Self Drive Tours in Costa Rica

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Costa Rica is a beautiful country to explore by car, and adventurous travelers who know what to expect will have an amazing time behind the wheel. Renting your own car means you have the freedom to take spontaneous detours and side trips. Here are some tips to get you started.

  • Do I need a 4WD vehicle? The short answer: yes. If you're visiting Monteverde or the South Pacific region, 4WD is needed—the roads aren't always paved, and 4WD is especially essential in the wet months.
  • What about GPS? Using GPS is essential. Costa Rica has no formal addresses, so having the exact coordinates is vital.
 
Want to explore the best that Costa Rica has to offer? Get started by describing your ideal trip and we'll connect you with a local specialist to plan out the details.

Costa Rica Travel Insights

A road to Arenal Volcano
Driving in Costa Rica: Road Trip FAQ

Costa Rica has a way of igniting the adventurous spirit within. This is, after all, one of the world's most biodiverse countries loaded with rainforests, wildlife species, beaches, outdoor activities, and 28 national parks—3 of which are UNESCO-listed. If you're planning on exploring some (or all) of what Costa Rica has to offer, you'll likely want to consider renting a car. Read this driving guide for the inside scoop.

Coast of Corcovado National Park
Map of Costa Rica Self-Drive Adventure - 14 Days
Costa Rica Self-Drive Adventure - 14 Days

This road trip itinerary is a truly off-the-beaten-path nature excursion. Head to the remote beaches and rainforest of the Osa Peninsula before a scenic drive up the Pacific coast. You'll experience white-sand beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park, along with the cloud forest ecosystem of Monteverde where you'll hike over the jungle canopy via suspension bridges. Finally, you'll pay a visit to Arenal, an active volcano and one of Costa Rica's most famous landmarks.

Monteverde Cloud Forest
Map of Classic Costa Rica: 7-Day Self-Drive Tour
Classic Costa Rica: 7-Day Self-Drive Tour

Taking a road trip through Costa Rica gives you the freedom and flexibility to explore where you want. You'll pass through stunning natural scenery — from lush cloud forests to picturesque beaches — in seven days of scenic driving. This tour can be extended or shortened depending on how much time you have.

costa rica
Map of The Ultimate Costa Rican Birding Roadtrip - 11 Days
The Ultimate Costa Rican Birding Roadtrip - 11 Days

Costa Rica is a Mecca for bird lovers. Here there are around 850 species of not only endemic birds but also migratory birds that arrive from throughout the hemisphere. Over 11 days you'll view many of these exotic species as you travel to remote rainforests, national parks, biological research centers, and even birding hotspots on Costa Rica's stunning Pacific coast.

Catch the sunset in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Map of Road Trip to Arenal & the Nicoya Peninsula - 16 Days
Road Trip to Arenal & the Nicoya Peninsula - 16 Days

Experience the best of Costa Rica's rainforest, volcanoes, and Pacific beaches during this 16-day self-drive adventure. You'll explore the jungle via suspension bridges and ziplines and even have a free day to go whitewater rafting or relax in the charming town of La Fortuna. Then, it's time to head westward to the Nicoya Peninsula, where you'll adjust to the laid-back vibes of three quintessential surf towns: Tamarindo, Nosara, and Santa Teresa.

A sloth hanging around in Costa Rica
Map of Costa Rica Wildlife Road Trip - 8 Days
Costa Rica Wildlife Road Trip - 8 Days

This self-drive tour is ideal for families who love animals and exploring the outdoors. You'll spot plenty of the country's adorable mammals like sloths and monkeys, as well as rare species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and tropical fish. Along the way, stay at unique eco-lodges

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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Costa Rica
Travel specialist Olman Romero
active 46 mins ago

Olman Romero

I was born in Turrialba, it is a region famous for hosting the Guayabo Archeological Monument, which is the oldest and most important pre-hispanic archeological site in the country. Turrialba is...

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Travel specialist Elena Mora
active 12 mins ago

Elena Mora

"I was born in Costa Rica and grew up on my family's sugar and coffee plantation farm in the mountains of Turrialba. From an early age, I learned from my family to deeply cherish and respect our...

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Travel specialist Bryan Leon
active 7 hours ago

Bryan Leon

Growing up in a coffee plantation area near San Jose, Costa Rica's vibrant capital, I was fortunate to have parents who instilled in me a deep love and appreciation for nature. As a certified...

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Travel specialist Yuliana Valverde
active 20 hours ago

Yuliana Valverde

For over a decade, my passion for creating unforgettable trips in Costa Rica shines a deep understanding of the country's diverse attractions and activities, as well as a genuine commitment to...

