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Should I book a tour in Costa Rica or just make the plans myself?
Sep
3
2008
My family (2 adults, 2 young kids) is considering a vacation in Costa Rica. The rainforest is calling out to us — and maybe the Pacific coast too. We’d like to hike in the forest, try a zip line, a canopy tour, see some waterfalls, monkeys, butterflies, and maybe even a volcano. Is it better to plan things myself (and rent a car) or just go with a tour?
Posted by Fernando
Answer #2
Most tour groups include fat heads that become so annoying that they become the main object of attention. And most tour guides are obnoxious wonderfully ignorant know it alls.
You will not get many or any real discounts by going with a group. You get the discounts by avoiding peak travel times. Avoid Easter Week, June, and Christmas/New Years if you can.
Car rentals are not the best in Costa Rica but bus service and taxis are cheap. Use buses for the main trip and local taxis. Also you can rent a car with driver for reasonable prices per day. This is a great convenience and keeps you out of the clutches of the car rental agencies and the local traffic cops. Both here are notoriously greedy and very efficient at stripping you of your cash.
Check amcostarica.com and theticotimes for touist advertising. Use the internet to talk to hotel. Traveling as a group of 4 should get you some price breaks in the off season.
But avoid the organized tours, they are always frustrating and annoying, you have to keep to their schedule and put up with randomly attached morons.
Answer #3
Hola Happy Mom (love the name).
In my many years of extended stays in Costa Rica I have never taken a “tour” or had a company plan and book my trips.
Ironically, now that I live in Costa Rica I just recently sought out tour packages when my mom, daughter and ex-father-in-law were visiting to see if I could find a better bargain for 5 wanting to experience Tortuguero … this attempt confirmed to me that it is better booking yourself.
In my opinion, tours and pre-planned vacations will get you there for a price (both in money and in missing some unique adventures). One size does certainly not fit all when it comes to exploring the wonderful country of Costa Rica.
It will be some work, but planning your own trip and leaving a little bit to chance proves to be a fun adventure.
That said I recommend public transportation as it is abundant, cheaper and safer (see my blog at for more details.
English speaking group forum and blog sites are a great way to get direction toward a wonderful experience in Costa Rica.
Answer #4
If you want to avoid the hassle, then definitely book a tour. You will have your itinerary planned out and you won’t have to worry about a thing. There are many tour companies in Costa Rica who specialize in the adventure that you are looking for. You should have no problems finding one. You can try the TicosLand.com website. We have some travel agencies listed that can help you find what you are looking for.
You can find a lot more information about Costa Rica in the TicosLand.com website.
Answer #5
To be honest Happy Mom, I’ve experienced both and helped friends and clients in both, most travel agencies in Costa Rica work on commission with the hotels and tour companies, so really you will not get charged more than if you do it by yourself.
Also this kind of vacation package is completely personal, you will not be herded like cattle to the hotels and the tours will have for the most part a small number of people.
The real advantage of using a travel agency is that they already know which are the best providers, and they know about logistics, transportation etc.
I would like to suggest you check out and check out the tours you are interested in, we are going to be able to quote a complete vacation package for you completely free.
Even if you don’t use our service, If its your first time in Costa Rica, I would recommend you don’t rent a car, the roads here are terrible and you can get lost easily, best if you use a travel agency.
Answer #6
you can do it by yourself, tour agencies could be more expensive
Answer #7
I had a similar question a few months ago, I hope the answer helps you
I´m a trip adviser in Costa Rica, I read your question and frankly it all depends on how much information you can get, pre booked or when you get here.
Pre booked
Pros – you can acquire most of the information online, most tour operators and travel agencies as well as hotels have great information on their web pages. Also if you are only going to be here for a short period of time you can create an itinerary so that you and your friends can get most of it.
Cons – you might miss cheap deals if you don´t have a clue were to look for.
On site
Pros – being here you´ll probably make friends, that can guide you through travel agencies or tour operators which can be cheaper than the one you found online.
Cons – you can get ripped if your not careful, just to save a few bucks
Conclusion
If you want to make your life easier pre book, that will guarantee your safety, make the most out of your trip but it will probably cost you more. For me, to save a few bucks and get my camera stolen its not such a great deal.
