9 NIGHTS · 10 DAYS · CARIBBEAN TO PACIFIC

Costa Rica on the Road: 1,000 km Across an Earthly Paradise

Take the wheel and drive across the full breadth of Costa Rica. From the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of Puerto Viejo, past the smouldering Arenal Volcano, all the way to the surf breaks and Pacific sunsets of Tamarindo. No fixed schedules. Pure freedom.

1 Days

500 Kms

1 Distinct coastlines

1 Nights with breakfast

San José Days 1–2

Puerto Viejo Days 2–4

Arenal Days 5–6

Tamarindo Days 7–9

San José Day 10

Total: 1,000 km

Self-drive flexibility . Your pace, your route

Rental car delivered to your hotel

Hand-picked hotels across 3 regions

Daily breakfast every morning

Why this road trip stands out

Costa Rica on the Road: Caribbean, Volcanoes & Pacific in One Epic Drive

Most tours take you to one region. Costa Rica on the Road takes you across the whole country, from the reggae-tinged Caribbean coast all the way to the surf culture of the Pacific, with a volcanic pitstop in between. It's the most complete way to experience Costa Rica's extraordinary variety.

Total self-drive freedom

Your rental car is waiting at your San José hotel on Day 2. From that moment, Costa Rica is entirely yours to explore at your own rhythm.

Two contrasting coastlines

The wild, reef-lined Caribbean and the sun-drenched Pacific are completely different worlds, and this trip shows you both.

Arenal at its best

Hot springs, hanging bridges, zip lines, and volcano views. Arenal earns its reputation as Costa Rica’s adventure capital every single day.

Tamarindo surf culture

Costa Rica’s most vibrant surf town. Waves for all levels, world-class sunsets, and beaches nearby that regularly top global beauty lists.

Braulio Carrillo crossing

Your drive to Puerto Viejo passes through one of Costa Rica’s wildest and most spectacular national parks. A breathtaking natural gateway to the Caribbean.

Afro-Caribbean culture

Puerto Viejo is unlike anywhere else in Costa Rica, with reggae rhythms, Creole cuisine, jungle trails, and one of the most vibrant local communities in all of Central America.

Three regions, three worlds

Every stop on this road trip is a destination in its own right

Puerto Viejo · Caribbean Coast
Days 2–4 · 2 nights

Lush jungle meets coral reef on Costa Rica’s wild Caribbean side. Golden beaches, howler monkeys overhead, and a town where Afro-Caribbean culture, reggae music, and world-class seafood collide.

Arenal · Volcano Region
Days 5–6 · 1 night

One of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes dominates the skyline. Around it: hanging bridges through rainforest canopy, geothermal springs, and the best adventure activities in the country.

Tamarindo · Pacific Coast
Days 7–9 · 2 nights

The jewel of Guanacaste’s Pacific coast. World-famous surf breaks, pristine nearby beaches, sea turtle nesting sites (Nov–Feb), and sunsets over the ocean that you will never forget.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

10 days, 1,000 km, three coastlines

Pick up your car on Day 2, and the road is yours. Every hotel is pre-booked, every morning starts with breakfast the rest is your adventure to write.

1

DAY 1

Touchdown in Costa Rica, your road trip begins

A Costa Rica Top Tours representative greets you at Juan Santamaría International Airport and whisks you to your hotel in San José. Just 16 km from the airport, you’ll be settled in within 20 minutes. The evening is yours. Explore the Barrio Escalante restaurant scene, enjoy a quiet dinner, and rest up. Tomorrow, the road calls.

2

DAY 2

Keys in hand, drive through Braulio Carrillo to the Caribbean

After breakfast, your rental car arrives at the hotel lobby at 9:00 AM. The moment your road trip truly begins. Drive east through the spectacular Braulio Carrillo National Park, where mist-covered mountains and dense jungle line the highway. Pass through the port city of Limón and continue south, watching the landscape shift from highland forest to tropical lowland. Pineapple and banana plantations stretch to the horizon as you approach Puerto Viejo, a town where the road ends, the reef begins, and everything slows to a Caribbean tempo. Check in to your bungalow hotel at Punta Cocles, just steps from the beach.

