Self-Drive Costa Rica: Coast to Coast Adventures

Thirteen nights coast to coast across Costa Rica, self-guided, in a 4WD.

Coast to coast in Costa Rica means Caribbean to Pacific, and the route takes in four quite different habitats on the way: coastal canals, volcano, cloud forest and dry tropical forest.

San Jose opens it for a night, then Tortuguero for two, reached by road and boat since there is no road in, where leatherback turtles nest in season and the canals are worked by boat for wildlife. Sarapiqui and the Tirimbina reserve follow, where the car is collected, then Arenal for two nights, with the La Fortuna falls, the canopy bridges and the Cano Negro wetlands. Monteverde comes next for two, where the cloud forest holds the quetzal, with zip lines available, then Rincon de la Vieja for two, a volcanic national park with rafting, walking and riding, and two nights on the Pacific coast to finish.

The pre-booked 4WD and the accommodation are included; international flights are not and the remaining inclusions were not itemised on the operator’s page. The price shown is per person for two sharing, excluding flights. The dry season from December to April is the window, though the cloud forest is wet whenever and the turtle nesting runs to its own calendar. No wildlife sighting can be promised, turtles and quetzals included. Fourteen days with two nights almost everywhere keeps the driving down to a couple of hours at a time, and the 4WD is needed for the roads around Monteverde rather than for show.