Self Drive Tours & Trips in Costa Rica
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10 best Self Drive Costa Rica tour packages
Compiled by
SteffCosta Rica travel expert at TourRadar
- The Best of Costa Rica, Self-Drive
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
- Natural Escape in Costa Rica - With Rental Vehicle
- Pura Vida Route - With Rental Vehicle
- Costa Rica Road Trip: Jungle beats & Ocean Waves (including Arenal)
- COSTA RICA – Arenal to Manuel Antonio
- Costa Rica Road Trip: Jungle beats & Ocean Waves (including Puerto Viejo de Talamanca)
- Exotic Costa Rica, Self-drive
- Fantasy on Beaches and Volcanoes, Self-Drive
- Costa Rica & Manuel Antonio 7 Days, Self-Drive
The Best of Costa Rica, Self-Drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything went very smoothly. Accommodations were great, and the food was delicious.”
Kirsten, traveled in December
A self-guided adventure with a rental car connects Arenal to Monteverde (Days 4-8). The package features GPS, stays at Casa Luna Hotel and Country Lodge, guided tours in Tortuguero National Park and a catamaran trip to Tortuga Island.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Tortuga Island Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,921
10% Off- NZ$2,628You save $292
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great guides and we especially loved the boat ride out to Tortuguero.”
Ingrid, traveled in January
A Daihatsu Bego opens up Costa Rica's varied terrain, from Arenal Volcano National Park's trails to Monteverde's cloud forests. The route extends to Tamarindo's beaches with unlimited mileage.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Guapiles, Arenal Volcano National Park, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Playa Tamarindo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,965
10% Off- NZ$2,668You save $296
Duration 8 days Destinations San José, Arenal Volcano National Park, Upala, Sarapiquí Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Green World Adventures From
10% Off- NZ$3,189
Duration 8 days Destinations San José, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Tarcoles, Puntarenas Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Green World Adventures From
10% Off- NZ$2,427
Duration 9 days Destinations San José, La Fortuna, Arenal, Playa Tamarindo Age Range Ages 99+ Operator journaway DACH From $1,608
36% Off- NZ$1,026You save $582
COSTA RICA – Arenal to Manuel Antonio
“The 3 main hikes were great. The Samaria Gorge, the coastal walk and the Zaros Gorge”
Your SUV/VAN carries you from San Jose's urban pulse to Arenal's volcanic terrain. The route stretches through Monteverde's cloud forests and coastal paths to Manuel Antonio, with dedicated transport for comfortable sightseeing.
Duration 6 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 8+ Operator Bucket List Group Travel LLC From
36% Off- NZ$4,735
Duration 12 days Destinations San José, Playa Tamarindo, La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator journaway DACH From $2,442
37% Off- NZ$1,550You save $892
Exotic Costa Rica, Self-drive
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The packaged tour saved us a lot of time deciding where to travel to and where to stay.”
Gary, traveled in December
The 705km route in a fully-insured vehicle runs from Liberia Airport through volcanic terrain, cloud forests, and coastal roads. Self-driving allows personal stops at Rincon de la Vieja, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio.
Duration 8 days Destinations Liberia, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Bijagua, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,636
10% Off- NZ$2,372You save $264
A Daihatsu Bego 4x4 opens up Costa Rica from San Jose to Arenal Volcano National Park and Playa Tamarindo. Accommodations include Sleep Inn Hotel, Casa Luna Hotel & Spa, and Tamarindo Diria.
Duration 7 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Playa Tamarindo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,114
10% Off- NZ$1,903You save $211
Costa Rica & Manuel Antonio 7 Days, Self-Drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We loved the volcanos area so much that we are planning a return visit.”
Georgia, traveled in July
A Daihatsu Bego rental puts you in charge from San Jose's Mercado Central to Arenal's hot springs and Manuel Antonio's beaches. Overnight stays include Villa Tournon, Los Lagos, and Plaza Yara hotels.
