Real Affordable Costa Rica (2012)

San Jose • Sarapiqui • Arenal • Guanacaste • Pacific Coast
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $1595
  • $123 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 13 days
  • from only:
  • $2095
  • $162 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
RAP Map T26
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Costa Rica
NEW-Private Departures
Is This Adventure Right for You?
It's Included
Unique Accommodations
Extend Your Adventure
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Grand Circle Foundation
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
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CT

Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your adventure, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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CT

Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two adventures to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the OAT adventure that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your adventure
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your adventure with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of OAT adventures to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta

6hrs

Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles

8hrs

Denver, New York (JFK), San Francisco

9hrs

Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

7hrs

Miami

3hrs

Minneapolis

11hrs

Portland, OR

17hrs

Phoenix, San Diego

14hrs

Seattle

12hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to San Jose, Costa Rica. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the OAT family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on an OAT trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 or click here.

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Unique Accommodations

TRYP San Jose Sabana Hotel
San Jose, Costa Rica

Just a 10-minute walk from the center of San Jose, the TRYP San Jose Sabana Hotel is ideally located for exploring the city's attractions. On site, the hotel offers a chic lobby bar, an exercise room, and a gift and convenience shop. 98 refurbished and air-conditioned guestrooms feature private bath, telephone, flat screen TV, iPod dock, digital safe, and coffee maker with complimentary Costa Rican coffee.

Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge Exterior and Pool
Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge Room
Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge Exterior

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Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge
Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

In the Sarapiquí region, we stay at the Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge, a lodge surrounded by the Tirimbina Forest. With only 40 small, simple rooms, this intimate lodge features indigenous architectural details like thatched roofs.

Chachagua Rainforest Hotel Exterior
Chachagua Rainforest Hotel
Chachagua, Costa Rica

Located on a private nature reserve in the foothills of the Tilarán Mountains—bordering Arenal Volcano National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve—the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel offers numerous opportunities to experience Costa Rica’s natural beauty, from verdant jungle to fertile farmland. The hotel’s 28 rooms are simple, yet comfortable, and each includes private bath with hot water. Hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, miles of hiking trails, and an on-site restaurant serving local cuisine that features ingredients fresh from the hotel’s gardens.

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Hotel Montaña de Fuego
Arenal, Costa Rica

Set amidst more than 100 acres of primary and secondary rain forest near the base of the Arenal Volcano, the cabins of the Montaña de Fuego provide an excellent place to relax while enjoying panoramic views of the volcano, as well as access to tropical gardens and numerous nature trails. Each of the hotel’s 66 air-conditioned rooms include a telephone, cable TV, minibar, hair dryer, private bath, and private balcony. Hotel amenities include an outdoor pool, two Jacuzzis, a spa, safe, and an on-site restaurant.

Buena Vista Lodge Exterior
Buena Vista Lodge Interior
Buena Vista Lodge Exterior 2

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Buena Vista Lodge
Guanacaste, Costa Rica

In Guanacaste, we’ll enjoy the secluded comforts of the Buena Vista Lodge, situated on 1,600 hectares of primary forest in Rincón de la Vieja National Park. The lodge’s grounds offer wonderful bird- and wildlife-viewing opportunities, in addition to other amenities, like a swimming pool, restaurant, and bar. The Buena Vista Lodge offers 33 simply furnished rooms with private bath.

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Hotel Punta Leona
Pacific Coast, Costa Rica

The Hotel Punta Leona is set amidst a private rain forest on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, overlooking a secluded white-sand beach. Hotel amenities include three swimming pools, three restaurants and two snack bars, and Internet access. Each of its 108 air-conditioned rooms features cable TV, telephone, mini-fridge, safe, and private bath with hot water.

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Villa Maya Lodge
El Peten, Guatemala (pre-trip extension)

We spend two nights at the Villa Maya Lodge, located near the Tikal ruins in the heart of the Peten, the dense jungle highlands of northern Guatemala. Built in 1988, this family-owned hotel is built on a sprawling, 67-acre nature reserve. Each of its 44 air-conditioned rooms features a private bath with shower, minibar, and refrigerator.

Turtle Beach Lodge Pool
Turtle Beach Lodge Room
Tertle Beach Lodge Interior

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Turtle Beach Lodge
Tortuguero, Costa Rica (post-trip extension)
Situated in 175 acres of tropical jungle, the Turtle Beach Lodge offers miles of walking trails, a private canal, and a half-mile of private beach on the Caribbean. Your airy cabin room features rustic furnishings, ceiling fans, and windows looking out on the tropical forest. The lodge’s amenities include a turtle-shaped outdoor swimming pool, hammocks for relaxing, and bar and restaurant. Please note: Due to strong currents, swimming is not allowed on the beach.

Please note: Select departures feature similar accommodations.

Please note:

Hotel rooms in Costa Rica are smaller than you may be accustomed to in the U.S. and feature simple amenities. Some of our accommodations on this trip are not air-conditioned.