Costa Rica
Rim to Shore: Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure
Program No. 19243RJ
Come discover the meaning of “pura vida” and see why there’s no better place to raft, hike, kayak and learn authentic Latin dance than the protected waters and lands of Costa Rica.
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Participant Reviews
Based on 209 Reviews
SHOWING
I recently returned from a fantastic tour of Costa Rica with Road Scholar, and I can’t say enough good things about the experience. From beginning to end, the trip was exceptionally well organized. The itinerary was thoughtfully crafted, offering a perfect mix of adventure, cultural exploration, and relaxation. Each activity was fun, engaging, and truly showcased the beauty and diversity of Costa Rica.
Road Scholar’s attention to detail was evident throughout, from comfortable accommodations and smooth transportation to well-timed excursions and meals. What really set this tour apart was our outstanding tour guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and personable—always ready with fascinating insights, helpful tips, and a great sense of humor. His deep understanding of Costa Rican history, wildlife, and culture added so much richness to the journey.
Road Scholar’s attention to detail was evident throughout, from comfortable accommodations and smooth transportation to well-timed excursions and meals. This was my first trip with Road Scholar, and it certainly won’t be my last. I highly recommend this Costa Rica tour to anyone looking for a meaningful, enriching travel experience.
— Review left May 11, 2025
Your mission to delight each and every participant was certainly successful as far as I'm concerned. I arrived somewhat skeptical and continued to be impressed throughout my trip!
— Review left May 11, 2025
This program was so much fun and our guide was absolutely fabulous! I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
— Review left May 5, 2025
This was my first time traveling alone and outside the US. I chose #19243RJ, Rim to Shore: Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure. Road Scholar made this a very easy experience - the communications, organization, programming, and group leader, Roger Rocha, were fantastic.
— Review left May 4, 2025
This adventure was outstanding. From start to finish we had one amazing experience after another. Esteban Rojas was our guide and he was incredible. He took such good care of each of us and led us to so, so so much learning and fun. I highly recommend this adventure! Pura Vida!!
— Review left May 3, 2025
This is a wonderful trip and the all women aspect is supportive and unique. Really great active adventures! Our leader, Esteban Rojas, was pivotal in the quality of our experience. He is extremely knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica as well as every other aspect of Costa Rica. He is a born educator! He also was a perfect fit for an all-women group. He is kind, supportive, funny, and very enthusiastic. We love him! The trip is very active but not overwhelming. I highly recommend this trip and also the all-woman format.
— Review left May 2, 2025
Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing! What a great guide we had in Fabian. He spotted a few sloths that I'm sure we wouldn't have seen otherwise. He knew so many types of birds, it was a joy to see the beautiful birds, sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, a deer and even a tamandua. It would be tough to top this trip. The hiking to various places was fun and I had a blast white water rafting. I also loved zip lining, my first time, I wasn't sure if I would like it. I learned so much about Costa Rica. I would love to go back and see other areas that we didn't visit. Thank you Road Scholar!!!
— Review left May 2, 2025
The 11 day small group Costa Rica’s « Rim to Shore » trip, was our third trip with Road Scholar since 2014. It was the most physically challenging, due mainly to almost 100% humidity and above 30°C temperatures.
Three main hotels where we stayed for three nights each, were selected well. Rooms were clean and spacious, service good, but breakfasts and dinners were average. Lots of fresh fruit at breakfasts, fruit smoothies, but seafood variety and vegetables at dinners was somewhat limited. Also, I was very much looking forward to having fresh avocados and mangoes. Many local outdoor markets had plenty of them, but they were not part of our hotel menus.
I very much enjoyed educational walks and indoor presentations about natural history and political development of Costa Rica. Expert walking tours in Tropical Agronomic Research Centre, Guayabo National Monument, and Carara National Park (last natural nesting site of endangered Scarlet Macaw), and a boating trip on Tárcoles River with birds, lizards and crocodiles, were especially interesting.
The White water rafting on Pacuare River was very very exciting; paddling on Puerto Viejo River on inflatable Double Kayaks, and finally, Pacific Outrigger canoe outing with beach picnic in Ajugas, was interesting, because it involved watching many birds and other native creatures.
Our overall trip guide Glenda kept us well informed on all aspects of the Road Scholar trip. I was very impressed by her bottomless knowledge of symbiotic nature of her home country. Thank you!
— Review left April 26, 2025
This was an outstanding trip to multiple areas of Costa Rica, focusing on its biodiversity and beauty. We started in the mountains, then went to the rain forest, then to the Pacific. The activites were excellent and varied, and we learned a lot about the country and its ecology. Our guide, Roger, was excellent! He taught us so much about the environment and its various inhabitants; he himself is a treasure! This trip is for the adventurous who are in good physical shape. Out of five stars, I'd give it six.
— Review left April 26, 2025
We have taken several road scholar trips in the past that were fantastic. However, this trip has surpassed all the others and I can say was the best so far. Road Scholar picks wonderful locations and activities but this trip was outstanding, mostly due to our fantastic group leader Glenda! She was a walking encyclopedia on the fauna and flora of Costa Rica. Plus she was organized and took care of every detail. She also was an amazing photographer. She made our group feel safe and cared for and enjoyed showing us her country. I smile every time I think of this trip.
— Review left April 20, 2025
This program was really fun and educational. Doing fun, active activities together really helps with the bonding of the group. Eating meals together also helped everyone get to know each other. Our leader was exceptional. The food and lodging were diverse and like nothing I’d experienced in the states.
— Review left April 17, 2025
a fantastic experience. It was adventurous, inclusive, educational, fun and joyful!
— Review left April 15, 2025
A truly delightful, fast-paced and physical adventure! The white-water rafting was epic, the zip-lining amazing, and the kayaking, jungle trekking and outrigger canoeing so much fun! Thank you Reimer for your outstanding leadership and thank you Road Scholar for putting together such an extraordinarily fun trip!
— Review left April 12, 2025
This is an awesome, beautiful & exciting trip! You will not be disappointed!
— Review left April 12, 2025
This was my first RS trip and I loved every minute of it! I felt totally comfortable traveling as a single woman, and was always welcomed to eat and socialize with others. Our guide Fabio was absolutely fabulous…knowledgeable, funny, kind, organized, and passionate about his beautiful country. The bus was comfortable, and more importantly, our bus driver Kevin was excellent, ensuring everyone arrived safely. Kevin and Fabio even changed a flat tire in about 30 minutes! The choices of field trips were perfect, as were the hotels and meals. I highly recommend this tour of the lovely country of Costa Rica so you can experience the good life for yourself.
— Review left April 12, 2025
The Costa Rica Rim to Shore program was exciting and educational and provided an opportunity to be immersed in their culture through the field trips and fun experiences white water rafting and kayaking as well as hiking up to an almond tree I a rain forest. I was surprised that the heat and humidity was not unbearable as I thought it might be. I enjoyed the pace of the program as well.
— Review left April 11, 2025
Great trip. Estephan, our guide, was amazing. Knowledgable, organized, enthusiastic, friendly. My favorite activity was white water rafting and kayaking. Accommodations and food was good, nothing fancy but I enjoyed it. Loved the tour of how they make sugar. Other travelers were friendly.
— Review left April 2, 2025
My experience in the multisport program in Costa Rica was exceptional. The other participants were friendly and we had so much fun many of us are looking forward to signing up for future trips together as well as getting together informally. Our leader, Graivin created a lasting group of friends.
— Review left March 24, 2025
An excellent program. A great combination of education, adventures, and friendship. This program will keep you moving in a positive direction.
— Review left March 24, 2025
It was fun, informative and could be experienced by some in their 80's without too much strain. Just realize that humidity really does zap your energy.
— Review left March 21, 2025
Great Trip for those who seek adventure in their Lives and challenge themselves to live it!!!
— Review left March 16, 2025
This was the adventure of a lifetime!
— Review left March 16, 2025
This was a great program but the active sports like zip lining, white water rafting are a little scary for the non fit. If you are adventuresome and reasonably fit this is a good grogram. Fun educational Challenging. You do not have to be a great athlete. It was very safe from start to finish.
— Review left March 15, 2025
I read a review that a 77 year old woman could keep up and had fun. That gave me courage to sign up. At 67, I had a blast and stepped up my comfort zone. All the activities were active, but not extreme. The group were like-minded people, and we all celebrated our accomplishments together. This was a great program packed full of many "first times." Costa Rica is magical and so beautiful. The food and lodging were excellent. I will return!