Duration 7 days Destinations San Jose, Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $1,210
10% Off- NZ$1,089You save $121
What people love about Self Drive Tours in Costa Rica
- The Best of Costa Rica, Self-Drive
The tour is very well planned. The hotels picked were excellent and the service was great from everyone we dealt with. Noteworthy items: Costa Rican drivers are very polite and somewhat slow drivers. Driving is very easy throughout the country. We loved driving ourselves and having the freedom to go where we wanted. In tortugero the rooms don’t have AC and you can hear your neighbors. The resort is beautiful and we are glad we went, but I wish we brought electric fans. We asked to be moved to a room with no one next to us.
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
Everything was right on schedule. Great guides and we especially loved Juan Carlos who brought us from San Jose to the boat ride out to Tortuguero and picked us up and drove us back to Guapile. A+ from us
- Exotic Costa Rica, Self-drive
The packaged tour saved us a lot of time deciding where to travel to and where to stay with the limited time we had. Service by Tour Radar was excellent, answering questions quickly and professionally. The lodges we stayed at were superb and driving around Costa Rica (about 600 miles) was no more difficult than driving in Vermont (I drive on plenty of dirt roads with potholes, and the paved roads in CR are good). We recommend that you book ahead national park registrations during the busier months.
What our customers ask about Self Drive Tours & Trips in Costa Rica
What type of vehicle is recommended for a Self Drive tour in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's diverse landscapes call for a 4x4 vehicle such as the Toyota Fortuner or Daihatsu Bego. These vehicles prove essential when navigating to places like Monteverde Cloud Forest and Arenal Volcano. Each rental comes with GPS technology unlimited mileage and insurance coverage. Most accommodations including Casa Luna Hotel & Spa in La Fortuna provide secure parking facilities. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The 4x4 rental car was perfect for navigating both paved highways and adventurous mountain roads giving us the freedom to explore at our own pace."
How long should I plan for a Self Drive tour in Costa Rica?
Plan for 10-15 days to see Costa Rica's key destinations at a comfortable pace. Most travelers spend 3-4 nights in La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano 2-3 nights exploring Monteverde Cloud Forest and 3-4 nights in beach towns like Tamarindo or Manuel Antonio. The Autentico Hotel in San José works well for first and last night stays. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The 12-day self-drive gave us plenty of time to explore each location at our own pace while enjoying both adventure activities and relaxation."
When is the best time to do a Self Drive tour in Costa Rica?
December through April marks the dry season offering the best road conditions especially in Guanacaste and the Central Valley. Each region follows its own weather patterns. The Caribbean coast near Puerto Viejo sees less rain from September to October while the Arenal area offers better volcano visibility from July to October. A TourRadar traveler noted: "We went in March and had perfect weather for driving between destinations with clear roads and amazing views of the Arenal volcano."
How long does it take to drive between major destinations in Costa Rica?
Key routes in Costa Rica connect major sites through manageable drives. San Jose to Arenal takes 4 hours covering 130km Arenal to Monteverde runs 3 hours at 120km and Monteverde to Manuel Antonio spans 4 hours across 190km. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The packaged tour saved us a lot of time deciding where to travel to and where to stay with the limited time we had. Driving around Costa Rica (about 600 miles) was no more difficult than driving in Vermont."
What are the must-see highlights along Costa Rica's Self Drive routes?
The road network connects Costa Rica's natural wonders including Arenal Volcano with its hot springs Monteverde Cloud Forest's suspended bridges and the beaches of Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio. Evergreen Lodge in Tortuguero puts you close to wildlife viewing areas. The route from San José leads to Poás Volcano La Fortuna Waterfall and Rincón de la Vieja National Park. A TourRadar traveler noted: "Having our own car allowed us to visit both popular spots and hidden gems like the secluded waterfalls near Montezuma and lesser-known beaches along the Pacific coast."
What's the best way to plan daily driving distances in Costa Rica?
Keep daily drives under 4-5 hours to allow for unexpected discoveries and local activities. Common routes like San José to Arenal stretch 160km taking 4 hours while Arenal to Tamarindo covers 200km in 4.5 hours. Hotels like Autentico in San José and Casa Luna in Arenal offer strategic locations for route planning. A TourRadar traveler advised: "We found it best to start drives early morning arriving at destinations by early afternoon to enjoy local activities and avoid driving after dark."