A self-drive Caribbean adventure trip in Costa Rica

Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive to Horquetas in Sarapiquí. This lush region, located near Braulio Carrillo National Park, offers an easy start to your Costa Rica travel plans, with instant access to rainforest trails, rushing rivers, and abundant wildlife.

Spend the day choosing your own mix of adventure and culture. Join a guided river rafting trip, glide through the canopy on a zipline, or visit a local farm to taste coffee, cacao, and fresh tropical fruit. It is a hands-on way to experience agrotourism, meet local producers, and connect with the rhythms of life in the countryside.

After breakfast, drive to the river port and board a boat bound for the canals of Boca Pacuare on the north coast. Your self-drive Caribbean adventure continues as you glide through quiet waterways, with rainforest banks and a dense canopy unfolding on the way to your rustic lodge.

Along the route, your local guide shares insights into this rich ecosystem, pointing out hidden sloths, colorful river birds, and other wildlife that can be easily missed. Many travelers compare Boca Pacuare to Tortuguero National Park, as it felt decades ago, making it an ideal place for an authentic, tailor-made nature experience.

Float through the tranquil canals of Barra de Pacuare and spot toucans, monkeys, iguanas, and butterflies among the lush mangroves. Take time to explore the nearby town, then visit a sea turtle conservation project where, in season, leatherback turtles come ashore to nest and tiny hatchlings dash toward the ocean for their very first swim.

After breakfast, take the boat back through the canals to the port and reunite with your rental car. Then drive south along the Caribbean coast to Puerto Viejo, one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for culture, beaches, and easygoing coastal life.

On the way, stop at an iguana conservation project led by the Bribri Indigenous community of the Kekoldi Reserve. Later, settle into Puerto Viejo and spend the afternoon and evening enjoying Caribbean rhythms, fresh coastal gastronomy, and laid-back seaside vibes.

Meet your local guide in Manzanillo for a hike through a protected refuge established in 1985, safeguarding 4,436 hectares of marine habitat and 5,013 hectares of coastal land. This reserve pairs rich biodiversity with the daily rhythms of nearby communities, creating a landscape where conservation and local life coexist.

After the hike, board a boat and scan the waters for dolphins between Punta Mona, also known as Monkey Point, and the mouth of the Sixaola River. Three species may appear in these coastal waters, including the rare small pink Tucuxi.

Visit the Jaguar Rescue Center, a sanctuary that cares for ill, injured, and orphaned monkeys, sloths, birds, and reptiles.

Join a guided tour to learn how the team provides veterinary treatment, round-the-clock rehabilitation, and carefully managed release programs that return wildlife to its natural habitat. It is a meaningful stop to include in your Costa Rica itinerary.

Today you drive back to the central valleys on a tailor-made route to Turrialba, once the gateway to the Caribbean coast and now a hub for agriculture, rafting, and authentic local life.

Along the way, consider a stop at Guayabo National Monument, Costa Rica’s largest archaeological site. Wander along ancient stone roads, explore remarkable pre-Columbian structures, and take in sweeping views across the surrounding landscape.

The Marta Wildlife Refuge protects around 1,518 hectares and lies between five rural communities where farming and ranching shape everyday life. It helps hold back deforestation and acts as a gateway to La Amistad International Park and the Tapantí Massif, within the Cordillera de Talamanca Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage area.

Explore the remains of an early 1900s coffee mill, then head out on guided walks to look for birds and other wildlife in the surrounding forest. It is an ideal place to shape a self-drive Caribbean adventure trip with genuine local culture and immersive nature encounters.

Return to San José for your final night. On the way, stop at Volcán Irazú, Costa Rica’s highest volcano, for sweeping views and a striking, mineral-rich crater lake that feels almost lunar.

As you climb past potato and cabbage fields into cool dairy country, take time to explore the crater viewpoints near Cartago and capture the dramatic, otherworldly scenery in photos.

Return your rental car at San José International Airport in time for your flight home, with a final scenic drive through lush landscapes and an optional stop for Costa Rican coffee or last-minute souvenirs.

You will leave with tailor-made memories of wildlife encounters, Caribbean beaches, and rainforest hikes. If you would like to stay longer, our team can help extend your Costa Rica trip or design future bespoke journeys.