From
$2,903
NZ $2,467

Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive

10 days
Start and end in San Jose
3.9
4 traveler reviews
From
$2,903
-15%
NZ $2,467
Find this price
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $493 now + easy payments of $132 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Self-guided
Independent exploration, backed by expert advice and support
Guided in English
Age range 10 to 99
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Tortuguero's rivers by boat
  • Walk through Tortuguero village
  • Drive to Arenal Volcano National Park
  • Hike in Monteverde Cloud Forest
  • Relax on Tamarindo's sunny beaches

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 ARRIVAL SAN JOSE
  2. Day 2 SAN JOSE – TORTUGUERO (135km – 4 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)
  3. Day 3 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
  4. Day 4 TORTUGUERO – ARENAL (210km – 5 hrs by road / 2 hrs by boat)
  5. Day 5 ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
  6. Day 6 ARENAL – MONTEVERDE (120km – 3 hrs)
  7. Day 7 MONTEVERDE
  8. Day 8 MONTEVERDE – PACIFIC COAST (190km – 4 hrs)
  9. Day 9 PACIFIC COAST
  10. Day 10 PACIFIC COAST – DEPART SAN JOSE (260km – 4.5hrs)
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Number of tours

72

Age Range

10 to 99 years old

Response time

9 hours

Response rate

100%

We are a leading company in Costa Rica, providing the best possible...

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • IS
    · February 13th, 2023
    Everything was right on schedule. Great guides...
    Show more
    Destination Services Costa Rica commented on this review
    Thanks so much for your feedback!, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a review!.Hope soon you come back to Costa Rica
    Trip date: January 2023
  • Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive reviewer 2
    · August 30th, 2022
    Essential Costa Rica is not what was published at the top of the on-line site, Manuel Antonio is not included, and it is only Tamarindo the final point before coming back to San Jose.
    Show more
    Destination Services Costa Rica commented on this review
    Thank you very much for your feedback! We take note of your comments to improve in the future. We hope soon your return to Costa Rica and provide an excellent experience!
    Trip date: August 2022
  • EK
    · December 19th, 2018
    Organization is very good. Transport was always on time. Everything was done as expected. Meals, would be nice to have it 3 times a day.
    Show more
    Destination Services Costa Rica commented on this review
    Mr Kojatchenko, Thank you for your comments and observations. We are glad that everything went as planned. Do not hesitate in contact us in case of any other request. Best regards, Destination Services Team.
    Trip date: December 2018
  • TT
    · December 3rd, 2018
    Great itinerary and excellent guide for...
    Show more
    Destination Services Costa Rica commented on this review
    Thank you very much for your comments, we are glad to know that the itinerary and all the services exceeded your expectations. Do not hesitate in contact us in case of any other request. Best regards, Destination Services Team.
    Trip date: November 2018

Dates & Availability

10 days
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
From San Jose to San Jose

Why book with TourRadar?

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    • 24/7 customer support
    • Earn $50 in travel credits
    • Free eSim with every purchase

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  • Instant Confirmation
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    To Thursday
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    To Friday
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    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
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    From Thursday
    17 Jul, 2025
    To Saturday
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    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
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    From Saturday
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    To Monday
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    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
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  • Instant Confirmation
    -15%
    From Sunday
    20 Jul, 2025
    To Tuesday
    29 Jul, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
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    From:
    $2,903
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  • Instant Confirmation
    -15%
    From Monday
    21 Jul, 2025
    To Wednesday
    30 Jul, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,903
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  • Instant Confirmation
    -15%
    From Tuesday
    22 Jul, 2025
    To Thursday
    31 Jul, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,903
    $2,467
  • Instant Confirmation
    -15%
    From Wednesday
    23 Jul, 2025
    To Friday
    1 Aug, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,903
    $2,467
  • Instant Confirmation
    -15%
    From Thursday
    24 Jul, 2025
    To Saturday
    2 Aug, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,903
    $2,467
From
$2,903
-15%
NZ $2,467
Find this price
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $493 now + easy payments of $132 Learn More

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • H

    Hassan

    Asked on January 5th, 2025

    What are the options for customizing the tour itinerary?

    Other
    Tour Details
    • Destination Services Costa RicaOperatorWritten January 2025

      Customization options include modifying your itinerary, such as adding destinations or changing hotel categories.

  • M

    Magalie

    Asked on December 22nd, 2024

    What is the price for upgraded hotel options?

    Accommodation
    Price / Availability
    • Destination Services Costa RicaOperatorWritten December 2024

      For upgraded hotel options, please check the provided link for pricing details specific to your itinerary.

  • G

    Gilles

    Asked on November 27th, 2024

    Are there different rates for single travelers?

    Single supplement
  • Y

    Yaqui

    Asked on November 14th, 2024

    Do we need to book and pay for park admission fees in advance?

    Tour Details
    • Destination Services Costa RicaOperatorWritten November 2024

      It is recommended to book and pay for park admission fees in advance to ensure your entrance.

  • J

    Jacqueline

    Asked on October 31st, 2024

    Can we see food choices before booking due to dietary restrictions?

    Meals
    • Destination Services Costa RicaOperatorWritten November 2024

      You will be able to view food choices before finalizing your booking, especially for any dietary needs.

  • R

    Ramona

    Asked on August 7th, 2024

    What walking tours are available in Monteverde?

    Tour Details
  • K

    Katrin

    Asked on August 6th, 2024

    How will payments for additional services be processed?

    Payments
  • F

    France

    Asked on July 18th, 2024

    What is the process for adding extra nights at the end of the tour?

    Accommodation
    Tour Details
    • Destination Services Costa RicaOperatorWritten July 2024

      You can add extra nights, and you will receive a notification; you must approve the cost, and the charge will be processed automatically.

  • P

    Paulien

    Asked on June 21st, 2024

    What type of rental car is included in the package?

    Transport
  • T

    Theresa

    Asked on June 11th, 2024

    What should I do if I haven’t received my booking confirmation?

    Payments
    Travel Support
    • Destination Services Costa RicaOperatorWritten June 2024

      If you have not received confirmation, please check your spam folder and ensure you are using the correct email address.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Destination Services Costa Rica with your enquiry, they usually respond within 9 hours.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 107705

  • Currency
    Costa Rican Colon
    Costa Rica
  • Plugs & Adapters

  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for Costa Rica. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Costa Rica. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Costa Rica. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Costa Rica. Ideally 10 days before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before August 15th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 15th, 2025, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Destination Services Costa Rica. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Destination Services Costa Rica will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Destination Services Costa Rica" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.