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Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Amazing trip to Costa Rica!
Costa Rica | Apr 3 - Apr 10, 2026

Skye
Skye C.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2026
Our experience with KimKim and specifically the local specialist team, Serendipity Adventures, was great. Elena and the rest of the Serendipity Adventures team, Nancy, and Adrian, and others, helped plan, organize, and manage my trip. They also worked diligently during our trip to make sure everything ran smoothly for my family. Based on my responses to the KimKim survey, Elena planned a great vacation including all the activities we wanted to see/do while in Costa Rica. What I really... Read more

Our experience with KimKim and specifically the local specialist team, Serendipity Adventures, was great. Elena and the rest of the Serendipity Adventures team, Nancy, and Adrian, and others, helped plan, organize, and manage my trip. They also worked diligently during our trip to make sure everything ran smoothly for my family.

Based on my responses to the KimKim survey, Elena planned a great vacation including all the activities we wanted to see/do while in Costa Rica. What I really appreciated was that Elena used her expertise/experience to not let me plan too busy of a trip :) I wanted to go to 3 locations but Elena very nicely suggested that, based on the length of our trip, we only do 2 locations so that we were not rushed and could really experience each location more fully. That was the right call!

The hotels Elena/team picked were amazing. The guided tours they set up had the best guides! The guide we had for our private tour of Manuel Antonio National Park was AMAZING. 23 years of experience.

What I want to note is that I feel the true test of a team's customer service and support is when things don't go quite right. I am happy to say that the Serendipity Adventures local team was very available to help when there were occasional small problems or I had a question. An example was the pick up time for our tour of Manuel Antonio park changed from 7:10 am to 11am. However, the driver still arrived at 7am. So, I messaged Adrian via WhatsApp at 7:20 in the morning when I got the call from the front desk of the hotel letting me know the driver was there and Adrian immediately responded to my message and sorted it all.

My husband and I visited Costa Rica 14 years ago and loved it. I had told Elena that we wanted to show the beautifulness of Costa Rica to our almost 13 year old daughter. Elena understood and delivered a trip we will always remember. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Hotel & Spa
Fortuna

Such a cool hotel. Very neat to get to stay right there with the hot springs. Couple of notes: - There are 4 water slides - 2 of them are really pretty aggressive. - You are going to laugh but, bring ear plugs for sleeping! There was either frogs or crickets that cricked all night! I mean, so much fun but also pretty loud at night. ha ha.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
One of the servers we had in the main restaurant was just not very good with regard to customer service. Forgot to bring us things we ordered, didn't check in. That was a bit frustrating..but other than that, the staff was great and very friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Mariposa
Manuel Antonio

In general, the hotel is beautiful and really showcased the beauty that is Costa Rica. One time when we were in the beautiful pool, a whole troop of Spider Monkeys moved through the trees right next to the pool! Probably 40 or so. We saw up close all the mommy's with their babies jumping from branch to branch! it was so cool. A few little things - one of the front desk team members really wasn't very friendly. I was surprised. And, the other thing that sticks out was on our last day, we had not checked out yet, a maintenance man just sorta came into our room - no knock or anything. It was really odd. But, other than that, really wonderful hotel with amazing views.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Most of the staff were great. One of the front desk helpers was not very welcoming/engaging. Also, on our last day, a maintenance man just opened our door to our room before we had checked out. It was odd.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hampton by Hilton San José Airport
Alajuela

We stayed here for 1 night at the beginning of the trip. It was a nice hotel. I will have to say though there was a bit of a problem the morning of our check out. Our driver asked the front desk if we had checked in the night before and was told we hadn't! So, that caused a bit of confusion...but it got sorted.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

It was all very nice. The zip line part was very legit. The tour was nice - the bridges were cool and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice. The guest area was nice also - you can get lunch and see the amazing view.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

Well, the weather did not cooperate for us on this. It was very cloud/overcast and VERY rainy. But, we made the best of it. It was a bit interesting, the tour guide picked us up in a van from our hotel. Turns out the battery on the van decided to stop working that morning and he didn't have time to fix it. So, the two times we had to start the van to go to the next stop, we had to push it so it rolled and then could jump it bc it was a manual. lol. So, that added some unexpected excitement to our day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Catamaran Tour with Meal
Catamaran Tour with Meal
Costa Rica

A lot of fun. We met/talked to a ton of the other guests which was a lot of fun. The dinner was soo good. Swimming was very nice and the sunset was amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Costa Rica

So amazing! Our guide was fantastic. 23 years of experience. He saw SO many animals...and he knew how to use our iPhone cameras expertly so we got amazing pictures that he took with our phone :)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Elena Mora
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Photo taken by Skye C
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Apr 24, 2026
Hello Skye, Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it truly means a lot to us! It was an absolute pleasure working with you to plan your family’s trip to Costa Rica. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the itinerary, the hotels, and the guided experiences, especially your time in Manuel Antonio. Your kind words about our guides and team are greatly appreciated. I’m especially grateful for your recognition of our support during the trip. As you mentioned, those... Read more

Hello Skye,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it truly means a lot to us!

