Road Trip in Costa Rica

DAY 1 FLY TO SAN JOSE

This morning, board your flight from London to the Costa Rican capital, San Jose. This flight takes approximately 11 hours (maybe more if you don’t fly direct), so make sure you have plenty of reading material to hand. On arrival into San Jose in the early afternoon, pick up your hire car and drive 45 minutes to the sugar and coffee capital of Costa Rica – Alajuela. Surrounded by waterfalls and walking trails right on your doorstep, it’s a picture-perfect pit-stop after an international flight. Tuck into your first Costa Rican dinner before hitting the hay after a long travel day.

DAY 2 SAN JOSE

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll have time for a morning ramble in the scenic forestland inhabited by goldfinches and various hummingbirds. Stretch your legs for an hour or so before setting off for the Pacific Coast, which will take around two-and-a-half hours. We will provide you with detailed directions and plenty of possible detours along the way. Arrive on the fringes of Manuel Antonio National Park, framed by lush cliffs and idyllic beaches, where you’ll find your abode for the next two nights.

DAY 3 MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

Today you can ignite your jungle dreams on a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest of Costa Rica’s 28 protected parks. One of the best ways of immersing yourself into the area's Instagrammable scenery is by way of a gentle wander through the verdant landscapes with an expert local guide. En route you'll stop at thundering waterfalls, the perfect place for a dip (just don't forget the GoPro), beautiful beaches and otherworldly mangroves. If you're a nature lover, it's worth requesting a dedicated guide who can point out exotic flora, fauna and medicinal herbs along the way. After time exploring, why not recuperate on a jungle-fringed beach; relax here, cocktail in hand until the evening when you enjoy (hopefully) one of the most intense amber sunsets you may ever see.

DAY 4 ONTO MONTEVERDE

Today you will leave this pretty little national park behind and kick off the four-hour journey to one of Costa Rica’s stunning cloud forest reserves: Monteverde. This high elevation forest is home to a whole array of blossoming flora and fauna, including jaguars and ocelots, as well as beautiful orchids and ferns. When you’ve settled into your hotel, don your boots and head out for an exploratory hike in the surrounding forest, keeping your eyes peeled for all kinds of colourful birdlife and pretty plants.

DAYS 5 & 6 WILDERNESS WANDERING

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is among the most famous reserves in the world, known for its biodiversity, conservation, contributions and scientific research, so where better to head out on a guided tour. You will hike through the well-marked-trails, waterfalls, rivers and the observation area of the park, with an expert guide. If you’re lucky you might spot a ‘quetzal’, one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Fill the rest of your time on the reserve chasing waterfalls (despite what TLC say) and looking for beautiful birdlife and tapirs in Tapir Valley Nature Reserve.

Days 7 TO 9 TO THE COAST

It’s a four-hour drive to Tamarindo, leaving the lush forest behind you and heading for the palm-fringed Pacific Coast. This pretty patch of coast is a firm favourite for beach lovers and surfers alike and has a whole range of water sports on offer. Spend the next few days sailing, kayaking and diving, or head to dry land to explore the area’s stunning natural surroundings, whether on an ATV tour of the coast, getting a bird’s eye view on a canopy tour or exploring caves in nearby Barra Honda National Park. Be sure to pack your comfiest walking boots as the nearby Rincon de la Vieja National Park is brimming with grand landscapes and winding hiking trails.

For an extra special excursion, hop on a boat and set sail for Isla Rosanda, or Pink Island. This tiny island is famed for its stunning pink sand, as well as being surrounded by stunning coral reefs and crystal-clear waters.

Days 10 TO 12 THE RHYTHM OF THE JUNGLE

Today brings another four-hour car ride, this time to La Fortuna in Arenal, leaving Tamarindo in the distance. This holiday hotspot is undoubtedly one of Costa Rica’s most talked about destinations, and you will soon find out why. Think verdant jungle, thundering waterfalls and bright tropical flowers, all in the sultry shadow of Arenal Volcano.

The next few days are brimming with bucket-list topping activities. Hop aboard the Sky Tram which will take you soaring to the top of a mountain near Arenal Volcano, before harnessing up and zip lining through the lush canopy at full speed ahead. Be sure to stop at the top for a snap of the view below – Arenal Volcano is hard to miss. The slow-paced activity lovers will enjoy a visit to the Proyecto Asis, a wildlife protection centre where you can help prepare animal feed and learn all about the conservation of the local fauna. To top off an animal-filled day, head to the warm waters of Exotermales, which bubble up directly from Arenal Volcano. The thermal pools are slap bang in the middle of the tropical jungle and make for the ultimate spot to relax to the rhythm of the jungle.

DAY 13 BACK TO SAN JOSE

Sadly, your Costa Rican road trip is coming to an end. Hop into the car for your final long journey (three-and-a-half-hours) and watch as Arenal Volcano shrinks into the distance behind you. Venture along winding roads through mountainous landscapes and dense forests until you reach the country’s capital. Hand your hire car back and enjoy a little bit of time meandering around some of the city’s top sites, before heading to the airport for your flight home.

DAY 14 ARRIVE IN LONDON

The holiday has well and truly come to an end. Today you will touchdown into London.