— Review left March 14, 2025
The Costa Rica Rim to Shore experience was fantastic! The activity level was perfect, very organized, educational and unique! Loved the ziplining, white water rafting, kayaking and hiking! All of the lectures were amazing!
— Review left March 13, 2025
A great trip! Something different every day
— Review left March 9, 2025
I recently went on a trip with Road Scholar to Costa Rica.
It was the Rim to Coast Tour.
I had a great time, learned new things and made new friends.
I highly recommend Road Scholar for your travel needs.
They make traveling and all the details of traveling so easy!!
— Review left March 5, 2025
This is a most extraordinary experience! We were all up for an exciting adventure and we got it. From the white water rafter & outrigger canoes to zip-lining and salsa dancing, it was fun family adventure for us. Thank you!
— Review left March 2, 2025
This trip was great all-around, from the activities to the nature and sights and to meeting new people from around the U.S. with which I had so much in common. I can't say enough good things about our guide, Jose, too. He was so friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and caring and made us feel like family. Thank you Jose & Road Scholar!
— Review left March 2, 2025
The small group Multi-Sport Costa Rica trip was amazing! We had so many great experiences, learned about the country, enjoyed fabulous food and made friends with other participants. Our guide, David, and driver, Freddy, were the absolute BEST! Take this trip!
— Review left March 1, 2025
This trip has a wonderful variety of experiences and locales. Greivin the leader was exceptional: he is friendly, competent, accommodating, flexible, funny, enthusiastic, and puts great effort into helping participants learn and enjoy. The food and accomodations were the best I have ever had on a Road Scholar trip. Note that many if not most of the hikes and walks were slow paced with frequent and sometimes long stops. This trip therefore may not be the best choice for those who would like a very high activity level every day
— Review left February 27, 2025
My first Road Scholar program. I enjoyed the the specific format of this trip. It went by very fast.
— Review left February 26, 2025
We couldn't have asked for a better experience! Our guide, Randy, was amazing and the experiences were all we could have hoped they would be! This is an active tour for both the listed activities of kayaking, outrigger canoeing, ziplining, and white water rafting, but also for the additional activities of tours and hikes and lectures. You're busy and active all day most days which is great!
— Review left February 21, 2025
The experience of Costa Rica trip was amazing. It was packed with fun activities in a beautiful location. Our guide Sergio was accommodating and very helpful and great personality for this type of people work. If you like nature and being outdoors with hiking and water sports then I encourage you to go.
— Review left February 21, 2025
I enjoyed the Rim to Shore trip immensely. Costa Rica is very beautiful, and the guide (Vinnie) was very knowledgeable.
— Review left February 18, 2025
The Rim to Shore Costa Rica tour expanded my view of the world. Our guide was passionate about his country and was excited about showing us the piece of heaven he calls home. Thank you Fabi for a fabialous tour!
— Review left February 18, 2025
The Rim to Shore program was great. We learned a lot and saw a great deal of the beautiful countryside. Our guide was knowledgeable, entertaining and a good communicator. In addition, all the places we stayed had character and history. I would highly recommend the program.
— Review left February 17, 2025
I had a fantastic trip with Road Scholar. I learned so much about the people, the history, the culture, the food, the geology, and the flora and fauna, while experiencing a variety of fun/challenging activities on land and water..Not to mention in the air, zip-lining. All the people involved were personable, kind, knowledgeable and empowering. I would definitely recommend the trip to people who are quite physically active.
— Review left February 14, 2025
This active trip to Costa Rica was full of highlights, activities, experiences, birds, flora and friends. We will never forget it. This was our first trip with Road Scholar, and we're already thinking of our next trip with them!
— Review left February 14, 2025
A very informative and enjoyable trip.
— Review left February 12, 2025
This trip had so many interesting activities - both planned and unexpected - and I very much recommend. The small group size gave us a chance to know the other participants better and enhanced the experience greatly. Go for it!
— Review left February 10, 2025
This was an incredible experience. It was my fourth Road Scholar trip but my first one focusing on outdoor activities. I went for the water activities in particular but loved it all. They do keep you moving but interspersed are bus rides and some demonstrations. At the end, when we spoke about our favorite parts folks brought up so many of the adventures. My favorite was the day we paddled the outrigger canoes and had lunch on a beach. I also surprisingly liked the zipline activity. (I was almost not afraid by the end!) Our guide Fabi and Kevin our driver were a great team and got us everywhere safely and on time. Fabi was full of wonderful information on nature and the country itself. We did so much and remarked on the planning- it would be very hard for an individual to arrange so many activities in a similar time period. Road Scholar is amazing. If you are used to being active- and like hiking and boating and are willing to try new things, this is a great program. If you go, take hiking poles, lots of sun and bug protection, rain gear and good shoes.
— Review left February 7, 2025
The trip was fantastic. Although the weather didn’t always cooperate, the events were varied and extremely fun. The leader was quite knowledgeable about the history, the animals/birds, and the people, and he could spot sloths, birds, and monkeys in trees as we drove by. The lodging was very good, and the food was fantastic. I highly recommend this trip to everyone.
— Review left February 7, 2025
Rim to Shore was an excellent program. We stayed in three different eco lodges -- one in the cloud forest, one in the rain forest, and one in the Pacific Central valley. All three were comfortable, and the food varied, so we didn't get bored. The fresh fruit was SO GOOD, and a part of most meals. The Coffee was excellent at all three. There were local specialties at meals (plantains, Gallo Pinto, Casado) and plenty of variety.
We got to swim in the Pacific ocean on the Outrigger canoe activity. Our alligator spotting river cruise became a sunset cruise. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Guayabo National Monument and the white water rafting. Our leader was excellent at spotting and identifying wildlife and birds. This wasn't a birdwatching program, but one of the birders in our group added 76 birds to her life list. Our leader even found a sloth our very last full day, which was something we all wanted to see.
I was the least physically capable of the 16 of us but was able to do everything that I wanted to do. Each activity was described in detail so I knew when I should opt out. The hiking poles were a must have for me even though it meant I had to check a bag, which I normally try to avoid.
We did not need to know any Spanish, as everyone we met had some English. US dollars were universally accepted. I brought one dollar and five dollar bills with me -- I didn't change money nor did I ever wish I had
.
We lucked out and never got rained on -- participants should have a poncho. Off Towelettes were all I needed for insect repellent. The "reef safe" sunscreens were remarkably effective. If you wear glasses, bring chums.
My usual travel "hand wash and let dry overnight" underwear, shirts, and shorts WOULD NOT DRY, even if hung up for two days - it was just too humid. The charges for doing laundry were very reasonable.
I really enjoyed this program. I still can't believe I did the zip line -- WAY out of my comfort zone!
— Review left February 7, 2025
This was my fifth Road Scholar trip and exceeded all my expectations. Costa Rica is an enchanting country--from the rain forest to the volcanoes, to the beaches at the Pacific Ocean. We kayaked, canoed, hiked, white water rafted and got to see how coffee, sugar and chocolate are grown and handled. We went on 5 or 6 hikes and I crossed a suspension bridge for the first time. Our group developed great synergy and we all had fun together and made many memories. Our leader, Fabian was incredible---warm, informative, fun, and ready to help out in any situation. He imbued us with his love for his country. He is a true asset to the program and to Road Scholar. Our driver, Keven was fantastic--he drove long days on very curvy roads. He was very considerate and lots of fun. We felt safe every moment. I highly recommend this trip. Costa Rica truly is "pura vida!"
— Review left February 7, 2025
Our guide, Alvaro, was well versed in all facets Costa Rican and had a perfect command of English, with insight and humor. The age bracket of our group was60-80 +/- and fit to do the level of activity
— Review left February 5, 2025
This was my first visit to Costa Rica. I wanted to see various parts of the country and enjoy an active outdoor experience in the process. This trip covered all the points. It was perfect! Pura Vida!!!
— Review left January 28, 2025
Loved this program! it was so informative, active and fun! Met some great people including our guide Erick and our driver Elmo!
— Review left December 22, 2024
Where to start? This was a trip to remember and it exceeded my expectations, mostly due to our fabulous guide, Stiven and driver Rodrigo. Stiven was born in Costa Rica and clearly loves his country. He is very proud of what it has accomplished since becoming a democratic country. His enthusiam and knowledge of every subject, plant, animal, bird and place was remarkable. The places we stayed were all beautiful and different, from the Guayabo Lodge, high in the moutains above Turrialba, to Selva Verde Lodge built in the middle of nature, providing something new to experience every day.
