Feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to get started on that dream vacation to Costa Rica?
Here are step-by-step instructions to save you time and frustration planning a Costa Rica vacation for yourself, your family or group.
1. Get ¡Pura Vida!
… you’re not required to have a relaxed attitude that “life is good,” but it will help with the rest of the process…
2. Get realistic. A seven day vacation in Costa Rica can include 1 or 2 destinations and will cost about $1,500 per person. A ten day vacation – 3 to 4 destinations max and around $1,800.
… sure you can squeeze in more places but you’ll have no time left to enjoy them and you can whittle the budget down with public buses and dormitories but for most travelers the limits above are realistic (see budget details)…
3. Get some advice. In under an hour Sue and I can plan a perfect trip for anyone who buys us coffee and tells us what they want but it’s taken us over 20 years to learn what you don’t know.
… our website has our suggestions for top destinations and the best things to do … friends and family who have visited are a great resource because they know the places as well as what you like … TripAdvisor and other travel forums can be helpful … Professional travel planners will help with no obligation suggestions and itineraries…
4. Get going. The best lodges, house rentals and resorts fill up six months to a year in advance. Figure out when the best time is for you to travel then plan well in advance.
… it’s much easier to plan when you don’t have to battle availability … If you wait until a couple of months before your travel date you’ll find yourself starting over and constantly rearranging things because you can’t get the room you want when you want … If you encounter difficulty a travel professional may have access to rooms inaccessible to the public and resources for quick availability checks…
5. Get reservations. Notice we haven’t mentioned anything about ground transportation, airfare or precise dates. Get your itinerary outlined then spend a couple of hours making all the reservations at once so something filling up doesn’t force you to start over.
… if you start planning early you should be able to save considerably by using flexible dates for your flight search then go lock in the lodging where you’ve checked availability … If you’re renting an SUV do that asap as well because they actually do run out of vehicles especially in high season … Domestic flights also fill up very early in high season…
6. Get down to details. Tours and activities rarely sell out more than a few days ahead. If you’re using tourist mini-buses or shuttles for transportation they’ll typically just get a bigger bus if they need more space so except in peak season you shouldn’t have to worry as long as you reserve a few weeks in advance.
… don’t get overwhelmed (remember step 1.) … Help with travel planning is available during extended business hours by calling toll free direct to Costa Rica 1-866-816-0197…
If you deviate from these instructions, try to squeeze four destinations into eight days, or wait until the last minute, you may lose your Pura Vida…
Backpackers & Winging It
If you’re winging it on a backpacker’s budget for a few weeks then only number 1. applies (everyone needs Pura Vida, especially if you don’t have reservations). You can get by on a budget of more like $40 per person per day (plus airfare costs) and most dormitories and backpacker’s lodgings don’t take reservations.
Use your flexibility to get the best airfare possible, use the Lonely Planet or other guidebook for lodging, look around for some desirable destinations, check the public bus schedule and have a great time!