Pacific Trade Winds
Pacific Trade Winds
5
Multi-day ToursEco ToursSightseeing ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Pacific Trade Winds is your one stop source for private tours and adventure travel in Costa Rica. Take a private tour to Arenal Volcano and then unwind in tropical hot springs. Hike through the jungle to a gorgeous celeste blue waterfall surrounded by emerald green rainforests. Our all-inclusive tours will allow you to unwind on beautiful tropical beaches after touring, exploring and adventuring the rainforest and volcanoes. We'll take you to Costa Rica's top destinations such as Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Puerto Viejo, Tamarindo, Samara or the Osa Peninsula. Certifications include ICT, Canatur, BBB and more.
Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,133 reviews
Excellent
1,114
Very good
13
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Emma C
London, UK5 contributions
Nov 2019
We started planning our Costa Rica honeymoon using an agent based in the UK, but quickly found them to be slow, not very knowledgable & overpriced for the service being provided.
We then fortunately found Pacific Trade Winds by chance through google, and they helped make our holiday so special.
They were very flexible in only booking the aspects of our trip that we needed (having found some hotels & transport etc from our brief work with the previous agents). I really liked their website where you could view all sorts of activities etc with rough pricing which could then easily be added on/removed from your itinerary.
Hazel was really helpful whilst going through the booking process & the only time we had an issue whilst out there (one transport was running late due to an accident in San Jose) they called us (rather than us needing to call them) to reassure us that the taxi was enroute but running late!
Overall they were absolutely fantastic service, and value for money, no hesitation in recommending them for anyone looking to arrange a trip to Costa Rica (which we also massively recommend!!).
We then fortunately found Pacific Trade Winds by chance through google, and they helped make our holiday so special.
They were very flexible in only booking the aspects of our trip that we needed (having found some hotels & transport etc from our brief work with the previous agents). I really liked their website where you could view all sorts of activities etc with rough pricing which could then easily be added on/removed from your itinerary.
Hazel was really helpful whilst going through the booking process & the only time we had an issue whilst out there (one transport was running late due to an accident in San Jose) they called us (rather than us needing to call them) to reassure us that the taxi was enroute but running late!
Overall they were absolutely fantastic service, and value for money, no hesitation in recommending them for anyone looking to arrange a trip to Costa Rica (which we also massively recommend!!).
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
margieBerkeleyCA
Berkeley CA28 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
After “winning” 4-nights in a secluded cloud forest in the mountains of Costa Rica, as a dual working couple, with little time for trip planning and uncertainty re distances & travel time, etc., to extend the trip to at least a week, I happened across Pacific Tradewinds online. With loads of excellent reviews and focus solely on CR, I chanced it - 100% satisfaction! They listened to who we are, what we wished for, and came up with a perfect itinerary: a no stress trip where we show up, our needs are met, including very reasonable price and a 24-hour phone line for any problems in CR. They know and understand CR and are focused on customer satisfaction.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the high praise! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your well-earned trip! Our goal is to ensure that you enjoy your version of the perfect vacation and to deliver it stress-free, so mission accomplished! Thanks again and ¡Pura Vida!
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jamie H
227 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
USE THIS COMPANY!
Visiting CR has been a dream of mine for 20 years, I have researched and planed and when it was time to actually travel I was worried I would make some wrong choices. PTW worked with me to plan THE perfect trip! Their staff is so knowledgeable and worked with us to create the perfect itinerary for our family and it was in my opinion a really great value!
After many versions we landed in the perfect combination of sites adventures hotels and experiences . ( don’t be shy ask questions that is what they are here for!) The communications was amazing (minutes to a max of 24 hr response time via email). The tours they booked and company’s they work with are first class. Our transportation was always on time and very good, I was very thankful to not drive and to just know that everything was taken care of. can’t speak highly enough about them.