During our last meeting together back in San Jose, particpants commented on what they will remember most about the trip, from zip lining, to water activities, to seeing so many beautiful birds, a sloth, frogs and crocodiles. However, everyone commented on the cohesion of our group. We were a real team, supporting and watching out for each other. Stiven and Rodrigo encouraged and supported this. Considering this was the first time they worked together, I am amazed at how well they worked together to make our trip so fantastic. RS would be smart to make sure they work together as often as possible.
Recommendations: Move Emily's natural history of CR to the 3rd night at Guayabo Lodge. We had her on the 3rd night due to a conflict with her schedule. We all agreed that we were more present for her presentation than we would have been on the first night. Finally, the Wyndham San Jose is a lovely property, but after experiencing wonderful food for every night of our trip, the food at the Wyndham for our final dinner was a real disappointment.
Thank you Road Scholar for a beautiful adventure into a beautiful country. Stiven made a video that summarized our trip and everything we experienced. I will look at if often. He really is a gift to the work you do at RS!
Janet Merrell
Portland, Oregon
— Review left December 18, 2024
This was meant to be 5 stars! Our Road Scholar trip to Costa Rica was an experience of a lifetime. Greivin, our guide, was so outstanding and we learned and experienced so much. It was a short, but great immersion in the culture, language and natural history of the country. Our group was so much fun to be with. A nice size of 16 people. I felt a great learning and sharing with them as well. It was a high quality program that exceeded our expectations with a guide that built camaraderie in the group, was always upbeat and seemed to love sharing information in an interesting and engaging way. He was the best.
— Review left December 14, 2024
The Rim to Shore program was absolutely terrific. I'd been wanting to visit Costa Rica for many years, and we knew that Road Scholar offered a variety of approaches. We were delighted with the "multi-sport" approach. My husband and I enjoyed every bit of it, including the activities, our leaders and other participants, and of course the natural beauty of the country. We have been raving to friends about how great it was.
— Review left December 1, 2024
This is a multi-sport adventure, requiring basic mobility skills, but not extreme fitness level.The itinerary is full, but not rushed. Staff and contract vendors are very professional, employing good safety practices throughout the program. It allows participants to go just a bit out of their comfort level with confidence and success I highly recommend this program for those interested in an active sport adventure.
— Review left November 20, 2024
Lenin Duarte is an amazingly talented tour guide and a gentleman with genuine concern for others. He demonstrated authentic pride and passion for his country, his people and the natural environment of Costa Rica. Lenin opened up this world of wonder to us with style and class! A truly life-changing experience for me.
— Review left November 20, 2024
I found the Road Scholar program I participated in ("Rim to Shore: Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure") to be everything that was advertised. I enjoyed all the activities and learned a lot about Costa Rica specifically and about the flora and fauna of Central America. Accommodations and food were consistently very good, and our guide/group leader/educator outstanding.
— Review left November 20, 2024
Challenging mentally and physically and well worth the trip to learn, try new things, meet new people and experience the wonder of our world
— Review left November 9, 2024
If you are looking for an adventure, this is the trip for you. You will be on the move everyday exercising, watching animals and learning about the eco systems of Costa Rica. I've never seen so many animals on a trip. I saw all the animals on my list. Look for the Toucans at Sarapiqui.
— Review left November 3, 2024
This program is outstanding and a terrific value. Our guide Erik and our driver Luis were both wonderful - warm, funny, knowledgeable and flexible. The majority of our group were solo travelers and we bonded into a supportive and laughter-filled troupe...it was hard to say goodbye!
— Review left October 22, 2024
This program showed so much of the great awe inspiring diversity of Costa Rica while keeping us very active with the rafting, kayaking, hiking, zip lining, canoeing. Never a dull moment.
— Review left October 22, 2024
My trip to Costa Rica through Road Scholar was fabulous! We had a great group of 16 and an amazing guide, Luis. He was so knowledgeable, kind, funny and very patient! It was a trip of a lifetime and I will definitely go on another Road Scholar adventure.
— Review left October 21, 2024
I learned that I can travel alone and not feel alone!
— Review left October 16, 2024
Wow - what an amazing trip. I felt that I had three trips in one!
— Review left October 15, 2024
My first Road Scholar trip was Rim to Shore in Costa Rica and the experience far exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended. I don't intend to use any other travel company for a destination that they provide a program to.
— Review left October 13, 2024
This trip was fantastic! I can't think of one bad thing to say about it! It was fun, interesting, beautiful, active and we had adequate downtime/free time. I highly recommend Costa Rica, Road Scholar and this trip!
— Review left October 8, 2024
Can't recommend highly enough. Rim to Shore was my first Road Scholar trip and I returned with more than a smile on my face; I'm still grinning and looking forward to the next adventure.
— Review left September 24, 2024
Five stars for sure! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do all the activities, but I did them all, without problem. It was challenging but very fun. Road Scholar always takes such good care of the participants. Lodgings were nice, food was great, lots to see and do. Our guide Luis was fabulous; very knowledgeable, patient, and a great sense of humor. I can't wait to go on my next adventure.
— Review left August 31, 2024
The extreme burden of heat and humidity of Costa Rica in July should have been made more clear, I would even consider not offering this program during the hottest part of the rainy season.
— Review left July 16, 2024
The trip was a sheer delight. It would have been fun with any Road Scholar leader but Luis Vargas made it especially wonderful. Highly recommended!
— Review left July 15, 2024
We had a wonderful trip! Luis Vargas was knowledgeable not only about Costa Rican history and culture but also all kinds of birds, plants and animals. He was with us throughout the trip, answered all our questions, had a terrific sense of humor, and adapted to each of our personalities to make us feel welcome and heard. He created a WhatsApp group so we could communicate and share photos. Antonio, the driver, was super nice, got us safely to all destinations, and took extra care of us and of the bus.
We quickly got to know each other in our group of 16: 6 women traveling solo, 4 women traveling with other women (friend/sister), and 3 heterosexual couples. We were encouraged to sit in different places in the bus so we would get to know others, which was appreciated.
The activities were well thought out, with safety a priority. We had a great time kayaking, whitewater rafting, outrigger canoeing, hiking, etc. The dance class instructor was phenomenal and had everyone who attended on the floor dancing, and the demonstrations and speakers were all informative and interesting. There were many buffet meal options, so you could decide how much to eat, and the traveler with a unique food allergy commented on how nice and accommodating everyone was about it and how she had yummy food everywhere she went.
To those who might think that it won't be that strenuous 'cause you'll be with a bunch of old people, reassess - We had a great time with the activities and managed them fine, being in our late 50s/early 60s and in great shape, but the activities were no joke, with the heat and humidity of the rainy season in early July. One of the hikes had me sweating through my whole t-shirt, and I was glad my knees were in good shape. If in doubt, bring those walking sticks. All hotels had laundry options, where they did the laundry for you, so no need to overpack. Overall I am delighted with our experience and look forward to our next Road Scholars trip.
— Review left July 14, 2024
This was a terrific trip to see Costa Rica! The group leader Luis Vargas was fantastic as was the forests and wildlife. The sloths, monkeys and birds were amazing. As were the hikes, rafting, kayaking, and ziplining. They had informative talks on the culture and history that added to the experience. Definitely recommend this trip!
— Review left July 14, 2024
This was a great program for the adventurer, outdoor water sport and hiking enthusiast, learner and joiner (if you love meeting and experiencing with others)!
— Review left July 12, 2024
If you like to be on the go and have incredible adventures everyday, this is the trip for you! Costa Rica is a beautiful, diverse country. During our early-mid May trip we spent a few days each in 3 regions: a lovely mountainous area (the flowers and birds at Guayabo Lodge are magical!), a steamy, lush rain forest, and the central Pacific coast. Activities included hiking through historical and botanical sites with expert guides, whitewater rafting, outrigger canoeing (complete with a picnic on the beach and swimming), a wildlife viewing boat ride to see crocodiles in the Tarcoles River, and zip lining through the treetops. Our wonderful leader Fabian taught us so much about Costa Rica’s culture, plants, animals, and land. He was kind, encouraging, organized, and loved sharing his country with us. Marcos, our bus driver, was excellent, too. Our group of 15 travelers had great fun together in fabulous Costa Rica! Pura Vida!
