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Costa Rica Self Drive Holidays
If you like to explore at your own pace and enjoy the freedom to stop spontaneously to take in another beautiful beach, stroll around a rural village or stand in awe of the latest incredible view, then a self-drive in Costa Rica is the perfect choice. With its bountiful natural wonders: stunning scenery and vibrant wildlife, this is a country with much to discover.
Our itineraries combine well-planned routes and pre-booked accommodation including eco-lodges with recommended experiences and plenty of time at leisure ensuring a self drive adventure to savour. From zip-lining through cloud forests to night walks in search of fabulous fauna, hiking volcanoes to relaxing river cruises, we’ve packed in a host of optional excursions.
Self-drive holidays in Costa Rica
Planning your Costa Rica self-drive
The first thing to decide when planning a self-drive holiday in Costa Rica is when you want to travel. With year-round average temperatures of 25-30 degrees, road trips are easy at any time of year. When to go leads into where to visit with certain experiences best at specific times of year, such as whale watching off the Pacific coast then December to April or August to October are the best months.
Places to visit on the self-drive holiday in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
Discover the pristine white-sand beaches, lush rainforest and mangroves of this biodiverse national park.
Arenal Volcano
Marvel at this majestic volcano from hanging bridges or zip-line through the tree canopy. Visit natural hot springs and search for sloths in their natural habitat.
Tortuguero National Park
Spot toucans, caimans and other wildlife in the canals of Tortuguero by kayak or boat. Visit between September and November to witness tiny hatchling turtles.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Hike the mist-shrouded reserves of Monteverde’s cloud forests and listen for the distinctive roar of howler monkeys.
Corcovado National Park
Explore the rich wildife and marine life of this sprawling national park on the Osa Peninsula. Spot everything from tree frogs to scarlet macaws, tapirs to dolphins.
Rincon de la Vieja
Trek in the shadow of the active Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, a UNESCO listed site with a complex crater system.
Car Hire Practicalities
The main highways and urban roads are usually paved and easy to navigate, and Costa Rican drivers are generally more patient and courteous than you’ll find elsewhere in Latin America.
In term of practicalities vehicle pick up and drop off is very straightforward. We can arrange for your car to be delivered straight to your hotel, to avoid the need for transfers or lengthy queues. And you can drop your car off directly at the airport departures area, ensuring a hassle-free end to your holiday.
Costa Ricans drive on the right-hand side of the road and road signs are usually in Spanish, so a basic understanding of key terms or using a reliable GPS can be very helpful. All our car hire vehicles are provided with complimentary WiFi, so you can use your preferred navigation app to get around such as Waze or Google Maps. Having WiFi on the road means you can also easily contact the rental company or our local partners for assistance should you need it – WhatsApp is commonly used.
Speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour and traffic laws in Costa Rica are tightly regulated. You may spot frequent police checkpoints along popular routes, watching for speeders. Drink-driving laws are also strictly enforced.
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