Braulio Carrillo is one of Costa Rica’s most protected wilderness areas. Learn more at the SINAC official website.

3

DAY 3

A full day in the Caribbean, wildlife, reefs, culture & jungle

The Caribbean coast rewards those who explore it slowly. Today is entirely yours, and there is no shortage of ways to spend it.

Choose your Caribbean adventure:

4

DAY 4

One more Caribbean day, because leaving is never easy

A second free day on the Caribbean coast, because the rhythm here gets under your skin. Use it to revisit a favourite beach, go deeper on an activity you loved yesterday, or do nothing at all. The hammock is calling. Tomorrow brings a long and spectacular drive, so enjoy this final morning at the unhurried pace Puerto Viejo demands.

5

DAY 5

The big crossing. Caribbean to the volcano in one epic drive

Today’s drive is one of the greatest legs of any Costa Rica on the Road itinerary. Depart Puerto Viejo after breakfast and head north and west across the spine of Costa Rica. A 5-hour, 301 km journey that crosses rivers, climbs into the central highlands, and delivers you to La Fortuna de San Carlos with Arenal Volcano rising dramatically on the horizon. It’s the kind of drive that reminds you why you chose to do this trip on the road. Arrive in the afternoon, settle in, and catch the volcano at dusk, arguably its finest hour.

6

DAY 6

Arenal unleashed, hot springs, canopy & hanging bridges

A full day to make the most of Arenal’s extraordinary activity menu. Start the morning in the natural hot springs surrounded by tropical gardens. Geothermal pools heated by the volcano itself are the perfect way to ease into an active day. Then head into the rainforest for the Hanging Bridges tour, walking elevated walkways through primary forest canopy alive with birds, butterflies, and wildlife. For thrill-seekers, the Sky Adventures Arenal Park canopy zip line is one of the best in the country. High above the treetops with the volcano as your constant backdrop.

7

DAY 7

Volcano to Pacific. Arrival in Tamarindo, Costa Rica’s surf capital

After breakfast, drive northwest to Guanacaste and the Pacific Coast, a 3.5-hour, 199 km journey through Costa Rica’s dry tropical forest zone, where the landscape shifts from lush to golden as you approach the coast. Tamarindo welcomes you with warm water, consistent surf, and the laid-back energy of a town that has perfected the art of the beach holiday. Your Wyndham hotel sits at the heart of it all. Explore the town on foot, catch a sunset surf lesson, or simply toast your arrival with a cold drink at the beach as the Pacific sky turns orange.

8

DAY 8

Surf, sail & explore Tamarindo and its beautiful neighbours

A full free day to explore Tamarindo and the stunning beaches nearby. All within easy reach by car. Playa Conchal, just 20 minutes south, is made entirely of crushed white shells and is one of the most extraordinary beaches in Costa Rica. Playa Flamingo offers calm waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Or head north to Playa Grande, a protected leatherback turtle nesting beach, for a quieter, wilder Pacific experience. Back in Tamarindo, book a sunset sailing trip or join a surf lesson in the warm Pacific breaks.

Your Tamarindo options:

9

DAY 9

One last Pacific sunrise. Savour every moment before the final drive

Your final full day on the Pacific. This is the day to revisit the beach that moved you most, try the activity you haven’t yet done, or sit in the sand and let Costa Rica work its magic one last time. The hotel pool, the surf, the open-air restaurants, and the warm Pacific water are all yours. Finish the evening with dinner in Tamarindo. The town comes alive at night, and it’s the perfect send-off for an extraordinary journey.

10

DAY 10

The final 254 km. Completing 1,000 km across Costa Rica

After a final breakfast, hit the road one last time for the 4.5-hour return drive to San José (254 km). Drop the rental car at the conveniently located office near the airport, then a shared shuttle transfers you directly to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your departure. You leave having completed Costa Rica on the Road, driving the full breadth of this extraordinary country. From the Caribbean to the Pacific, it experienced three of its most distinct and memorable worlds. Pura vida.