— Review left June 24, 2024
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it really exceeded my expectations! As a solo- traveler, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I felt completely taken care of from start to finish. Ground rules, as well as our itinerary were set by our superb guide, Erick on our first evening together, and from there really all I had to do was show up on time, participate, relax and have fun. If you are an active and fairly fit, I cannot recommend this trip highly enough as it is a great combination of varied, active excursions, wildlife viewing, guided talks, and lectures within an outrageously beautiful and diverse country. Where else are you going to experience out-rigger canoeing on the ocean in the morning and boating in search of crocodiles in a river that afternoon? Now, tell me.
— Review left June 4, 2024
Perfect very active trip to Costa Rica. kept us moving with many hikes and activities. This was not a sit by the pool and relax trip but a get up and go. Which was perfect. Eric the guide was amazing and the small group made the trip special. If you like to hike, zip line, and kayak this is a perfect trip for Coast Rica.
— Review left June 1, 2024
Best time ever! First time with Road Scholar. This trip is a must-do introduction to Costa Rica. Fabian, our guide made our trip so amazing. Our group was fantastic and worked together as team. Program has diversity of activities from physical active - white water rafting, kayaking, outrigger, hiking, ziplining to educational tours/lectures at each of the major regions of the country. On the move and loved our optional early morning, late afternoon or night walks. And food was delicious and plentiful. What more can you say - Pura Vida!
— Review left May 28, 2024
Costa Rica is a welcoming, interesting, beautiful place with fantastic wildlife. Many of its political and social practices would be worth considering in the US. Do pay attention to the climate's heat and humidity and realize that all of the fun activities take place in conditions that may be more extreme than one is used to.
— Review left May 18, 2024
This was a jammed packed trip, that I thoroughly enjoyed. The activities were great, the lodges where we stayed were unique in the best way. Our guide and driver were awesome. I also enjoyed the company of my fellow Road Scholars. Costa Rica is a beautiful country very worth a trip,
— Review left May 12, 2024
The physical activity in this program is as expected; but I was nicely surprised of my ability to overcome my fear of height and rushing water etc as I participated in the activities and experienced the camaraderie and encouragement that came from being part of this all women's group .
— Review left May 5, 2024
Our trip was exciting, active, and educational! From kayaking to hiking to the very adventurous zipline, the trip was spectacular! We had the very best guide one could ask for and our group was friendly and delightful. I'm glad we selected a small group experience for our trip.
— Review left April 17, 2024
The Road Scholars trip Rim to Shore: Costa Rica Multi-sport Adventure was an absolutely wonderful experience. I would be happy to do it again but first have several other Road Scholar trips in other places.
I highly recommend this trip though.
— Review left April 4, 2024
Reimer made our trip so enjoyable. So impressed with his knowledge and skills in spotting so many birds and yes, we saw a sloth too.
— Review left April 2, 2024
The experience in Costa Rica was awesome. Jose Calvo was an excellent guide who coalesced our disparate group into a company of friends. His personality, skill and knowledge may the trip easy and enjoyable. He was an amazing naturalist at spoting and describing flora and fauna.
— Review left April 1, 2024
I feel like I went on an Adventure Program for Seniors. If willing, we did it all, and we received the cultural education along with it.
Thanks for this opportunity.
Jean
— Review left April 1, 2024
Pura Vida! Costa Rican adventure was great. Excellent guide, great accommodations, a wide variety of adventures.
— Review left March 30, 2024
This trip was fantastic. The activities were so much fun and introduced us to the culture and beauty of the country. There was a good mix of educational opportunities and leisure time. We covered the diversity of the Costa Rica and were able to appreciate the biodiversity and the cultural diversity. Our tour guide was amazing and added so much to the trip. The group was very diverse and eager to participate and learn new things.
— Review left March 29, 2024
My recent Costa Rica rim to shore adventure was an absolutely wonderful 10 days. Each day was filled with exciting, interesting and fun adventures. The program was top notch and the logistics flawless. The variety of flora and fauna we saw was amazing. Especially the giant crocodiles! An excellent group of friendly fellow travelers. The trip was a real bargain for the price. Most of all our group leader was one of the most amazing people I have ever met. His knowledge, enthusiasm and leadership propelled an already great program to even greater heights.
— Review left March 26, 2024
WOW! All I can say is WOW! This was a once of a lifetime trip. Every detail from food, lodging, transportation, trip details, bathroom stops, impromptu hikes, everything was amazing! This probably all happened because of our guide Marcelo and our driver Roder. They were a dynamic duo that made our trip one that we will always remember! Thank you so much! We have and will continue to tell all our friends about road scholar! We are already looking for our next trip!
— Review left March 24, 2024
This is an A+ trip! The activity level is true, the excursions are great, and the additional activities were fantastic. This was my first RS trip, and I'll be signing up for more.
— Review left March 17, 2024
What an incredibly fun and informative program. The group leader and driver worked as a cohesive unit with our enjoyment in mind. The other participants were all fun and personable which made this one of the best vacations I've had. The mix between adventurous activities and educational instruction was just right. I learned a lot and had fun doing it.
— Review left March 17, 2024
A fantastic trip to experience the beauty and gentle spirit of Costa Rica and its people!
— Review left March 12, 2024
We loved this experience very much thanks in no small part to our guide Luis Vega. He was very knowledgeable and was always proactive so everything ran smoothly. We learned a lot about Costa Rica's flora and fauna, stayed in wonderful accommodations and really enjoyed the company of our fellow travelers.
— Review left March 11, 2024
I have been on four Road Scholar trips and The Rim to Shore: Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure has moved to first place as my favorite program thus far. From beginning to end it offered a diversity of adventures and activities. We hiked, learned to dance the salsa, did white water rafting, kayaking and zip-lining. Our guide, Edwin Duarte, was exceptional. He enthusiastically shared his knowledge and love of his country. He was always tuned in to the needs of the group and went above and beyond. This was a "small group" program, with only 8 participants which made a huge difference in the smooth flow of everything. And I loved the fact that we saw a good cross section of this beautiful country and got a taste of several of its diverse ecosystems. As always, the local guides were enjoyable and informative. I highly recommend this program. Pura Vida!
— Review left March 9, 2024
5 star trip! Luis was excellent guide. On the go and a new adventure every day!
— Review left March 3, 2024
An action vacation that returns you home refreshed and recharged.
— Review left March 2, 2024
It was my first trip to Costa Rica and it was absolutely breathtaking. For such a small country, there is so much to see and do. The people are warm and welcoming. Our guide was terrific and knew so much. Because of him, I have grown a new love for his country.
— Review left February 29, 2024
Costa Rica is an amazing place with a unique history. They disbanded their army in 1948 and allocated more money to education and healthcare. Their push into Eco-Tourism has been successful. This was a great use of our time and money for a great educational vacation.
— Review left February 19, 2024
Our Costa Rican adventure was one of our best road Scholar trips. We loved our learder and guides, activities and accommodations. Thanks again for planning a fabulous trip for us!
— Review left February 18, 2024
This is an excellent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed the natural beauty, the diversity of flora and fauna, and the variety of activities. We also loved our very small (12) group, our extraordinary guide and the lodgings and the food.
— Review left February 15, 2024
Highly recommend this program & in particular our leader & guide, Luis Vargas
— Review left February 9, 2024
We highly recommend the Costa Rica from Rim to Shore trip for you if you have a sense of adventure and like to stay active. Who knew such a small country offered cloud forests, rain forests, toucans and sloths! We loved the white-water rafting, kayaking, outrigger canoe experience, zip-lining and the beach. And if you are lucky you will get to meet our fantastic guide, Luis Vargas
— Review left February 7, 2024
Judging by my first trip with Road Scholars, I regret not discovering the organization sooner. It’s a treasure of experience and learning!
— Review left February 6, 2024
Outstanding and interesting program. Game us a chance to meet real local people. Lots of quality outdoor time and interact with natural and historical, and cultural places. wonderful birding.
— Review left February 6, 2024
What a fun, beautiful, unforgettable trip!
Costa Rica has so much more nature than I could have imagined. The accommodations were great, the activities every day so much fun. Our guide Fabi was fantastic, kind, patient, always there for us. We admired his skill to spot all kinds of big or tiny animals in their lush, dense natural environments and loved getting close up views through his scope.
