Trek the Camino de Costa Rica

My wife and I took part in this trip in early November 2025 as part of a group of six.

I start this review by saying that we made a complaint about some aspects of the trip. After some toing and froing, Much Better Adventures did look in some detail into the issues we raised, and they and the local company running the trek are now (December 2025) looking at how they can improve this trip.

The good: the landscape and wildlife were spectacular. The team guided, looked after us and fed us well, created a positive atmosphere and were knowledgeable and engaging. Some of the campsites were in stunning locations. Our group were fun and interesting people.

The bad: some days of hiking were finished by lunch time or very early afternoon with no more activities available. Like some other reviewers, I didn't find the hike overall was as challenging as described. Some of the campsites were basic which I didn't have a problem with, but I thought a night with tents pitched inside a community hall with no notable views or areas of nature nearby stretched the meaning of "camping" quite a bit.

Most importantly for me, the itinerary differed from the description on the MBA website, with some significant elements missing. Our head guide explained that the local company had made some planned changes to their itinerary. When we showed him the itinerary from the MBA website, he explained he had never seen it.

Parts of our week and elements of the trip were excellent. But the quality overall was mixed, the trek didn't match - and in my opinion was inferior to - what was promised by MBA. Communication between MBA and the local company appeared to be lacking.

I have rated my experience as 3 stars. But I give MBA credit for now investigating with a view to improving this trip and I believe they will. If you're considering this trip, my advice would be to seek some assurance from MBA about the new itinerary. With some changes, this could be a wonderful 5 star experience.

I should start this review by saying that my husband and I raised a complaint with MBA regarding our trip, based on the issues which I will explain below. MBA took the complaint to the provider (Coast To Coast Adventures) and came back to us with an initial response with which we felt dissatisfied given the mismatch between what the provider said and what our experience had been. When we contested the initial outcome of the complaint, MBA went back to the provider and have come back to us with what seems like a plan to make sure future trips provide better experiences for travellers. This may mean that some of what I describe below does not relate to future trips directly.

Let me start with the good things about the Camino trip. The first few days of the trip were really promising and we stayed at some beautiful campsites in remarkable places. We absolutely lucked out with the wildlife we saw (I can’t guarantee that for anyone else!) and we clearly had enthusiastic guides in Josue and Miso (what a remarkable man!) as well as a super chef in Mao. The indigenous community dance show was a delight, our own participation less delightful (!) and I think a number of our group welcomed the dinner and drinks on the final night ;) The front end of the trip and the group experience have led me to give a three star review overall.

On to the negative aspects… the itinerary described on the MBA website was not the itinerary delivered on the tour. We were given a map by the guide on Day Three which had the route mapped as per the MBA itinerary, and we were told that our route was going to be different.  This was made explicit to the whole group and we were told we would be staying at the El Nido campsite for two nights. Coast To Coast Adventures have since said that the decision to stay two nights at El Nido was made on Day Four due to weather conditions. All I can say is that it was made clear to us by our guide that the decision had been made in advance and our whole group were made aware that we would be staying there for two nights.

Day Five was a completely different day to that described on the MBA website. Our guide referred to it as a ‘day off’ and explained that Coast To Cast Adventures had changed the day based on customer feedback. Instead of doing a stint of the Camino, we would be doing a short hike to and from a waterfall near the camp, and staying at the same camp for a second night. This programme change, by its nature, went against the whole point of the Camino trek and involved a much shorter hike than that advertised. One the MBA website, Day Five is listed as a 15km hike to Tres Equis through a ‘picturesque river valley of glistening azure waters and lush, verdant rainforest’ - we did not get to do this hike.  

Day Six, as a result of our group not doing Day Five as advertised on the MBA website, was also not as described. We had a sort of chopped up day of hiking and transport, including the first of several very early lunch stops (in this case, 1100) because we had completed the hike.

Day Seven was advertised as a 10km walking day. We were told we would do 2km before lunch and 8km after lunch. Given that it took us less than 20 minutes to complete the walk before lunch, meaning we once again were having a very early lunch, I don’t think it was a 2km hike (I cannot prove this as I only have daily distances). The MBA description had said we would trail ‘through coffee plantations with a chance to learn about the processes, history and importance of coffee’; what happened in reality was that we were driven to a local supermarket at the end of our walk and told we could buy locally produced coffee there.

