Put a Costa Rica Itinerary together for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not ChatGPT

Seriously. Do it yourself. Or call a travel agent. My goodness.

Do you really not understand that 1) info from actual human beings who have traveled to a place can be better than AI, and 2) most people don't use travel agents anymore (it's 2025 ffs).

What’s putting people off is the title.

And chatGPT can actually be a good starting point.

But also, people still do use travel agents especially for specialized travel. I’m sure you don’t need one for your weekend at the beach, but people use them even for Disney trips.

[Anonymous]

Try duplicating this Road Scholar itinerary. It was designed for grandparents and grandkids. My sister wanted to book this but it was sold out. She found a National Geographic substitute, which she liked.

https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/20797/From-Monkeys-to-Macaws-Colorful-Costa-Rica-With-Your-Family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not ChatGPT

Seriously. Do it yourself. Or call a travel agent. My goodness.

I know right! The nerve of coming on a travel forum and asking for travel advice. Ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try duplicating this Road Scholar itinerary. It was designed for grandparents and grandkids. My sister wanted to book this but it was sold out. She found a National Geographic substitute, which she liked.

https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/20797/From-Monkeys-to-Macaws-Colorful-Costa-Rica-With-Your-Family

Thanks! Very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I would not do that road scholar trip. Jaco is not for a family trip.

For that age range and desire to see a couple different places, I would not do the Osa, even though its incredible.

On the beaten path :

I would start with 4 days in La Fortuna/Arenal. Lots for the teens to do here, some nice hikes, and wildlife.

2 nights in Monteverde--cloud forest is unusual, great hiking, do a night tour here.

Then finish up with a few days on the central south Pacific. I would rent a house in or near Domenicalito, Uvita, or Ojochal. I personally think Manuel Antonio park is super crowded, overrated, and much prefer Los Campesinos or Rainmaker, and there are lots of chill beaches in this area.


You don't need a car for La Fortuna or Monteverde (private shuttle plus Uber works fine) but you'll want one for the Pacific region.

If you want more off the beaten path, start with a few days in the central valley highlands (maybe finca Rosa Blanca), and do day trips from a gorgeous mountain base: coffee farms, La Paz, Poas, hiking in Braulo Carrillo, then head maybe to waterfalls in Bajos del Toros). And then hit a beach. El Silencio near Bajos is gorgeous but expensive.

Third option is to fly in and out of Libera; Start with a few days at Hacienda Guacheplin for hot springs, adventure stuff, mud baths and some hiking and Tenorio volcano, maybe a few days at Bijuaga and visit Rio Celeste and then head to the beach (Samara or nearby).

[Anonymous]

Costa Rica is so overdone.

[Anonymous]

When you arrive at the airport, just ask any random person for advice they are all DCUMers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not ChatGPT

Seriously. Do it yourself. Or call a travel agent. My goodness.

Do you really not understand that 1) info from actual human beings who have traveled to a place can be better than AI, and 2) most people don't use travel agents anymore (it's 2025 ffs).

What’s putting people off is the title.

And chatGPT can actually be a good starting point.

But also, people still do use travel agents especially for specialized travel. I’m sure you don’t need one for your weekend at the beach, but people use them even for Disney trips.

I'm a fan of travel agents where appropriate and used one for my last int'l trip. I would not recommend using one for Costa Rica (or Disney, for that matter).

[Anonymous]

Just keep in mind Costa Rica is becoming dangerous in certain areas.. Unfortunately because they don’t have a military and lots of national parks, cartels/gangs/narcos have been increasingly using Costa Rica as a transportation hub for cocaine to the US and Europe.

So now there are more and more addicts who are committing petty crimes like robbing tourists and there is big increase in gang/cartel violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, so rude above. Just looking for first-hand experiences and advice from those who have been there. If you don't want to help, then just move on. Some people like sharing their experiences. I do that for other posts when people are asking about places I've been.

It’s your tone and wording. This can’t possibly be the first time anyone’s mentioned this to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not do that road scholar trip. Jaco is not for a family trip.

For that age range and desire to see a couple different places, I would not do the Osa, even though its incredible.

On the beaten path :

I would start with 4 days in La Fortuna/Arenal. Lots for the teens to do here, some nice hikes, and wildlife.

2 nights in Monteverde--cloud forest is unusual, great hiking, do a night tour here.

Then finish up with a few days on the central south Pacific. I would rent a house in or near Domenicalito, Uvita, or Ojochal. I personally think Manuel Antonio park is super crowded, overrated, and much prefer Los Campesinos or Rainmaker, and there are lots of chill beaches in this area.