Every single day gifted us something unexpected & beautiful whether it was something to see or do or taste or new friendships, thank you so very much!
— Review left February 3, 2024
A great program with a wonderful guide Fabian.
He went above and beyond! Saw lots of birds animals and reptiles. Good overview of Costa Rica history. Lovely hotels and food.
— Review left February 3, 2024
The outfitters and guides for each of the excursions took very good care of everyone. There was nothing to fear on any of the excursions, which were thoroughly enlightening.
And our leader Guillermo was exceptionally great.
— Review left February 1, 2024
A wonderfully stimulating trip amid the lush Costa Rican landscape.
— Review left January 29, 2024
You will return a richer person and that's not monetary.
— Review left January 28, 2024
My wife and I enjoyed the Costa Rica Multi-Sport adventure. Our guide, Jose, was knowledgeable and well organized. We had never been to Costa Rica and we hoped to gain an understanding of its geography, people, cuisine and observe the country’s diverse wildlife. Mission accomplished!
The trip included opportunities to hike, kayak, zipline, white water raft, and paddle in an outrigger canoe. The guide companies that lead these activities were excellent. Additionally, we had presentations on coffee, sugar, Costa Rican history and modern dance.
I would advise participants to take sturdy water shoes for the boat trips and well cleated hiking shoes and poles for the relatively short, but sometimes muddy, steep, and uneven trails.
Other than being somewhat narrow the road surfaces were good although windy and steep which led to a few long trips on the van. Our driver was excellent, but the van was by far the most uncomfortable that I have encountered in 15 Road Scholar tours. It is for that reason I cannot give this trip a five star review.
— Review left January 26, 2024
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was so much fun and a positive experience in large part due to our very knowledgeable guide! Fun activities and definitely pushed the comfort zone on a couple of the hikes. We will definitely do another Road Scholar trip in the future.
— Review left January 24, 2024
Super active and a challenging trip but so enjoyable. What a beautiful country.
— Review left December 18, 2023
One of the best RS trips I’ve been on; Andrey our guide was outstanding. So passionate about his country and so many subjects relevant to our tour!
— Review left November 18, 2023
Absolutely loved this trip! Wonderful food, great friendly locals, unbelievable scenery and the guides, Jimmy & Sergio, could not have been more accommodating, available, well informed, and patient. Our driver, I apologize as his name escapes me; was a terrific guy, a skilled driver, again very patient and helpful. The lodging accommodations were also great and varied from the cloud forest experience with so many beautiful blooming flowers and vistas to the coffee area with the raised platform lodging to the final stay in the southern Pacific area with the beautiful clear ocean waters to enjoy. All of the sport options were nice to have as an opportunity to get some physical exercise aside from the hiking/walking trips we frequently took. The zip lining was new for me but I loved it! The local dining opportunities whether in a restaurant or private home I very much enjoyed. The final evening we caught the sunset at a unique mountain top resort with a refreshing cocktail and a breathtaking view. It was a fantastic way to finish the trip. An opportunity to get closer to the volcano experience and enjoy the hot baths would be a good addition. An opportunity to extend the trip with options at the front or back end of the rim to shore experience would be appreciated. Once again, my 7th trip; Road Scholar runs a very well organized experience. I look forward to finding my 8th trip with Road Scholar.
— Review left November 14, 2023
This was a stellar experience. Our guides were tops. I hope to go back for another Costa Rica adventure.
— Review left November 14, 2023
Erick Guzmán was amazing! He was fun, attentive, knowledgeable, organized and had the ability to keep us together most of the time. Anytime there was a hitch, he was attending to it immediately , stayed with it through resolution and followed through afterwards to be sure the group was together and in a cohesive manner. I would hope for him as a guide in any future tours.
— Review left November 5, 2023
This multi-sport adventure exceeded my expectations! Such a variety of experiences (kayaking, whitewater rafting, zip lining, hiking) that would have been hard to arrange on my own. Just the right amount of non-active learning from experts. Small group size led to what I hope to be lifelong friendships. Accommodations and food were above average. Do not hesitate to travel during the rainy season. Yes, it rained nearly every day, but the rain did not interfere with activities. Just come prepared with rain poncho, hat, waterproof backpack, walking sticks and more shoes for hiking than you think you will need b/c they are going to get wet and muddy. Again, this program was awesome and I readily recommend. My only issue is before I left for the trip; it would have been helpful to know RS only deals with American Airlines for trips to central America, also I received inaccurate information that my flight had to arrive before 4:00 pm in order to get transportation to the hotel, which was included if you booked your flight with RS. After several calls to RS, pick up at airport was confirmed and arranged.
— Review left November 3, 2023
This was such a fun trip, so full of different activities, beautiful hikes in the rainforest, and making new friends. I cannot say enough good things about our guide, Erick Guzman. He knew so much about the Costa Rican culture and wildlife. I was amazed at all the different animals he was able to find on our hikes. We learned the true meaning of Pura Vida, simply said means enjoy life. All of the different speakers were so interesting, we all learned so much about Costa Rica. This was my first trip to Costa Rica and with RoadScholar. I am looking forward to visiting Costa Rica again, and I am looking forward to my next RoadScholar trip.
— Review left November 2, 2023
This was a wonderful trip. Each day was filled with a new adventure or learning experience. Costa Rica is beautiful and we saw a lot of it! If there weren't so many great trip options, I'd gladly do this one again.
— Review left September 9, 2023
This is a trip NOT to be missed! Its an active trip as advertised. All of the guides for white water rating, ocean kayaking, river kayaking, zip lining and the boat adventure kept safety as a priority! Loved all the foods from Costa Rica and all the fresh fruit---no processed foods were served! If the brochure tells you to bring rain gear, bring a poncho or rain jacket. Also, pants protect your legs during hikes in the rain forest, a must! Great trip!!
— Review left August 25, 2023
This program exceeded my expectations for what I learned and experienced! I can't imagine a better guide than Reimer, his experience as a naturalist and a Costa Rican native added so much. The balance of the physical activities on all the given days was well planned for each of the areas we visited. Choosing this trip was one of the best ideas I've ever had! All of the participants in our group agreed it was a fabulous program.
— Review left July 17, 2023
What an extraordinary learning adventure into a new country. It makes all the difference that you're led by a knowledgeable naturalist who not only takes you to the uniqueness of the country, but it's well equipped to explain what you are looking at and what you should know about it.
— Review left May 21, 2023
Great educational and enjoyable trek
— Review left May 1, 2023
I had an amazing trip with Road Scholar in Costa Rica! The country is beautiful, our guide, Fabi, was extraordinary. The activities were a lot of fun, including zip lining, white water rafting, and kayaking, plus hiking, of course. We were able to see sloths, howler monkeys, crocodiles, scarlet macaws, toucans, and many other animals in their natural habitat. I highly recommend the multi sport trip, although there are many others to choose from in Costa Rica.
— Review left April 26, 2023
I had such a fantastic time on this trip. Everything was wonderful! The country, the activities, the people, and our program leader. This trip met all my expectations.
— Review left April 26, 2023
This was our third Road Scholar trip and we have been extremely satisfied with all of them.
Jane and Bruce
— Review left April 2, 2023
Laughter with new friends every day.
— Review left March 31, 2023
The best trip I I've ever been on. We had a great guide, wonderful group of people, and Costa Rica was amazing! All the activities were amazing and seeing all the animals was exciting!
— Review left March 27, 2023
Beautiful country. Wonderful experiences. Whitewater rafting was amazing!
— Review left March 21, 2023
I started out on walks in the rainforest thinking it was a nice hike, and I didn't notice much more. The group leader overtime made me aware that the rainforest is teaming with life and rare creatures of beauty. As we looked at birds, insects, and mammals through his portable scope, and watched him patiently find them by listening to the sounds they made, and heard him describe their characteristics, I was awed by the biodiversity and interdependence of life in the rainforest and on the planet. I go home appreciating the natural world of my local context, and expect it to take some effort and patience to know what supports its life and all life on our planet.
— Review left March 4, 2023
Great way to see the different geographical areas of Costa Rica. Activities, guide (Reimer) and lodges were excellent!
— Review left March 2, 2023
Dax This was my first R.S. program. I was very impressed with the guide (Fabi) He was very knowledgeable about the programs events and Costa Ricas culture and history. I have been to many places as a solo traveler and learned many things about the areas I visited. But the learning experience I got on this program was so much better. I had learned more about Costa Rica in 10 days with this program than I would of in 30 days by myself. Costa Rica is a great experience.I’m so glad I went there.It was a great trip with a friendly group of people.
