Combine the best of Costa Rica’s natural wonders and beautiful coastlines on this captivating itinerary. Choose between a self-drive for the freedom to explore at your own pace or opt for private transfers for a more relaxed journey between destinations.
1 / 8
2 / 8
3 / 8
4 / 8
5 / 8
6 / 8
7 / 8
8 / 8
Itinerary
2 Nights – San José
2 Nights – Arenal Volcano / La Fortuna
3 Nights – Monteverde
5 Nights – Beach
2 Nights – Rincón de la Vieja (Optional Extension)
Enjoy as a self drive or with a mix of internal flights and private transfers.
✈️ UK to San José (2 nights): You’ll begin your Costa Rican adventure in the lively capital of San José, offering the perfect introduction to the country’s culture, history, food and ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle. Explore museums such as the Gold Museum and Jade Museum or stroll through the Central Market with its maze of stalls. As night falls, head to the city’s wonderful restaurant and bar scene in Barrio Escalante for a taste of the local dishes and to see why the city is quickly gaining a reputation as a foodie’s paradise.
🚗 San Jose to Arenal Volcano / La Fortuna (2 nights): Heading out of the city, you’ll drive to the stunning Arenal Volcano region, known for its cone-shaped active volcano and beautiful surrounding landscapes. The town of La Fortuna is at the base of the volcano and is perfect as a base for exploring the wider region. Whether you’re exploring hot springs, hiking through the Arenal Volcano National Park, or enjoying a thrilling zipline adventure through the rainforest, there’s no shortage of activities. The nearby La Fortuna Waterfall is also a must-see, where you can take a dip in its crystal-clear pool. Also take a boat tour of Lake Arenal for great views of the volcano and wildlife.
🚗 Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna to Monteverde (3 nights): Your journey continues to Monteverde, a cloud forest reserve perched high in the mountains. Constantly draped in mist, the Monteverde Reserve is an almost ethereal park that is home to a wide array of wildlife. Explore the cloud forest on guided walks and walk along the suspension bridges for a bird’s-eye view of the forest. The reserve is also home to several creatures including howler monkeys, sloths, and the quetzal – an elusive and endangered bird with eye-catching green and bright red feathers.
🚗 or ✈️ Monteverde to Beach (5 nights): For the final leg of your trip, you’ll head to the coast to unwind on one of Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches. There are a wealth of beach destinations to choose from, each offering something unique, depending on what you’re looking for and how far you’re willing to travel. For the most convenient option, Manuel Antonio is the closest option, where you can enjoy a perfect blend of rainforest exploration and pristine beaches. With vibrant bars, restaurants, and hotels providing easy access to the national park, it’s ideal for both adventure and relaxation. For a less touristy spot on this coastline, nearby Jaco, Dominical, and Uvita offer equally beautiful alternatives. Or for a more wildlife-focused beach experience, you could head to Drake Bay from which you will have easy access to the Corcovado National Park and also Cano Island, popular with divers and snorkellers. If you’re looking for luxury or all-inclusive resorts, the Guanacaste coast is your best bet. Although it’s a longer drive, or a short flight from San José, the area boasts stunning resorts such as Playa Flamingo, lively Tamarindo, or Nosara, known for its wellness retreats, or Punta Islita, home to boutique luxury hotels. On the Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita offer serene, unspoiled beaches and a laid-back atmosphere – although though getting there requires a bit more travel time.
✈️ Beach to UK: Time to pack your suitcases and leave behind the incredible sights and wonders of Costa Rica, taking with you memories of adventure and paradise.
🚗 Optional Extension: 2 Nights in Rincón de la Vieja
If you’d like to discover even more of this fascinating country, you could consider extending your holiday with a visit to extension to Rincón de la Vieja. It’s an ideal stop after visiting Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna or alternatively after your stay in Monteverde if you are travelling to the Guanacaste region along the Pacific coastline for your beach destination. This fascinating volcanic region offers you the chance to witness an active volcanic and to explore its geothermal activity, waterfalls, and a whole host of wildlife.
Why choose eShores?
One to One Service
Our experienced personal travel consultants will ensure you find the most suitable holiday, whilst taking care of every last detail. Everything from start to finish will be effortless.
100% Tailor Made
We can use any hotel, in any destination, so we will craft an itinerary to suit your exact needs. Also, as we can provide any itinerary, the only holiday we'll offer, is the one that's right for you.
Fully Protected
Our ATOL bonding provides you with the financial protection you need and as a member of the Travel Trust Association, you'll have 100% financial protection. Covering you for any eventuality.
Competitive Pricing
As a tour operator & travel agent, we'll search the market to ensure that we find you the best price. Also as an online business, we can ensure our prices are as competitive as possible.
-
Michael
Laura has been very helpful in assisting us twice and responds quickly to our many queries. Our recent holiday to Lake Garda was a great success and we hope Madeira next year will prove likewise
Posted 1 day ago -
DeborahChristine
Excellent service from start to finish. Our hotel package was designed totally to our requirments. Matt was super efficient and was more than happy to go that extra mile to ensure our package was the best..i would definitely recommend eShores and i will be using them again in the future.
Posted 1 day ago -
Peter
Nick was a pleasure to deal with, He was patient and happy to make changes to our trip several times, I'd recommend dealing with him and eshores, Thanks nick
Posted 1 day ago -
Geoffrey
Have used E-Shores for years & always been very pleased. I have mainly booked all my trips with Dave, who has always been excellent & seems to go the extra mile in all my dealings with him. All the flights, hotels & transfers have run like clockwork. Fantastic service.
Posted 3 days ago -
Anonymous
Chris was excellent, patient and efficient.
Posted 3 days ago -
Paul
Booking process really good & Michelle was exceptionally helpful in getting the trip booked to our requirements
Posted 3 days ago -
Susan
As always Dave came back to us quickly. He has come up with everything we wanted for our holiday to Italy next June. He is so helpful. It’s such a pleasure to book through Eshores.
Posted 5 days ago -
MartynPaul
My wife and I are independant travellers who did not want to be part of a larger tour group although we needed some help with the itinerary - flights, hotels, transfers etc. This is where eShores came in to the picture. I found the entire booking process to be a very positive experience primarily because we were assigned a dediacted travel advisor who remained with us as the sole point of contact throughout the entire process. Kelly was friendly, knowledgeable and responded back to any query promptly. We discussed some initial ideas over the phone and then she e-mailed me various options and we finally selected a trip to Cambodia and South Vietnam. Overall a brilliant service from Kelly and the eShores team (ps We are yet to take the trip but will report back on how the itinerary works out in practical terms when we head out in 2026)
Posted 5 days ago -
Helen
We have booked our honeymoon to Lake Como in Italy through eShores and Anna was brilliant, she found exactly what we wanted for better value for money than other webistes I came across, and made the whole experience so simple!
Posted 6 days ago -
RosemaryAnne
Brilliant travel company, Dave listens carefully to what you would like then gets it sorted to your budget. Very pleased with the quote.
Posted 1 week ago
Talk To The Experts
Your personal travel consultant will get to know your needs, ensuring they find you the most suitable holiday, at the best price!