Costa Rica Escapes

John and staff of CRE are the absolute best when it comes to planning a vacation to Costa Rica. Before we even started, he took the time to have a fairly extensive phone call with me to discuss what I wanted out of a family trip to Costa Rica. Not all travel agents have first hand knowledge of the places they are planning trips, but John truly knows this country. Every transport, every accommodation, every activity was perfectly planned and perfectly executed. The transports were on time or early in every situation! We had literally no worries for the entirety of our trip because we knew it was all set. Our custom tailored trip had everything! It started with an exciting white water rafting adventure in the rain forest, then we went canyoning, soaked in the hot springs and made chocolate near Arenal volcano, and it finally ended with several days of beach and relaxation at a resort in the lively beach town of Tamarindo. Each phase of the trip was completely different with various wonderful and exciting experiences and activities. We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica, and we want to go back again because the country has so much more to offer! John, you left us wanting more! I’m ready to book Part 2! Please do not look any further than Costa Rica Escapes!

In November of 2025, I visited Costa Rica with a girlfriend on a custom-designed tour by Costa Rica Escapes. The planning was amazing, with great tour guides and competent drivers showing us the wonders of this country. Twelve years ago Costa Rica Escapes planned a different adventure for me and my husband. It was fabulous and so I decided to use their services again. I was not disappointed. The staff worked closely with us to arrange activities that we loved, and accommodations were super comfortable. The coordination on the ground was surely not simple and every pickup and tour went off perfectly. It's clear that Costa Rica Escapes only hires the most reliable and superior staff in-country, and they know the accommodation offerings very well. Don't hesitate to call them for your next trip to Costa Rica!

After telling our friends that John Vargas meticulously planned us the best vacation ever, I decided to post for others. We’ve been home for awhile and we haven’t stopped marvelling about it…two weeks of bliss is how my husband put it. We’ve been on many holidays and cruises around the world, but none compare. How could John know that the properties he booked would be perfect? The answer is that the people at Costa Rica Escapes have vetted all their properties to ensure they are right for their clients. It was the same with our transportation. We travelled to six different locations across the country, and our drivers were always on time. They were also knowledgeable about each area, which made the transfers feel more like excursions. The itinerary and the custom tours that John booked allowed us to enjoy so many special places, while never feeling rushed. I can’t imagine trying to plan anything like this without John and Costa Rica Escapes. We can’t wait to contact them again for another adventure.

John at Costa Rica Escapes was absolutely amazing to work with. From the initial contact through the completion of our trip, he was always attentive and able to accommodate our requests. He worked within our budget to customize an incredible adventure for our family of four. The planning was impeccable, the lodging was beautiful, the transportation and tour companies were exceptionally professional and provided interesting and educational experiences for all of us! Even when we encountered travel difficulties that caused us to lose out on the first day and a half of our vacation (thanks Delta Airlines for delaying, cancelling, and rescheduling our flights AND losing our luggage!!!), John was always a phone call, text, or email away to help us reschedule our transportation and excursions. If you are considering a trip to Costa Rica, I 100% recommend working with Costa Rica Escapes. You will not be disappointed. Pura Vida!

John and the CRE team curated an amazing Costa Rica experience for our family. Not an easy task - we had 11 people ranging in age from 6 to 78 with different levels of ability and dietary restrictions and a desire to see multiple aspects/regions of Costa Rica in 7 days! He truly listened to our needs/wants and delivered one of the most memorable vacations of our lives. Every tour, guide, driver, van, accommodation was fantastic. I will definitely use Costa Rica Escapes for our next trip to CR and highly recommend them to anyone else who wants to experience the REAL Costa Rica. 🇨🇷

Costa Rica Escape created an itinerary for 10 of us that was the most amazing trip I’ve been on, which included waterfall repelling, river-raft trip, beach excision, and so many other opportunities to see different places in the country. John created the perfect mix of experiences and relaxation. The hotels, transportation, and excursions exceeded our expectations. I would absolutely recommend, and use again, their expertise for an incredible adventure.

Costa Rica Escapes planned THE BEST vacation for our group of 6 people (3 couples) in October 2023. We worked from the west side to the east side and every place was better than the last - it was truly the best vacation of my life! All of the staff we met for all of our activities were professional, friendly, and had a great sense of humor. The drivers who brought us from place to place were knowledgeable, thoughtful, and punctual. We felt confident, safe, and organized throughout the entire trip thanks to Costa Rica Escapes’ careful planning, and they enabled us to have a jam packed, exciting vacation without the stress of figuring everything out yourself! I HIGHLY recommend Costa Rica Escapes and would happily rebook with them for another trip!!

We just had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica because of Costa Rica Escapes! John Vargas made the entire process simple, from the pre-trip conversations to receiving a very thorough itinerary just before arrival. He heard what we wanted and he delivered. We were a family of 4, 2 adults, & 17 & 14 year old teenagers. We explored, adventured & stayed in La Fortuna and also in Guanacaste. Everything was so smooth, transports on time and activities as described. The country & people were amazing and we created fabulous, life-long memories. Highly recommend their services!