— Review left February 28, 2023
Reimer Palma is a wonderful guide, super knowledgeable, kind, and funny. We enjoyed all the activities and will certainly travel with Road Scholar again in the future.
— Review left February 26, 2023
This program was fun, enjoyable, and active. I would recommend it.
— Review left February 20, 2023
This was an excellent program, and I recommend it highly. Our leader, Fabi, was superb and greatly added to the experience.
— Review left February 18, 2023
This is an excellent program. It is active and interesting.
— Review left February 6, 2023
This multi-sport program in Costa Rica provided a physical challenge for me, and really gave me insight to the country and people who live there.
— Review left January 31, 2023
This is one of my favorite tours I have taken with Road Scholar. The diversity of the programs activities were amazing. Al is such a wonderful tour guide, he shared the love of his country with his extensive knowledge of Costa Rica, he left no stone unturned. I would highly recommend this program not to be missed.
— Review left January 26, 2023
An engaging and active tour of three different locales in Costa Rica. We have done this tour twice 5i years apart with different guides. Both trips were fun, educational, and energetic.
— Review left January 22, 2023
This was a trip of a lifetime. Adventurous, interesting and loads of fun!! Saw and did things I never would have believed I could do!! Our guide, Erick was amazing !!! Don't forget our driver Antonio, he was delightful!!!
— Review left December 21, 2022
Experiencing outrigger canoeing, whitewater rafting and ziplining for the first time as a septuagenarian was amazing. This while learning about this beautiful country, its culture, history, geography, flora and fauna made for a fantatic trip. Lenin Duarte is well organized and very knowledgeable. His ability to spot and identify birds led to seeing close to 50 species. Bring your binoculars and your sense of adventure!
PS I personally found walking sticks helpful.
— Review left November 18, 2022
This was a fantastic experience both in the range of outdoor activities and the knowledge of the tour leader. I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in fully experiencing the history, culture, wildlife and natural environment of Costa Rica.
— Review left November 12, 2022
This trip provided a nice balance of the history and culture of Costa Rica combined with outdoor adventures that showcase the nature beauty and biological diversity of this amazing country.
— Review left November 12, 2022
The program, my first with Road Scholar, exceeded my already high expectations. An amazing amount of high quality experience was crammed into an all too short 10 days. The lodges, the food, the skill and congeniality of the group leader, above all the environment, all led to a truly marvelous trip.
— Review left October 8, 2022
Great trip! Learned so much about Costa Rica. A beautiful country.
This was an active trip - hiking, kayaking, rafting, zip-lining - a lot of fun with a great group of people. Our guide, Raimer, was exceptional. Highly recommend.
— Review left May 2, 2022
This is an excellent program that introduces you to different areas of Costa Rica. The excursions were interesting and the activities varied, done safely, and enjoyable. The food at all of our locations was healthy, varied, and plentiful. Our guide, Lenin Duarte, was great! It is a well planned and well delivered trip.
— Review left March 25, 2022
This trip was a stupendous adventure, that included physical challenges, learning sessions, and fun, fun, fun! Our guide Lenin was superb!
— Review left March 24, 2022
This tour was exactly as described on the website. There was so much to learn about Costa Rica - the history, the culture and the plants, animals and people who cultivated and inhabit its lands - and every guide we met made it a point to welcome us and tell us about a part of it. In particular, I was impressed with how warm and friendly each guide was; there was so much each had to tell, often with humor to boot, so you didn't feel like you were in a classroom. When it came to safety, the guides were on top of it. All in all, it was the perfect trip.
— Review left March 21, 2022
good
— Review left March 19, 2022
This was a wonderful trip packed with adventure around every corner. It just kept getting better and better. Our guide, Erick Miranda, was professional, friendly and very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. He led the program flawlessly. He even added a few little extras to enrich our experience such as a walk through the farmers market in Turrialba, morning bird watches and evening strolls. All of the guides who led us on walks, whitewater rafting, kayaking, zip lining, and outrigger canoeing trips were excellent. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and the meals were homemade and delicious. We highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see and experience Costa Rica in an active and adventurous way.
— Review left March 16, 2022
This is an excellent introduction to the amazing biodiversity of Costa Rica for active people. We stayed in a beautiful mountain area, a rain forest, and along the Pacific coast. Our activities included hiking and various water sports, all of which included an interesting educational component. We got a real sense of the kindness, work ethic, and culture of the Costa Rican people from our field experiences and guides. We were also very impressed by the respect for Covid protocols that we saw everywhere in Costa Rica. Road Scholar adhered to all safety protocols and kept us all Covid-free.
— Review left February 19, 2022
This was our first Road Scholar tour and all I can say is, WOW!!! Everything planned down to the minute detail, knowledgeable and personable tour guide, so many fun and exciting activities, and new friends to share all of it with!! We had so much fun and highly recommend Road Scholar!
— Review left February 17, 2022
Costa Rica Rim to Shore was a delightful mix of energetic but not difficult activities combined with learning about the people, birds, history and geology of Costa Rica. The people I met were so welcoming and appreciated my less than stellar Spanish. Having worked organizing adult education I can not begin to describe the top notch organization and preparation of Road Scholar. I have already recommending this program to friends and family.
— Review left February 12, 2022
This trip was fantastic very diversified, every day we expiriens new adventure, very well organize ,I enjoyed very much.
— Review left January 28, 2022
This was an exceptional trip, with the best guide I have ever encountered in all my travels. Highly recommended for those who want to get their heart beating and who want to enjoy the beauty of this beautiful planet!
— Review left January 24, 2022
I can't imagine a better planned trip or a better or more knowledgeable leader than Iván Castillo. The activity level was perfect for me - very active. I loved all of it - hiking, bird watching, kayaking, rafting in the rapids, the educational lectures, zip lining, etc.
— Review left January 17, 2022
What an exceptional trip we have just completed! What great staff we interacted with on all levels!
— Review left January 15, 2022
This awesome program was executed exactly as advertised. But the trip was even better than advertised because of the enthusiastic, organized, knowledgeable, caring leader! Even though this trip occurred under the cloud of covid and its changing testing requirements, we did not feel that any of this detracted from the program, again thanks to our awesome leader. In addtion to the variety of "adventure" activities, the program had a wide variety of different types of interesting field trips. The program leader, the driver, and the other participants were delightful travel companions whose company enhanced the experience.
— Review left December 17, 2021
I attended the December 2021 “Rim to Shore Costa Rica Adventure". Reimer, our group leader, did a great job. He is a wealth of knowledge. The lodging was very nice. The food was very good. The trip was very well organized. The itinerary was perfect. The activities - hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, zip lining, white water rafting, canoeing...were amazing!! Thank you Road Scholar for another great trip!!
— Review left December 15, 2021
The Costa Rica Rim to Shore adventure provides a great set of exciting outdoor activities, visits to a variety of natural sites with incredible diversity of plant and animal life, and some really nice places to stay. I highly recommend this program.
— Review left December 12, 2021
Fantastic trip!!
— Review left December 12, 2021
If you are interested in multiple activities in a beautiful and setting then I highly recommend this program. Not a day went by that wasn't fun and interesting.
— Review left November 23, 2021
Best of the five RS adventures I've been on. Great taste of Costa Rica, with exciting physical activities included. You will experience both beauty and fun adventures as you explore this country. Guide Reimer Palma is the best!
— Review left November 18, 2021
What a fabulous adventure! Such a wide range of activities from hiking, to boating, to lectures on Costa Rican life, and even dancing. So many memorable experiences - stopping at a roadside market and sampling fruit; monkeys stealing plantains off my plate; early morning at Guayabo Lodge viewing the valley and surrounding mountains; zip lining in the rain; early morning birding. Eriq, our guide, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all things Costa Rican, and greatly enhanced our experience. The various lecturers and guides showed a high degree of skill and professionalism as well. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left November 10, 2021
This was an awesome program. I had fun and at the same time learned to respect and appreciate the history of Costa Rica. Erick the guide was amazing and greatly appreciated his optional bird watching opportunities. Felt like I was getting an additional benefit of his bird watching skills for free. His telling of his personal experiences of growing up in rural Costa Rica was very enlightening.
