Surf Costa Rica, Self-drive (On Request)
Tour Overview
Embark on a thrilling self-drive adventure through Costa Rica with the "Surf Costa Rica" tour. Begin your journey in the vibrant capital, San José, exploring its rich history and culture. Then, hit the road to Tamarindo Beach, renowned for its lively nightlife and exceptional surfing conditions. Continue to Jaco Beach, a bustling hub for surfers and beachgoers, offering a mix of waves and vibrant local life. Finally, escape to the serene and untamed beauty of Dominical, where lush landscapes and uncrowded beaches await. With nine nights of accommodation, a 4x4 rental car, and daily breakfasts included, this tour offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, allowing you to explore Costa Rica's stunning Pacific coast at your own pace. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : ARRIVAL SAN JOSÉ
Location: San José
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Inn or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your Costa Rican adventure begins on arrival to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José. Our representative will meet and greet you and then direct you to your transport, which will drop you off at your hotel in San Jose for your first night in Costa Rica.
Overnight in San José
Day 2 : SAN JOSÉ – TAMARINDO (265 Km – 4.5 Hrs)
Location: San José, Tamarindo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Tamarindo or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, get ready to start your tour today. Meet the car rental representatives at the lobby of your hotel in San José. Then drive your rental car to Tamarindo. Located in the North Pacific, the Tamarindo area is a destination that was made based on Surfing, after the publication of the film "Endless Summer" by Bruce Brown in 1966, this small town of Guanacaste become a beach destination in it is called Golden Coast of Costa Rica. Near Tamarindo you can find many nearby spots, such as Langosta beach, Playa Grande, Playa Negra, and Roca Bruja among others. The climate is tropical, with an average temperature of 32º C, with two well-marked seasons, the dry season (November - April) is dry, hot and sunny, with very little humidity which makes the atmosphere very pleasant and the rainy season ( April - October), with a characteristic that the mornings are sunny and in the afternoon there are great downpours that come from the interior of the country towards the coast, many times these characteristics produce spectacular sunsets, in this season the forest is green and abundant. Check in your selected hotel in Tamarindo.
Overnight in Tamarindo
Day 3 : TAMARINDO
Location: Tamarindo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Tamarindo or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Breakfast at the Hotel. Leisure day in the Tamarindo to enjoy the beach, the waves and explore the area on your own.
Overnight in Tamarindo
Day 4 : TAMARINDO – JACÓ (235 Km – 4 hrs)
Location: Tamarindo, Jacó, Playa Hermosa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Terraza del Pacífico or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure to Jacó. Jaco is the closest beach to San Jose and one of the most visited coastal destinations in Costa Rica. The beach is a strip of 2.5 miles (4 km), with world famous spots such as Playa Hermosa, which even hosted a Surfing World Championship organized by ISA in 2009. With waves suitable for beginners and experts, numerous services and an active nightlife, Jacó is an excellent option for the practice of this fantastic sport.
Overnight in Jacó.
Day 5 : JACÓ
Location: Jacó, El Miro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Terraza del Pacífico or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a fantastic breakfast at the hotel and enjoy this day in Jaco surfing, resting or continuing to discover corners of Jaco as El Miro which is an access to the mountain where you will have a spectacular view of Jaco. But not only that, on the way you could find monkeys, frogs, toucans and barnacles in their natural environment, in addition to decorated walls and many graffiti, seriously, they are many, you can also enjoy a bike ride, but not just any Bike, the preferred one is "Banana" or just marvel at a sunset, look for the place you prefer, from the balcony of a hotel, from the mountain, from your table in a restaurant or just sitting on the sand, and enjoy this show Free nature offers you. There is no sunset like this and I assure you that the ones in Playa Jaco have a magical touch that you will love.
Overnight in Jacó.
