Costa Rica, thirteen days between volcanoes and the Pacific

13 days
Independent self-drive
from CHF 3,900 per person

A self-drive trip designed for a traveling couple: active craters, a turquoise river, the beaches of Guanacaste, and a side trip to Nicaragua, all arranged end to end, lived at your own pace.

Tell us about your trip

The itinerary

A base camp on the Pacific, with days yours to shape

The idea behind this itinerary: an all-inclusive five-star resort on Playa Matapalo, your springboard for daily outings to Guanacaste's volcanoes, mangroves, and rivers. Two days on the road complete the loop: arriving through San José and the Poás volcano, then a night facing Arenal before heading home.

Duration: 13 days
Trip style: Independent self-drive
Estimated budget: from CHF 3,900 per person

The budget shown is an estimate, flights included: each itinerary is then tailored to your wishes and the season, at a fair price.

Main route shown as a solid line, day trips as dotted lines.

Crater of the Poás volcano with its blue acid lake wreathed in mist, Costa Rica

01Days 1 to 2

San José, then the Poás crater

The trip eases in gently: rental car picked up at the airport, a first night in the heart of the capital, and sunset from the hotel rooftop. The next morning, the road climbs through coffee plantations to the Poás volcano and its vivid blue acid lake; arrive early, before the clouds close over the crater. Visits depend on the volcano's activity: the park closes regularly at the moment, so its opening is confirmed the day before. A swim at the Llanos del Cortés waterfalls before continuing to the coast.

Golden sand of Playa Matapalo at sunset, palm trees in silhouette

02Days 2 to 5

Base camp on Playa Matapalo

The all-inclusive five-star resort becomes your home port: infinity pools overlooking the Pacific, à la carte restaurants, massages at the water's edge. From the beach, a boat reaches the lively bay of Playas del Coco in twenty minutes; one morning, the channels of the Cipanci refuge unfold among herons, crocodiles, and mangroves. Between outings, time slows down. By design.

Río Celeste waterfall dropping into a turquoise pool in the heart of the Costa Rican jungle

03Days 6 to 8

Rincón de la Vieja and the celestial river

Two days of raw nature, broken up by a day at the pool. In Rincón de la Vieja park: ziplines through the canopy, river tubing, then volcanic hot springs. Farther east, the Tenorio volcano trail leads to the Río Celeste, whose turquoise water (a genuine mineral phenomenon) plunges into a pool deep in the jungle. Monkeys, toucans and, with a little patience, sloths.

Colorful colonial street in Granada, Nicaragua, church bell tower in the evening light

04Days 9 to 10

Whitewashed Liberia, then Nicaragua

A morning in Liberia's colonial streets (the Guanacaste museum, the craft market, lunch at a typical soda), before the big cross-border day: Granada, one of Central America's oldest cities, Lake Nicaragua, then the smoking crater of the Masaya volcano: since the 2024 landslide, the lava is no longer visible, only a red glow at the bottom of the crater. Air-conditioned coach and English-speaking guide, from your hotel.

Arenal volcano above the rainforest under a late-day sky, Costa Rica

05Days 11 to 12

Arenal, a night facing the volcano

Head inland for the country's most recognizable silhouette: the cone of Arenal rising above its lake. A quiet cruise on the water, then late afternoon at the Tabacón hot springs, heated by the volcano amid tropical gardens. The night is spent in a bungalow facing the crater, hot tub on the terrace: the stop travelers ask us to book again.

Costa Rican road through the rainforest in golden late-day light

06Day 13

Back through San José

Return to base camp for one more beach day, then the road to San José: the car dropped off right at the airport, a little last-minute shopping, and a scheduled flight home to Geneva. You come home with a full travel journal, and we stay reachable until your front door.

The budget, line by line

What this trip covers

International flights
Geneva to San José round trip on scheduled airlines, with connections chosen to keep layovers short.
Rental car
A vehicle for the length of the stay, basic insurance included: each leg at your own pace.
Handpicked accommodations
An all-inclusive five-star resort as base camp, a charming hotel in San José, and a bungalow facing Arenal volcano.
Parks and activities
National park entrances, the Lake Arenal cruise, the Tabacón springs: the highlights are booked ahead of time.
A day in Nicaragua
Guided excursion to Granada and the Masaya volcano, coach transport and guide included.
Personalized road book
A day-by-day itinerary sheet, trusted addresses, and practical advice, written for this particular trip.

Estimated budget: from CHF 3,900 per person, flights included, then fine-tuned to the season and your wishes.

Travel with meaning

Experiencing Costa Rica beyond tourism

Ten days of immersion in a small group: eco-lodges run by locals, meetings with entrepreneurs and farmers, sustainability initiatives in Guanacaste. Costa Rica as it is actually lived.

Meaningful Travel

This itinerary is only one example: yours could include Tortuguero, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio or the Osa Peninsula.

Tailor-made Costa Rica vacations, region by region

This trip has its own film: the footage we brought back from scouting it on location.

Watch the film of this trip