Recommended Tour Operators

We just returned from the Guanacaste area on 7-5-97. Used 2 tour companies. Would recommend the Swiss Tours Co. Their tours were reasonable and the guides were vell versed in the Costa Rican culture and the flora and the fauna.

The other company was TAM. They were over priced and the tours were rushed. The guides seemed more interested in their own agenda and opinions rather than imparting general information. Would not recommend using them.

Hope you find this of interest. Wish someone would have told us before we went.

Rico Tours is a wholesale tour operator specializing in customized itineraries for Costa Rica. Our range is unlimited in terms of activities, length of stay, destinations, modes of transportation, and inclusions. Our staffs knowledge of the country and frequent visits help us to build a tour thats perfect for your needs.

Referrals available.

If you need further information please dont hesitate to contact us.

1.800.280.7426

Last year I was in Costa Rica for four months. I've been working with Camino Travel and I know they are the best. They are not big, but it is a small organisation. They treat every customer as a friend.

Camino Travel Adress: Calle 1, 100 meters north from the Avenida Central. Phone#: 257-0107

Ask for Sylvia Hidalgo She's excellent, anything you would like to do in Costa Rica. You can get the best advice.

And send her my love!

You can also contact headquarters of Camino Travel Phone# 225-2530 and you can ask anyone: Catalina, Isabel, Adriana,Kattia, Jacky for information They 'd love to help you out.

I've just completed a 3-day bike tour with Bi Costa Rica (http://www.yellowweb.co.cr/bicostarica.html) e-mail kitkom@yellowweb.cr Fax +506-2580606

The owner / operator, Kevin Hill seemed to enjoy his job and appeared to take great pleasure in looking after me. Luggage lost? Kevin lends bike equipment, takes me to the airport & wait until I'm sorted out.

To me, the main strengths of the tour were: - personal care & attention right from the start; - good quality equipment; - good knowledge of the social and natural history of the area; - flexibility to suit the needs of visitors; - "reasonable" price tag, and absence of 'money chasing'.

If you would like to 'experience' the natural wonders & beauty of Costa Rica as seen through the eyes of a professional nature / adventure guide, then you should visit me at www.ecoguides.com . After taking clients on 1 to 2 week-long eco adventures for the past 14 years, I am sure you will be impressed.

If you are travelling to the Manuel Antonio area and want to do some adventure tours, you only choice should be with Iguana Tours (actually located in Quepos). I lived in the area for 1 1/2 years and can honestly say they exhibit the highest degree of safety standards and have fun, well-trained and knowledgable guides. You won't be disappointed!

massive rainforest I am sitting in a small hotel, Pension Santa Elena- listening to Bob Marley- in the middle of this massive rainforest- absolutely this most incredible place- just spend five hours on a horse crossing some mountains- in pouring rain in the most intense jungle- birds, monkeys,- insane- I am in awe- This country is breathtaking- I'm traveling with some guys from Israel- I have felt totally safe - a couple of minor instances to get the heart beating- but other than those- the Costa Ricans have been nothing but helpful and so kind. Tomorrow the plan is Sky Trek, a new canopy thing, flying on zip lines and bridges over the jungle, can't wait. -Also have been traveling with this girl from Kentucky for a couple days- this crazy ER 30 year old doctor who is hilarious- Hope this message finds it's way to you- hope all is well- miss you- Give yourself a hug from me- we had a fun afternoon, rafting near La Fortuna-I am still looking for a discoteca to do some shakin'it- will think of you of course- Also- going to a cheese factory tomorrow- guess it's the home of the best cheese in Central America- yahoo---I'll have extra for you- God- I am having the most incredible adventure- So tempting to drop everything and do this for the next six months. Anyways- hope you are having a wonderful day to! Check these guys for more info, very helpful:

http://www.MONTEVERDEinfo.com

I would like to recommend Marbella Travel & Tours. I have always made all my arrangements with them becuase they are the best tour operator in Costa Rica..I am a frequent traveler and I have been treated always as a friend. They specialize in Nature tours, volcano tours, hiking, white water rafting and private tours, their staff is incredible and you will feel comfortable and happy to knowing that you are traveling safe with naturalist guides that know what they are doing. If you ever come to Costa Rica, dont hesitate in contact them. Their web site is marbellatours.com Thanks to all the staff for making my vacations a wonderful and unforgettable experience Darwing - Illinois

