Advice about itinerary and car rental

You can rent a 4x4 in San Jose if you want, but you don't need one to drive on Costa Rica roads. Almost all the roads are paved. Yes, you can return a car at a different location for a fee, but since you're starting and ending in San Jose, why would you want to?

And you don't need to visit every national park in Costa Rica. You've got too many destinations on your list. You can visit Poas in one day's time if you leave really early in the morning from San Jose, to get there before the clouds set in. But to get to/from Monteverde; it's isolated and you're going to need more than 2 days for travel and to enjoy the cloud forest.

You could go to the Caribbean coast by bus. Easy to get around there without a car. If you arrive early on day 1 go to Tortuguero by bus/boat. Otherwise go the morning of day 2. Spend day 3 in Tortuguero. Take the scenic boat ride to Moin, taxi/bus to Limon and bus to Cahuita on day 4. Day 5: Cahuita National Park. Day 6 and 7: bus to Manzanillo (1 hour). Day 8: bus back to San Jose or go rafting on the Rio Pacuare (the tour company picks you up in Puerto Viejo, takes you rafting and drops you off in San Jose).

Then rent a car. Day 9 could be for Poas if Poas is open again (and you would indeed have to go early and you only need half a day there as there is just the viewpoint and two short trails). Right now Poas is closed (too active). You might want more than one day in Monteverde. I have not been to Juan Castro Blanco or Carara so I don't know how interesting these parks are/how many trails... But I have been to Curu and although I loved it I would consider skipping it so you have more time for your other destinations. You will have seen lots of wildlife by then.

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