You book your flights. Costa Rica Escapes designs a private trip around exactly what you want to do.
We plan custom Costa Rica trips from a blank page: any region, any length and any interest, from surfing and birding to fishing, diving, yoga or a slower two-week stay. Every lodge, private driver, guide and activity is arranged for you, and every trip is private. Our operations team works from Turrialba, Costa Rica, with a US office in Park City, Utah.
Not sure where to start? Our sample Costa Rica itineraries make good starting points, and our family, honeymoon and adventure routes can all be changed. Getting started takes one short form at the bottom of this page, and planning and quotes are free.
Custom Costa Rica Trips at a Glance
Quick answers to what travelers ask us first.
Great for: special interests, two-week trips, repeat visitors, multi-family groups and anyone who wants a route our samples don’t cover. Start with the short form below.
See waterfalls like Nauyaca on a custom Costa Rica tripHow a Custom Costa Rica Trip Comes Together
Planning, quotes and changes are free until you’re ready to book.
Send the form
Tell us your dates, who’s traveling and what you want to see and do using the short form at the bottom of this page.
Talk with your planner
A planner contacts you within 24 hours to set up a short phone call. The call is a required part of our planning process, because it surfaces the details a form misses.
Review your route and price
We send a proposed itinerary and price, then adjust regions, nights, activities and lodging level until it fits.
Reserve and travel
We can’t hold lodging until we receive your deposit. Most trips split into two or three payments, with final payment due 45 days before arrival. About a week before you go, you get your detailed day-by-day plan.
Where to Go on a Custom Costa Rica Trip
Arenal Volcano is part of about 9 in 10 trips we plan, most trips include Manuel Antonio or a Guanacaste beach, and about half include Monteverde. In the busy season, we often suggest one slightly off-the-beaten-path region as well, for better hotel availability and smaller crowds.
| Region | Known For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Arenal Volcano | Hot springs, hanging bridges, rainforest birds, frogs and sloths | About 3-3.5 hours from San José |
| Manuel Antonio | Monkeys, sloths, scarlet macaws and beaches | About 5 hours from Arenal and 3 hours from San José |
| Guanacaste beaches | Dry-season sunshine and Pacific beaches | About 3-3.5 hours from Arenal; fly home from Liberia (LIR) |
| Monteverde | Cloud forest walks and night tours | About 3-3.5 hours from San José and 3-4 hours from Arenal |
| Turrialba and the Pacuare River | Whitewater rafting and quiet mountain towns | Home of our Costa Rica operations office |
| Caribbean coast and Tortuguero | Afro-Caribbean culture, sloths and nesting sea turtles | San José to Puerto Viejo takes about 4-4.5 hours; often drier in September and October |
| Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay | Corcovado National Park, scarlet macaws and rich wildlife | Often reached by a short domestic flight |
Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic, road conditions and where your hotel is in each region.
Special-Interest Trips We Plan
Tell us what you love, and we’ll build the route around it. A few of the trips we plan most often:
Wildlife and birding
Naturalist-guided walks, night tours and birding in the cloud forest and rainforest. See where to find sloths and birds.
Surf and beach
Surf lessons for beginners or a route between breaks for experienced surfers. See our Costa Rica surfing guide.
Wellness and slow travel
Yoga, hot springs and spa time, or a longer stay in fewer places. See how to plan a yoga retreat in Costa Rica.
Culture and language
Coffee farms, local food and Spanish classes, including Spanish homestays in Turrialba.
Groups and reunions
Multi-family trips and family reunions. There’s no fixed group size limit, but larger groups need more planning time.
Ride horses on the beach on a custom Costa Rica tripLodging Levels for Every Budget
Every custom trip is priced with one of three lodging levels, and you can mix them, such as Casual for most nights and an upgraded stay at the end.
| Lodging Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Casual | Comfortable, well-located boutique hotels and lodges. This is the level behind our starting price of about $1,800 per person. |
| Premier | A step up in comfort, views and amenities. |
| Upgraded (luxury) | Top boutique lodges and, on request, branded luxury resorts such as Four Seasons, Westin or Andaz. |
We generally stay away from large chain hotels. We have firsthand knowledge of many of the properties we recommend, which tells us things you won’t find on a booking site, like whether a lodge is better for families or couples, or how easy it is to reach.
