The U.S. Tour Operators to Costa Rica Are Falling All Over Themselves to Present You with Compelling, Bargain-Priced Trips There

To the surprise of many, Costa Rica stands high in the list of favorite destinations for American travelers. That little Central American country is receiving strong numbers of American vacationers, and almost all major tour operators now include it in their products, and especially in their lists of bargain products. Three particular programs to Costa Rica stand out.

Probably the most popular is a 10-night escorted tour of every important place in Costa Rica from the long-established Caravan Tours of Chicago (www.caravan.com or 800/CARAVAN). Departing on a frequent basis throughout the year, it sells for $1,095 per person in May and June (plus $234 in taxes and fees) plus round-trip airfare to Costa Rica (and airfares there are exceptionally moderate in price). For that sum, you get quality accommodations throughout, all three meals daily, all transportation within Costa Rica, and daily escorted sightseeing via a big and modern motorcoach. (May and June are not the months for the heaviest tourism to Costa Rica, and there are only five departure dates in May and seven in June, but they're so well-spaced that you'll always find one such date suitable to your needs.)

A somewhat different "hosted" (which means actually independent), 10-day tour of Costa Rica is offered for $1,149 per person (plus round-trip airfare to Costa Rica) by the estimable Gadventures of Toronto (catering mainly to U.S. travelers). It provides you with transportation from place to place, and accommodations for 9 hotel nights in the capital city of San Jose, in Tortuguero on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, near the Arenal Volcano, and on the Guanacaste Beaches on the Pacific Coast. You also get 9 full-scale breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners; and you book that assortment of features by going to gadventures.com or by phoning 800/800-4100. Look for "The Best of Costa Rica" in the tour operator's catalogue or website.

Finally, there are always bargain-priced tours to Costa Rica, this time including airfare, from Gate1Travel.com, in a large variety of itineraries and tour features (including self-drive tours of Costa Rica). They are best viewed at the tour operator's website, because the offering is rather complicated (and also constantly changing).

So if you're looking for an interesting vacation in the coming months, you might give a thought to finally viewing and experiencing a Central American country, easily reached from almost any part of the United States.