Included in this offer :

• 15-day/14-night stay
• Accommodation mentioned in the itinerary (or similar) in 3* hotels
• Meal plan according to itinerary
• Flights departing from the city of your choice (with the offer Transport included)
• Private transfer from the airport to the hotel
• Excursions and visits mentioned in the itinerary
• Land and river transport to Tortuguero and admission to the national park
• 4x4 SUZUKI VITARA (or similar) car hire
• Helpline available 24/7
• Welcome and assistance on arrival at the airport

✆ Any questions?

NEED HELP FINALISING YOUR BOOKING?

020 3318 2660
Everyday from 8am-8pm (Local rates apply)

From Abroad +44 20 3318 2660 International call rate

BETWEEN JUNGLE, BEACH AND VOLCANOES

Through this 15-day/14-night tour, you will conquer Costa Rica. From the Caribbean to the Pacific, between tropical jungle and cloud forest, discover Costa Rica from every angle. With your hired car, you can explore the land of "Pura Vida" in complete freedom and at your own pace. This is sure to be a memorable stay!

Your day-by-day itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in San José
Day 2: San José - Tortuguero
Day 3: Tortuguero
Day 4: Tortuguero - South Caribbean Coast
Day 5: South Caribbean Coast
Day 6: South Caribbean Coast - Sarapiqui
Day 7: Sarapiqui - Arenal
Day 58: Arenal
Day 9: Arenal - Playa Samara
Day 10: Playa Samara
Day 11: Playa Samara - Monteverde
Day 12: Monteverde
Day 13: Monteverde - Manuel Antonio
Day 14: Manuel Antonio
Day 15: Manuel Antonio - Departure from San José

Your detailed itinerary

DAY 1 - WELCOME TO COSTA RICA!

Meet and greet by a local guide at the airport exit; then transfer to your hotel. Your stay starts with a first night spent in San José. Located at an altitude of 1,200 metres, the capital and its agglomeration are home to half of the country's population. The city is located in the heart of the central valley, surrounded to the north by various volcanoes, such as Poas, Irazú and Turrialba, and to the south by the Talamanca mountain range, which is the highest mountain range in southern Central America.

Dinner arrangements are up to you. Overnight stay in San José.

DAY 2 - ROAD TO TORTUGERO

Hotel breakfast. Meet at your hotel reception with your Spanish and English-speaking local driver and drive to the Tortuguero pier by semi-communal transfer (with only those guests who will be staying in the same lodge as you in Tortuguero). Arrival in the town of Guápiles and breakfast at a local restaurant, before taking a boat to Tortuguero National Park, meandering through the canals, deep in the rain forest. Arrival at the lodge for lunch.

Tortuguero is Costa Rica's little Amazon, its vibrant rainforest is home to incredible flora and fauna, providing a guaranteed change of scenery. The Tortuguero site is part of the protected wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, with a particular focus on waterbird habitats. In the afternoon, you will go to discover the small Caribbean village of Tortuguero. End of the afternoon free to enjoy the facilities and walk around the area.

Dinner and overnight stay in Tortuguero.

DAY 3 - TORTUGUERO

Breakfast at the lodge. Boat trip to visit the canals of Tortuguero Park to discover nature as it wakes for the day. Frequent stops to observe a wide variety of birds, monkeys, crocodiles and caimans, etc. Return to your lodge. Walk the trails of the lodge to discover its flora and fauna. Your guide will familiarise you with the inhabitants of this exuberant secondary forest (boots and ponchos can be borrowed on site if necessary). Return to the lodge in the late morning for lunch. Free afternoon to enjoy the lodge facilities (swimming pool, etc.) or optional activities on site: fishing, additional tour in the canals, etc.

Dinner and overnight stay in Tortuguero.

DAY 4 - DRIVE TO THE SOUTH CARIBBEAN COAST

Breakfast at the lodge. Return to Guapiles by boat, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. The bus will then drop you off at the car-hire agency to pick up your vehicle. Continuation to the Southern Caribbean. You will pass through Siquirres and the port city of Limón before reaching the seaside where you will find the villages of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo, etc. A unique atmosphere awaits you in this small fishing village on the Caribbean coast characterised by its multicultural atmosphere and its calypso music, with reggae from the local Afro-Caribbean culture.

Dinner arrangements of your choice and overnight stay in Puerto Viejo.