Why Plan a Custom Trip with Us
What a typical custom trip includes
A team on the ground
Our operations office in Turrialba has program managers who handle your trip in Costa Rica and see road closures, park changes and lodge changes before you would.
Smart routing
We sequence your route around real drive times, weather and park conditions, and we rarely schedule long drives after dark.
Private, start to finish
Every itinerary is private. We don’t run shared group departures, and your transfers are private too.
One real person
Your consultant works with you from the first call through booking and usually stays your point of contact while you travel. You also have an in-country host, and we’re reachable 24/7 for emergencies.
Quiet beaches are an easy add to any custom routeWhat Our Travelers Say
We had the most amazing time. The trip from beginning to end was completely flawless. Buck mentioned that he could not imagine ever being able to ever have a vacation that would ever top that one.
Infinite thanks to you and CRE for planning the best trip we could have ever imagined. It was the trip of a lifetime- if we could leave tonight and do it all over again, we would in a heartbeat.
Read more reviews from our travelers on our testimonials page, Google, TripAdvisor and Facebook.
Custom Costa Rica Trip FAQs
Can you plan a trip to anywhere in Costa Rica?
Yes. We plan private trips to every region of the country, from Arenal Volcano and the Pacific beaches to Tortuguero, the Caribbean coast and the Osa Peninsula. Tell us what you want to see and do, and we’ll design the route around your dates.
How is a custom trip different from your sample itineraries?
Our sample itineraries are proven routes you can adjust. A custom trip starts from a blank page, which works well for special interests like birding, surfing, diving or fishing, for two-week trips, and for repeat visitors who have already seen the classic route.
How much does a custom Costa Rica trip cost?
Most full-service trips start at about $1,800 per person with Casual lodging. Your price depends on the regions, length, season, group size and lodging level. Lodging over Christmas and New Year’s usually runs about 20-25% higher, and premier and luxury properties can cost much more on those dates. Planning and quotes are free.
How many places can we visit?
For a 7-8 night trip, two destinations done well usually make a better trip than three or four. Trying to squeeze a third region into one week often means too much time in transit. With 9 days or more, adding a third region works well.
What lodging levels do you offer?
We plan with three lodging levels: Casual, Premier and Upgraded (luxury). We generally prefer smaller boutique properties, and for luxury trips we can also book branded resorts such as Four Seasons, Westin or Andaz. See our overview of Costa Rica accommodations and season pricing.
How will we get around?
All ground transfers are private, with a driver meeting you at each stop. The one common exception is the Monteverde to Arenal crossing, which uses a shared van-boat-van service across Lake Arenal. Domestic flights are included when your route needs them, such as to Drake Bay.
Can we add activities once we’re there?
Yes. Activities that aren’t planned in advance aren’t included in your package price, but we can usually coordinate them and bill you for them. Let us know as early as you can, since last-minute changes depend on availability and on whether a service is already confirmed or paid for.
Can you include Tortuguero and the sea turtles?
Yes. Tortuguero pairs well with a visit to the Caribbean coast. Green sea turtles nest there from about July through October (August and September are usually busiest), and leatherbacks nest around March through May.
How far ahead should we plan?
Most travelers book 4-6 months ahead. For Christmas and New Year’s, start 10-12 months ahead for the best hotel choices. Larger groups also need more lead time.
Do you book flights?
Most travelers book their own international flights, often with miles or points, but we can arrange flights for an added per-person fee. You don’t need to buy flights before you contact us.
Start Planning Your Custom Costa Rica Trip
Fill out the short form below. Here’s what happens next.
Tell us what you want
Send the form below with your phone number, travel dates, who’s coming and your must-dos.
Hear back within 24 hours
A real person on our team replies within 24 hours to set up a short call about your route and pricing, at no cost.
Book your flights. We handle the rest.
We book your lodges, drivers, guides and activities, send a detailed itinerary about a week before you go, and stay reachable 24/7 for emergencies.
Prefer to talk now? Call 314-808-7232.