“Worth it if you're fit, self-sufficient, and don't mind basic lodges and long public transport days. Think twice if you need upfront clarity on inclusions, single rooms, or communication before departure.”
- About $117/day across 12 days
- ~$2,123 all-in with a typical $717 flight from London ($177/day)
- We only rate a price against this trip's own history once we've tracked it for 21 days — no guessing before that.
- About average per day vs 4 similar trips (~$124/day)
- 3.9★ from 22 traveller reviews
Price movement, fill and the all-in cost come from our own daily tracking— not the operator’s feed. You book on TourRadar; the live price always applies there.
About this trip
This 12-day trip runs from San Jose in Costa Rica to Panama City, tracing the Caribbean side of both countries with a mix of guided activities and time left open for you to explore on your own.
You'll spend time with the Ngabe-Bugle community on Isla Popa, learn to cook a traditional Caribbean meal, and get out into the jungle to look for wildlife, alongside a stop at the Panama Canal. Your local leader also points you toward the bars and surf breaks worth knowing about.
Travel is a mix of private transfers and public transport, which keeps things real but also means some legs are more basic than others, and the Costa Rica to Panama border crossing can take a while.
What you'll do
- Visit the Ngabe-Bugle community on Isla Popa
- Learn to cook a traditional Caribbean meal
- Jungle walk keeping an eye out for wildlife
- Visit a lock along the Panama Canal
- Explore local hotspots, bars and surf breaks with your local leader
- Costa Rica tends to be pricier than neighbouring Central American countries for food, drinks and extras
- Transport mixes private transfers with public transport, which can be basic between some locations
- The Costa Rica-Panama border crossing is usually smooth but can occasionally take time, so patience helps
Day by day
Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.
What's included
Your package price covers your accommodation, 6 meals, all in-trip transport and a trip leader. You arrange flights separately — we show live fares and can point you to cover.
- Accommodation: Included
- Meals: 6 included · 5 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Transport: All included
- Guide: Trip leader included
- Insurance: Included
- Flights: Budget separately (we show live fares)
- Optional activities: A few extras you can add and pay locally
How travellers rate it
We started tracking this trip on 30 Jul — the chart appears once a few days of real history build up. Every point is a price we recorded ourselves.
Your free day in San Jose
Landing early, staying on, or filling free time? The best-rated day experiences in San Jose — you book on Viator (we may earn a commission).
Worth it if you're fit, self-sufficient, and don't mind basic lodges and long public transport days. Think twice if you need upfront clarity on inclusions, single rooms, or communication before departure.
- Only 11 nights despite booking confirmation of 12; itinerary omissions and TourRadar-Intrepid info mismatches created frustration.
- Nearly all excursions and meals cost extra; lodging often noisy and basic; expect 5-9 hour public transport days regularly.
- Poor pre-departure communication: single room details arrived two days before, resulting in unexpected premium charges.
- Guide Marvin Arya handled group logistics and road closures adeptly; trip works well for independent travellers seeking value.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Sep is cheapest — from $1,406, about 60% below the priciest month (Jan).
Getting there
One-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown on Trip.com.
Hotels in San Jose
View more accommodationLive prices via Booking.com & partners, booked on their site — separate from your tour. We may earn a commission; it never changes your price.
On a budget?
Hostels in San Jose for the night before your tour · 9 Sept – 10 Sept
Booked on Hostelworld, separate from your tour. We may earn a commission — it never changes your price.
Common questions
How long is Costa Rica & Panama Discovery?
It's a 12-day trip. It starts in San Jose and finishes in Panama City.
How much does Costa Rica & Panama Discovery cost?
The land price starts from $1,538 per person for the 12-day trip. You book on TourRadar, where the live price always applies.
What will Costa Rica & Panama Discovery really cost me all-in?
On top of the $1,538 land price, budget roughly $730 for a return flight from the UK — about $2,268 all-in before spending money. Most day-to-day meals out and optional activities are extra.
What's included in the price?
The price covers 6 meals (5 breakfasts, 1 dinner), transport during the trip, a group leader/guide. Anything the operator lists as optional or not included — see the full breakdown on this page.
What's not included?
international flights and travel insurance (required) are not included, so factor them into your budget. We show typical flight costs and can point you to insurance on this page.
How big is the group?
Groups are capped at around 16 travellers — a small-group trip, mostly solo 18–35s travelling to meet people, not a coach tour.
When does Costa Rica & Panama Discovery run?
It runs across roughly 24 months of the year, so there's usually a departure to fit your dates. Check live availability and prices in the dates section above.
Sort the essentials
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