Only on one occasion did we have a late transfer (we were there at peak season and it only was 1 late anything the entire trip!) I had the hotel desk call their office and they were so on top of it aware of the situation and working on correcting the issue! Trust this company they deliver! Their online payment system was so nice and before our trip we got all of our vouchers for every excursion , hotel and transfer all outlined in one document. Each excursion was outlined and even told us what to wear and bring. We felt so prepared for packing and planning ahead of time and I really appreciate that as we were traveling with kids (9/11). Thank you PTW! We loved our trip and fell I love with this amazing country!
Visiting CR has been a dream of mine for 20 years, I have researched and planed and when it was time to actually travel I was worried I would make some wrong choices. PTW worked with me to plan THE perfect trip! Their staff is so knowledgeable and worked with us to create the perfect itinerary for our family and it was in my opinion a really great value!
After many versions we landed in the perfect combination of sites adventures hotels and experiences . ( don’t be shy ask questions that is what they are here for!) The communications was amazing (minutes to a max of 24 hr response time via email). The tours they booked and company’s they work with are first class. Our transportation was always on time and very good, I was very thankful to not drive and to just know that everything was taken care of. can’t speak highly enough about them.
Only on one occasion did we have a late transfer (we were there at peak season and it only was 1 late anything the entire trip!) I had the hotel desk call their office and they were so on top of it aware of the situation and working on correcting the issue! Trust this company they deliver! Their online payment system was so nice and before our trip we got all of our vouchers for every excursion , hotel and transfer all outlined in one document. Each excursion was outlined and even told us what to wear and bring. We felt so prepared for packing and planning ahead of time and I really appreciate that as we were traveling with kids (9/11). Thank you PTW! We loved our trip and fell I love with this amazing country!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so happy to hear that your family enjoyed such an amazing Costa Rica vacation! Great communication is the key to ensure that we understand exactly what you want and expect, so thank you for doing your part in ensuring your family had a great trip! I will pass your comments along to our staff. We really appreciate the feedback! Thanks again and ¡Pura Vida!
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tiffani G
40 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
We booked our entire trip to Costa Rica through Pacific Trade Winds. We were referred from a friend who had booked through them previously and had good things to say about them. They made the entire process very easy and took care of everything from start to finish for us. We just told them what our budget was, what type of activities we were interested in and the kinds of hotels we wanted to stay at and they put together a sample itinerary for us. We made a few adjustments which was quick and easy. They were always prompt with communication responses for answering questions. When the travel regulations changed immediately before our vacation and the CDC began requiring a negative COVID test before returning to the United States they were able to help us get one scheduled at a clinic just 20 minutes from our hotel, which was a life saver. They took a potentially stressful situation and resolved it before it even became an issue. We had great experiences at all the places we stayed and all the activities they set us up with. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to travel to Costa Rica without the headache of having to book and schedule everything yourself. I highly recommend them and if we ever travel back to Costa Rica would use them again in a heart beat.
Written February 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your vacation and our services! We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed a stress-free visit and that everything went so smoothly - mission accomplished! I will pass your comments along to our staff. Thanks again and ¡Pura Vida!