DAY 5 - SOUTH CARIBBEAN COAST

Breakfast at the lodge. This morning, visit a Jaguar Rescue Center with a local Spanish and English-speaking guide. During this visit, you will get to know some of the centre's temporary and permanent residents, and their individual stories. You will also be made aware of the issues and problems of wildlife protection in Costa Rica. As the centre receives no government support, the entrance fees charged for visits and the income from the small souvenir shop are its only means of financial support. Open Monday to Saturday - the centre is closed on Sundays.

Continue your day by car to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the coast by discovering the Cahuita National Park or the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, which is located south of Puerto Viejo. On foot or by renting a bicycle, which is the most common means of transport in the area, head out from your hotel and enjoy a swim in the warm Caribbean waters. Playa Chiquita, Playa Cocles or Playa Punta Uva are waiting for you. In between sunbathing, take a relaxing break in one of the restaurants in the area with a cocktail or a decent beer.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Puerto Viejo.

DAY 6 - ROAD TO SARAPIQUI

Breakfast at the lodge. Departure to the north-east of the country, to Sarapiquí, a region known for its agriculture (pineapples, palm hearts, pejibaye, guanabana, etc.). Enjoy a stopover on the Arenal road, so you can split your travel time, as there are numerous nature reserves, such as the La Selva Biological Station or La Tirimbina, as well as a variety of activities ranging from walking in the open air, to sports activities or agro-tourism.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Sarapiqui.

DAY 7 - DRIVE TO ARENAL VOLCANO

Breakfast at the lodge. Today's journey takes you to the north of the country to reach La Fortuna, a town at the foot of the Arenal volcano. Costa Rica is known to be home to about 116 volcanoes, one of the most impressive being the Arenal volcano. Despite its age of 7,500 years, the volcano is quite well-preserved as it is the youngest volcano in the country. Culminating at 1,630 metres, this stratovolcano has not been active since the end of 2010, but it is a delight for photographers (when it is uncovered) as well as for those who enjoy thermal waters.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Arenal.

DAY 8 - ARENAL VOLCANO

Breakfast at the lodge. This morning, enjoy a free self-guided walk across the hanging bridges: this will be in the 250-ha private nature reserve with its primary tropical rainforest where you can see the plant and wildlife at canopy level plus various viewpoints on the volcano. Almost 2 miles of easy trails, accessible to all. You will cross 15 bridges at different heights, ranging from 5 to 100 metres.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Arenal.

DAY 9 - DRIVE TO THE PACIFIC COAST

Breakfast at the lodge. Drive to the beaches of Guanacaste and towards the small resort of Samara after passing through the village of Nicoya. If you are looking for peace and quiet, then Playa Samara is ideal for you. This beach is lined with palm trees and many animals live in the area. For example, Cangrejal Bay has a reef that attracts rays and tropical fish. To the north, Playa Buena Vista is a nesting site for sea turtles. The mangroves of the Buena Vista estuary are home to crocodiles and herons. On the island of Chora, you will also see pink sand and seabirds. Less than 10 minutes drive away, Puerto Carillo has a huge wild beach without any construction on the seafront.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay at Playa Samara.

DAY 10 - SAMARA

Breakfast at the lodge. You will have the opportunity to enjoy many activities on site, or enjoy the large sandy beach of Playa Samara, or Playa Carrillo, a nearby beach lined with palm trees. You can also explore the southern part of the Nicoya Peninsula, such as the small surfing villages of Nosara or Santa Teresa.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay at Playa Samara.

DAY 11 - DRIVE TO MONTEVERDE

Breakfast at the lodge. Departure to the town of Monteverde on the slopes of the Tilarán mountain range, first via the Panamerican Highway and then via a picturesque road. Monteverde was founded in the middle of the 20th century by American Quakers who immigrated at the time of the Vietnam War because they shared Costa Rican pacifist values. It is a cloud forest lying at an altitude of 1,400 metres and is a small slice of paradise for nature lovers with an extraordinary diversity of flora.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Monteverde.

DAY 12 - MONTEVERDE

Breakfast at the lodge. Today you can visit one of the many private reserves in the area, or do another adventure activity in the cloud forest! The geographical, topographical and climatic conditions of Monteverde have resulted in some amazing biodiversity. In its forests, you will find four "ecological life zones", which have different ecosystems inhabited by hundreds of species of mammals, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, insects and arachnids, as well as a great variety of plants such as mosses, epiphytes, lianas and common cloud forest trees.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Monteverde.