— Review left November 8, 2021
Loved the activities as an introduction to a beautiful country! Top notch Road Scholar tour leader and experts. An added bonus, for my first foray out of country since being vaccinated, I felt very safe, as Costa Rica’s Covid protocols far exceed those in the US county where I live.
— Review left November 6, 2021
Another wonderful trip with Road Scholar! It was great to spend all day every day outside with so many different activities, wonderful scenery and wildlife and knowledgeable guides. I learned a lot about Costa Rica. Erick did an excellent job of keeping things on track and especially finding birds.
— Review left October 11, 2021
This program provides a range of adventurous activities set in the beauty of the rainforests of Costa Rica. the lectures are interesting and informative.
Our tour guide was the best.
Most of all, I had fun, met new friends. Road Scholar you have once again provided a wonderful opportunity to learn while being active. Pura vida!!!
— Review left October 2, 2021
The Costa Rica multi-sport program was simply outstanding. Great group leader (Erick Guzman), fantastic sports adventures, and great locations - mountains, rain forests, and the beach! This trip is one of the best travel values out there. If you like adventure, then GO on this TRIP!
— Review left October 2, 2021
Excellent trip, well designed and executed. It was really nice to experience a hard thunderstorm in the rain forest. But, unless you don't mind hiking in the rain and mud, you might select a date that's not in the rainy season, e.g., March. Excellent guide. I don't think there was one question that he did not have answers to and he went out of his way to help people. I highly recommend this trip if you like to include action with your sightseeing and learning.
— Review left September 1, 2021
If you are looking for adventure and learning about the rich history of Costa Rica, this is the trip for you. I recommend you get in shape before you go so that you can truly enjoy the hikes through the cloud forest, the rain forest and the dry forest. The canopy zip lining is probably the best in the world.
Hopefully you will have Ivan as your guide as he is a true asset for Road Scholar and an expert on most every aspect of Costa Rica. He included bird watching, finding the most hidden gems of the forest and truly a wonderful and warm person. He personifies Pura Vida!
— Review left August 22, 2021
We really enjoyed the trip, though it was cut short by two days when we got sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Road Scholar handled the hotel, dinner and airline changes within hours. Our guide Katherine was excellent and we really liked the wide variety of activities. One lodge (Selva Verde) didn't have air conditioning, and it was hot! For lots of detail on our adventure, feel free to read our blog, which tells you day-by-day what we did and also has lots of photos. http://www.mytripjournal.com/Lois_and_John_CostaRica
— Review left March 19, 2020
Costa Rica is a beautiful country, and the people love visitors. I would recommend you pick one of the many trips that goes there. If you want to see a day by day account of our trip, including photos you can go to our blog: www.mytripjournal.com/Lois_and_John_CostaRica
— Review left March 19, 2020
This program was a wonderful sampling of Costa Rican culture, biological diversity and just plain fun adventure activities. From the mountains to the rain forests to the Pacific Coast, you will learn, you will challenge yourself, and you will come away with a deeper appreciation and underestanding of Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
— Review left March 11, 2020
Thoroughly recommend this program. It was fantastic!
— Review left March 9, 2020
A friend and I went on a Road Scholar Costa Rica trip. Given how extraordinary our Road Scholar experience was, from the seamless flight arrangements, to remarkable tour guide who led us through and taught us about the forests and the wonderful food and accommodations everyday and every meal, I will be a repeat customer. Many of the 15 other participants on the trip were repeat customers. For one couple this was their 12th Road Scholar expedition and for another, their 8th. That speaks very highly of the organization. It seems it's not just the place. Give them a try if you haven't already.
— Review left March 8, 2020
This was my first Road Scholar trip, my first guided trip ever, and my first trip to Central America.
Overall, I'd give the experience an A+. Just about everything went flawlessly and almost always, exceeded expectations.
Our guide, Ivan, was amazing. His keen eyes, wonderful helping spirit, vast knowledge, and gentle leadership made the whole trip flow smoothly.
Fellow travelers turned out to be pleasant and fun companions, just fun to be travel, dine, and hang out with.
Lodgings and food were excellent; five venues in all, including two in San Jose on the first and last nights. Guayabo Lodge and Selva Verde are both unique and beautiful eco-lodges. Punta Leone is a very large gated beach resort (15 minute drive from outer gate to the beach.
Guayabo Lodge set the bar for dining and rooms-with-a-view. Buffet food can't match that. But Guyabo also had minor... umm... infrastructure issues in a couple of the rooms. Breakfast at Punta Leone featured capuchin monkeys at play. Breakfast at Selva Verde featured exotic birds just off the balcony.
The bus was clean, comfortable, expertly driven. Not one wrong turn or sudden stop that I can recall. Lectures and lecturers were on-point, diverse, heart-felt. Walks and hikes expertly narrated, Ivan always at the ready with his spotting 'scope and tripod.
We experienced Costa Rica in a way that we'd never have done as tourists on our own. This was my first Road Scholar trip, and almost surely not my last.
— Review left March 5, 2020
Full immersion in the Costa Rica landscape and culture! Pure Avila!! Hoping to return someday!
— Review left March 4, 2020
Loved the variety of activities, along with amazing lodging, great food, informative speakers and an enthusiastic, thoughtful guide who obviously loves to share his country. We had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed our adventures as well as our fellow travelers. Pura Vida!!
— Review left February 29, 2020
Costa Rica: Rim to Shore is a phenomenal trip allowing you to experience the beauty of the country through truly enjoyable hikes, watersports, and ziplining! A wonderful balance of sights, sounds, food, and fun!! Our exceptional guide and bus driver were a big part of us all having fun!
— Review left February 21, 2020
If you like active trips this is the one for you. Loved the rafting, zip line, and kayaking. Ivan is one of the best guides I’ve had. He is a master organizer and keeps the energy level of the trip high. If you’re interested in seeing a variety of areas in Costa Rica then this is the trip is for you.
— Review left February 17, 2020
This trip was amazing! I had a great time, learned a ton about Costa Rica and made new friends along the way. Ivan(our leader) is an amazing young man with enthusiasm that never stops! Marcell the driver was also great(you will know that once you start driving on Costa Rican roads)! The places we stayed and the activities we had kept us busy, very active, but with just enough free time. Plenty of food and the scenery never stops amazing you! The only down side of this program was when it ended! Perfect weather! Pura Vida!
— Review left February 14, 2020
Where to begin?! A wonderful, magical, fun learning trip! Our guide, Ivan Castillo, incredibly knowledgeable, super fun, and consistently upbeat! We could not have asked for a better guide. His attention to detail was amazing! Our group rocked, and a big part of that came from Ivan's positive energy. We saw tons of awesome scenery, were challenged, learned about many aspects of Costa Rica, and shared LOTS of laughter and wonder! It's easy to see why Ivan and so many we met are so passionate and proud of their homeland! Truly one of the best experiences of my life!
— Review left February 10, 2020
Amazing, awesome, fantastic ... there aren't enough superlatives to describe this trip or our tour leader, Ivan Castillo, and bus driver Juan Manuel. This was the first trip in which I was paired with a roommate and it was a great experience. The whole group bonded well and was tons of fun. Ivan's incredible sighting abilities and magnifying scope let us gape at sloths on demand, flying monkeys (really! - a troop of howler monkeys jumping from tree to tree), scarlet macaws on an almost daily basis, a huge alligator named Mike Tyson, hidden bats, a pygmy owl, tiny frogs, birds too numerous to name, and much much more. He's a great storyteller who made the journey really special. All the places we visited, adventures we had, and lectures we heard were also excellent. It was truly Pura Vida!
— Review left February 6, 2020
Costa Rica Rim to Shore was my first Road Scholar trip, but it definitely won't be my last! Everything was wonderful, from our terrific group leader Fabian and our great driver Darlan, to the accommodations, food, speakers, activities, and our 14 co-adventurers. The country is beautiful and the people are warm and welcoming, eager to share with visitors. The scenery and wildlife are spectacular. Activities like hiking, rafting, kayaking and zip lining were fun and challenging. Be prepared to be challenged, learn a lot and get wet! Best. Vacation. Ever!
— Review left February 4, 2020
This program is for you if you want to be stretched outside of your comfort zone but gain great satisfaction and increase your physical, emotional, intellectual and social health
— Review left February 1, 2020
Superb trip with challenging yet enjoyable activities and excellent guide to fantastic locations in beautiful Costa Rica.