Costa Rica Tours www.costaricatour.com Owned and operated by Costa Ricans, Costa Rica Tours is a professional travel organization with a reputation for excellence and responsibility. We share a special love and respect for tropical wilderness and so, we are uniquely qualified to help you make the most of your visits to Costa Rica.

The Original Costa Rica Tours offers a wide variety of services:

Fully escorted Original Tours: From two - days to 15 - days tours designed to visit many places within the country in a circuit fashion. These tours are ideal for those who would like to visit as many places as possible during their stay in Costa Rica. Tours include fully bilingual guides, all land transfers in A/C luxurious vans, several meals and entrance fees.

Costa Rica on your own wheels: These packages are designed for the more adventurous tourists, who would like to explore Costa Rica at their own. These packages include airport - hotel - airport transportation, hotel accommodations and car rental. Costa Rica is a small, safe country, with excellent public services (phone, electricity, hospitals, etc.) and a fair highway system. All this insures safe commuting to all tourist attractions.

Costa Rican Student's escapes: The younger generations also have a taste for traveling, and we are prepared to welcome them in Costa Rica. We have predestined tours for students, based on occupancies of 2-3 people per room.

Costa Rican Short escapes: Shorter 1 to 3 day tours designed to fit special interests such as sportfishing, bird watching, agrotourism, white - water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, etc.

Conventions and seminars: We can help you organize such events in Costa Rica. We work with first class hotels in San Jose City or at the beach, with excellent facilities and fully equipped convention rooms for a service that will meet the most demanding requirements of participants.

Other services: Costa Rica Tours also offers its Hotel & Tours Reservation Center, that will provide full information about hotels, transportation, tours, night - life activities and other attractions, to fulfill the expectations of the travelers.

If you need further information do not hesitate to contact us to our

Tel - Fax (281) 4431711 or Tel- ( 832) 265 0349 or e-mail. We will be pleased to serve you in the near future.

Costa Rica Tours www.costaricatour.com Owned and operated by Costa Ricans, Costa Rica Tours is a professional travel organization with a reputation for excellence and responsibility. We share a special love and respect for tropical wilderness and so, we are uniquely qualified to help you make the most of your visits to Costa Rica. The Original Costa Rica Tours offers a wide variety of services: Fully escorted Original Tours: From two - days to 15 - days tours designed to visit many places within the country in a circuit fashion. These tours are ideal for those who would like to visit as many places as possible during their stay in Costa Rica. Tours include fully bilingual guides, all land transfers in A/C luxurious vans, several meals and entrance fees. Costa Rica on your own wheels: These packages are designed for the more adventurous tourists, who would like to explore Costa Rica at their own. These packages include airport - hotel - airport transportation, hotel accommodations and car rental. Costa Rica is a small, safe country, with excellent public services (phone, electricity, hospitals, etc.) and a fair highway system. All this insures safe commuting to all tourist attractions. Costa Rican Student's escapes: The younger generations also have a taste for traveling, and we are prepared to welcome them in Costa Rica. We have predestined tours for students, based on occupancies of 2-3 people per room. Costa Rican Short escapes: Shorter 1 to 3 day tours designed to fit special interests such as sportfishing, bird watching, agrotourism, white - water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, etc. Conventions and seminars: We can help you organize such events in Costa Rica. We work with first class hotels in San Jose City or at the beach, with excellent facilities and fully equipped convention rooms for a service that will meet the most demanding requirements of participants. Other services: Costa Rica Tours also offers its Hotel & Tours Reservation Center, that will provide full information about hotels, transportation, tours, night - life activities and other attractions, to fulfill the expectations of the travelers. If you need further information do not hesitate to contact us to our Tel - Fax (281) 4431711 or Tel- ( 832) 265 0349 or e-mail. We will be pleased to serve you in the near future.