DAY 13 - DRIVE TO MANUEL ANTONIO

Breakfast at the lodge. Your adventure continues to the centre of the Pacific Coast. Ideally located for easy access to all the activities in the area, including the Marino Bahia Ballena National Park, Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park. Each of them is known for its wealth of nature. On the way, we recommend a short stop at the Tarcoles bridge to observe its impressive crocodiles.

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Manuel Antonio.

DAY 14 - MANUEL ANTONIO

Breakfast at the lodge. Day discovering the Manuel Antonio region! Relax on the beach or by the pool, walk in the national park, or head south to the Uvita region to explore the forest in search of waterfalls or go on a boat to see the sea life!

Meals of your choice. Overnight stay in Manuel Antonio.

DAY 15 - RETURN TO SAN JOSÉ FOR DEPARTURE

Breakfast at the hotel. Continuation to Juan Santamaria International Airport for your return flight. Vehicle return at your car-hire agency's branch near the airport; you will be taken to the airport by a free shuttle bus.

Your Accommodation

During your unescorted self-driving tour, you will stay in Standard Rooms in the following (or similar) three-star hotels (local standards):

San José: Three-star Aranjuez (or similar)
Tortuguero: Three-star Evergreen Lodge (or similar)
Puerto Viejo de Limón (South Caribbean coast): Three-star La Kukula Lodge (or similar)
Sarapiqui: Three-star Sarapiqui's Rainforest Lodge (or similar)
Arenal: Three-star Arenal Oasis Ecolodge (or similar)
Playa Samara: Three-star Samara Pacific Lodge (or similar)
Monteverde: Three-star Cala Lodge (or similar)
Manuel Antonio: Three-star Plaza Yara (or similar)

Your Meal Plan

With this offer, you benefit from the following programme-based package:
- From day 2 to day 15, breakfast during the whole stay.
- From day 2 to day 3, in Tortuguero, full board (excluding drinks) including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- On day 4, breakfast is included. You will make your own dinner arrangements.
- From day 5 to day 14, you will make your own lunch and dinner arrangements.

Your Car Hire

Your stay includes the hire of a 4x4 Suzuki Vitara car (or similar) for 11 days, from day 4 around 1:30 p.m. to day 15 around 6:30 p.m.

Car hire includes:
- Unlimited mileage
- Compulsory basic insurance
- GPS or Wi-Fi device

Car hire does not include:
- Supplementary vehicle insurance
- The cost of petrol, parking and tolls for the vehicle
- The security deposit left by bank card imprint at the time of picking up the vehicle
- The GPS security deposit
- Additional drivers
- The young driver surcharge
- Pick-up and drop-off costs outside of confirmed locations and times
- Child and baby seats

Car hire terms & conditions:
- Minimum age: 21 years, having held a driving licence for 2 years

WARNING:
Once you arrive at the counter, the hire agent will have you sign a contract.
We cannot be held responsible for any additional charges added during the signing of the car-hire contract.

ADDITIONAL COSTS:
Any surcharge paid on arrival is subject to local taxes.

VEHICLE TYPE:
The model on this page is an example and can in no way be guaranteed. Similar models may be provided.

Please note: The type of vehicle varies according to the number of passengers:
2 to 4 people: 4x4 Suzuki Vitara (or similar)
6 people: 4x4 Hyundai H1 (or similar)

Useful things to know

For people booking the "hotel-only" package (without international flights), please send us your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in "Help and contact" at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers.

As indicated, hotels are classified as having three, four or five stars according to local standards. The services provided may not be equivalent to UK standards.

Good to know

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. Please note that alcohol abuse is harmful to your health, and is to be consumed with moderation.

You must be of legal age and able to produce an identification document in order to enter the casinos. Appropriate dress is required. We remind you that gambling may involve risks of isolation, indebtedness, and dependency... Call 09 74 75 13 13 (no surcharge).

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.

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: http://eco-calculateur.aviation-civile.gouv.fr

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.

VACCINE

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.

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.

✆ Any questions?

NEED HELP FINALISING YOUR BOOKING?

020 3318 2660
Everyday from 8am-8pm (Local rates apply)

From Abroad +44 20 3318 2660 International call rate