Sustainable & Affordable
Fly & Drive
Program summary:
Day 1: Arrival (SJO) and Overnight in San Jose.
Day 2: Puerto Viejo de Limon
Day 3: Puerto Viejo de Limon
Day 4: Sarapiqui
Day 5: Sarapiqui
Day 6: Arenal Volcano area
Day 7: Arenal Volcano area
Day 8: Manuel Antonio
Day 9: Manuel Antonio
Day 10: Manuel Antonio
Day 11:San Jose
Day 12: Final day, departure via SJO.
Sustainable tourism does not have to be expensive. In this 11 nights’ package it will provide you some of the experiences that our country has to offer. As you will be driving by yourself, it will allow you to enjoy even more closely and to take your time, in the places that you can eventually visit.
An interesting combination between the jungle, local culture, rainforest, history-traditions and beaches.
Tourism has a key role in the preservation of nature and culture, two of Costa Rica’s greatest treasures and it is also a major element in the development of economical and socio cultural aspects of the local communities, improving and preserving the essence and identity of our country. Sustainability has become a very important part our company’s structure. Recently, Swiss Travel was awarded with 5 leaves (the highest level) in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism controlled by the Costarrican Institute of Tourism. By this, we try to promote and generate a social benefit to the local communities, look into an efficient use of natural resources, protection and preservation of nature. With all this, it will ensure the continuity of the business through green innovations, infrastructure, being an agent of social development and enforce long-term environmental practices, which will all contribute to safeguard the wellbeing of future generations.
All this efforts indeed helps our country as a whole, but also the visitor, by creating a full experience to enjoy the way of life of the country and allowing them to discover different aspects about culture and biological heritance. In our efforts of sustainability, we also suggest to our passengers upon their arrival, some tips that can also enrich their traveling experience while in our country and even in their living style.
The hotels contained in the program are also with the CST (Certification of Sustainable Tourism), consequently they run different sustainable practices in their administration, facilities and even in the social/natural environment.
In the day by day description, you will find suggested activities or places to visit (on your own, extra cost), which we consider that will complement the concept of the journey with different types of experiences, from cultural, natural, adventure and educational. In the mixture of the places to visit, suggested activities, given tips, perspectives and the actions to take, can also create a glance of satisfaction in this self-learning experience.
Of course, in case further information, adjustments or deeper insight is needed, please don’t hesitate to contact our Reservation’s Department. They would be happy to assist you in order to provide the necessary advice and complement you even more on this experience.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – SAN JOSE
Arrival at the (SJO) Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. A Swiss Travel representative will meet and greet you upon arrival and will provide you with all necessary documentation, such as day-by-day itinerary, the main contacts information and phone numbers. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in San Jose located about 35 minutes away from the Airport. You will stay one night in San Jose.
Suggested places to visit or ideas:
These alternatives are not included in the program and the possibility to do them depends on today’s arrival time to our country or eventually some might be possible to do in the morning of next day. Here below are some of these ideas: San Jose by night, Bites and Sight or the Pura Vida Experience. All this experiences in different timings and ways, tries to provide a glance of the culture, the history and in general some of the local traditions and customs. The central market is always an interesting place to interact with locals. There is also the local traditions such as the masks and masquerades or get a bit of some of the Costa Rica food examples.
On the other hand also in downtown San Jose we have the National Theater, National Museum, the Gold Museum and the Jade Museum, giving different angles of our history.
Some of these experiences will require in advance reservations; please don’t hesitate to contact our Reservation’s team for further information.
Day 2: SAN JOSE – PUERTO VIEJO DE LIMON
Breakfast
Today in the morning at the hotel in San Jose, you will be provided with a (4×4) Car Rental. You will be driving on your own to the different areas of the program. The driving experience for today takes you to the South Caribbean of our country, specifically to the region of Puerto Viejo de Limon. Our South Caribbean coast will provide you with an interesting combination of beach, culture and nature all mixed in a rustic but charming environment. Two nights at selected Hotel in the area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 4 ½ hour
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 7 – 8 Hours
Places to possible visit:
San Jose area visit: Depending on your needs you might do some sightseeing in San Jose, on your own or even with some of the ideas given on day #1
Day 3: PUERTO VIEJO DE LIMON
Breakfast
Day at leisure for you to explore on your own.
Suggested places to visit or ideas:
At an extra cost, here below are some ideas of different attractions or activities to do in the area.