I just wanted to say that I was in Costa Rica this summer for 2 months on a trip that I arranged through RainForest World and I had an awesome time. My family booked through their website at www.rforestw.com and set up a month long itinerary that included rafting, kayaking, surfing, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding, and long drives around the country. The guides were great and the price couldn't be beat. Anyway, just wanted to let you all know about their operation and if anyone is considering, I would definately suggest going with RainForest World.

Would you like to experience the real Costa Rica with a local naturalist guide & driver? I can take all of your worries away! 20 years experience as a Costa Rica Ministry of Tourism guide license #17 . Have a new Isuzu Trooper 4 X 4 A/C, CD stereo, very comfortable and safe! Can book all of your lodging, tours, national park visits , beaches, rafting etc. Email me at: ecoguide@costarricense.cr or call (506) 574-2549. Federico Grant Esquivel

I first visited Costa Rica on my honeymoon a few years before the trip that Philip describes here, and I've been following the comments added to the Costa Rica section of photo.net since its inception. I've returned to Costa Rica several times and watched it change from an undiscovered jewel into one of the most popular destinations for tropical travel in the world. Sometimes the advent of all-inclusive mega-resorts, the development of previously sleepy villages, and the encroachment of US pop culture on everyday Tico existence saddens me. Then I look at a map of Costa Rica and realize that the tourism colones are helping to conserve thousands of square miles of unique environments, provide thousands of jobs, and that the impact of tourism are very localized. I suppose that locally negative interactions between the residents and extranjeros are inevitable, but maybe it's for the best overall?
Ray Krueger-Koplin
my travels in Costa Rica

Guys, guys... The best rates and attention I got in all my years of travel I got at Latin Tours (latintours@racsa.co.cr) They're wonderful people. They had the patience to come to my hotel and give me all kinds of information about Costa Rica for 3 hours!!! Better yet, I didn't find better rates anywhere. They have packages all over the country that cost about 50% less than what other agencies sell!!!! I definitely recommend them. They have a 24-hour service: 371-6511.

Guys, guys... The best rates and attention I got in all my years of travel I got at LATIN TOURS (latintours@racsa.co.cr) They're wonderful people. They had the patience to come to my hotel and give me all kinds of information about Costa Rica for 3 hours!!! Better yet, I didn't find better rates anywhere. They have packages all over the country that cost about 50% less than what other agencies sell!!!! I definitely recommend them. They have a 24-hour service: 371-6511.

Saw Rico Tours listed as a Recommended Tour Operator. We just had a terrible experience working with Kandis from Rico Tours - so my advice would be to use another travel agency. We requested as a must for our holiday - a nice relaxing beach resort on the Pacific, and made this requirement very clear in numerous emails and phone calls. Kandis booked us into a hotel she had never used before and she didn't bother to do any minimum level of due diligence on the property. Kandis also recommended repeatedly that we not rent a car - I think because she makes a higher commission off of the transfers. The property was not near a beach, not near anything. In fact the property owner told us that he always tells guests at the time of registration that they must have a car or they will be "stuck here" as there are no activities in the area and no activity operators that will pick/drop off guests at the property. Kandis failed to tell us this information. Even in the travel agency there is a standard of professional workmanship and due care that is expected. We were basically stuck at this hotel for 3 days. I left three messages for Kandis the day we arrived at the hotel. She didn't bother to return one of them. I would call her customer skills abysmal - but really they were non-existant.

