About Costa Rica Escapes

Costa Rica Escapes has used extensive knowledge and local relationships to create ideal Costa Rica vacations since 2006. We’re not just a typical Costa Rica travel agency! Our specialty is producing authentic & personalized travel experiences, whether it’s a romantic honeymoon, a group of friends seeking high adventure, or a family that wants to integrate into the culture. We will combine your individual travel needs with our many years of local knowledge (and local relationships) to design your ideal Costa Rica Escape!

Costa Rica Escapes is able to customize any of our itineraries or create a unique vacation that will meet your needs. Whether you like adventure or want to take it easy, whether you would like a private guide or to tour independently, we work with any type of budget to help you explore the exquisite country of Costa Rica. We can make your dream trip happen for you.

Escape the Ordinary & Experience Genuine Costa Rica!

Our Costa Rica journey began out of our instinctive desire to help others. After years of visiting this beautiful country through different educational programs, we realized we had found the ideal destination. That one place where you could have it all, nature, wildlife, lots of adventure and warm friendly people that will make you feel right at home. So, in 2006 Costa Rica Escapes was born. You can say that our work culture is Pura Vida which is also the unofficial slogan of Costa Rica. The whole concept of slowing down to really enjoy life and appreciate all the beauty nature has to offer is a great outlook to adopt.

We want our travelers to leave Costa Rica having experienced this feeling too – so we try to pay it forward every day.

Life isn’t about the things we accumulate, but about the people, we meet along the way and the experiences we savor.

Assisting travelers during their visit allows us to showcase what we already know and love about this country, doing our part to elevate those experiences is what makes it all worthwhile for us at Costa Rica Escapes.

ICT Accredited Costa Rica Travel Agency

In Costa Rica’s highly competitive and well-developed travel and tourism industry, ICT is leading the way to ensure that all operations meet or exceed the standard of quality. ICT stands for the Institute of Costa Rican Tourism. This is a state-run organization, which focuses on fortifying sustainable tourism development in Costa Rica, and has been in existence since 1930.

ICT has provided the standard for all tourism activity throughout Costa Rica by providing a detailed structural model to ensure that all operations consider safety, fiscal responsibility, innovation and the advancement of the Costa Rican quality of life as a priority. The process which organizations have to complete to be accredited by the ICT is very involved. It requires a significant amount of internal preparation and self-evaluation before representatives visit your physical office to run through various tests to ensure that everything is up to date and the high standards of quality required are met.

ICT provides a great deal of support and leadership along the way and investing in this process has not only enabled us to advance our business with new contacts and a trustworthy affiliation, but it puts us in contact with fellow industry members in order to share ideas and continue the advancement of our industry.

Safety Tips from ICT:

Founders

John Rabenau

John is co-founder and Director of Marketing and Sales for Costa Rica Escapes. He currently lives between Park City, Utah, and Turrialba, Costa Rica.

John has been leading groups of all ages on authentic vacations and service-learning trips through Costa Rica and Central America since 2006. He has worked for The Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School, Breakthroughs Abroad, Serendipity, and various other organizations throughout North and Central America.

John is a St. Louis, Missouri native and received his business degrees from Miami University in Oxford, OH. He put his incredible business sense and entrepreneurial skills to work and started Costa Rica Escapes, which has grown into one of the industry’s top boutique Costa Rica travel itinerary providers today.

Molly Alden

There is no doubt that Molly’s passion in life is teaching. Throughout her career, she has worked in myriad settings with countless types of people. Her experience ranges from teaching preschoolers about sea stars at the New England Aquarium to instructing adults in an English Language School in Costa Rica.

Molly was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, received her degree in psychology from Miami University and her Master’s Degree in teaching from Boston College.

After her schooling, Molly set off to Costa Rica to use her skills. She fell in love with her surroundings and couldn’t get enough of the people, nature, and culture. When John approached her about the idea of co-founding Costa Rica Escapes, she jumped on the opportunity. Using her love for designing curriculum and meeting the needs of each of her travelers, Molly has been Director of Operations since its inception.

Why Costa Rica Escapes?

Costa Rica Host Families, Laundry Services & MoreCosta Rica Escapes is an organization that customizes itineraries for authentic family vacations, adventure travel trips, and honeymoons throughout Costa Rica. Using our local knowledge and expertise, we identify your unique needs and collaborate with you to design the perfect itinerary for your travels.

Once you have decided you want to vacation in Costa Rica, contact us to begin the process.

You will speak to an experienced Trip Specialist who will pinpoint the perfect combination of destinations, hotels, activities, and transportation for you. We will take care of all of your reservations and will send you a detailed itinerary that will walk you step-by-step through your vacation, so you will be prepared for your journey.

Costa Rica Escapes has acquired first-hand knowledge throughout its years of working and living within the country of Costa Rica. We have personally experienced each of the towns our itineraries visit and has carefully selected the most authentic and reputable hotels, tour operators and transportation providers. We want to make sure that you are comfortable, safe and well taken care of as you experience genuine Costa Rica at your own pace.

Trip Options

While any Costa Rica travel agency can book flights to a resort, Costa Rica Escapes prepares itineraries and customized trips for each customer’s unique interests. View our favorite itineraries for a variety of trip types, then contact us to design a customized trip to fit your needs. We also offer customized trips for couples, small groups, your family and even a honeymoon!