Day 6 : JACÓ
Location: Jacó, Carara National Park, Grande de Tárcoles River
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Terraza del Pacífico or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take advantage of this last day in Jacó, after breakfast at the hotel, relax on the beach or surfing or drive to the Carara National Park. Here you can discover the natural wealth that this park hides, such as the variety of dry and wet forest species, since it is a transition type forest, or marshes that turn each landscape into an incomparable scenic beauty. You can also observe various species of reptiles, such as crocodiles that measure up to three meters long and that can be observed in the Grande de Tárcoles River, or water birds such as pink herons or needle ducks, among many others.
Overnight in Jacó
Day 7 : JACÓ – DOMINICAL (110 Km – 1.5 hrs)
Location: Dominical
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Diuwak or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure to your next destination, Playa Dominical in the exotic South Pacific. Dominical is a beach town in the South Pacific of the province of Puntarenas. It is surrounded by tropical forest and its population is extremely small. Its beach, characterized by its strong waves and open sea, measures around 2 kilometers and is on the banks of the mouth of the Barú River. It is famous for its great waves throughout the year and is well known by most surfers in Costa Rica. The town began as a small fishing village, but has grown to become a well-known Costa Rican tourist destination, especially for surfers.
Overnight in Dominical
Day 8 : DOMINICAL
Location: Dominical
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Diuwak or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Breakfast at the Hotel. Leisure days in Dominical to enjoy the beach, the waves and explore the area on your own.
Overnight in Dominical.
Day 9 : DOMINICAL
Location: Dominical
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Diuwak or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel. If you need a break from the waves, the Dominical coasts also have dense tropical rain forests, which are excellent for hiking. Home of several waterfalls and caves where you will have an unforgettable experience.
Overnight in Dominical
Day 10 : DOMINICAL – SAN JOSÉ (210 Km – 4 hrs)
Location: San José
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy your last breakfast in Costa Rica and then check out and in advance drive to the point of return of the rental car, which we will indicate on the day of delivery of the rental car and take the flight to your next destination
What's Included
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Transportation
Air-conditioned transportation on a shared basis on Day 1 from Airport to Hotel.
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Car Hire
Rented Car 4x4 Toyota Fortuner from Day 2 to Day 10 with unlimited mileage, applicable local taxes (VAT), insurance with no excess, loss damage waiver (LDW), supplemental liability coverage (SLC), emergency contact service, replacement car in case of accident, full-full petrol rate, second driver, and coverage up to 70,000 USD per person or 175,000 USD per accident. ...more ...less
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Other Services
Meet and greet on Day 1 and hotel taxes.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme.
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Airport Fees
Airport taxes and airport porterage.
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Optional Tours
Optional tours are not included.
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International Travel
International flight tickets or visa fees and local taxes are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for drivers and guides are not included.
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Car Hire Exclusions
Damage to a third party or to the hire vehicle due to negligence or inappropriate driving, loss or damage to aerials, jack, safety triangles and vests, windscreen, wipers, petrol cap, luggage covers, or any other fixed or mobile component of the vehicle, damage to the engine through negligence, theft of the vehicle with keys left in the ignition, damage caused to the vehicle or to persons through driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fines due to breaking traffic laws and regulations during the hire period, any extra equipment (GPS, baby seat, etc), and petrol deposit of 100 USD; refunded when returning full. ...more ...less
Mode of Transport
Begin your journey with air-conditioned shared transportation from the airport to your hotel on Day 1. From Day 2 to Day 10, explore Costa Rica with a rented 4x4 Toyota Fortuner, offering unlimited mileage, insurance, and emergency contact service for a seamless self-drive experience.Requirements
Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Costa Rica. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.Please Note
- The minimum age to rent a vehicle or be a driver is 21 years
- All drivers must have a valid driver's license
- The person who signs the contract must have an international credit card, Visa or Master Card, AMEX
- Pick-up service at the San José Airport is 24 hours
- Pick-up service at the Liberia Airport are from Monday to Sunday, 05:00 to 21:00 hrs. Pick-up outside of these times are subject to a surcharge.
- Pick-up hours at other locations are from Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 17:00 hrs
- All pick-up times at other locations will be set according to the office hours.
