Individual Rental Car Tour in Costa Rica to the North - INTI Tours

You drive via Alajuela to the Poás Volcano. (Entrance fee US$ 10,-- pP; safe parking in the car park). Short walk to the impressive main crater (1.8 km diameter). An early visit is worthwhile, as clouds usually envelop the crater from 10am. Then start the adventure drive through the lowlands. On the way, stops in Grecia (metal church), Sarchí, the souvenir and art capital of the country, and Ciudad Quesada. Via Aguas Zarcas, Pital and Boca Tapada you arrive at the Pedacito de Cielo lodge.

The lodge, whose name means "little piece of heaven", includes a 300-hectare rainforest reserve. You can see various species of birds, poison dart frogs, and with a bit of luck monkeys as well as the overwhelming plant life. Guided hikes, kayak and canoe excursions as well as boat trips with nature observation on the Río San Juan are offered for a fee. Overnight stay at the lodge.

Continue via Pital and Muelle to La Fortuna at the foot of the active volcano Arenal. Check-in at the Hotel Lomas del Volcán. In the afternoon hike over the cooled lava fields of the volcano (entrance fee US$ 10,--pP for the Arenal National Park) or other tour options, e.g. visit the Ecocentro Danaus or the waterfall of La Fortuna. In good weather, a drive closer to the active volcano at night is interesting. Return to the hotel.

Our recommendation: Day trip via Muelle to Los Chiles. There, boat trips are offered on the Rio Frio to the Caño Negro protected area. On the banks you can often see crocodiles, monkeys, sloths, turtles and iguanas. The reserve itself is a stronghold for bird lovers. Return via Los Chiles. Alternatively: horseback tour to a beautiful waterfall, mountain bike tours or an excursion to the Venado Caves. Return to the hotel.

After crossing the dam of Lake Arenal, there is a beautiful stretch of road in the tropical rainforest. Afterwards, the road deteriorates and you reach the village of Nuevo Arenal. Continue around the northern shore of the lake with strong winds. In Tilarán you head towards Monteverde. In the beginning the road is still in good condition, but then it deteriorates and becomes an adventurous four-wheel drive route. A longer route leads first on a good road to Las Juntas or Cañas and from there about 35 km on a bumpy road to Monteverde. Check in at the Hotel Belmar.

Monteverde offers great attractions: the Santa Elena Reserve, the suspension bridges of Selvatura or the Skywalk (suspension bridges in the treetops of the jungle canopy) or the adventurous suspension bridges of SKYTREK: on a pulley you glide on steel cables from platform to platform in the jungle canopy. Monteverde also has a snake museum, a butterfly garden and a hummingbird gallery, among other things. Enjoy the day of exploration. Overnight at Hotel Belmar.

In the morning time for excursions and sightseeing. Around noon return to San José, where you will arrive in the afternoon.

Tip: From Monteverde, continue to a beach hotel on the Pacific coast/drop off the rental car for an extra charge. Or return to San José and start another rental car tour.