It was an absolute pleasure working with you to plan your family’s trip to Costa Rica. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the itinerary, the hotels, and the guided experiences, especially your time in Manuel Antonio. Your kind words about our guides and team are greatly appreciated.

I’m especially grateful for your recognition of our support during the trip. As you mentioned, those moments are where we truly aim to make a difference, and I’m glad Adrian and the team were able to assist you quickly when needed.

It means so much to know that we were able to help you create such a special experience for your family, and that your daughter could discover the beauty of Costa Rica in a meaningful way. That was exactly our goal from the beginning.

Thank you again for trusting us with your trip. We would be absolutely delighted to assist you again in the future!

Pura Vida! 🌴

Warm regards,
Elena Mora
Serendipity Adventures Costa Rica🦋🐒🦥

Read all Costa Rica reviews

10/10 experience in Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Apr 13 - Apr 20, 2026

J
Jacqueline U.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2026
We had an amazing experience planning our Costa Rica trip with KimKim, and the trip itself was absolutely amazing! As far as planning, KimKim responded promptly to any questions and did an amazing job planning our destinations and trip activities based on what we were looking for. All transports to our hotels and planned activities went extremely smoothly, without any hiccups. We traveled to 3 different locations in Costa Rica: San Jose, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. Our favorite destination... Read more

We had an amazing experience planning our Costa Rica trip with KimKim, and the trip itself was absolutely amazing! As far as planning, KimKim responded promptly to any questions and did an amazing job planning our destinations and trip activities based on what we were looking for. All transports to our hotels and planned activities went extremely smoothly, without any hiccups. We traveled to 3 different locations in Costa Rica: San Jose, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. Our favorite destination was La Fortuna. We spend the most time there (3 nights), and I'm so glad we did! The Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs resort was STUNNING and an amazing place to stay- I would definitely stay there again. We had a beautiful view of the Arenal volcano outside of our room, and the resort itself was beautiful- lots of amazing plants and wildlife. We sat outside very morning and enjoyed watching all the birds (the first morning a Toucan visited us!). A sloth also lived in a tree next door to our accommodation. The resort has two pools and several hot springs. It never felt crowded- it was very peaceful and relaxing when we had some down time. All of the activites we did on our trip were amazing. My personal favorite was the Coffee with a Sloth tour we did at the Toucan Rescue Center in San Jose. We had a private tour, got to meet 7 sloths, and we helped make their lunches and got to watch them eat! It was a once-in-a-lifetme, incredible experience we will never forget. Part of our travel from La Fortuna to Monteverde included a boat ride on the lake (I can't remember the name of the lake). This might have been my favorite part of the trip. The views were surreal- it was absolutely beautiful. Another memorable excursion was a hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall, where we hiked down to the waterful and swam at the fall. The hanging bridges tour in La Fortuna was also amazing- we spent a couple hours hiking through the lush rainforest and the guide was very knowledgeable and spotted some cool wildlife. We also did a river safari float near La Fortuna- we booked this one on our own sort of last-minute, but I highly recommend this experience. We saw a crocodile and a lot of howler monkeys. We had a short time in Monteverde, and this was the end of our trip so we were quite exhausted. We did a hike in the Santa Elena cloud forest, which was beautiful. The town of Santa Elana was very cute, with lots of shops and restaurants. The only thing I would have changed, is I honestly could have stayed in La Fortuna for the entire 2nd half of the trip- mainly because we loved the resort, and there are plenty of activities in that area. Overall, the trip was amazing, and we will defiitely be contacting KimKim for our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco
Monteverde
Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to all the shops and restaurants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

Absolutely stunning hotel. The grounds are lush and beautiful- so many plants and wildlife in the resort. Stunning views of the Arenal volcano. It never felt crowded. The pools and hot springs were fantastic, and the wait staff extremely friendly. Was also very clean. Wished we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Not close to downtown or any of the activities we did, but it was easy to get a taxi.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grano de Oro Hotel
San José

