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Wonderful individual car rental tour through Costa Rica - INTI Tours
Sample tour: Jungle, animals and relaxation
We have planned and carried out this example tour for clients in exactly the same way. It is based on the wishes of our clients and represents a combination of different regions in Costa Rica. Partly private guided tours are planned, then again time at your own disposal with suggestions and by rental car.
Such a sample tour should show you what is possible. And it should give you some ideas. You are welcome to tell us your individual wishes and ideas - we will use them to create your own personal dream trip in our travel manufactory. Please feel free to call us or contact us.
And here is the journey:
Costa Rica is world-famous as a natural paradise. On this individual rental car tour through Costa Rica you will experience fascinating jungle, animal observations and relaxation on the beach. You can explore different nature regions on your own and dive deeper into the fascinating world of the jungle with local guides. But volcanoes, lakes and beaches are also waiting to be discovered. Travel independently through Costa Rica with your rental car.
Tortuguero National Park Braulio Carillo National Park Valle Central Vulcan Poas Pedacito de Cielo Arenal Volcano Cordillera de Guanacaste Monteverde Cloud Forest Santa Elena Reserve Suspension bridges of Selvatura Carara National Park Manuel Antonio National Park Cerro de la Muerte Cloud Forest San Gerardo de Dota Coffee area near Turrialba Puerto Viejo
Itinerary
Arrival in Costa Rica
Arrival in Costa Rica. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative of our agency after passport control and escorted through baggage claim and customs control to the exit of the airport. Our German-speaking airport tour guide will then be waiting for you here. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. You will receive your travel documentation with useful tips and information. The remaining day is at your leisure.
Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean Sea
Early in the morning you will be picked up at your city hotel by your tour guide. After a panoramic drive through the Braulio Carillo National Park, you will take a break in the restaurant and enjoy a typical breakfast. Then the journey continues along extensive banana plantations to the pier Pavona/Caño Blanco, where you change to a boat of the hotel and cover the last kilometres along the water channels to Tortuguero by boat. Check-in and lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit the village of Tortuguero and optionally learn more about sea turtle conservation efforts at the Caribbean Conservation Center. There is also plenty of time for refreshments in one of the small sodas and shops. Return to the hotel and dinner.
Info:
> Luggage limit 12 kg per person. We recommend packing the things needed for day 2-4 in a smaller piece of luggage. The rest of the luggage can be stored in Guapiles.
> On this excursion to Tortuguero National Park (day 2-4) other guests will join you.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Tortuguero National Park
After breakfast, you will take part in a canal tour through Tortuguero National Park. You will have ample opportunity to observe caimans, monkeys, sloths, turtles, iguanas and many different species of birds. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, the second tour takes place, a hike in the national park. Depending on the weather, the two tours can also take place in reverse. Dinner at the hotel.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Tortuguero - Car pick-up - Valle Central Vulcan Poas
After breakfast, you return by boat to Caño Blanco or La Pavona (depending on the water level), where you change buses again. In Guápiles you will pick up your rental car. Now your rental car round trip to the Valle Central Vulcan Poas begins. On the way there, you can go for a walk in the Braulio Carillo National Park or take a gondola ride at the Aerial Tram, a canopy tour or a hike - both are on the way.
- Breakfast
Valle Central Vulcan Poas - Waterfall Gardens
After breakfast, you can take a walk to the main crater and to an idyllic side crater of the volcano. Afterwards, you can take an optional tour to the Gardens Waterfall.
- Breakfast
Continue to Boca Tapada
Today you drive through agricultural areas of the Costa Rican lowlands. In a southerly direction at San Pedro de Poás you turn right to Grecia. We recommend a short visit to the local metal church. Continue to Sarchí, the souvenir and art capital of the country, where you will admire and photograph the world's largest hand-painted ox cart. Continue north past Naranjo, Zarcero to Ciudad Quesada a larger centre where you will find supermarkets, restaurants and more shops. The last leg will take you to Aguas Zarcas, Pital and Boca Tapada. Shortly afterwards you will arrive at the lodge
- Breakfast
Pedacito de Cielo
Early in the morning you will be woken up by the screaming of howler monkeys and the singing of birds. The rainforest begins right behind the lodge and we recommend an optional guided walk through the dense greenery today. On the walk you can admire the incredible biodiversity of plants and with a bit of luck also observe some animals. A lagoon next to the lodge invites you to explore by canoe, where you can glide silently into the jungle (optional excursion) to observe animals. Over 200 species of birds, including toucans and rare parrot species, can be seen here. Horseback riding or boat trips on the Rio San Carlos are also offered.