Day Eight on the MBA website stated that, ‘halfway through the hike you’ll reach a beautiful waterfall for swims and a cracking lunch spot. ’ There was no lunchtime swim on offer and no place for us to swim on the route. We were taken to the remote campsite with nothing else provided for us to do for the rest of the day. We played cards. We did a child’s foil art kit that my husband and I had bought for someone else on our travels. At 5pm our guide brought us a mouldy game of Jenga to play.

Day Nine was advertised on the MBA website as a 15km hike but, like the days before, this was not so much a hike as a walk, and not fitting of a ‘challenging’ rating.

As such, there were multiple significant deviations from the advertised trek and it was not the trip we felt we had been sold. During the trip, I showed our guide the MBA itinerary day by day from the MBA website, and he asked if he could take photos of it as he had never seen it, which was concerning to us and seems unprofessional. He also said to us (to me, and to the whole group) that Coast to Coast Adventures had made changes to the Camino programme for this season based on past feedback. I was left wondering whether these had not been communicated to MBA, or had been communicated but the website had not been updated.

It is also worth noting that the camps in the second half of the trip were significantly different to those in the first half and included one night camping on a basketball court in a barn at a church (which for me was fine as it was part of the indigenous community experience) and then one night in tents within a community centre on a tiled floor (which, due to the short length of the hike, we spent quite a long time playing cribbage in). I was lucky to be trekking with a lovely supportive group and we kind of worked out a way to make the best of it, but having a lovely supportive group isn’t a certainty on any tour, and it should not be down to the group to make the best of it when everyone has paid for what they hope to be an incredible experience. I do know how to play cribbage now though.

This is a very lengthy review - well done if you have got to the end and I hope it helps you in deciding whether this is the trip for you. It has felt like we have had to push quite a bit to see through our complaint which has been hard, although I will say that the team at MBA has been very polite, transparent and detailed in the whole process. More than anything I don’t want anyone else to end up in a similar position, but the hope is that seeing it through will mean future trips will be better for others.

Stunning scenery and hikes.

Be prepared for a lot of mud, rain and generally being damp for the entirety of the trip, especially if going in wet season/transition of wet season.

A few tips:

You do not need a 40L backpack for the day hikes. A 25L is adequate. Your main backpack is transported in a vehicle daily. I would highly recommend taking gaiters if going in wet season. Take at least 3 pairs of shoes - my hiking boots and trainers didnt dry for the entire trip. Pack extra socks!

I personally didnt find the hikes challenging but I am aware this is entirely subjective.

A few issues with some campsites but this is being handled by MBA.

The guides and food were excellent - nothing was too much bother and they did all they could to ensure we were comfortable.

The group was fantastic and really added to the experience.

Trip ranked as challenging but it is not. Very easy and time wasting. Mostly seating at the camp instead of hiking as it was advertised/described.

We had a great trip led by Josue, Mao and Miso. Josue calm and jolly whilst seamlessly coordinating transport and alterations. Meeting a Sloth walking on the ground after 2km set the expectations high and the wildlife kept coming throughout the trip. Campsites varied 4 nights were very special locations, others more basic, but all protected by corrugated iron roof from the heavy afternoon and night rain. Walking was relatively easy, 18km in the mud on day 3 was the most challenging, but done at an easy pace was comfortable. Take plenty of plastic bags to separate clothing in various states of damp/ wet etc The English mentality of putting a coat on when it rains is soon dispelled as it is too humid. Be adaptable. Take a pack of cards, our group really got into afternoon cards.

Absolutely brilliant trip! The walking was a good challenge with the tropical climate, a great experience. 

We were led by Jeff who did such a good job of keeping us informed of the plan throughout, I definitely felt in safe hands even in the middle of the jungle. His knowledge of the wildlife was really valuable too, and we spotted so much too thanks to his keen eyes. My favourite was a laughing falcon at the end that looked like a tiger from the orange dust in it’s feathers. 



The food was such a foundation to the trip too, Memo’s cooking was delicious. I really felt like we got a true tase of Costa Rica eating, and we totally picked up some Lizano sauce before heading home!