Written February 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mike D
Williamsburg, VA3 contributions
Feb 2020
Whether by email or phone, these guys do travel planning right. They give you an itinerary based on your schedule and budget, then allow you to tweak all the details to make it truly what you want. Then they execute the plan perfectly. What else can one ask for? All the shuttles & drivers turned up on time, I was always on their list, nobody ever asked me for payment. The hotels were first-rate. Nobody tried to rip me off. At no point did I feel like I made a mistake in trusting them. This was a perfect, worry-free first trip to Costa Rica, and Pacific Trade Winds made it the best it could be.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Schmitz
Saratoga Springs, NY3 contributions
Jan 2020
We utilized the services of Pacific Trade Winds (PTW) for our honeymoon vacation. They were extremely helpful and diligent with the entire process. Matt C was the representative that assisted us from the beginning. He provided an initial Itinerary after discussing what we had planned to do, we then had the flexibility to make adjustments and remove certain things we were not interested in doing while in Costa Rica. Matt nailed down our itinerary and everything was setup through them. The payment processing was very easy and they provided great communication. Once we arrived in Costa Rica there was a PTW representative holding a sign with our name and she graciously pointed us to our next stop as well as provided direction to the rental shuttle. We had 1 minor issue finding the shuttle but after a very brief phone call we were on our way. Everything went extremely smoothly and Matt C assisted with any questions and on providing excellent details on recommendations. We will use PTW again.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scott r
Nueva Gorgona, Panama5 contributions
Nov 2019
Natalia and everyone did a fantastic job organizing our excursions and transfers. Everything was flawless. We had a large group with many different moving parts and they manage the reservations perfectly. Everyone we interacted with was very professional. I would highly recommend using PTW to plan all aspects of any future trip.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin B
Hilliard, OH155 contributions
Mar 2021
I was initially a bit reluctant to use a non US company to organize a trip and to pay them in advance. I did this due to all the positive reviews on Trip Advisor and I couldn’t be happier. Pacific Trade Winds provided lots of information so that I could choose the locations, accommodations, transfers and tours that we wanted. We are 67 years old and wanted to see as much fauna and flora as possible while staying in ecolodges. Zip lining, strenuous hiking, surfing etc. is not our style. The recommendations of Pacific Trade Winds were spot on.
We also had quotations from two different sources for fixed tours. But the totally customized trip from Pacific Trade Winds was not only a bit more affordable, but we got to choose exactly what we wanted to do and when we wanted to do it. In the end, everything went like clockwork. Every transfer or excursion pickup was within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. Every tour except one was as described and exceeded our expectations.
Now, here are the mistakes I made. We stayed at four locations (not counting San Jose) for 9 nights. We should have stayed 3 nights at each location for a total of 13 nights (counting San Jose). Then, we should have made sure we had free time to spend more time at the parks/reserves after the formal tour ended (and catch a taxi back) instead of rushing back to catch an afternoon tour.
We also had quotations from two different sources for fixed tours. But the totally customized trip from Pacific Trade Winds was not only a bit more affordable, but we got to choose exactly what we wanted to do and when we wanted to do it. In the end, everything went like clockwork. Every transfer or excursion pickup was within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. Every tour except one was as described and exceeded our expectations.
Now, here are the mistakes I made. We stayed at four locations (not counting San Jose) for 9 nights. We should have stayed 3 nights at each location for a total of 13 nights (counting San Jose). Then, we should have made sure we had free time to spend more time at the parks/reserves after the formal tour ended (and catch a taxi back) instead of rushing back to catch an afternoon tour.
Written March 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review about your vacation, our services, and advice to other travelers! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your trip! I really like your advice about spending more time in each location. For most destinations, we recommend 3-4 nights (2 in some, depending on weather conditions and how many things there are to do) but we also try to balance the daily schedules and not take up entire days, at least not all of the time. We really like 3-5 hour, half-day activities, as they allow you to experience amazing things but also allow time to explore the area. Thanks again and ¡Pura Vida!
Written March 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CAF
2 contributions
Dec 2019
We have just returned from Costa Rica spending the festive Season (2 weeks) there. All in all the Costa Ricans are a friendly, helpful, educated, nature loving people. The trip was very well planned, the hotels all good and clean. The drivers had good clean cars and drove very carefully feeling safe in their hands. The guides were mostly very good and were eager to pass on the information about the various animals, reptiles, birds and flora and fauna which we saw plenty of. The first highlight was Tortuguero in Pachira Lodge with a good guide and charming lodge with Nature all around you. The canal tour and the night walk was very interesting. Arenal and the hot springs - more rainforest with relaxation in the hot springs after the tours - very relaxing. Monteverde - the tour to Selvatura Hanging bridges , Manual Antonio was very busy although considering it was Christmas and New Years. Hotel Parador was lovely.
Pacific Trade Winds was extremely competent with impeccable service organising every Hotel, tour and Transfer. Thank you for organising our lovely trip too Costa Rica.