Absolutely our Best Vacation Ever!!! We were in Costa Rica over Christmas and booked our itinerary with www.costaricatours.com. Some friends of ours had referred this company to us and boy, what a trip! Every part of our trip was special, from the hotels - perfect, to the tours they helped us pick out. They really go above and beyond what you expect a tour company to offer. At one point we had misplaced our vouchers, which we thought would be a big problem. One call though, and they faxed everything we needed. I really can`t say enough about their service, you have got to experience it firsthand. If you want a hassel free trip to Costa Rica look no further than this company.

Hi, you can find a lot of travel agencies in Costa Rica, but small companies are the best. Try with Frida Travel www.fridatravel.com and you can make your deal at your convinience Please e mail info@fridatravel.com

Frida Travel is a travel agency who runs all kind of tours in Costa Rica, rent a car, make reservations at your hotels and make your dreams come true!!! The Frida Travel website www.fridatravel.com is the most visited tourist information resource on the Internet with links to travel, accommodation and activities.

Costa Rica Honeymoon, Travel to Costa Rica. Costa Rica Travel In Paradise is a full-service tour operator offering Costa Rica Vacations, Costa Rica Escorted Trip, adventure travel, Honeymoon and Family trip in your Costa Rica. Beyond a romantic setting, a honey moon in Paradise is a magical experience. A tropical beach The splendor of a white sand beach and the magical sounds of the waves makes of a tropical beach a perfect setting for a honey moon...A mountain lodge Surrounded by lush vegetation and enchanted ambience... A beautiful romantic setting at the cloud forest is the perfect place.A jungle adventure Be awakened in the middle of the tropical rain forest by the howl of monkeys, melodious birds and other creatures. Be part of a warm savage ambience at a comfortable spot...

What are you waiting for?

Costa Rica Travel, Travel To Costa Rica, Travel in Paradise.
Travel In Paradise is a Tour operator based in San Jose, Costa Rica, offers customized vacations including Costa Rica adventure travel, escorted trip, honeymoons, and family trips. Site features information on accommodation, car rental, and possible tour itineraries. We believe that travel is a life changing experience and the way to fully absorb this experience is to see it through the eyes of the locals. Therefore we reward your vacation with precious memories of cross-cultural sharing, an expanded vision of our country and the satisfaction of living your dreams. Costa Rica, a true paradise to nature-lovers, offers many environments to enjoy. The lush rainforests, the volcanoes, the rivers, the mountains, the beautiful beaches... all witness an unmatched blend of rich biodiversity and friendly culture. This peaceful paradise, proud of its prosperous democracy, also caters to those who seek a way to boost their adrenaline with activities as white water rafting, canyoning, surfing and swinging from tree to tree. We specialize in customizing itineraries based on the interest of our clients.

Arenal Volcanoe and Flowers

Costa Rica Family Trip, Travel to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Travel About is a full-service tour operator offering Costa Rica Vacations, Costa Rica Escorted Trip, adventure travel, Honeymoon and Family trip in your Costa Rica Travel.Costa Rica . . . it's mentioned everywhere. Nature's wonderland, with more bird species than in all of North America, more butterfly species than in all of Africa . . . all within an easy day's round trip from the capital, San Jos? Cruises to unpopulated tropic isles . . . ascents to the craters of smoking volcanoes . . . superb accommodations, from all-inclusive beach resorts to youth hostels to inns that recall the days when travel was not for the masses. The booze is cheap (if not everything else), and the sun is reliable. And to top it off, Costa Rica is Latin America's longest-running democracy, and the Costa Ricans are the continent's friendliest people. Gone are the days when people thought of Costa Rica as some little-known Caribbean island or confused it with its war-torn neighbors. A Nobel Peace Prize has brought prominence, and has caused the world to take another look at this tropical oasis. And the world, liking what it has seen, has kept its attention on Costa Rica. Of course there are problems in travel to Costa Rica, and the biggest is having so much to choose from!
http://www.costaricatravelabout.com

Try checking out a Costa Rica specialized tour operator http://www.ati.travel Visit ATI Costa Rica!