- Breakfast
Pedacito de Cielo - Arenal Volcano
The next stage of your discovery tour takes you back to Pital and then via San Miguel, Aguas Zarcas and Muelle to La Fortuna at the foot of the Arenal volcano, which has been dormant for several years. On the way you will see fruit plantations and shortly before La Fortuna you can visit the Ecocentro Danaus. This consists of a butterfly garden, a collection of medicinal plants and a small snake exhibition. From your hotel room today you can enjoy a direct view of the Arenal Volcano. However, you need some weather luck for this experience, because sometimes the volcano is shrouded in clouds. There are, of course, many other attractions in this area. Relax at the hotel's thermal pool, from where you also have a direct view of the volcano.
Info:
Total kilometres today: 100km, pure driving time today: 3 hours
- Breakfast
Arenal Volcano
Another beautiful day of travel is at your disposal today. You can go on various excursions in the Arenal Volcano region according to your own taste.
- Breakfast
La Fortuna/ Arenal - Monteverde
The tour continues along the idyllic Lake Arenal. Drive carefully, as coatis can often be spotted at the roadside. Via Nuevo Arenal you drive to Tilarán around the northern tip of the reservoir. Very strong winds often prevail here, which has made the area famous for windsurfers. On the hilltops of the Cordillera de Guanacaste you will discover the large windmills. In Tilarán you will then find the road to Monteverde. In the beginning, the road is in good condition, but then it deteriorates and becomes an adventurous four-wheel drive route, especially after rainfall. A longer route leads first on a good road to Cañas and Las Juntas and from there about 30 km on a bumpy road to Monteverde.
Info:
> Total kilometres today: approx. 100 km if direct Tilarán - Monteverde; approx. 145 km if via Cañas and Las Juntas - Pure driving time: approx. 3 1/2 hours if direct Tilarán - Monteverde; approx. 4 1/2 hours if via Cañas and Las Juntas.
- Breakfast
Monteverde
Monteverde became famous for its protected cloud forest, which can be discovered in numerous ways today. An extended hike in Monteverde or in the Santa Elena Reserve is highly recommended. You can admire the moss-covered trees, giant ferns, palm species and strangler figs, among other things. Over 250 species of birds, including the quetzal - the legendary bird of the gods of the Mayas - can be spotted here with a bit of luck. You can also experience the fairytale jungle in Monteverde in an even more adventurous way. The suspension bridges of Selvatura or the Skywalk, for example, are systems of easily accessible suspension bridges stretched over a valley and in the treetops. This allows a view up and into the jungle canopy. If you want to produce even more adrenaline, you can complete the Canopy or Skytrek. This involves gliding from platform to platform in the treetops on a steel cable attached to a suspension device. This type of discovery is offered several times in Monteverde. For those who like it a little quieter, there is also a butterfly garden and a snake museum in Santa Elena.
- Breakfast
Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
On an unpaved, bumpy road you reach the Panamerican Highway and drive south via Puntarenas and Orotina to Jacó and then parallel to the coast to Manuel Antonio. On the way, you will have the opportunity to visit Carara National Park. This rare jungle is located in the climatic transition zone of the dry northern and the humid southern Pacific coast. Thanks to this, a rare mixture of flora and fauna has formed over thousands of years and some species are even endemic here. One of the main attractions here is the great red macaw. In Manuel Antonio you will check into your room.
Info:
Total kilometres today: 200km - Pure driving time today: 4 1⁄2 hours.
- Breakfast
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is located a few minutes' walk from your hotel. This relatively small park is characterised by its beautiful beaches, where the vegetation almost reaches the sea. Of course, this park also has other tasks, such as the protection of the endangered little titi monkeys, which can often be seen in the park. This monkey species is only found here and in the Corcovado National Park further south. Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays. But there are also beautiful beaches outside the park. Boat trips for dolphin watching, horseback riding and water sports are offered.
Info:
> Total kilometres: approx. 15 km - travel time: 30 minutes.
- Breakfast
Manuel Antonio - Dominical - Cerro de la Muerte
Your discovery tour continues south. You drive south on a dirt road to Dominical. Here again you will find deserted, wild beaches. Shortly before Dominical you can visit the Hacienda Barú, a private protected area. Then continue to San Isidro del General, where you will rejoin the Panamerican Highway. The road then winds up the mountain in many curves until you reach the top of the "Cerro de la Muerte" pass at around 3,400 metres above sea level. Shortly after, turn left to San Gerardo de Dota, a small town at around 2,200 metres above sea level.
