Description
Costa Rica is a land of real treasures, natural wonders, and marvelous destinations. The treasures are hidden in unique places, surrounded by the most beautiful forests, mountains, beaches, and the people who protect these treasures in Costa Rica are lovely, humble, and welcoming. This self-drive trip gives you the chance to go off the beaten path treasures of this tropical country.
PRICE INCLUDES
2 nights lodging in San Jose. Hotel Bougainvillea, or similar (Superior Hotel, 4 Stars).
2 nights lodging in Celeste River. Hotel Catarata Rio Celeste, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
2 nights lodging in Boca Tapada. Maquenque Ecolodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
2 nights lodging in Sarapiqui. Hacienda Pozo Azul, or similar (Specialty Lodge).
2 nights lodging in Turrialba. Guayabo Lodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
2 nights lodging in Los Santos Area. Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
2 nights lodging in Uvita Beach. Cusinga Lodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
Daily Breakfasts.
15 days rent a car. Hyundai Tucson IX35 4WD (or Similar) (SUV intermediate 4WD, automatic transmission)
Walking Tour to Rio Celeste Waterfall (Entrance included)
Night Walk in Boca Tapada.
Sarafi Float Raft in Boca Tapada.
Cooking Lessons (Lunch included).
Chocolate Tour.
Horseback Ride Tour through the rainforest of Sarapiqui, 2 Hours
Butterfly Garden Tour (Lunch included)
Quetzal Birdwatching Tour in Los Santos Area
Sea Kayaking at Ballena Marine Park
VAT
PRICE EXCLUDES
GPS or any extra service to your rent a car.
Other car insurances.
Optional tours
Departure taxes ($29 per person)
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Airfare
Tips
International Travel Insurance.
NOTE: Rent a Car requires:
- Valid license ID.
- Older than 23 years old (if you are older than 21 years old a license with 2 years of the expedition is required)
- Credit card (Visa, Master Card, AMEX). Debit cards and cash are not accepted.
- The rent a car company will charge you a refundable deposit of $750 USD.
Itinerary
Arrival at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). After customs and enter Costa Rica, a representative of the rent a car will give you the car selected and all the information for your trip. Drive to your hotel and enjoy your first night in Costa Rica.
- Meals: none
- Hotel Bougainvillea, or similar (Superior Hotel, 4 Stars).
Today you will travel to Bijagua. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway, you can visit Bijagua de Upala, a little village near the entrance of Tenorio Volcano National Park. As the gateway to Celeste River, an incredible sky-blue river, this little town has become more popular while keeping a very natural and rural feel with stunning mountain scenery, fantastic bird watching, and charismatic locals. Explore the area on your own.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Hotel Catarata Rio Celeste, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
You will begin this guided hike through the dense, lush, tropical rainforest that surrounds the Tenorio National Park. You and your nature guide can go at your own pace and you'll learn interesting things about the rainforest along the way. Once at Los Tenideros, where two rivers come together, you'll be amazed at the celestial turquoise blue watercolor that comes from the waterfall.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Hotel Catarata Rio Celeste, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
After breakfast, continue your trip traveling to Boca Tapada, located in the northern lowlands nearby the mouth of the San Carlos River. This off-the-beaten-path part of Costa Rica is home to hundreds of pineapple and sugar cane plantations as well as a rich biodiversity of plants and animals.
Late-afternoon, enjoy a guided night walking tour where you can live and enjoy the nightlife of some animals such as alligators, frogs, nocturnal birds, snakes, and spiders also, you will experience the peace and sounds that the nature gives us.
Late-afternoon, enjoy a guided night walking tour where you can live and enjoy the nightlife of some animals such as alligators, frogs, nocturnal birds, snakes, and spiders also, you will experience the peace and sounds that the nature gives us.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Maquenque Ecolodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
Today you will have a safari boat tour. Enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest traveling to Tres Amigos River by raft. Here you can see the richness of flora and fauna, and you can discover exotic animals like crocodiles, tortoise, iguanas, monkeys, waterfowl and more.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Maquenque Ecolodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
After breakfast, drive to your next destination, the rainforest of Sarapiqui, a wonderful natural gem.