- Accident/theft reporting must be notified within 24 hours of incident
- If the customer returns the vehicle earlier than the agreed upon drop-off date stated in the rental contract, the rental company will not refund the customer for any unused days.
- Deposit by credit card: Visa or Master Card only
- Please note that local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to tour contents without prior notice
- For self-guided visits, you must pay your entrance fee directly at the front desk of each park or attraction
- Recommended arrival before 14:00 hrs.
- Recommended departure time after 15 hrs.
Accommodation options
Day 1 San José:
- Standard Hotel Category = Park Inn or similar 3*
- Superior Hotel Category = Presidente or similar 4*
- Standard Hotel Category = Wyndham Tamarindo or similar 3*
- Superior Hotel Category = Tamarindo Diriá or similar 4*
- Standard Hotel Category = Terraza del Pacífico or similar 3*
- Superior Hotel Category = Océano Boutique Hotel & Gallery or similar 4*
- Standard Hotel Category = Diuwak or similar 3*
- Superior Hotel Category = Villas Río Mar or similar 4*
- Car Group A = Toroya Fortuner Automatic w/o AC or similar
Accommodation
Enjoy 9 nights of accommodation with options ranging from standard 3-star hotels like Park Inn in San José and Wyndham Tamarindo, to superior 4-star hotels such as Presidente and Tamarindo Diria. Experience comfort and convenience in each location, including Jaco and Dominical.Check out our Q&As
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What type of vehicle is included in the car hire for the tour?
The car hire includes a 4x4 Toyota Fortuner with unlimited mileage, insurance with no excess, loss damage waiver, supplemental liability coverage, emergency contact service, replacement car in case of accident, full-full petrol rate, and a second driver option.
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Are there any specific requirements for renting a car during the tour?
Yes, the minimum age to rent a vehicle or be a driver is 21 years. All drivers must have a valid driver's license, and the person who signs the contract must have an international credit card, Visa or Master Card, AMEX.
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What is the climate like in Tamarindo during the tour?
Tamarindo has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 32°C. There are two well-marked seasons: the dry season from November to April, which is dry, hot, and sunny with very little humidity, and the rainy season from April to October, where mornings are sunny and afternoons often have downpours. ...more ...less
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What activities can I do in Jaco during the tour?
In Jaco, you can enjoy surfing, explore El Miro for a spectacular view and wildlife, enjoy a bike ride, or marvel at the sunset from various locations. You can also visit Carara National Park to discover its natural wealth, including various species of reptiles and birds.
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What is special about Dominical as a surfing destination?
Dominical is famous for its great waves throughout the year and is well known by most surfers in Costa Rica. It is a beach town surrounded by tropical forest, offering a more secluded and quiet vacation experience.
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Do you offer any travel insurance?
We do not offer Travel Insurance but would strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy prior to departure.
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Are flights included in the tour?
No, they are not included
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When are there specific hotel names confirmed?
Confirmed hotel names are informed latest 10 days prior to client´s arrival
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Booking confirmation with Itinerary and confirmation vouchers
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You can change it by logging into your profile and click on Bookings. Please check your cancellation policy.
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Is there any option for solo traveller?
Yes of course. Please note that the default selection shows the price per person per double room. For solo travellers, you will have to select a single room when available.
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What does the price include?
What is included is stated specifically on the product Description. Gratuities are at your discretion. Prices do not include (unless stated otherwise) - gratuities to the guide, driver or tour manager.
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Are Visa fees included in the price?
No, visa fees are not included
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Low Deposit
Destination Services Costa Rica requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of destination services costa rica charges.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Surf Costa Rica, Self-drive (On Request)
10 Days Starting and ending in San José, Costa Rica
Visiting: San José, Tamarindo, Jacó, Playa Hermosa, El Miro, Carara National Park, Grande de Tárcoles River, Dominical ...more ...less
Tour operator:
Tour code:
249773
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
21-