Tree Life rescue center (located in Cahuita): An interesting protection and rehabilitation center for the displaced wildlife of the Caribbean region, which also promotes the conservation and environmental education through schoolchildren to promote the understanding and importance of wildlife. Closed on certain months and days of the week.
Cooking Afro Caribbean Class or Culture tour: Learn about secrets and traditions of Caribbean cuisine and it’s tasty flavors. In the Afro-Caribbean culture tour, you will learn more about culture and traditions of this side of the country. Visit to Indigenous communities: An educational way to learn some customs and history on our Indians, as you will have close contact with family’s lifestyle. As per nature you can visit the Cahuita National Park and the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
Day 4: PUERTO VIEJO DE LIMON – SARAPIQUI
Breakfast
Today you will be heading inland to the Sarapiqui region.
The highlights of this area are the biological reserves and the tropical rain forests that seem as havens for eco-tourism, as well as family tourism projects, which offers a different way of using natural resources with a large number of adventure activities. This is a region full of adventure, natural and cultural activities. In the area, you can learn about some of our agricultural products such as Pineapple, which is considered one of the most finest, and important products all around the country.
Registration and lodging for the next two nights at mentioned hotel in the Sarapiqui area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 4 hour
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 6 – 7 Hours
Places to possible visit:
OTS La Selva Biological Station: About 25 minutes before your overnight hotel at Sarapiqui destination. This is a biological reserve and research center, dedicated to the studies of nature, ecosystems and the investigation from students around the world. They provide a natural history trip of the Tropical Rainforest.
Chocolate tours: Depending on your interests, either about 45 minutes before your hotel in Sarapiqui or explore it on the following day, this experience provides you with different forms and ways of learning about this fruit that forms part of our history.
Day 5: SARAPIQUI
Breakfast
Day at leisure for you to explore on your own.
Suggested places to visit or ideas:
At an extra cost, here below are some ideas of different attractions or activities to do in the area.
Organic farm: A learning experience about history-culture and traditional products of Costa Rica, in which you will also participate. Pineapple, sugar cane, tropical spices, exotic fruits, medicinal plants and even enjoying some of the farm birds, sheep, goat, cow and pigs.
Cooking class: An experience, which mixes in organic agriculture, harvesting different products and then turn them into a delicious traditional dish in the Costa Rica Cuisine.
Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center: An organization which concentrates in environmental education, community development, conservation and tourism, by raise the organizational capacity of local communities, promote sustainable land use and connect tourist to local community. They offer a series of activities to promote these goals, such as community service, recycle paper chat, soap and shampoo, reforestation and others.
Other ideas are: Walk through the Tirimbina Biological Reserve or eventually take an adventure activity such as rafting, horseback riding or canopy.
Day 6: SARAPIQUI – ARENAL
Breakfast
You will continue the journey this day to the famous Arenal Volcano area.
This whole area located in our Northern plains represents some of the countryside of our towns, with lands dedicated to agriculture and cattle ranches that become what many people have called the heart of the country. A striking characteristic of this area is the dramatic contrast in topography. Several small and medium-sized rivers that range throughout the plains make the region very fertile. The residents practice fruit trees, rice paddies and cattle ranching. Yet there are many expanses of protected areas dotting the region. The main attraction of this area is by far the Arenal Volcano, which rises 1,633 meters above sea level showing off one of the main characteristics with its almost perfect conic shape.
You will be staying the following two nights at selected Hotel in the area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 1 ½ hour
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 4 – 5 hours
Places to possible visit:
Comunidad Agroecológica Juanilama: Located in Santa Rosa de Pocosol, eventually about a 30 minute detour from the main route. This is a recommended friendly rural community which protects also a 43 hectare reserve. In this area you can enjoy sharing the way of life of the habitants: cheese making, soccer matches, horseback, farming and creole cuisine. This is a true rural experience, on the way of life on the farm and the traditional rural lifestyle.
Day 7: ARENAL
Breakfast
Day at leisure for you to explore on your own.
Suggested places to visit or ideas:
At an extra cost, here below are some ideas of different attractions or activities to do in the area.
Cooking class: an interesting way to harvest, cook and eat your given lunch menu with mainly locally fresh picked products.
Campesino tour: A way of learning about the daily lifestyle of a typical Costa Rica farm family, with their customs, traditions and daily chores to maintain their farm.
Plant a Tree and Carbon Free Tour: This is a speech about the importance of carbon neutral, the greenhouse gases effect, global policies and trends. We will calculate the carbon footprint of the participants to inform how they calculate themselves this interesting natural impact indicator. Afterwards the participants will visit a reforestation area and will plant a tree.
