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Turtles and whales

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Choose when you go and with how many, change the nights at each stop (0 skips it) and tick the tours you want. The route, the kilometres and the costs follow.

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Day by day

Map view
Day 1 · 140 km · 3 h 20 min Day 4 · 130 km · 3 h Day 5 · 160 km · 4 h Day 9 · 70 km · 1 h 30 min Day 11 · 160 km · 3 h 10 min Day 12 · 10 km · 10 min 1Tortuguero 2San José 3Uvita 4Manuel Antonio 5Alajuela

Big map and driving plan →

Map: Natural Earth (public domain) · roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Day 1 Land at San José (SJO), drive to Tortuguero About 140 km, 3 h 20 min

  2. Tortuguero, Limón

    Days 1–3 · 3 nights

    Tortuguero, Limón

    By canoe through the canals of Tortuguero

    Highlights

    • The Tortuguero canals
    • The village and the nesting beach
    • Cerro Tortuguero

    Another night here? With an extra night: climb Cerro Tortuguero, or a second canoe trip at sunrise.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Tortuguero

    Cabinas Tortuguero Sports Fishing Cabinas Tortuguero Sports Fishing ★★★★★ · 9.7 Chilamate Room Chilamate Room ★★★★★ · 9.6 Casa Chilamates 2.0 Casa Chilamates 2.0 ★★★★★ · 9.4 Cabinas Tortuguero Natural Cabinas Tortuguero Natural ★★★★★ · 9.0 Apartamentos Caimán 3 Apartamentos Caimán 3 ★★★★★ · 8.8

  3. Day 4 Tortuguero, drive to San José About 130 km, 3 h

  4. San José, San José

    Day 4 · 1 night

    San José, San José

    The Teatro Nacional and the Mercado Central

    Highlights

    • Teatro Nacional
    • Gold Museum
    • Mercado Central

    Another night here? With an extra night: the Jade Museum, or a day trip to Irazú volcano.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in San José

    Viajero San José Hostel Viajero San José Hostel ★★★★★ · 9.3 Isla Verde Hotel Isla Verde Hotel ★★★★★ · 9.1 Hotel Residence Inn Suites Cristina Hotel Residence Inn Suites Cristina ★★★★★ · 9.0 from €120 a night Hilton Garden Inn Santa Ana, San Jose Hilton Garden Inn Santa Ana, San Jose ★★★★★ · 8.8 from €90 a night D Sabana Hotel San José D Sabana Hotel San José ★★★★★ · 8.8 from €120 a night

  5. Day 5 San José, drive to Uvita About 160 km, 4 h

  6. Uvita, Puntarenas

    Days 5–8 · 4 nights

    Uvita, Puntarenas

    Whales off the Whale's Tail

    Highlights

    • The Whale's Tail in Marino Ballena
    • Uvita waterfall
    • Caño Island by boat

    Another night here? With an extra night: diving or snorkelling at Caño Island, or the Nauyaca waterfalls.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Uvita

    Bambura Bahia Villas Bambura Bahia Villas ★★★★★ · 10.0 Ruca Lodge - Luxury Container Tiny Home Surrounded by Nature Ruca Lodge - Luxury Container Tiny Home Surrounded by Nature ★★★★★ · 9.9 Apartamentos Equipados DMR #3 Apartamentos Equipados DMR #3 ★★★★★ · 9.7 MADRE TERRA MADRE TERRA ★★★★★ · 9.7 Cedrela Beach Villas Cedrela Beach Villas ★★★★★ · 9.6

  7. Day 9 Uvita, drive to Manuel Antonio About 70 km, 1 h 30 min

  8. Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas

    Days 9–10 · 2 nights

    Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas

    Sloths and monkeys above white bays

    Highlights

    • Manuel Antonio National Park
    • Espadilla beach
    • Sunset over the Pacific

    Another night here? With an extra night: a catamaran along the coast, or kayaking in the Damas mangroves.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Manuel Antonio

    Apto Cielo Azul Apto Cielo Azul ★★★★★ · 9.0 Hotel Playa Espadilla Hotel Playa Espadilla ★★★★★ · 9.0 Mango Moon Villa Mango Moon Villa ★★★★★ · 8.8 Hotel Planeta Sano Hotel Planeta Sano ★★★★★ · 8.7 Natural Pacific Suites, private family rooms Natural Pacific Suites, private family rooms ★★★★★ · 8.7

  9. Day 11 Manuel Antonio, drive to Alajuela About 160 km, 3 h 10 min

  10. Alajuela, Alajuela

    Day 11 · 1 night

    Alajuela, Alajuela

    Poás crater, an hour from the airport

    Highlights

    • Poás volcano crater
    • La Paz waterfall gardens
    • Coffee farm in the hills of Alajuela

    Another night here? With an extra night: La Paz waterfall gardens, or a day in San José with the Gold Museum and the Mercado Central.

    Tours to book

    Hotels in Alajuela

    Casa Cafetal Aeropuerto Two Bedrooms Casa Cafetal Aeropuerto Two Bedrooms ★★★★★ · 10.0 Hotel Bamboo Aeropuerto Hotel Bamboo Aeropuerto ★★★★★ · 9.4 Las Carmelas, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José Las Carmelas, Airport Juan Santamaría, Alajuela, San José ★★★★★ · 9.4 Hildas Bed and Breakfast Hildas Bed and Breakfast ★★★★★ · 9.2 Hostal Casa Azul Hostal Casa Azul ★★★★★ · 8.5

  11. Day 12 Alajuela to San José airport (SJO), fly home to Amsterdam About 10 km, 10 min

Tours: €0 The trip, roughly: €4,410 (€2,210 a person)

Arrange something yourself

A few days with family or friends, a train ride, local transport: a part of the trip you arrange yourself. No hotel and no tours of ours; without the car, no kilometres and no hire those days. Enter what it costs and it counts in the total.