Budget Tours & Trips to Costa Rica
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10 best cheap Costa Rica tour packages
Compiled by
SteffCosta Rica travel expert at TourRadar
- Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
- Exotic Costa Rica, Self-drive
- Costa Rica: Ocean Waves & Sunsets
- Full Costa Rica Explorer 14D/13N
- Volcanoes Adventure in Costa Rica
- Basic Costa Rica: Coastlines & Cloud Forests
- Highlights of Costa Rica + Beach Extension
- Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
- Costa Rica: San José - Tortugas Island - 5 days
- Arenal and Monteverde, Short Break
Essential Costa Rica - Package with Guanacaste, Self-drive
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great guides and we especially loved the boat ride out to Tortuguero.”
Ingrid, traveled in January
Costa Rica's highlights cost approx. $140 per day, including stays at Turtle Beach Lodge, 9 breakfasts, and 5 meals. Self-drive portion includes unlimited mileage, with optional entry to Arenal and Monteverde.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Guapiles, Arenal Volcano National Park, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Playa Tamarindo Age Range All Ages Welcome Price Per Day $265 Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,949
10% Off- NZ$2,654You save $295
Exotic Costa Rica, Self-drive
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The packaged tour saved us a lot of time deciding where to travel to and where to stay.”
Gary, traveled in December
Natural retreats like Celeste Mountain Lodge and Monteverde Country Lodge cost approx. $160 per day. Self-guided national park visits and coffee tours available throughout Costa Rica.
Duration 8 days Destinations Liberia, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Bijagua, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Price Per Day $295 Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,622
10% Off- NZ$2,360You save $262
Costa Rica: Ocean Waves & Sunsets
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The white water rafting was amazing and the waterfall at the end was a nice touch.”
Kristina, traveled in February
Budget-friendly Costa Rica costs approx. $110 per day with transportation and mixed accommodations. Activities range from $20 La Fortuna waterfall visits to $99 canyoning. Multi-share hostels and simple hotels provided.
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Playa Santa Teresa Age Range Ages 18-39 Price Per Day $136 Operator G Adventures From $1,359
20% Off- NZ$1,087You save $272
Full Costa Rica Explorer 14D/13N
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had an amazing time in Costa Rica! So glad we booked this tour with Bamba Experience.”
Aashfaria, traveled in June
Comprehensive Costa Rica tour costs approx. $200 per day, featuring 13 nights' accommodation, 13 breakfasts, all transfers, and guided tours in Tortuguero National Park. Puerto Viejo and Santa Teresa offer time for beach activities.
Duration 14 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 10+ Price Per Day $335 Operator Bamba Travel From
20% Off- NZ$4,687
Volcanoes Adventure in Costa Rica
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Green World was awesome!”
James, traveled in April
Costa Rican adventure costs approx. $270 per day with 8 nights in 2-3 star hotels, daily breakfast, and 3 additional meals. Package includes entry to Arenal, Poas, and Rincón de la Vieja National Parks, guided activities and private transfers.
Duration 9 days Destinations San Jose, Orosi, Irazu Volcano National Park, Cartago, Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Poas Volcano National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Price Per Day $374 Operator Green World Adventures From
20% Off- NZ$3,368
Basic Costa Rica: Coastlines & Cloud Forests
33 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Exceptionally beautiful.”
Fabian, traveled in June
Costa Rica awaits at approx. $100 per day, featuring simple hotels and hostels across 5 destinations. Coope San Juan homestay provides dinner and activities for one night. Puerto Viejo and Santa Teresa offer budget-friendly beach days and optional adventures.
Duration 14 days Destinations San Jose, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Playa Santa Teresa Age Range Ages 18-39 Price Per Day $122 Operator G Adventures From $2,139
20% Off- NZ$1,711You save $428
Highlights of Costa Rica + Beach Extension
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was a lovely country to visit and the beach extension hotel was well located.”
Steven, traveled in November
This value-packed tour runs approx. $240 per day, covering 10 nights accommodation, breakfasts, and guided activities. Wildlife viewing in Manuel Antonio National Park, thermal springs near Arenal, and night walks in Monteverde Cloud Forest included.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Sarchi, Grecia, Poas Volcano National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 16+ Price Per Day $322 Operator Explore! From $3,910
18% Off- NZ$3,220You save $690
Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
47 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The group felt like family so quick. And it was the perfect mix of adventure, exploring and time to relax!”
Stephanie, traveled in April
Costa Rica's natural wonders cost approx. $150 per day with eco-lodge stays and essential experiences. Package includes 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners, entry to Manuel Antonio National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest. Surfing and bioluminescent kayaking available.
Duration 12 days Destinations San Jose, Poas Volcano National Park, Sarapiquí, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Playa Santa Teresa, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 18-39 Price Per Day $279 Operator One Life Adventures From $3,722
10% Off- NZ$3,350You save $372
Costa Rica: San José - Tortugas Island - 5 days
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Costa Rica was paradise and such a great birthday getaway. I have nothing to complain about my experience.”
