brandonmd

This will be our first time to Costa Rica, and would like to spend 8-10 days maximum. Is a tour like Tauck recommended. I have looked at others (Caravan, Globus, etc.), and they are less money, but they don't seem to include a lot of sightseeing and all meals. Any advice would be awesome. Thanks

brandonmd

We are in our upper 40's by the way.

Davy1961

I say plan it yourselves. We did one tour and loved it because it was a private one, not by our choice. Planing your own won't be that much trouble. You might find that the age of the typical tour crowd is much greater than your age, if that matters. That said, we are planing a tour next summer because it combines a number of places that we have always wanted to cover--and we like the tour company. And our age is much advanced from the time we first started visiting Costa Rica.

brandonmd

Have you heard of Kensington Tours. I found it on the web, and it is recommended by National Geographic. They are private tours at affordable pricxes. What company do u use?

hsmithcr

I think it depends on how you like to travel. Many, many people come to Costa Rica and are not part of a tour. If you like for someone else to plan your travel and you just sit back and enjoy it, by all means, book with a tour company. If you like to pick and choose where you go and want the freedom to come and go and stay and eat where you want, you don't need a tour.

tully

I would look into the areas you are interested in and plan it yourselves. CR is a very easy place to get around on your own and there are many people here to help you with any questions you may have.

volcanogirl

I would plan it yourselves too - very user friendly country. Lots of great areas to visit. Use tripadvisor.com to check out your hotel choices. Or let us plan it! I like the freedom of going where and when I want. If you don't want to drive, you can use Interbus or hire a private driver.

Eressea

Tauck is very posh as far as tour companies go; I've never traveled with them but have only ever heard good things about them and they have a solid reputation in the industry. (I took an Adventure Travel class a few months ago just for fun.) Per tully and vgirl, I suggest planning the trip yourselves if you have the time since that will allow you the maximum flexibility and freedom that a more organized tour might not allow.

The first time I went I went with a tour company but I told them what I wanted to do and see and they cobbled my itinerary for me. I didn't have any time to make the arrangements myself so it was quite convenient to go with a tour company. The second time I went I booked my first five days' worth of lodging and activities myself and then winged the rest. And I got a bounty of useful information from the boards here. Vgirl wasn't kidding: there are plenty of CR experts here who have the ability and knowledge to literally design your itinerary complete with nitty-gritty details.

qwovadis

http://www.tauck.com/tours/latin-ame...travel-co-2009

Tauck Luxury Tour is not a bad idea

especially for first timers

Tauck great tour food lodges

they work with Costa Rica Expeditions best local.

If you want everything planned for you go for it..

brandonmd

anyone heard of classic journeys? The itinerary is slightly different than Tauck... they go to manuel antonio park instead of tortuguero... which is better to visit?

Eressea

That's a tough one. I think the main differences are location (obviously) and the ease with which you'll see animals.

At MA, you'll walk a very easy trail and the animals will be fairly easy to spot as the trail winds it way through the park. MA is also known for its beaches accessible from within the park itself. MA is on the Pacific side.

Tortuguero is on the Caribbean side and also a national park although animal spotting is mainly done via boat along a multitude of canals. You will see a lot of wildlife here as well. Turtle-nesting (3 different species) is a huge attraction at Tortuguero and one not to be missed.

So it's not so much which place is better to visit so much as it is which you would rather see during this trip (saving the second for your next trip) as both destinations are well-worth seeing. Was there something specific you were hoping to see or do at either of the locations?

But if you haven't already, check out http://costa-rica-guide.com/ (which vgirl referred me to way back when) as it goes into detail with what you can expect at both MA and Tortuguero.

volcanogirl

If you want a great beach, go to Manuel Antonio. Expect the animals to be rather tame because they're so used to people. Also a lot of great restaurant choices. If you want a more off the grid, wild experience, go to Tortuguero. The lodging isn't as posh there, but it's really a neat place. Traveling on the canals like E. mentioned is really amazing and beautiful. If you go there, you'd most likely eat all your meals at the lodge. We used Costa Rica Expeditions for Tortuguero - it's the only time we've done organized travel, and we loved them. They aren't the cheapest, but wow we had an amazing experience.