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Costa Rica, San José

Green Escape in Costa Rica

Road tripDiscovery

Deal negotiated for you

  • 12 days/11 nights self-drive tour
  • Board and lodging as mentioned in the programme
  • Flights departing from the city of your choice
  • Welcome and assistance at the airport
  • Transfers as listed in the programme
  • Car hire from day 2 to day 12
  • The excursions to Tortuguero as mentioned
  • Hotel taxes
Customise your trip on the Options page.

Your stay starts here

Green Escape in Costa Rica

Embark on a journey where each step reveals a different side of Costa Rica: from the bustling energy of San José to the tranquillity of the mountains in San Gerardo de Dota, from the sunlit beaches of Cahuita to the mysterious canals of Tortuguero, and finally to the forests and waterfalls at the foot of the Arenal volcano. Between encounters with tropical wildlife and moments of pure relaxation, this trip promises freedom, wonder, and total immersion in lush nature.

Your day-by-day itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in San José

Day 2: San José - San Gerardo de Dota

Day 3: San Gerardo de Dota - Turrialba

Day 4: Turrialba

Day 4: Turrialba - Cahuita

Day 5: Cahuita

Day 6: Cahuita - Tortuguero

Day 7: Tortuguero

Day 8: Tortuguero - Boca Tapada

Day 9: Boca Tapada

Day 10: Boca Tapada

Day 11: Arenal

Day 12: Return from San José

Your detailed itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in San José

Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport, a representative will greet you and assist with the transfer to your accommodation in the capital.

Once at the hotel, you can relax and acclimatise after your journey.

Hotel: Hotel Irazú & Studios 4-star (or similar)

Day 2 - San José - San Gerardo De Dota

Breakfast included at the hotel.

At the agreed time, meet with the car hire service representative in the entrance hall to collect the hire vehicle and all necessary information for the journey.

You will leave the hotel and begin the journey to the next destination: Dota. Situated at the foot of the Talamanca mountain range, the small town of San Gerardo de Dota may lack size, but it makes up for it with its natural beauty.

Hotel: Hotel de Montaña Suria 4-star (or similar)

Day 3 - San Gerardo De Dota - Turrialba

After breakfast, you will continue your journey to the southern coast of Turrialba.

Next, you will head towards Turrialba, a hidden gem in the province of Cartago. Surrounded by mountains and coffee plantations, this area is perfect for nature and adventure enthusiasts.

Afternoon free to enjoy the lodge, surrounded by lush vegetation and tropical birds.

Lodge: Guayabo Lodge 3-star (or similar)

Day 4 - Turrialba - Cahuita

After breakfast, you will continue your journey to the southern Caribbean coast.

Cahuita will welcome you with its relaxed atmosphere, warm waters, and rich Afro-Caribbean culture. It's the perfect place to disconnect and enjoy an authentic tropical atmosphere.

Lodge: Azania Lodge 3-star (or similar)

Day 5 - Cahuita

Free day to enjoy the beaches, explore Cahuita National Park, or visit the charming village with its reggae music and typical cuisine. Diving, hiking, culture, and relaxation await.

Lodge: Azania Lodge 3-star (or similar)

Day 6 - Cahuita - Tortuguero

Today, we head to one of the country's most iconic places: Tortuguero.

After leaving the car at El Ceibo parking, transport from the lodge will take you to the dock to board a boat that will take you through the canals surrounded by tropical forest.

After lunch at the lodge, visit the colourful village of Tortuguero to discover the local culture.

The order of activities may vary according to the lodge's organisation.

Lodge: Pachira Lodge 4-star (or similar)

Day 7 - Tortuguero

Start the day with a guided walk along the lodge's trails to discover the biodiversity of the rainforest.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat excursion through the canals of Tortuguero National Park to observe monkeys, caimans, birds, and more. An unforgettable experience.

Lodge: Pachira Lodge 4-star (or similar)

Day 8 - Tortuguero - Boca Tapada

Departure by boat to the pier, then collect the vehicle.

Lunch at El Ceibo restaurant before continuing to Boca Tapada, a true natural gem located in the Maquenque Wildlife Refuge. A preserved place, ideal for reconnecting with nature.

Lodge: Boca Tapada Lodge 2-star (or similar)

Day 9 - Boca Tapada

A day to unwind in the heart of nature.