The hotel was very nice, quaint and small. They had really good food at their restaurant. Giving 4 stars only because we wished they had a pool. Overall great experience here. Great location- walking distance to downtown and close to many restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde

The cloud forest was beautiful. We spent a lot of time waiting for Quetzal birds in a couple different spots, and when we were hiking, we moved a little fast. Would have liked to see a little more wildlife- our guide was very focused on finding the Quetzal birds. Still a beautiful hike with stunning scenery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk
Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

Stunning scenery, saw and learned a lot about the wildlife. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall
Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

The waterfall was beautiful... just be prepared to walk up and down a LOT of stairs. Definitely worth it.

Quality of Experience
Coffee with a Sloth at Toucan Rescue Center
Coffee with a Sloth at Toucan Rescue Center
San José

We had a private tour, and we got to meet the 7 sloths that live at the sanctuary. We also got to help make them lunch and watched them all eat. It was an incredible experience I will never forget!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Adam Gomez
Adam
Adam Gomez
Local specialist in kimkim HQ | Replied on Apr 23, 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! So great to hear how much you loved Costa Rica and that everything went smoothly from start to finish. 🙌

La Fortuna really is a highlight, and it’s great to hear how much you enjoyed your time at Arenal Manoa, along with experiences like the Coffee with a Sloth tour, the lake crossing, and the waterfall hike—such unforgettable moments!

Thanks for the insight into each accommodation, as it gives future travelers insight into what to expect! :) I hope to see you on another kimkim adventure!

Read all Costa Rica reviews

Great trip, well planned.
Costa Rica | Feb 24 - Mar 7, 2026

R
Robert M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Apr 18, 2026
All of the guides were knowledgeable and articulate about the wonderful biodiversity we were seeing. All of the transport drivers were punctual to the minute according to our itinerary. The entire trip went exactly as planned. Great work by the entire Serendipity/KimKim team. Read more

All of the guides were knowledgeable and articulate about the wonderful biodiversity we were seeing. All of the transport drivers were punctual to the minute according to our itinerary. The entire trip went exactly as planned. Great work by the entire Serendipity/KimKim team.

Hotel Reviews
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Monteverde

Nice view from our room. Good food at the restaurant. The shuttle service to the rooms from the reception was dependable AND NECESSARY because of the steepness of the slope the hotel was built on.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arenal Springs Resort
La Fortuna

The view of Arenal volcano from our room was like a picture on a postcard.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tortuga Lodge & Gardens
Tortuguero

We loved this hotel. Great staff, excellent food, knowledgeable friendly guides and excursions.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private: Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Private: Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde

Great personalized guide for just our private group. Forest Alive. Very informative and in depth walk through the cloud forest.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Super knowledgeable guide.
Transport
All Day Adventure at Selvatura, including Zipline, Hanging Bridges, and Fauna Exhibitions
All Day Adventure at Selvatura, including Zipline, Hanging Bridges, and Fauna Exhibitions
Costa Rica

Selvatura was very well organized and well worth the day we spent there.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Private Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica

Great tour. Very worthwhile with lots of details and hands on experiences throughout the tour. Fascinating to see the processes of coffee, sugar cane, and chocolate cultivation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River
Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River
Arenal/La Fortuna

Friendly knowledgeable guide who really took time to show us the plants and animals along the river.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968
Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968
Arenal/La Fortuna
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Look
Transport
Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals
Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals
Tortuguero

Great boat trip with lots of animal and plant sightings. Great guide — he really took time to point out details of the environment.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Elena Mora
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Apr 18, 2026
Hola Robert, Thank you very much for your kind words, it truly means a lot to all of us. I’m delighted to hear that everything went exactly as planned and that you had such a positive experience with our guides and drivers. We take great pride in working with a team that is both knowledgeable and professional, so it’s wonderful to know that it made a difference during your trip. On behalf of everyone at Serendipity Adventures and Kimkim, thank you for trusting us with your travel... Read more

Hola Robert,

Thank you very much for your kind words, it truly means a lot to all of us.

I’m delighted to hear that everything went exactly as planned and that you had such a positive experience with our guides and drivers. We take great pride in working with a team that is both knowledgeable and professional, so it’s wonderful to know that it made a difference during your trip.

On behalf of everyone at Serendipity Adventures and Kimkim, thank you for trusting us with your travel experience. It was a pleasure assisting you, and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future.

Pura Vida!

Elena Mora
Serendipity Adventures

Read all Costa Rica reviews
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