11
At leisure to raft, hike or go horse-riding.
Day 12
Drive to Guanacaste on the Pacific coast.
Day 13
At leisure on the beach.
Day 14
Drop off car at Liberia airport and take international flight home.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
Very efficient with the booking process and very helpful with his service throughout. Adam was always prompt and helpful in answering all our questions prior to departure.
IR, London
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Ben Line - Travel Consultant
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Manager of the Tailor-made Department.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
Costa Rica / Monteverde and the cloud forest
Cloud Forest Lodge
Costa Rica / Pacific coast
Conde del Mar
Costa Rica / Arenal and the north
Hacienda Guachipelin
Costa Rica / San Jose, central highlands and central valleys
La Quinta de Sarapiquí Country Inn
Costa Rica / San Jose, central highlands and central valleys
Presidente
Costa Rica / Arenal and the north
Rancho Margot
Costa Rica / Caribbean coast
Turtle Beach Lodge
Inspired by this trip
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
Papagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Holidays Self-drive Costa Rica: Coast to coast adventures
From expertly designed Pre-designed Holidays to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Private Journeys
Costa Rica / Nicaragua
Active Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Rivers and volcanoes
16 days from £3,629pp
Classic holidays
Group - Discovery
Panama / Costa Rica / Nicaragua / El Salvador / Honduras / Guatemala
Alcion: Central America Discovery
22 days from £3,061pp
Private Journeys
Costa Rica
Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery
15 days from £3,660pp
Private Journeys
Costa Rica / Panama
Expedition cruise: Costa Rica, Panama and the Canal
15 days from £6,989pp
-
Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Consultant
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
-
Evie Oswald - Travel Consultant
It’s hard to believe that Evie has had time to cram so much in to her life so far. Having lived as a child in the Americas and Europe she found herself immediately attracted to Latin America.
-
Lina Fuller - Travel Consultant
Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
-
Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Consultant
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
-
Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Consultant
After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
-
Hannah Donaldson - Travel Consultant
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is an invaluable part of our Group Tours team.
