Self Drive Tours in Costa Rica

custom self drive tours in Costa Rica, plan with a local specialist
How kimkim works  
Our local travel specialists have been recommended by

Travelers love kimkim

- ., traveled to in
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

See more travel articles about Costa Rica
How it works
Chat with specialist icon Step 1
Tell us what kind of trip you want
Complete our quick travel quiz
Chat icons Step 2
Chat with a local travel specialist
Work out the details together
Credit card icon Step 3
Securely book your trip
100% satisfaction guaranteed

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Costa Rica
Travel specialist Olman Romero
active 24 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...

read more...
Travel specialist Holden Ketchum
active 22 mins ago

Holden Ketchum

I have lived in Costa Rica for eight years and made it my home. My role is to help travelers connect to the activities and experiences that will bring them the most joy and provide lasting...

read more...
Travel specialist Bryan Leon
active 27 mins 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...

read more...
Travel specialist Elena Mora
active 23 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...

read more...
See all Costa Rica travel agents

Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Loved the trip! Will definitely be using Kimk...
Costa Rica | Sep 26 - Oct 3, 2025

David
David B.
Danbury, CT | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2025
Loved the trip! Will definitely be using Kimkim for future adventures! Read more

Loved the trip! Will definitely be using Kimkim for future adventures!

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Springs Resort
La Fortuna

We loved this hotel! Only downside was the construction, which we understood due to us traveling in the off season. Would have appreciated more dinning options, although, again, construction.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Mariposa
Manuel Antonio

Hotel was incredible and rooms were stunning!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve
Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Deep Tissue Massage at Arenal Springs Spa
Arenal/La Fortuna
Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary
Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Catamaran Tour with Meal
Catamaran Tour with Meal
Costa Rica

Loved the animals we saw and the entire experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

Our guide was incredible and saw so many animals, as well as enjoyed the beach and swimming!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Elena Mora
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Oct 05, 2025

Hola David,

That’s wonderful to hear, I’m so happy you loved your trip! ✨
It was a real pleasure helping you plan your Costa Rica adventure, and I’ll be delighted to assist you again whenever you’re ready for your next journey with Kimkim ^ Serendipity Adventures

Pura Vida,
Elena Mora
Serendipity Adventures

Read all Costa Rica reviews

Pura Vida Honeymoon Review
Costa Rica | Sep 14 - Sep 22, 2025

Anamarie
Anamarie L.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2025
Gustavo was excellent to communicate and work with during planning of the trip and he planned the best trip! We saw a little of everything, all of the accommodations were nice, and every guide/driver was very kind and made sure our experience was great. Our stay in Monteverde was especially nice and so were the employees, they helped us change reservation times and book more excursions. I would recommend kimkim to all of my friends! Read more

Gustavo was excellent to communicate and work with during planning of the trip and he planned the best trip! We saw a little of everything, all of the accommodations were nice, and every guide/driver was very kind and made sure our experience was great. Our stay in Monteverde was especially nice and so were the employees, they helped us change reservation times and book more excursions. I would recommend kimkim to all of my friends!

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Country Inn
La Fortuna

Nice staff and nice rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful botanicals all over, well maintained.
Location
Location was on a busy road with limited side walk options, so the 10 minute walk to town was a little scary, we didn’t feel comfortable doing it at night. But it is walkable to downtown and there is lots of shops and restaurants! If you walk the opposite direction of downtown there is a beautiful river and rope swing that we enjoyed a lot.
Staff
Staff was very nice and helpful with any questions. Felicia the cat is also very nice and welcomes pets.
Cleanliness & Comfort
This place was nice, definitely seemed a little more out of date than the other places we stayed. But some of the rooms were under renovation while we were staying so probably will be updated soon.
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

This hotel is practically right on the beach which makes us an ideal location. You will see monkeys and we also saw a sloth that was hanging out during our stay. Hotel restaurant and bar right on the beach.

Authenticity & Character
Location
If you want to stay by the beach this is definitely the place to stay. Walking distance down the beach to the national park and lots of restaurants and shopping. The hotel is located well so it’s not very crowded on beach
Staff
Staff was nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
This hotel didn’t seem as clean as the others we stayed at, but it wasn’t bad by any means. The room also didn’t have a tv with streaming options, just local tv. But it did have a lovely balcony and a nice hot shower.
Camino Verde Bed & Breakfast

We were booked in the private apartment that is a little down the block and it was EXTREMELY nice. It was modern, clean, and very comfortable. On top of having lovely accommodations, the staff was extremely helpful and nice. They gave us advice to change our reservation time to earlier because of rain and then handled it for us. They also recommended a night tour and were able to book that for us too. It’s also pretty close and easy walk to the downtown location. I would without a doubt stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful view at breakfast, amazing room, very clean and well maintained.
Location
Easy to walk downtown. Good restaurants close by.
Staff
The staff went above and beyond to make sure our stay was perfect
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean. Modern appliances.
Activity Reviews
El Tigre Waterfalls Excursion
El Tigre Waterfalls Excursion
Monteverde

This is a beautiful hike. We saw lots of butterflies! The waterfalls are all beautiful and the guide was great. There is an opportunity to swim near the end and lunch or snack provided!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs Visit with Meal
Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs Visit with Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

This tour provided lots of information on the history, wildlife and vegetation in the area!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gravity Falls Waterfall Jumping
Gravity Falls Waterfall Jumping
Arenal/La Fortuna

This experience was amazing. The guides truly seemed like they loved their jobs. They made it fun and safe. Afterwards they gave us fresh pineapple and bananas and you get a meal at their restaurant which is also great!

Quality of Experience
They provide all the gear and rally knowledgeable guides!
Food
Fresh pineapple once you get back tot he starting point and then lunch at the company restaurant that was very good!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff was amazing, you can tell they enjoy the job and want you to have the most out of your experience!
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Photo taken by Anamarie L
Photo taken by Anamarie L
Photo taken by Anamarie L
Read all Costa Rica reviews

Costa Rica I can’t wait to go again
Costa Rica | Sep 10 - Sep 17, 2025

Jill
Jill L.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Sep 20, 2025
All my tour guides were so nice and very knowledgeable. The drive from La Fortuna to puerto viejo was a bit longer than planned about 2 hrs longer. Same when I rhode back from there to San Jose. The lodging accommodations were nice with very Friendly staff and good food! Read more

All my tour guides were so nice and very knowledgeable. The drive from La Fortuna to puerto viejo was a bit longer than planned about 2 hrs longer. Same when I rhode back from there to San Jose. The lodging accommodations were nice with very Friendly staff and good food!

Hotel Review
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

This was a beautiful relaxing place to stay. Friendly and helpful staff with yummy food and nice hot springs. You can walk around the property and see beautiful colored plants and critters running around. I will definitely be back.

Authenticity & Character
Felt like you had you’re own little villa
Location
Beautiful views
Staff
They were very attentive and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice clean rooms felt cozy but roomy at the same time
Activity Review
Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner
Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna

Was fun different to do a night tour! There were lots frogs and other things out and about!! I think this is a must for everyone to do. The food that was made at family home was incredible. I loved the farm to table Experience

Quality of Experience
Food
Farm to table yummy
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly always looking to spot animals to show us
Transport
On time
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Read all Costa Rica reviews
See more trip reviews by kimkim travelers

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.