Mia, traveled in March
San Jose serves as your base at approx. $140 per day, including 4 nights' accommodation with breakfast, Tortuga Island cruise with meals, and guided tours. Pacuare River rafting available as an optional activity.
Duration 5 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuga Island Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Price Per Day $212 Operator Receptivo Aborigen Tours From $1,180
10% Off- NZ$1,062You save $118
Arenal and Monteverde, Short Break
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Wonderful variety. I loved listening to the sounds of the river and the wind blowing through the trees.”
Matthew, traveled in March
Three-star comfort costs approx. $250 per day at Hotel Lomas del Volcán and Monteverde Country Lodge. Package includes transfers, 4 meals, thermal springs, river safari, and guided Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve tour.
Duration 4 days Destinations San Jose, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Price Per Day $484 Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $2,153
10% Off- NZ$1,937You save $215
Budget Tours & Trips to Costa Rica Reviews
It may have been short but in a week I learned so much about the culture, met an amazing group of people and encountered no stress that usually comes with traveling. Definitely reccomend!
Costa Rica: Ocean Waves & Sunsets
- Basic Costa Rica: Coastlines & Cloud Forests
I travelled on the Basic Costa Rica tour in January 2017 and it was absolutely brilliant- perfect for a solo traveller. As part of the YOLO selection of tours, the group age range was 21-36 which worked brilliantly as there was a great group dynamic. Our guide was really well informed and added loads of extra experiences to the trip. The trip was basic (as advertised) and accommodation was mostly multishare in hostels/very basic hotels, the quality of the rooms provided varied quite a lot within the group. Transfers were all great and our guide upgraded us to private transportation for the group on a number of occasions, which was perfect. 2-3 days in each location gave good time to experience the destination and was a good travel pace. Overall- loved it!
- Costa Rica Classic 12 Day - One Life Adventures
This is my third One Life Adventures Tour and it has been soooo amazing. I loved Morocco and India but Costa Rica has been nonstop fun!! Some of my favorite parts were Cooking with the local family and being invited into their home. I love love loveddd kayaking in the ocean and cleaning it up by fishing for trash! We made a real impact and I enjoyed it so much. Costa Rica was so beautiful and I loved taking so many photos with all the different places we visited. Our group was relatively small but was full of fun and felt like a family going out to restaurants and getting to know eachother. I learned so much about myself, not to judge, to be more open and to continue to explore and love everything in front of me. I want to say a big thank you to our great guide Josue who was super knowledgeable, funny and kind - he was a sweetheart and just a great guide who clearly loves his country. Our driver Guido was also very funny, drove incredibly safe and I always felt happy being taken from A to B by Guido, a very professional driver and very helpful! Amber is a little cutie who I met back in Morocco and wanted to travel with again so I was sooooo happy I got to travel again with her this time in Costa Rica. She’s so funny, lovely, helpful and a great person to travel with. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye but it’s been amazing seeing eachother again! I’ve loved it so much I’ve just booked another 2 OneLife trips… here we go Japan and Philippines! Book the tour, you won’t regret it - highly recommend!
What our customers ask about Budget Tours & Trips to Costa Rica
Are entrance fees to national parks included in budget tours?
Budget tours typically require separate payment for national park entries. The main parks charge varying fees: Manuel Antonio costs 18 USD while Arenal Volcano charges 15 USD and Tortuguero runs 17 USD. A TourRadar traveler advised: "Budget about 15-20 USD per park entrance but they're worth every penny for the incredible wildlife viewing opportunities."
When is the most affordable time to visit Costa Rica?
May through November known as the "green season" offers the best deals with September and October being particularly cost-effective. Hotels like the Arenal Montechiari in La Fortuna lower their rates during this period. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "Traveling in October meant fewer crowds and lower prices plus the afternoon rains actually added to the rainforest experience."
Which regions of Costa Rica offer the best value for budget travelers?
Budget travelers find good value in the Central Valley near San José and the Arenal area while the Caribbean coast around Puerto Viejo tends to be more affordable than Pacific beach destinations. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "La Fortuna had great budget-friendly options for both activities and food while still seeing amazing wildlife."
How much should I budget for optional activities?
Optional activities typically cost between 200-300 USD for a full trip. Common experiences include zip-lining in Monteverde for 50-75 USD or surfing lessons in Tamarindo at 45-60 USD. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "I spent about 250 USD on additional activities like white water rafting and a night walk in Monteverde - all worth the extra expense."
What type of accommodation can I expect on budget tours in Costa Rica?
Budget accommodations range from 3-star hotels to eco-lodges and hostels. You might stay at places like the Monteverde Country Lodge or Turtle Beach Lodge in Tortuguero. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "The accommodations were simple but clean and comfortable and the eco-lodges in Tortuguero gave us an authentic jungle experience without breaking the bank."
How much should I budget for meals not included in the tour?
Daily meal costs average 25-35 USD when not included in tours. Local sodas offer traditional Costa Rican dishes for 5-10 USD while mid-range restaurants charge 15-20 USD per meal. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "Eating at local sodas saved us lots of money - we had delicious typical Costa Rican meals for around 7 USD each."