All Costa Rica Budget Trips
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Costa Rica Budget Tours & Trips
92 Costa Rica Budget trips. Tours from 54 tour companies. 444 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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92 Trips match your criteria (21 - 40 shown)
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By Intrepid Travel
premier
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Visits
Antigua, Arenal Volcano, Boquete, Caribbean, Central America, Colon, Copan, Granada, La Fortuna, Lake Nicaragua, Leon, Monteverde, Ometepe, Pacific Coast, Panama City, Salvador
Highlights
- Hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde – there’s so many ways to experience the lush canopies and see unique Central American wildlife.
- Try out your Nicaragua sign language skills when you order breakfast at an atmospheric cafe housed in a historic building that is managed and staffed by members of the local deaf community.
- Put your chef hat on and help prepare a traditional Caribbean dinner with a local family in their home in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
- Clear sea perfect for swimming, shacks serving cold cerveza and sandy shores covered in starfish are waiting in the Bocas del Toro, where you spend three nights on Isla Colon.
- Spend a morning with the Ngabe-Bugle indigenous community on Isla Popa, learning about local lifestyles as you get to experience a slice of village life.
Themes
Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, High Adventure
What travelers are saying
"I went on the Intrepid 15 day "Best of Morocco" tour in 2025 and had such an amazing time that I wasn't ready to leave by the time the trip finished! It exceeded my expectations in so many ways: value for money, itinerary, a lot of included activities balanced with lots of rest stops on longer travel days, very caring & attentive local guides, and lots of optional activities. As a company, Intrepid was very easy to communicate with before the trip started (I had sent a few questions about optional activities). The website is also easy to navigate and simple for updating travel & health information. If you are considering doing a tour with Intrepid - make sure you read the Essential Trip Information they have on each tour page. It describes everything in detail so you'll know what to expect. While I LOVED my tour, I can see some people signing up for this without reading the description and then being surprised at some of the 2 star hotels (in this case it was the "Original" tour style). Overall, I am impressed at how this tour managed to simultaneously get us closer to Moroccan culture AND feel like an adventure AND feel like a vacation from day-to-day life back home. I would travel with Intrepid again."
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$5,279
28 days From$3,910
Health Safety +
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By Intrepid Travel
premier
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Visits
Antigua, Caribbean, Caye Caulker, Central America, Chichen Itza, Copan, Cozumel, Granada, La Fortuna, Lake Atitlan, Lake Nicaragua, Monteverde, Ometepe, Panajachel, Playa del Carmen, Salvador, San Cristobal, San Ignacio, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Tikal, Tulum
Highlights
- Have breakfast at Cafe de las Sonrisas – a local café run entirely by deaf people. The café's owner is aiming to bridge the gap and inspire other business owners to employ local people living with disabilities.
- Tour the historic site of Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World – and learn why these ancient Maya ruins are the most important in all of Mexico.
- Head deep into the jungle to the lush wilderness of Lacanja River during your stay at an eco-lodge, which supports the local indigenous community in the forest of the Lacandon area. Maybe opt to raft through the waterfalls and backwaters or take a guided hike.
- Visit the colourful markets of Chichicastenango, nicknamed Chichi, where you can explore the local handmade wares like jade jewellery, pottery and traditional huipils – the traditional dress worn by Maya women.
- Take a cooking class in Los Ramos – an Indigenous community in the middle of Ometepe Island’s volcanos – and learn traditional techniques used to make Nicaraguan dishes like nacatamales.
Themes
18 - 30's
What travelers are saying
"I went on the Intrepid 15 day "Best of Morocco" tour in 2025 and had such an amazing time that I wasn't ready to leave by the time the trip finished! It exceeded my expectations in so many ways: value for money, itinerary, a lot of included activities balanced with lots of rest stops on longer travel days, very caring & attentive local guides, and lots of optional activities. As a company, Intrepid was very easy to communicate with before the trip started (I had sent a few questions about optional activities). The website is also easy to navigate and simple for updating travel & health information. If you are considering doing a tour with Intrepid - make sure you read the Essential Trip Information they have on each tour page. It describes everything in detail so you'll know what to expect. While I LOVED my tour, I can see some people signing up for this without reading the description and then being surprised at some of the 2 star hotels (in this case it was the "Original" tour style). Overall, I am impressed at how this tour managed to simultaneously get us closer to Moroccan culture AND feel like an adventure AND feel like a vacation from day-to-day life back home. I would travel with Intrepid again."
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$5,736
45 days From$4,097
Health Safety +
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Plan Your Costa Rica Budget Trip
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By Globus
none
Group Tour
Why we love them
Despite being one of the most established names in the travel business, they continue to innovate and offer new top-notch experiences.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Visits
Monteverde
Highlights
- Monteverde: Visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve; Naturalist-led tour of the reserve
- Arenal: Visit Arenal National Park; Naturalist-led tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges
- Sarchi: Visit to the artisan village to see the famous Costa Rica ox carts
- San josÉ: Orientation tour
- Forget the big city crowds and high prices—now is your time to vacation in Costa Rica! With its abundant wildlife and splendid beauty, it’s no wonder Costa Rica is synonymous with pura vida—the good life
Themes
Cultural, 50 Plus
What travelers are saying
"We were able to see many different areas of Portugal and enjoy the local fare."
