Costa Rica is paradise. Booking it from the outside is a minefield. Here is the honest truth about how visitors get burned on this coast — and how our local team makes sure you do not.
How visitors get burned in Guanacaste
Most of the coast runs on Facebook pages, WhatsApp numbers, and word of mouth. There is no way to tell the established captain from the guy borrowing his cousin’s boat.
How our team protects you
Jenny and her small local team live here. We have the relationships, we have done the homework, and we stand behind every booking. The captain you go out with has a name, a license, and life jackets on board — because we already checked.
Wait — it is actually free?
Yes, and here is exactly how. When you book an experience we arrange, the operator pays us a small referral fee out of their own margin. You pay the same price you would have paid anyway — often less, because we book at local rates. We never add a markup, and we earn the same whether we point you to the cheapest option or the priciest. So our only job is matching you to the trip that actually fits.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free to book my trip through you?
Yes. Planning and booking with Jenny and her local team costs you nothing. You pay the same price you would pay the operator directly — often less, because we book at local rates, not tourist rates. The operators pay us a small referral fee out of their own margin, so our advice stays free and honest for you.
How do you make money if it is free for me?
When you book an experience we arrange, the operator pays us a small referral commission from their normal price. We never add a markup to your bill, and we are paid the same whether we recommend the cheapest option or the priciest.
Why not just book directly with the operator myself?
You can — but the coast is full of operators with no website, no English, no insurance, and no accountability. We already know who is who, we have used them ourselves, and if anything goes wrong you have one local person to call instead of a dead WhatsApp number.
How do you know the operators are safe and legitimate?
Every operator we use is licensed, insured, and personally vetted by our team. We have ridden the boats, eaten the chef dinners, and taken the tours. We do not send you anywhere we would not send our own family.
Are tourists really getting burned booking tours in Costa Rica?
It happens every week: unlicensed boats with no safety gear, photos that look nothing like the real boat or villa, tourist pricing two to three times the local rate, informal cash deals with no paperwork, deposits taken for villas that turn out to be overbooked, and no refund when the weather cancels your trip.
Do you mark up the prices?
Never. You pay the operator price. We are paid separately by the operator. Our local relationships often get you better rates and perks you would not get walking in off the beach.
What happens if it rains or my activity gets cancelled?
We handle it. Because we hold the relationship, we rebook you, shuffle your itinerary, or sort the refund — without you spending your vacation arguing in a second language.
What if something goes wrong during my trip?
You text Jenny. One local contact, in English, on the ground, who can actually fix it.
Skip the guesswork. Tell us what you want — we plan it, vet it, and book it for free.