Pacific Trade Winds was extremely competent with impeccable service organising every Hotel, tour and Transfer. Thank you for organising our lovely trip too Costa Rica.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You are very welcome! Thank you for trusting us with planning your Costa Rica vacation and for taking the time to review our services! It can be pretty busy during the holiday peak season but we are very happy to hear that you enjoyed a lovely trip. I will pass your comments along to our staff, who deserve the credit. Thanks again and ¡Pura Vida!
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sumeet C
2 contributions
Aug 2021
One of the best trips we have had so far...not only is CR a great place to visit, Pacific TW made this trip so smooth and enjoyable. From setting up the itinerary, to making modifications, to response time, availability at all times of the day, advise in what made sense and what didn't...I would rate them as the best travel service I have ever worked with. They made lovely recommendations for the entire family, helped us pick the best options (and their website gets credit for that), and it was truly a great value for our money, and time well spent. Highly recommend working with them
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will be in Tamarindo for 5 days what would you suggest that my family do , during our stay. We are very active . There are 3 of us. We have been to Arenal already.
Written December 30, 2019
How do I know this company isn’t scamming everyone? I’ve never booked through any agency or travelled. Any and all advice is welcomed and appreciated! I’m travelling in less than a month and would like to book ASAP.
Having a hard time taking the plunge!
Written April 24, 2018
I understand your concern. I felt the same way when we were planning our trip. I started putting together a plan and I was overwhelmed trying to do it myself. When I connected with Pacific Tradewinds it seemed too good to be true and I kept waiting for something to go wrong. That never happened. Tourism is a huge part of the Costa Rican economy and a big part of the reason is because they know how to do it right. I've not worked with any other travel agency in Costa Rica - why should I when this company is so good.They provided the most trouble-free vacation I have ever had and at a great price. After we got home I went online to add up the cost of everywhere we stayed and everything we did along with the transportation they provided and it was more than what we paid Pacific Tradewinds. They have relationships with many hotels and businesses that provide the best rates and they pass it on to you. From my personal experience I will tell you that these guys are the real deal and they know how to do it right. Read other reviews, but know that I will be using them exclusively for any travel in Costa Rica. One note - if you are traveling soon I suggest you contact them ASAP because that will give them the opportunity to get you good accommodations for the best rates. If you wait too long things will fill up and they will have to take what's left and that may mean higher prices. I wish you the same experience we had visiting Costa Rica, it was the best vacation I have ever had and Pacific Tradewinds is the reason why.
Written April 24, 2018
What activities did you do and where did you go?
Written January 15, 2018
By Far our most favorite thing was the rafting trip and then another gentler inner tubing float. It was fun and so beautiful! We loved the Volcanic hotsprings - whether at the resort or hiking out to more natural ones. The one thing I wish we had done was the excursion where you do river rappelling. Next trip!
Written January 16, 2018
Hi, my husband is 63 and I am 55. I have a bad ankle and it swells with extensive walking. What would you recommend for the two of us? I really want to see sloths, monkeys and anything along those lines. Thank you!
Written December 18, 2017
If you are able, the hanging bridges in Arenal and Monteverde are not strenuous. Also, there is a very flat walk at Manuel Antonio.
If Arenas Del Mar at Manuel Antonio fits into your budget, you will see monkeys and
Sloths on the property without walking at all. The
Monkeys are right on their
Beach.
Mangrove tours are also a good
way to see wildlife.
Ask PTW for their recommendations.