Enjoy the tranquillity of the riverside lodge, watch toucans and other tropical birds, or simply relax while admiring the sunset from the bungalow.

Lodge: Boca Tapada Lodge 2-star (or similar)

Day 10 - Boca Tapada - Arenal

After breakfast, head to La Fortuna, at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano.

This region is perfect for hiking, enjoying hot springs, visiting waterfalls, or experiencing various adventures. The volcano, with its perfectly conical shape, is an emblem of Costa Rica.

Hotel: Lomas del Volcan 4-star (or similar)

Day 11 - Arenal

Free day to explore this stunning region.

You can wander the trails of the national park, visit the La Fortuna waterfall, relax in the natural hot springs, or take part in activities like zip-lining, rafting, or horse riding.

Hotel: Lomas del Volcan 4-star (or similar)

Day 12 - Return

After breakfast, you will drive to the car rental agency to return the vehicle.

Then, you will be transferred to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight.

Your accommodation

During your stay, you will be accommodated as follows:

  • San José: 1 night at the Hotel Irazú & Studios 4-star (or similar)
  • San Gerardo de Dora: 1 night at the Hotel de Montaña Suria 4-star (or similar)
  • Turrialba: 1 night at the Guayabo Lodge 3-star (or similar)
  • Cahuita: 2 nights at the Azania Lodge 3-star (or similar)
  • Tortuguero: 2 nights at the Pachira Lodge 4-star (or similar)
  • Boca Tapada: 2 nights at the Boca Tapada Lodge 2-star (or similar)
  • Arenal: 2 nights at the Lomas del Volcan Hotel 4-star (or similar)

Your meals

During your stay, you will enjoy the breakfast option in San José, San Gerardo de Dota, Cahuita, and Arenal, the full board offer in Tortuguero (except for dinner on day 8), and then the half board (breakfast and dinner) in Boca Tapada.

Car rental

Your stay includes the rental of a Compact 4x2 Cross SUV, from day 2 to day 12, with basic insurance and GPS.

Minimum age: 25 years
Driving license duration and validity: The license must be valid at the time of presentation.
Passport: At least 6 months before the expiration date.
Credit card (VISA, MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS): The credit card must belong to the driver.
Debit cards are not accepted.

Included in the reservation:

  • Basic insurance
  • GPS

Not included in the reservation:

  • Airport fees
  • Civil liability
  • Additional driver supplement
  • Baby/child seat
  • Fuel
Transport included
This price includes :
  • Booking fees
  • Flights departing from the city of your choice
  • Mandatory airport taxes
  • 12 days / 11 nights self-drive tour
  • Welcome and assistance at the airport
  • Transfers as listed in the programme
  • Car hire from day 2 to day 12
  • Board and lodging as mentioned in the programme
  • Mentioned excursions to Tortuguero
  • Hotel taxes
This price does not include :
  • Local taxes
  • Personal insurance (unless taken out at time of booking)
  • Personal expenses and gratuities
  • Meals and drinks not mentioned in the description
  • Excursions not included in the booking or purchased separately
  • And, more generally, everything not mentioned in the "This price includes" section above

Useful information

Useful information

Practical details

If you are travelling alone, you will be asked to pay a surcharge for a single room. This additional charge will be automatically included in your quote.
Child rates will be applied for children from 2 to 12 years old in the case where the child shares the room with two adults. If the child is travelling with just one adult, the surcharge may be applied on an adult basis. If your child or children do not fit into the age group mentioned above, the rate will be communicated to you at the time of processing your order. If the room is equipped with a bunk bed, the bed height is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.
For safety reasons, the wellbeing facilities of most establishments are not accessible to children under 16 years old. Similarly, it is possible that some amenities or services require an additional charge or are unavailable for exceptional reasons.
Unless otherwise stated in the service description, activities and any additional services available at destination are provided in the language of the destination country and in English.
The opening times and hours of the activities, restaurants and bars are provided as an indication only and may be subject to change. Contact the reception desk in order to be informed of any changes.
Appropriate dress is required. We remind you that gambling may involve risks of isolation, indebtedness, and dependency...
Any additional special requirements the traveller may request which are not included in the travel service description will be communicated to our service provider. Sending this information does not imply acceptance and PerfectStay.com cannot be held responsible for the fulfilment of these special requests. Only the service provider of PerfectStay.com can access this request on location and any additional costs may be paid locally by the traveller.
Unless expressly stated in the description of the services and accommodation, the hotel is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Travel documents