Info:
> Total kilometres today: 140km - Pure driving time today: 3 1⁄2 hours.
- Breakfast
San Gerardo de Dota Cloud Forest - Cartago - Turrialba
Early in the morning we recommend a hike in the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota. Here you are very likely to meet the shy quetzal - the bird of the gods of the Mayas. With its colourful plumage, it is one of the most beautiful birds in Central America. Then continue to Cartago, the former capital of Costa Rica. Here you can visit the Basilica, a magnificent church. We also recommend a detour to the Irazú volcano at 3,400 m.a.s.l. There you can walk in the moon-like landscape and marvel at the 300-metre-deep main crater. In good weather, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the landscape from up here, and on particularly clear days, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans can be seen at the same time. Continue through sugar cane and coffee plantations to Turrialba, where rooms are reserved for you at the hotel.
Info:
> Total kilometres today: 110km (without Irazú Volcano) - Pure driving time today: 2 1⁄2 hours.
- Breakfast
Turrialba - Limón - Puerto Viejo
Turrialba is known for sugar cane and coffee cultivation. You can visit one of these plantations today before the drive via Siquirres to Limón on the Caribbean coast. There you turn south and drive along the Caribbean coast to Puerto Viejo and your hotel.
Info: Kilometres travelled today: 165km - pure driving time today: 3 1⁄2 hours
- Breakfast
Puerto Viejo
About a hundred metres from the hotel you will find Cocles beach. Further south from the hotel are other hidden bays with bright, palm-fringed sandy beaches. The offshore reefs invite you to go snorkelling. The Gandoca Manzanillo Reserve begins at the small town of Manzanillo, where you can go hiking in the lowland rainforest. There are also boat tours to watch dolphins or rent surfboards and sea kayaks. In the hinterland you will find farmers with their banana plantations, which are dedicated to organic cultivation. A botanical garden is located at the entrance to the village, and in Bribri you can take a guided tour to learn about the history and life of the Indians. North of Puerto Viejo is the Cahuita National Park, where you can also hike and snorkel. The town of Puerto Viejo has a typical Caribbean ambience and offers numerous restaurants and bars where you can dance to reggae music in the evenings.
- Breakfast
Puerto Viejo - San Jose
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon return to San Jose and drop off the rental car at the hotel.
- Breakfast
Return flight to Germany
Transfer to the airport and return flight to Germany with many unforgettable memories.
- Breakfast
- Subject to change -
Dates & Prices
DThis is a sample itinerary as we have already put it together for clients and carried it out in this way. Please feel free to call us or contact us here via the contact form. |
Included services
- Overnight stay with breakfast in middle class hotels
- Guided tours and sightseeing as per programme (Tortuguero NP)
- Transfers and transportation in air-conditioned minibus
- Airport transfers on an additional booking basis
- Tortuguero tour in group (day 2-4)
- Meals as described (F = breakfast, M = lunch, P = picnic, A = dinner) incl. 1 non-alcoholic typical drink, mostly a fruit juice
- *15 days rental car of a 4x4, incl. pick up fee in Guapiles
- Pick up in Guapiles and drop off at hotel in San Jose
Additional fees / not included
- International flights (separate offer)
- Airport tax, international entry and exit taxes on departure US$ 29,-- per person
- Drinks and meals (except those mentioned above)
- Drive Relaxed Paket
- Tips
- Excursions and entrance fees
- Travel insurance
Visa requirements for this trip
ISA DETAILS COSTA RICA:
German nationals may enter Costa Rica visa-free for tourist purposes for up to 90 days with a passport.
Entry requirements for German nationals may change at short notice! Legally binding information on entry requirements can only be obtained directly from the Embassy or one of the Consulates General of your destination country.
Detailed information on entry requirements can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office:
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-und-sicherheitshinweise
If you have a nationality other than German, please let us know your nationality when making your enquiry or booking so that we can inform you about the relevant entry requirements. Thank you very much!
Individual Rental Car Tour through Costa Rica
19 days Rundreise
1 up to 6 travellers
upon request
For the above-mentioned flights, climate-relevant emissions of about 6,090 kg are produced per person. By making a voluntary contribution of 141.00 euros to atmosfair, you can help to relieve our climate.