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$1,227
7 days From$1,049
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By Globus
none
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
Despite being one of the most established names in the travel business, they continue to innovate and offer new top-notch experiences.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Visits
Arenal Volcano, Central America, Guanacaste, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio National Park
Highlights
- Poas: Sightseeing of Poas Volcano; tour Doka Coffee Plantation and sample a fresh cup of coffee
- Arenal : Naturalist-led tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges; Arenal National Park & Arenal Volcano; and Tabacón Hot Springs
- TÁrcoles: Tropical mangrove cruise
- Manuel antonio : Naturalist-led tour of Manuel Antonio National Park; farewell dinner
- Active volcanoes, prolific wildlife, tranquil hot springs, active adventures, and expansive beaches—this vacation has it all! Experience Costa Rica’s must-see national parks: Poas, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio
Themes
Cultural, 50 Plus
What travelers are saying
"We were able to see many different areas of Portugal and enjoy the local fare."
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9 days From$2,999
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By Globus
none
Group Tour
Why we love them
Despite being one of the most established names in the travel business, they continue to innovate and offer new top-notch experiences.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Visits
Monteverde, Tortuguero National Park
Highlights
- Monteverde: Visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve; Naturalist-led tour of the reserve
- Arenal: Visit Arenal National Park; Naturalist-led tour of the Arenal Hanging Bridges
- Sarchi: Visit to the artisan village to see the famous Costa Rica ox carts
- San josÉ: Orientation tour
- Forget the big city crowds and high prices—now is your time to vacation in Costa Rica! With its abundant wildlife and splendid beauty, it’s no wonder Costa Rica is synonymous with pura vida—the good life
Themes
Cultural, 50 Plus
What travelers are saying
"We were able to see many different areas of Portugal and enjoy the local fare."
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$1,821
10 days From$1,559
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By Goway Travel
preferred
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
As a family-run business whose history stretches back 50 years, they combine expertise with a real commitment to personalized service.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Highlights
- Explore Liberia
- Discover Rincon de la Vieja National Park
- Enjoy a walking tour to La Fortuna Waterfall
- Visit Arenal Volcano National Park
- Discover Tamarindo Beach
Themes
Nature & Wildlife, High Adventure
What travelers are saying
"As customers we tend to dwell on the negative and not always on the positive, so we want to share some positive comments. My husband and I started planning our trip well over a year before actually going on this trip. We originally started with another travel agent at Goway and then we were turned over to Jessica Maunder. At first, we were a little apprehensive about starting with a new travel agent, but our fears were put to rest immediately. Jess was more than accommodating as we struggled to make this trip happen and to see as much of Australia as possible. She was always positive and willing to make changes to our agenda which we did do a lot. We knew we wouldn't be coming back to this part of the world so we wanted to make the most of it and Jess made that happen for us. In fact, we kidded her that just based on our phone conversations - we would have loved to have her join us on this trip because she had such a wonderful, fun personality! We are back in the states, we had a wonderful trip, even a little excitement to make it very memorable all thanks to a great travel agent that helped to make this happen. So if you want to work with a wonderful, fun, patient and great travel agent; ask for Jess. She made our trip a 5 star trip."
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7 days From$2,323
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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Lodging level
lodgingLevelName
Physical level
N/A
Highlights
- Fully customized trip based on preferences
- Matched with a local specialist
- From $200 per person per day
From$200per person per day
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Highlights
- Explore the cloud forests of Monteverde and the Arenal Volcano
- A personal journey to find your own Pura Vida
- Visit Tortuguero National Park
Themes
Nature & Wildlife, Family Friendly, National Parks
What travelers are saying
"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."
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9 days From$2,700
Price updated 1 year+ ago
More
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
Highlights
- Explore this geologic wonder of Costa Rica
- Hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Visit the town of Santa Elena
Themes
Nature & Wildlife, Family Friendly, Birding, National Parks
What travelers are saying
"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."
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9 days From$2,295
Price updated 1 year+ ago
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Best Costa Rica Budget Tours by Price
Costa Rica Budget Reviews & Ratings
Excellent
470
Great
78
Average
13
Disappointing
3
Terrible
3
A
Discover costa rica
An excellent taster of the country. Well planned with good locations Meeting the owner michael Schnitzler of esquinas lodge. Such a wonderful work, he is passinate...
Tour: Discover Costa Rica
A
Totally superb experience.
Our Guide & tour leader-Johnny [Villalobos] made this trip the best we have experienced; with his expertise, knowledge & general manner. Superior to simi...
Tour: Discover Costa Rica
A
Discover Costa Rica
I would highly recommend this trip. The trip is very wildlife oriented, so if that is not your main interest, it may not be for you. However, I wouldn’t say that i...
Tour: Discover Costa Rica
A
Discover Costa Rica
This trip was one of the best holidays that my wife and I have ever taken. . Costa Rica is a beautiful country but the attention to detail provided by Exodus and t...
Tour: Discover Costa Rica
A
Discover Costa Rica review
This was our first Exodus trip, which, to be honest I viewed with some trepidation, as I walk with crutches, and so wondered how it would be. I cannot praise Exod...
Tour: Discover Costa Rica
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