This tailor-made Costa Rica trip takes you through Central America's greenest country in 16 days. You start with two quiet nights near San José and a morning at the crater of Poás volcano, then head by boat into the jungle canals of Tortuguero, soak in hot springs below Arenal volcano, walk through the cloud forest of Monteverde, look for sloths in Manuel Antonio and end with three quiet days near Uvita on the Pacific coast.
It is a private trip: you travel with your partner, family or friends on the dates you choose, with no group. You pick self-drive or private transfers; hotels, park tickets and the airport pickup are arranged in advance. The route is my recommended one, and you can change whatever you like.
At a glance
- Recommended duration: 16 days (10 to 21 days possible)
- Format: private, fully arranged, tailor-made
- Start: any day, you choose the dates
- Transport: your choice of self-drive (4x4 rental) or private transfers; road and boat transfer to Tortuguero
- Comfort level: Budget, Comfort or Premium
- Price from (indicative price): €1,790 pp excluding flight (based on 2 travellers); flight approx. €650–990 pp, not included, depending on the month
- Travelling as four: about 13% less per person · travelling solo: about 55% more
- Best months: December to April, plus July and August
| Comfort level | Self-drive | With private driver |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €1,790 | €1,960 |
| Comfort | €2,100 | €2,270 |
| Premium | €3,310 | €3,450 |
Prices are per person, based on 2 travellers, excluding the international flight. They are indicative estimates and may change once partner quotes are in.
Best time to travel
The dry season from December to April is the classic choice for the Pacific side and the mountains. July and August fall in the green season but often bring a drier spell; they also overlap with the turtle nesting season in Tortuguero (July to October). The Caribbean side is wet all year. September and October bring the heaviest rain, especially on the Pacific side, so we advise against those months.
Whales are another reason to look at the calendar: humpbacks pass Uvita from July to October and from December to March.
The route and why it runs this way
The route forms a loop from the Caribbean to the Pacific, so you never retrace your steps. You start with two nights near San José airport: on the second day a private driver takes you up Poás volcano in the morning, when the crater is most likely to be clear, and on the way back you taste coffee at Hacienda Doka, a family estate on the volcano's slopes. Poás is active and the park can close without warning; then you spend the morning in San José instead, at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the National Theatre. Rested, you are then driven through Braulio Carrillo National Park to the boat landing for Tortuguero, which has no roads. After two nights you pick up your rental car (or meet your driver) in Guápiles and continue about 3 hours to La Fortuna at the foot of Arenal, where you stay three nights.
From Arenal you drive around the lake to Monteverde (3 to 3.5 hours), or without a car you cross it by jeep, boat and jeep. Then 4 hours down to Manuel Antonio, with a stop at the crocodile bridge over the Tárcoles River. The final stretch to Uvita is only an hour, and the trip ends with three nights there so you finish rested. From Uvita it's 3.5 to 4 hours back to San José airport for an evening flight.
See the full day-by-day itinerary
Self-drive or private transfers?
Costa Rica is one of the best countries for a self-drive trip. Your 4x4 is waiting in Guápiles on day 5, after Tortuguero, where no car is needed, and you return it at the airport on day 15 with no one-way fee. A Belgian licence is enough, you drive on the right and distances are short, but roads are narrow and winding: count on 40 to 50 km/h and drive in daylight only. Full insurance is included.
Prefer not to drive? A licensed driver collects you at your hotel for every leg, and you cross Lake Arenal by jeep-boat-jeep. The price difference is small, because rental cars with mandatory insurance are expensive in Costa Rica.
Either way, you explore the parks at your own pace. Prefer a guide? I can add a local guide to any activity. A licensed guide is only compulsory for the night turtle tour in Tortuguero and in Corcovado. Manuel Antonio and Poás work with timed tickets and Manuel Antonio closes on Tuesdays; we plan your dates around that. You also have a WhatsApp line with me and a personal 24/7 number.
Practical tips
- Visa (Belgian passport): no visa required. Immigration decides how many days you get. Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay (6 months is recommended), and you need proof of return travel within 90 days.
- Health: no mandatory vaccinations when arriving from Europe. Dengue occurs, so protect yourself against mosquitoes. Check wanda.be or a travel clinic.
- Money: colón, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and cards are common.
- Flights and time: no direct flight; 14 to 17 hours with a connection in Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam. Costa Rica is 7 hours behind Belgium in winter.
- Packing: light rain jacket, walking shoes and a warm layer for Monteverde.
- Meals: Breakfast is included every day; at Comfort and Premium level also full board at the Tortuguero lodge, where there is no alternative. For the other meals you get my restaurant recommendations, but you are completely free to choose where and when you eat: I never steer you to expensive restaurants in return for a commission.
Travel advice
The Belgian FPS Foreign Affairs says travel is possible with basic precautions, but petty and violent crime have increased across the country, including in tourist areas and national parks. Never leave belongings visible in a vehicle and avoid walking after dark in towns and on beaches. Rip currents are dangerous on both coasts and there are few lifeguards, so swim only where your hotel advises. Read the latest advice on diplomatie.belgium.be.
Frequently asked questions
When can I see sea turtles in Tortuguero?
Nesting is most likely from July to October. If turtles matter to you, travel in those months. By law, turtle tours only go with a licensed guide and without torches.
Can I see whales near Uvita?
There's a chance from July to October and from December to March. It's never guaranteed.
Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?
No, not with a Belgian passport. Bring proof of your return flight.
Can I travel solo or change the route?
Yes to both. Solo travellers pay about 55% more because the room and transport are not shared; four travelling together pay about 13% less per person. You can change the number of days, the order, the hotels and the activities.
Is Costa Rica expensive?
It's the most expensive country in Central America, and many prices are in US dollars. Our prices are estimates and may change with the exchange rate.
Plan your trip
There are no fixed departures: you leave whenever you like. It starts with a personal intake meeting, at your home or by video. You then receive a tailor-made proposal, with my recommended route as the starting point. Plan a call via the interest list or email info@steennot-travels.be. Before we start selling trips, we take out the legally required insurance against financial insolvency. Prices remain estimates until then.
Sources
- https://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/landen/costa-rica/reizen-naar-costa-rica-reisadvies/algemene-veiligheid-costa-rica
- https://www.visitcostarica.com/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements
- https://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/acopac/pnma/Pages/default.aspx
- https://conserveturtles.org/program-activity/green-turtles-in-tortuguero/
- https://www.wanda.be/nl/
Last updated: 7 October 2026. Prices and dates are indicative estimates and may change.
