Arrival at the airport. You will be received at the airport and transferred to your city hotel in San José.

At the hotel, you receive the rental car and drive to the northern lowlands, specifically to La Fortuna at the Arenal Volcano. In the morning you still have the chance to discover the capital San José, take a coffee tour on the slopes of the Poás volcano or visit the La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Vara Blanca.

In the area around the volcano, which is currently in a resting phase, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy today: hiking, cycling, horse riding, kayaking, ziplining and much more. Have fun!

The journey continues to Sarapiquí or further north to Boca Tapada. Both worthwhile stops to get to know the rainforest in authentic surroundings.

In Sarapiquí we recommend visiting the Tirimbina natural reserve or the biological station La Selva. Additionally, a chocolate tour or a boat trip on the Sarapiquí River provide exciting insights into the culture and nature of the country.

In Boca Tapada the hotels are already ubicated in the protected area. Here you can do hiking, kayaking and observe birds and other animals in their natural environment.

You continue to the port of Limón and then further to the Southern Caribbean Coast. Discover the wonderful Caribbean Sea in the afternoon.

Beach day, e.g. in the Cahuita National Park or at one of the other numerous dream beaches

Today you continue your journey back inland. At Siquirres turn off in direction Turrialba / Orosi Valley.

To make the best use of the day, visit the Cahuita National Park this morning. At the parking lot at the sector "Puerto Vargas", there are rudimentary but functional showers.

Both the small village of Orosi and the small town of Turrialba are authentic centres of life outside the Greater San José area. Here we recommend exploring the centre on foot and to get to know the daily lives of the locals. In addition, the following excursions are possible:

Orosi: Hike in the Tapantí National Park, tour around the Cachí Reservoir, ruins of Ujarrás, visit of the local Thermal Springs.

Turrialba: Rafting in various categories on the rivers Pejibaye (rather leisurely) or Pacuare (rather strong), hike in the private reserve La Martha, hike and/or Canopytour in the park "Paraíso entre volcanes". Close to this you may find a frequented Paraglider launching site, the possibility to visit to a cheese dairy or to visit of the Agricultural University CATIE with its botanical garden.

Before you continue your journey to the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota, you could for example visit Costa Rica’s highest volcano. To visit the volcano Irazú, which is 3432m high, you should start in the morning. At this time of the day, chances are best to see the crater lake cloudlessly.

Then you continue on the Pan-American Highway until kilometre 80, where you turn right into the high valley San Gerardo de Dota. Here you have different possibilities of accommodation.

Here in the cloud forest, it is worth getting up early to experience the awakening of nature and the singing of the birds. Not only the Quetzal but many other colourful birds can be spotted here. Furthermore, the region is ideal for hiking and many of the lodges offer their own trails on the hotel grounds. There’s nothing better than to try fresh river trout, the speciality of the place, after a walk.

The journey continues to the southern Pacific Ocean, which offers a lot of adventures in addition to beautiful wild beaches. Alternatively, you can visit the Peninsula de Osa or the Central Pacific.

Swim in the pool of stunningly refreshing waterfalls, watch whales and dolphins on a boat tour through the Marino Ballena National Park, or swim in one or more of the beautifully rugged beaches protected by this National Marine Park, discover the native Costarrican tribe Borucas or take photos The "whale fin" that the beach in Uvita (at low tide and from above).

If you want to visit the peninsula Osa, you can park the car in Sierpe and continue to Drake Bay by boat (the pick up of the various providers usually takes place at about 10:30 clock). Alternatively you can drive over Chaquarita around the Golfo Dulce to Puerto Jiménez (ubicated west of the Corcovado National Park).

The beaches of the Central Pacific are more easily accessible than those of the South Pacific, but also more frequently visited. The region’s highlight is undoubtedly the Manuel Antonio National Park, which you should visit early, as access is limited and demand is relatively high, especially at weekends and during national school holidays. The park is closed on Tuesdays. There are also surf spots in the region! The red macaw Macao parrot can be spotted here, and a boat or kayak tour through the mangrove forests is highly recommended.

Return to the Central Valley. You have the choice whether you take the coastal road via Quepos and Orotina or the winding pass road back to San José.

If you prefer to take it easy or have a morning flight, we recommend spending the last night in San José.