Our trip to Costa Rica was fantastic!
Costa Rica | Dec 29 - Jan 7, 2024

J
Joe K.
Shaw, DC | Reviewed on Feb 03, 2024

Our trip to Costa Rica was fantastic! Overall everything went extremely smoothly, from planning to traveling to moving around the country. The experiences were great and the guides were very helpful. Hotels were as advertised.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Country Inn
Fortuna

Very basic rooms that are quite small. Walking distance from town is a big plus. Pool is nice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Super close to town
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms are very small
Hotel Belmar
Monteverde

Views were incredible, staff was extremely nice. The food was great and the grounds were great. Only downside is it's not walking distance to town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The hotel grounds have everything you need but walking to town is difficult
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Mariposa Hotel
Manuel Antonio

Rooms were great and the grounds were super nice. Beautiful views. Not super close to the beach if that is important to you (need to take a shuttle to a public beach, which only runs 4 times a day). Food was good and pool was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

Hanging bridges guides were great, helped see lots of wildlife. Got very lucky that it was sunny and you could see the volcano. Tabacon hot springs were incredible although meal was not provided. Absolutely worth the extra money for the Tabacon resort.

Quality of Experience
Food
Was not included as part of our tour
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Little mix up with the tour group and transit back from the hot springs not showing up until much beyond the agreed time.
100% Aventura Zip Line Monteverde
100% Aventura Zip Line Monteverde
Monteverde

Everything went super smoothly, zip lining was great. Unlucky that it was too windy to do to the biggest line but definitely recommend doing the superman zip line at the end.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chocolate & Night Hike Experience
Chocolate & Night Hike Experience
Monteverde

Guide was absolutely incredible and the chocolate part was great. Also included coffee tour for people who want to do that as well (no reason to book an extra coffee tour). Saw great and unique wildlife

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was incredible
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

Absolutely must have a guide as Manuel Antonio is a zoo (literally and figuratively). Lots of people, spend the extra time at the beach as it is not as crowded as the public beaches.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private: Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Private: Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

Not worth doing a private tour of the volcano hike or waterfall as these are extremely public areas to begin with. Easy to do both in a self guided fashion but our tour guide was still great and the transit was timely.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos