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287 Costa Rica trips. Tours from 130 tour companies. 899 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

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14 Day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

14 Day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde

Highlights

  • Take a boat tour along the Tortuguero canals, through the heart of the Costa Rican jungle
  • Tour downtown San Jose, enjoying its many historical & architectural jewels
  • Visit the artisan town of Sarchi and see artists in their workshops
  • In Arenal, view the now dormant conical-shaped Arenal Volcano
  • Tour a coffee plantation and enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch
Show more

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
14 days From$2,529
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
9 Day Costa Rica Fly & Drive with Guanacaste, Thanksgiving Special
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

9 Day Costa Rica Fly & Drive with Guanacaste, Thanksgiving Special

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Guanacaste, Monteverde

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
9 days From$1,349
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
9 Day Costa Rica Walking Tour with Arenal & Guanacaste
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9 Day Costa Rica Walking Tour with Arenal & Guanacaste

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, Guanacaste

Highlights

  • 1 Easy Day | up to 4 hours of walking a day, easy walking on mostly flat terrain, accessible to all travelers in good health 3 Moderate Days | 4-6 hours of walking a day, hilly with some steep or uneven terrain, travelers should be physically fit and prepared for several hours of activity 2 Challenging Days | 6+ hours (more than 6 miles) of walking a day, rugged uneven mountain terrain, with some sustained ascents and descents, suitable for experienced active travelers in good physical condition

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
9 days From$2,719
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
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13 Day Classic Costa Rica with Tortuguero & Manuel Antonio
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

13 Day Classic Costa Rica with Tortuguero & Manuel Antonio

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde

Highlights

  • Take a boat tour along the Tortuguero canals, through the heart of the Costa Rican jungle
  • Visit the artisan town of Sarchi and see artists in their workshops
  • In Arenal, view the now dormant conical-shaped Arenal Volcano
  • Discover the dense vegetation in the stunning Monteverde Cloud Forest
  • Tour a coffee plantation and enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch
Show more

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
13 days From$2,379
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
14 Day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

14 Day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde

Highlights

  • Take a boat tour along the Tortuguero canals, through the heart of the Costa Rican jungle
  • Tour downtown San Jose, enjoying its many historical & architectural jewels
  • Visit the artisan town of Sarchi and see artists in their workshops
  • In Arenal, view the now dormant conical-shaped Arenal Volcano
  • Tour a coffee plantation and enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch
Show more

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
14 days From$2,639
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
10 Day Classic Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

10 Day Classic Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde

Highlights

  • Visit the artisan town of Sarchi and see artists in their workshops
  • In Arenal, view the now dormant conical-shaped Arenal Volcano
  • Discover the dense vegetation in the stunning Monteverde Cloud Forest
  • Tour a coffee plantation and enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch
  • At Manuel Antonio enjoy the beach and an exuberant tropical forest †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
10 days From$1,849
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More

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11 Day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

11 Day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio

By Gate 1 Travel
none
3.6/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde

Highlights

  • Visit the artisan town of Sarchi and see artists in their workshops In Arenal, view the now dormant conical-shaped Arenal Volcano Tour a coffee plantation and enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch Discover the dense vegetation in the stunning Monteverde Cloud Forest Travel to the tropical province of Guanacaste on the sun-splashed Pacific Coast Experience Manuel Antonio National Park - filled with wildlife and spectacular scenery Enjoy the beautiful surroundings and beaches in the Central Pacific region †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
11 days From$2,029
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
Pura Vida in Costa Rica
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Pura Vida in Costa Rica

By MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)
none
5/5 Excellent
64 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, Caribbean, Tortuguero National Park

Highlights

  • Raft the Río Pacuare, considered by many to be one of the top 10 most beautiful whitewater rivers in the world
  • Zip-line your way through a private rainforest reserve and explore secluded channels by kayak in Tortuguero National Park
  • Take a forest hike near stunning Arenal Volcano and paddle the mystical waters of Lake Arenal
  • Spot a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, iguanas, sloths, toucans, and caimans
  • Enjoy a seamless, flexible, non-stop water park adventure—it's great value and perfect for families!

Themes

Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

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Costa Rica Tour Selection Trips

  • Allow at least seven to ten days for a tour that will hit many of the highlights.
  • Costa Rica caters to a wide variety of travelers, including couples, singles, and families. Whether you’re looking for hard or soft adventure, Stride can help you find the best Costa Rica tours.
  • If you have a special interest -- birding or fishing, for instance -- look for tours that emphasize those activities; you’ll be able to find them.
  • Don’t be put off by reports of civil strife elsewhere in Central America; Costa Rica has been safe and peaceful for decades.
  • The dry season runs from December to April or May in San Jose (the capital) and the Pacific Coast and from January to April along the Caribbean.
  • Some parts of the country can get rain year-round, and temperature is swayed more by altitude than season, so pack an umbrella and visit any time of year.

Additional details

Tours to Costa Rica usually focus on a combination of eco travel, wildlife, and adventure. You will usually find a tour that weighs one or two of these themes above the other.

If it’s your first visit to Costa Rica, try to find a tour that hits upon what Costa Rica is most known for. These include Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest. Both attractions are extremely popular and are normally included in Costa Rica tour itineraries.

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Outdoors and Active Costa Rica Tours

Most Costa Rica tours don’t have a heavy emphasis on cultural or historical sight seeing. Simply because the wildlife and outdoor tour activities are enough to occupy the days!

Wildlife lovers will want for nothing in Costa Rica, and most itineraries do focus heavily on the diverse wildlife found in Costa Rica’s rainforests and cloud forests. Some may not include Tortuguero National Park - and if you don’t want to miss observing sea turtles nesting or hatching be sure to find a tour that includes this park!

Some of the most famous animals you can see relatively easily in Costa Rica include the red-eyed tree frog, crocodiles, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tapirs, basilisk lizards, coatimundis (the Costa Rican version of a raccoon!), and two kinds of sloth. A night safari might allow you to see some of the rarer or more elusive animals in the country, such as jaguars, kinkajous, tarantulas, and ocelots. Don't forget to look up - night is the best time to see snakes as they stalk for sleeping birds in the trees above. 

If you decide to go snorkeling or scuba diving, you may run into bottlenose dolphins (or go see them on a dolphin swim!), green sea turtles and leatherbacks, sharks, and all kinds of tropical fish. Whale watching is  also a great way to see orcas and humpback, blue, beaked, and pilot whales. 

If you are interested in going on a birdwatching trip, there are also tons of beautiful and exotic birds. There are green and scarlet macaws,  toucans, dozens of species of hummingbirds, and all kinds of birds of paradise -- including the rare national bird of Costa Rica, the Resplendent Quetzal. 

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Weather in Costa Rica

It gets quite wet and humid in Costa Rica, and the country is prone to hurricane conditions. Tour activities may change depending on the time of year, but generally you can expect to be walking through the rainforest in every sense of the word.

Most tours in Costa Rica will provide wet weather gear, though it is a good idea to pack light weight waterproof clothing for the majority of your tour. Long sleeves and pants can go a long way toward insect protection as well.

Eco Lodge Accommodation on Costa Rica Tours

Costa Rica has a long history as a leader in eco travel, and a majority of trips to Costa Rica have an eco, sustainable, and green travel theme. These will often feature a stay at an eco lodge, or even a treehouse! These can vary from luxury accommodations to comfortable-but-basic.

Don’t expect terribly reliable internet and electricity - particularly in keeping with the eco lodge approach! These establishments are designed to be as eco conscious as possible, and your tour will reveal new ways you can help contribute and be a responsible traveler.

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