Once your reservation has been made, you will receive a confirmation e-mail before your travel documents are sent.
Regarding the transport documents (in the case of a reservation with transport included), we will provide you with all the information relating to check-in and luggage in the "Your travel documents" email, allowing you to leave with peace of mind.
To take advantage of all your reserved services (hotels, transfers, activities, etc.), you will receive one or more exchange vouchers to be presented to each supplier.
The contact details of the establishment will be specified in these documents, to help make your arrival at your destination as straight-forward as possible.

Transportation

Choose an offer and, according to your preferences, opt for a seat in economy, business or first class.
See the 'View flight info' section for details on each trip.
In order to best organise your time in the airport, we advise that you arrive 2 hours before boarding for a medium-haul flight, or 3 hours before boarding for a long-haul flight (more than 5 hours). Take advantage of your early arrival to pass through security and check your luggage.
You will be informed whether or not luggage is included at the time of your booking.
You will have the opportunity to add additional luggage for a fee.
There are several different cities that are typically offered as departure points. Your arrival destination will show in your travel documents.
Depending on the flight schedule, some arrivals or returns may be made at night with early arrival or late departure. You will not always be able to have your room available immediately and will need to refer to the check-in and check-out conditions of the hotel.
In the event that your transfer is not included in your hotel reservation, it may be offered at the time of your reservation as an additional option. Unless specifically mentioned, transfers may be made in groups of 15 to 55 people.
Important: the modification or the cancellation of a booking is only possible within the limits and including the fees outlined in our general conditions of sale.
Thank you for kindly taking note of the CO2 emissions produced by your means of transport: https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Formalities

The following details apply to any British citizen who, during a trip sold by PerfectStay goes to a foreign country. The following is a resource directing you to information related to your travel formalities (identification documents, vaccines, VISA, safety, travel advice, etc.), and may be subject to change. Please note that Brexit negotiations are likely to include travel document modifications, therefore please regularly check most updated information. Please see official resource for British citizens wishing to travel:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

The official UK Foreign Travel site has updates on safety and security, including incidents such as pickpocketing and robbery, along with larger incidents such as measuring the risk of terrorism.
Detailed country by country here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

If you are travelling with minors, please be sure to verify whether or not you will require a consent: https://www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

Please note that these details serve as a guiding resource in order to ensure that you have access to important information in order to pursue the necessary travel formalities required before travelling abroad with PerfectStay. Please note that PerfectStay will not engage in obtaining travel documents for you, such as visas, and you are solely responsible for knowing the potential health risks you may face in the course of your travels for which you may require vaccinations or medications. PerfectStay is not responsible for ensuring your travel formalities are properly undertaken and will only act as an intermediary directing you to resources which have been known to provide reliable information concerning travel formalities specific to British citizens.

Vaccination

For information concerning travel health requirements (vaccinations, health risks, etc.) please see the following resources:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/

Visa

For the latest information on which travel documents (visas, passports, etc.) British citizens will require by destination, please see the following resources:
https://visacentral.co.uk/visa-quick-check
https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=uk&fl=&s=yes
https://www.travisa.com/Visa_Search

Identity

Please be sure to verify that your necessary Identification documents (passport and/or ID card dependent upon the country to which you will be travelling) have valid expiration dates, i.e. verify your ID documents have not yet expired. Also, be sure to remember to bring these necessary documents with you. It is also recommended to make copies of all travel documents in the event of an emergency.

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All the holidays offers displayed on this website are financially protected by the ABTA and ATOL schemes.
They are sold by ATOL (#11475) and ABTA (#Y6608) holder Perfectstay Travel Ltd.

ATOL number 11475

All the flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. The flight-inclusive holidays displayed on this website are sold by ATOL (#11475) holder Perfectstay Travel Ltd. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: https://www.caa.co.uk

ABTA number Y6608

As a member of ABTA (#Y6608), you can be assured that you are receiving the highest level of service and are offered excellent choice and value. If your holiday is not inclusive of flights then ABTA will financially protect your holiday similar to ATOL, unless you are already abroad in which case you be returned to the point where your contracted arrangements with us commenced. Find out more: http://www.abta.com