If you want adventure and cheap deals, then you should try searching for the best deals here.
If you need more help check my online chat,
Answer #8
I would highly reccomend doing a tour. My family and I, 2 adults and 2 kids, went to costa rica this summer, and we went with Caravan Tours. It is ver cheap and you definately cover the best things to see and do in Costa Rica. We went to two volcanoes, and went ziplining, as well as many many other things. The tour is 10 days and it is 1000 dollars per person I think.
Answer #10
I like the variety of answers you’ve gotten so far.
My opinion (especially with “2 young kids” involved) is to book a tour that includes all the features you mention. You avoid a lot of hassles and waste of time “searching.” It may cost more, but for the kids’ sakes (and your peace of mind), it’ll be worth it.
I did “assume” you don’t have a whole lot of time (I mean, like months). Otherwise, I would have definitely recommended planning the trip yourself.
Bottom line: unless the variables of time and/or money are at extremes you don’t mention, I’d go for booking. (Also if you don’t speak Spanish.)
Answer #11
Yes… Trying to figure it out on your own when you get here, or seperatly on line is not the best idea. Booking everything ahead of time will save you a LOT of time and let you get more out of your trip.
Stay away from the Lonely Planet Guide for Costa Rica. It is littered with inaccurate, outdated, and jaded information. Get in touch with a well know tour company that will handle everything for you from the moment you arive at the airport until the end of your saty. You’ll have a more enjoyable, safer, and higher quality experience that way.
Answer #12
I think it depends on how much you want to plan on your own and how open you are to last minute changes. I lived in Costa Rica a year- and at that time did everything on my own when it came to seeing the country. It was cheap that way- BUT more work and there were a lot A LOT of unexpected challenges that I faced (strikes that changed bus routes, problems with hotels, buses that come late ..since they are on Tico Time and dont’ really follow a schedule). If you do a tour- then you have the luxury of everything being set out for you- the hotels, food, optional activities. Years later I took my husband to CR- but he’s not the “back pack around the country” type of guy. So we went on this tour
then stayed a handful of extra days to do things on our own. I will say the tour was great and there was a good mix of travel time and “on your own time”. The best part was he was able to see most of the country- and I didn’t have to rent a car and do the driving!
(let me mention there are few road /street signs there!)
Answer #13
I always plan myself. If you want to see monkeys head to a National Park. I recommend Manual Antonio National Park. I also recommend staying at Costa Verde, where their motto is “Still more monkeys than people”. It’s fun to be sitting on your balcony and watch monkeys come right out of the jungle. One of the biggest tour companies in this area is Iguana Tours (for activities) – you can plan most of your activities through them. They do all kinds of stuff. I stayed here in June and used them for about half of our activities – they’ll pick you up right at the hotel, which is cool. I also recommend NOT renting a car, unless you are feeling really adventurous. You can arrange a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel (just about anywhere in CR) and back. Because most people do it this way, nearly all activities that you book will pick you up at the hotel, which makes it really convenient. The best volcano in CR is Arenal, and you may want to consider doing a couple of days in this area as it isn’t an easy to do a day trip here. They also have a beautiful waterfall outside La Fortuna where you can swim. I’ve attached some links for the hotel and some companies I’ve used.
If you go to Arenal be sure to do the guided night hike – you don’t actually hike at night, just in the evening, and by the time it’s dark, they’ll drive you over to see a good view of the eruptions. It’s very cool. Then they take you to the hot springs to soak those aching muscles! So much fun!
Oh, and a canopy tour is zip lining. Highly highly highly recommended. Very fun!
Most of these things can be handled with a couple of emails and a credit card in a day. I do recommend making arrangements in advance instead of just going with the flow once you get there.
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Answer #1
I did a study abroad program in Costa Rica this summer. Throughout the summer I did a lot of tours and traveling. I would recommend going on a tour. It is a easier, safer way to go. Traveling without a company to go through is difficult once you get out of San Jose. Also, if you go with a company they will give you more discounts.