You don't need a car for La Fortuna or Monteverde (private shuttle plus Uber works fine) but you'll want one for the Pacific region.

If you want more off the beaten path, start with a few days in the central valley highlands (maybe finca Rosa Blanca), and do day trips from a gorgeous mountain base: coffee farms, La Paz, Poas, hiking in Braulo Carrillo, then head maybe to waterfalls in Bajos del Toros). And then hit a beach. El Silencio near Bajos is gorgeous but expensive.

Third option is to fly in and out of Libera; Start with a few days at Hacienda Guacheplin for hot springs, adventure stuff, mud baths and some hiking and Tenorio volcano, maybe a few days at Bijuaga and visit Rio Celeste and then head to the beach (Samara or nearby).

This seems like good advice but I would skip the cloud forest. This may seem obvious, but it’s wet and cloudy. It was interesting but I just felt damp constantly and a little chilly. I guess that was predictable but somehow cloud forest makes it sound much more romantic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not ChatGPT

Seriously. Do it yourself. Or call a travel agent. My goodness.

Do you really not understand that 1) info from actual human beings who have traveled to a place can be better than AI, and 2) most people don't use travel agents anymore (it's 2025 ffs).

What’s putting people off is the title.

And chatGPT can actually be a good starting point.

But also, people still do use travel agents especially for specialized travel. I’m sure you don’t need one for your weekend at the beach, but people use them even for Disney trips.

I'm a fan of travel agents where appropriate and used one for my last int'l trip. I would not recommend using one for Costa Rica (or Disney, for that matter).

There is quite a niche now for luxury travel agents. It’s different than 20 years ago when it was about picking which flights or whatever.

Disney agents can be helpful for first timers that are completely lost.

[Anonymous]

How did everyone skip our families favorite, Tortuguero? I would start with 2-3 nights there, do a river kayak tour during the day and a nighttime turtle tour on the beach (watch the turtles lay eggs, very small groups), stay on the side of the river on a property with a pool.

Then 3-4 nights in Arenel, hike the volcanoes, do the zip lines and the hot springs.

The spend the last few days along the Caribbean coast, enjoying the food and the beach. The chocolate/coffee tour/hike (more of a walk), the Jaguar Rescue, and so much more.

Skip Antonio Manuel, it's too crowded, and you'll have seen all the animals in Tortuguero on the kayak tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not do that road scholar trip. Jaco is not for a family trip.

For that age range and desire to see a couple different places, I would not do the Osa, even though its incredible.

On the beaten path :

I would start with 4 days in La Fortuna/Arenal. Lots for the teens to do here, some nice hikes, and wildlife.

2 nights in Monteverde--cloud forest is unusual, great hiking, do a night tour here.

Then finish up with a few days on the central south Pacific. I would rent a house in or near Domenicalito, Uvita, or Ojochal. I personally think Manuel Antonio park is super crowded, overrated, and much prefer Los Campesinos or Rainmaker, and there are lots of chill beaches in this area.


You don't need a car for La Fortuna or Monteverde (private shuttle plus Uber works fine) but you'll want one for the Pacific region.

If you want more off the beaten path, start with a few days in the central valley highlands (maybe finca Rosa Blanca), and do day trips from a gorgeous mountain base: coffee farms, La Paz, Poas, hiking in Braulo Carrillo, then head maybe to waterfalls in Bajos del Toros). And then hit a beach. El Silencio near Bajos is gorgeous but expensive.

Third option is to fly in and out of Libera; Start with a few days at Hacienda Guacheplin for hot springs, adventure stuff, mud baths and some hiking and Tenorio volcano, maybe a few days at Bijuaga and visit Rio Celeste and then head to the beach (Samara or nearby).

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did everyone skip our families favorite, Tortuguero? I would start with 2-3 nights there, do a river kayak tour during the day and a nighttime turtle tour on the beach (watch the turtles lay eggs, very small groups), stay on the side of the river on a property with a pool.

Then 3-4 nights in Arenel, hike the volcanoes, do the zip lines and the hot springs.

The spend the last few days along the Caribbean coast, enjoying the food and the beach. The chocolate/coffee tour/hike (more of a walk), the Jaguar Rescue, and so much more.

Skip Antonio Manuel, it's too crowded, and you'll have seen all the animals in Tortuguero on the kayak tour.

Great input, thanks!