In the Arenal area, you can also explore on your own the Arenal National Park or eventually several nocturnal nature walks in the surroundings.
Day 8: ARENAL – MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast
The driving experience for today takes you to the Manuel Antonio region, located in the Central Pacific coast. You will be passing through a scenic mountain road with various climates and elevations. Afterwards you will be driving along the coastal road until reaching the fishing town of Quepos, just a few kilometers from our final destination. Manuel Antonio is a paradise that mixes lovely white sand beaches with jungle and rain forest full of wildlife. The vast variety of activities to do and places to visit in the area definitely adds value to your experience.
Three night stay at selected Hotel in the Manuel Antonio area.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 5 hour
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 8 – 9 hours
Places to possible visit:
Proyecto Asis: Located in Javillos of Florencia, about 45 minutes from Arenal area. a 20 minute detour from the main route. This is an organization dedicated to wildlife protection, environmental conservation and to positive cultural exchanges thorough education and service. It’s main project is the Animal Rescue Center in the care but also in making aware it’s visitors as per in general environmental practices and even volunteer programs. Closed on Sundays.
Carara National Park: Depending on timings is an alternative around midway from today’s route or eventually you can postpone it until Day # 11, on your drive from Manuel Antonio to San Jose.
Days 9 & 10: MANUEL ANTONIO
Breakfast
Days at leisure. You can also enjoy the sun, beach or eventually explore on your own the area and it’s different attractions.
Suggested places to visit or ideas:
At an extra cost, here below are some ideas of different attractions or activities to do in the area.
Bicycle Tour through a Tico Village and Waterfall: The visit to a local village, (depending on season the school which has been an active participant in sustainability initiatives), then you will visit the salon communal “the event ballroom” where all community activities takes place. You will also make a stop the village’s pulperia “local convenience store”, where neighbors meet to socialize and gather their groceries. Then you will walk to a waterfall in the surroundings for a refreshing dip.
Local Flavor Tour: We will look to some products according to the lunch menu along with the guide’s assistance. Then will stop by an organic garden to pick out some finishing flavors, colors and textures for your meal. Afterwards you will begin the preparation of your meal, supervised by expert local cooks. Participate in the kitchen and experience of the process making on some elements. Then sit down to settle down your curiosity along with the Costa Rican local flavors.
Santa Juana Rural Mountain Adventure Tour: There is no experience quite like the combination of the “magic of nature” and Costa Rica’s authentic rural heritage of nature, conservation, and rural culture. You’ll hike along lush jungle-shrouded slopes where three rivers are born, then swim in one of the region’s most pristine natural pools beneath a mesmerizing waterfall, spot all kinds of fascinating wildlife, fish for tilapia, and visit an authentic sugar mill powered by massive oxen. Then step back in time to enjoy a traditional Campesino-style lunch and finally, you will also become a vital participant in the Carbon Offset/Native Tree Reforestation Program, adopting your own tree.
In Manuel Antonio you can also visit the National Park or participate in different adventure/aquatic activities in the surroundings.
Day 11: MANUEL ANTONIO – SAN JOSE
Breakfast
You will be returning to our capital city San Jose for the last night stay of the program.
Estimated driving time, non-stop: 4 hour
Estimated length time visiting places on route: 6 – 7 hours
Places to possible visit:
You might want to visit Carara National Park on route or depending on timings, you could explore furthermore the San Jose treasures.
Day 12: SJO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Breakfast
This is your last day in our country, after some unforgettable days. You will be driving your car rental to the (SJO) Juan Santamaria International Airport surroundings to return the vehicle and afterwards check in for your international departing flight.
***Important Notes: Airport authorities request for passengers to be at the Airport 3 hours before flight time on International Departures, this with the purpose to proceed with checking, security checks at Migration and Customs.
Costa Rica Departure tax is not included in the program, in most airlines this tax is already included in the ticket cost, however you must reconfirm this detail directly at the time of purchase.
END OF SERVICES
Details of Hotels
| Location | Hotel Name | Category | Type of Room | CST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San José | Parque del Lago | 3 stars | Standard | 3 |
| Puerto Viejo de Limon | Cariblue Hotel | 3 stars | Superior | 1 |
| Sarapiqui | La Quinta de Sarapiqui | 3 stars | Superior | 5 |
| Arenal | Casa Luna | 3 stars | Standard | 3 |
| Manuel Antonio | The Falls Manuel Antonio | 3 stars | Standard Garden | 3 |