Written December 19, 2017
Hi, How did the company make the refund, we have an issue at the moment with one of the airports closed so they owe us 700 dollars. They said they cannot refund on the card we paid with and want to keep our money for "incidentals " on the trip, then send us a cheque at the end of the trip,for the remainder. Obviously as its in dollars its no good to us in UK after the trip
Written October 18, 2017
ptwcostarica
Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica
Hello sunNotts, The reason it cannot be refunded on your card (at least not recommended) is that it is an international transaction. In Costa Rica, this is an extremely lengthy and costly process, requiring extensive documentation. It takes an average of 3-4 months through Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (the national bank) and something that we do not have control over. For that reason, nearly everyone prefers a check, which can be expedited if necessary. If a refund is warranted, you can receive your money now, but that vast majority of clients prefer to wait until their trip is over so they can use the money for incidentals (without losing credit card acceptance fees from the vendors). In Costa Rica, the banks only offer credit card acceptance for the US dollar or Costa Rican colon. We accept payments in US dollars which is why it is refunded in US dollars and can easily be exchanged for other currencies. Our Customer Delight Team will be happy to answer any other questions. We are here to assist you in any way we can. Have a wonderful day and pura vida! ~Pacific Trade Winds Management
Written October 18, 2017
Hi, I have never used travel planner before. How much is the planning fee for PTW? And how is the payment for the whole trip handled? Prepaid?
Written January 25, 2017
Greetings from Costa Rica! There is no charge for our services, in fact our prices are almost always less than retail.
We do offer payment plans, depending on your travel dates.
Our policies depend on those of each individual hotel, tour, and transportation included in your custom itinerary, so it would depend on the options you select.
Please check our website where you can see our toll free phone number and email address if you have any further questions. We are happy to help you plan your perfect trip.
Written January 25, 2017
My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Costa Rica for the first time and looking at activities. Any recommendations of best adventure tours? (ie. Zip line, Rafting, Canyoneering, Rappel, etc)
We also love animals, would love to do any interactions with wildlife (ie. Sloths, Monkeys, etc)
Any tips would be much appreciated!
Written April 28, 2016
We did tours to see animals. However, we saw more animals while we were moving around the country - sloths hanging from trees at the public Manuel Antonio Beach, and families of whitefaced and howler monkeys crossing the roads. Hummingbirds. The thing is that here, the whole country is a jungle. You're visiting their habitat.
Our hotel in Manuel Antonio was called The Falls and the courtyard was a manicured jungle with lots of creatures wandering around. You never knew what your were going to see around the corner.
Written April 24, 2018
Hello. My wife and I are leaving tomorrow for Coasta Rica and we are having trouble getting through to Pacific Trade Winds. None of the phone numbers are currently working that I've called. They have been very good thus far. We have never done a trip like this so I'm nervous and want to make sure someone will be there when we arrive in Coasta Rica. Any thoughts and help would be much appreciated. Sincerely JIM
Written March 9, 2016
we travelled with them last year.they were excellent or more.relax and enjoy.
Written March 11, 2016
Can we add additional items - like tour the Manuel Antoni National Park - on the last day of a tour? ("Simply Paradise" tour, last day is relaxing on beach)
Written January 30, 2015
ptwcostarica
Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica
Hola sonalstarr, All of our tours can be customized. However, the Simply Paradise goes through Tamarindo, which is approximately 5 hours from Manuel Antonio. I would recommend giving us a call (toll free direct to Costa Rica, 1-866-853-9426) so we can customize your tour to your exact needs. Our (bilingual) representative will ask you some key questions and answer any that you have. We will then we will send you a plan with ideas that is 100% tailored around your needs.
Written January 30, 2015
I'm interested in booking the Simply Paradise 8-Day Tour for my family. My questions is, for the last 2 days at the beach, can we choose to do something else? Like get a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park?
Written January 30, 2015
I believe that the Simply Paradise tour takes you to Tamarinda - which is nearly five hours from Manuel Antonio. If you have not yet paid for your trip you should ask for at least one night, preferably two in Quepos and the park tour to be added to your itinerary, if that is what you really want to do. The tour is great but a lot of extra travel to get there. Otherwise there are other national parks closer to where you will be staying. Rincon de la Vieja National Park is near an active volcano and also home to much wildlife. At any rate email pacific trade winds, or call them toll free, they are very accommodating!
Written February 1, 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.