Probably at this point, you have tried many Costa Rican dishes but now you will learn how to prepare a delicious traditional dish. This tour is an ideal activity to share with family or friends since it is 100% experiential. The local chef would provide the list of ingredients that you will need to prepare the menu of the day so that you can harvest them directly from the plant, then prepare and cook in a traditional firewood kitchen to later proceed to taste them.
Probably at this point, you have tried many Costa Rican dishes but now you will learn how to prepare a delicious traditional dish. This tour is an ideal activity to share with family or friends since it is 100% experiential. The local chef would provide the list of ingredients that you will need to prepare the menu of the day so that you can harvest them directly from the plant, then prepare and cook in a traditional firewood kitchen to later proceed to taste them.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch.
- Hacienda Pozo Azul, or similar (Specialty Lodge).
In the morning, you have a chocolate tour! A guide will reveal the secrets of transforming cacao fruit into chocolate. You’ll see the chocolate-making process first-hand and even have the opportunity to treat your taste buds to real organic rainforest chocolate!
In the afternoon, get ready to ride a gentle horse through the rainforest of Sarapiqui. You’ll have a unique opportunity to see some of Costa Rica’s beautiful countryside and may even spot birds and other wildlife.
In the afternoon, get ready to ride a gentle horse through the rainforest of Sarapiqui. You’ll have a unique opportunity to see some of Costa Rica’s beautiful countryside and may even spot birds and other wildlife.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Hacienda Pozo Azul, or similar (Specialty Lodge).
Let’s go to your next destination, Turrialba. On the way, you will visit a butterfly garden to learn everything about the different species and the complete metamorphosis. After learning about the butterflies, you will keep walking in the trails where your host is going to show you other animals such as sloth, frogs, and insects. Delicious lunch included after this tour.
Continue your travel to Turrialba.
Continue your travel to Turrialba.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch.
- Guayabo Lodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
Today is a free day in Turrialba. Turrialba is a farming town. Because they have a very interesting climate being near the Caribbean side in the Central Valley, you will see fields of lettuce, cilantro, sugar cane, coffee, and others. But one of the most famous products from Turrialba is their cheese. You can book an optional tour to explore and discover more of this wonderful place.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Guayabo Lodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
Today you will travel to Los Santos, this area is very special for several reasons, one of the most important is the wildlife that lives here especially the birds. The other reason is the high-quality coffee production in this land.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
In San Gerardo de Dota, Savegre, you have the best chance of finding and observing this spectacular Quetzal. One of the naturalist guides will take you to the places where the quetzal feeds on aguacatillos, their favorite fruit.
In the afternoon, you have free time.
In the afternoon, you have free time.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
After breakfast, you can drive to the Uvita Beach, located in the South Pacific. Uvita is a small town, here are small shops, and souvenirs place. Nightlife is not big here in Uvita but there are still several bar and restaurant options. The town itself is spread out and stretches from the beach area and back into the mountains.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Cusinga Lodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
The Sea Kayaking adventure begins at low tide as the waves go to one side of the Whale's Tail where you will do the kayaking. The Snorkeling allows you to see a variety of fish and coral species. You will continue with a kayak, to enter a small mangrove forest in Marino Ballena National Park where it is possible to spot sea birds, toucans, and some small reptiles.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Cusinga Lodge, or similar (Standard Hotel, 3 Stars).
This morning is at your own pace, enjoy the last morning at this natural paradise. Afternoon, drive back to San Jose where you will enjoy the last night in Costa Rica, eat at a local restaurant, or just relax at your hotel.
- Meals: breakfast.
- Hotel Bougainvillea, or similar (Superior Hotel, 4 Stars).
Today you will return the car at the rent a car company office near the airport. It is not a “good-bye” but a “see you again” as you take your transfer from the rent a car company to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to travel back home and reunite with family and friends.
- Meals: breakfast.
Costa Rica: Off The Beaten Path Treasures (15 days & 14 nights)
From: $3,010.00
Costa Rica is a land of real treasures, natural wonders, and marvelous destinations.
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Costa Rica: Off The Beaten Path Treasures (15 days & 14 nights)
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