— Review left January 28, 2020
This was my first Road Scholar trip and my first time to travel solo. It could not have been any better! From our wonderful guide, Reimer Palma, to the activities, accommodations, food, lecturers, everything was A plus.
It was so nice to have every detail planned and taken care of!
I can not recommend this trip highly enough!
— Review left January 25, 2020
I highly recommend Road Scholar. They do a great job of planning experiences I couldn’t do on my own. They do a great job of communicating thorough information and accurate expectations. This trip was my first solo tour and my apprehensions were immediately discarded upon our first meeting. Our guide, Reimer, was exceptional and quickly earned our confidence so we could sit back, enjoy and have fun as we knew we were in good hands. I felt very safe with our driver Roider and throughout the trip including accommodations, food and activities; all were fantastic! The personnel in all of the activities were extremely skilled and professional with the best equipment. Last but not least I loved the diversity of the group and getting to know them. I made some new friends, It was fantastic to meet people with the same adventurous spirit and lust for learning. I see more Costa Rica and Road Scholar trips in my future.
— Review left January 17, 2020
Wow! This first Road Scholar trip for my husband and I was fabulous and beyond expectation; beautiful, active, all around wonderful. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend this trip to anyone considering visiting Costa Rica.
— Review left November 18, 2019
Do you like rice and beans? Yes or no, this program is fantastic! You will get warm and you will get wet. You will love the macaws and finding the frogs. The sound of howler monkeys will send chills down your spine. What an amazing country.
— Review left November 16, 2019
My husband and I just returned from the Costa Rica Multi Sport program. We had only travelled internationally one other time so this trip was definitely out of our comfort zone. Road Scholar made the whole trip so easy. Accommodations were first class, clean and comfortable. Food was excellent. Lots of fruits and vegetables. A few on the trip had dietary restrictions and we were always able to find fresh healthy food to eat. Our guide, Erick Guzman, was outstanding. Friendly, informed, accommodating, enthusiastic. He is so knowledgeable about the wildlife and we were able to enjoy so many species of birds and animals. We also had a future Road Scholar guide travelling with us (Fabian) who we enjoyed having many conversations with. Both were very informed about every aspect of Costa Rica and were always able to answer any question we had. The excursions were adventurous and lots of fun. They were described accurately in the trip description. We never felt uneasy about any of the excursions. Erick always prepared us in advance and the guides who lead the excursions were helpful and informed. They made sure we had excellent instructions. If you felt you did not want to participate in a particular excursion you had that option. This was our first trip with Road Scholar and will not be our last. We plan to travel with Road Scholar in the future and are already looking for a trip for next year. If you want a no stress vacation with lots of fun activities, informative and friendly guides, first class accommodations, great food, want to learn about every aspect of Costa Rica from a variety of people and like meeting new people and making new friends then this is the trip for you. Pura Vida
— Review left November 16, 2019
Lenin Durate, our group leader made this trip the best Road Scholar and Vacation I have ever been on.
He made the trip exciting, fun and full of adventure.
He is intelligent, kind, respectful and patient. His smile and laugh are contagious. It was hard to say good-bye. Lenin made even the trips on the bus so fun.
I enjoyed all the activities especially watching a tortoise lay her eggs under the stars.
Awesome trip!
— Review left September 3, 2019
Great trip as it pushed me outside my comfort zone when it came to white water rafting and zip-lining. I was not bothered by the rain as felt it added to the experience of being in the rain forest! The rain never interrupted any of our activities.
— Review left August 23, 2019
This program is fast-paced and educational! A perfect intro to Costa Rica! It was a great value and we have a lot of information to share with others! Our guide and driver were excellent, all details were well thought out. Taryn in Spokane, WA.
— Review left May 28, 2019
If you like challenges that you can accomplish and would like to experience the best of Costa Rica, then the Rim to Shore should be for you. The guides and facilities are tremendous and the interaction with nature, locals, and the other participants is a very rewarding experience.
— Review left May 26, 2019
The tour completely lived up to the description. It was both an adventure and lot of fun,and an educational experience. The wildlife of Costa Rica is justifiable world famous, and you get a chance to see it all on this trip. The guide was excellent and the accommodation ranged from decent to good.
— Review left May 2, 2019
I cannot recommend this trip highly enough - go as soon as you can! We had so much fun, made new friends, learned a lot. Many thanks to Reimer and Carlos for making it so wonderful.
— Review left March 30, 2019
We would highly recommend the Costa Rice Rim to Shore : multi-sport adventure!
Our leader Reimer was excellent! The trip overexceeded our expectations! Nice size of group 15 participants. Everyone had a great time and were all friendly. A wonderful experience!
— Review left March 29, 2019
I just returned from a Road Scholar trip and am already thinking about my next adventure with them. Truly a phenomenal experience!
— Review left March 29, 2019
What a wonderful trip to a lovely new country! Our guide, Silvia, was just fantastic - caring, generous, well informed, energetic, attuned to everyone in the group, a real superstar. My wife and I enjoyed the great variety of places visited, the diverse lectures, the wonderful lodges, and for me, the spectacular wildlife on all sides. At times I could barely keep up trying to take decent photos, identifying wildlife and making notes before the next brilliant photo subject rocketed into view. Wow, over 65 new bird species confirmed and we weren't even concentrating on birds. We had heard wonderful things about Costa Rica from friends, but the reality was better than expected. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, the countryside and trails were clean, the environmental diversity was fascinating, on and on. We will be back. The only change I would make is to avoid staying in San Jose for 2 nights. There was no specific activity in the city, and nothing of particular interest to us, but we had to endure some long bus rides in heavy traffic to and from the hotel. I would prefer staying in a hotel on the edge of the city where transport issues are easier. Thanks Road Scholar for a memorable adventure.
— Review left March 20, 2019
This was our first Road Scholar trip and was very pleased and surprised at how much we loved it! From the river rafting, hiking, and kayaking to birding and learning about Costa Rica in a home, I could not have been happier!
— Review left March 12, 2019
Very enjoyable program. Erick is an excellent group leader.
— Review left March 11, 2019
This program is an excellent way to experience the best of Costa Rica for first time travelers, but you should be in good physical shape to handle the many outdoor activities. They can be strenuous due to steep hills and hot humid weather.
— Review left February 27, 2019
This was an amazing trip with Ivan Castillo as our tour leader and Melvin Espinoza as our bus driver. We thoroughly enjoyed our Rim to Shore experience in beautiful Costa Rica. It was a nice balance of adventure and education. Our tour guide, Ivan, a Costa Rican local, was very knowledgeable, caring and had a great sense of humor. He had an eye for spotting wild life we would never have noticed and was open to going out of his way to give us a great experience ( stopped at roadside stand to pick up a fresh strawberry snack, supplied birthday cakes, took us to an amazing coffee house at the top of a mountain, extra bird watching walks) . The guest lecturers were all excellent as well. Our group was great and became bonded. I give Ivan credit for making this a memorable experience for us all! We highly recommend this trip! Pura Vida!
— Review left February 27, 2019
Fantastic group leader. Wonderful activities. Not to be missed.
— Review left February 25, 2019
A wonderful ten days learning about a new emerging country that encompasses jungles and rivers and beaches and mountains and cities. Meet some lovely, friendly people who call this country home. I hope you have as wonderful a leader as our group did!!!
— Review left February 24, 2019
I've always been an independent traveler but then discovered Road Scholar. The RS programs provide support that I welcome while getting older but still have a great level of activity. These programs are bargains and a great opportunity to meet others with similar interests.
— Review left February 17, 2019
We just finished Costa Rica Rim to Shore and had an exhilarating experience. We highly recommend this program to any who enjoy a challenge. We invited dear friends to join us who had never thought to going on a Road Scholar trip before and they were pleasantly surprised at the planning and unique experiences we enjoyed together! Thank you Road Scholar!
— Review left February 7, 2019
The Costa Rica Rim to Shore Program was excellent in all ways with wonderful and educational activities and the people involved (leader, presenters, etc.)were exceptional.
— Review left January 29, 2019
First time participant of a road scholar program. Great diversity of activities. We never had a dull moment. One of the best trips ever and we have virtually done it all before we did this trip with road scholar.
— Review left January 27, 2019
This was my first trip with Road Scholar. It met my expectations and more. Our guide, Lenin was amazing. I am already looking at 3 future trips.I appreciated the educational component of the trip. I am looking forward to an adventure filled future with Road Scholar.
— Review left January 23, 2019