And now I know why the Camino de Costa Rica logo is a hummingbird, they are everwhere!

This was my second 7+ day trip through Much Better Adventures, and it was a total hit.

Costa Rica is an incredible place, with the highest biodiversity in the world. We were extremely lucky to be taken through this by people who knew the nature who knew the nature in and out.

Our tour guide was Jeffry, and he was was amazing. Always smiling, answering our many questions about wildlife, and working out how to make the trip as enjoyable possible, taking the group's preferences into account. It was really special to have a guide that grew up in the area and knows so much about the nature, the area, and the local culture. We had a lot of questions, and somehow Jeffry always had the answer.

On many of the hikes through the jungle, we were also accompanied by Miso. Miso was our steady guide through challenging parts of the forest that sometimes required navigation due to rerouting, chopping poisonous plants out of the way (with a machete!), and traversing difficult terrain. He knew all the ins and outs of the forest. The jungle has its share of dangers that you'll find in any richly natural environment, and we we felt really safe having him on the trail with us along with Jeffry.

And Memo was the person who made sure our accommodation was set up, and most crucially, cooked us incredible food throughout the entire trip. I've rarely eaten so well for so long as on this treat - it was a culinary retreat as much as a nature reset. Every meal on this trip was fantastic.

The campsites were good and some of them outright gorgeous. There was one in particular that was so stunning that we didn't want to leave. Two of of the campsites were temporary due to maintenance of the main sites and those were more basic, but in each case we were safe and well sheltered and had all the necessary amenities like showers and clotheslines. Some of the other campsites often were bordering on glamping!

For folks thinking about going during rainy season, I can only recommend it. Until the very last day, we had every trail entirely to ourselves, with no other hikers. The rain was often a refreshing part of the hike. But to help prepare you: when packing, think about the chance that a 100% overnight humidity doesn't dry your clothes, and expect you might have a few wet hikes in a row (followed by ample dry time in your camping clothes in the afternoon and overnight, since most hiking days are short. ) It's really not a problem once you get used to it, and I never got cold hiking in July.

The group was fantastic and was a wonderful time to meet like-minded friends.

Huge thanks to Jeffry, Memo and Miso for putting all their effort in making the trip unforgettable, always thinking about how to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.

What a trip. This trip was something different. Staying in communities, hiking through the jungle, learning traditional dance, uncovering whole new landscapes and so much more was such a treat for this trip.

The group was great and Josue, Jefrey, Memo and Miso were fantastic!! Would recommend to anyone to do this.

• food was very good. Fruit exceptional. Serving your own proportions works great
• transfer vehicles were all very comfortable and in great condition
• provided equipment (portable tents, pads and sleeping bag) was rudimentary, with pads inadequate.
• jungle trail guide great sport and great to have a long
• permanent tent / pad setups were great
• campsites well designed for wet weather
• main guide, Jossie, very organized, helpful and great attitude
• route was ok, highlights being jungle and mountain hiking! The road hiking less appealing but "ok". The lay over day with river crossing, waterfall, etc was also a highlight.
• group very good

The Costa Rica camino from coast to coast was fabulous! Costa Rica is a beautiful country and everyone we met was very friendly. The fauna and flora was amazing. The team were all excellent and we were looked after very well. There were few hitches and anything that arose on the trip was sorted out quickly, without fuss and without inconvenience to us. I'd highly recommend the trip.

We had a lovely, friendly and fun group of 10, age ranging from 27 to 66, all having a great time whilst trekking in pouring rain (for 4 of our 9 days), facing challenging muddy terrain and fast flowing river crossings. Not to mention the wet clothes that never dried in the humidity and got repacked in plastic bags every morning when we left camp!

Our guide Josue never stopped smiling, and took really excellent care of us, along with his sidekick for the trip Jefrey. We also had an extra guide through the jungle, and the river crossings, our marvellous mountain man with the machete, Miso, so we always felt safe.

Then there was the fabulous food produced by Memo. How he produced different hot breakfasts and really tasty dinners each day with basic campsite kit was miraculous. I thought we'd have a lot of rice and beans, but we also had fresh fish, chicken, beef, new potatoes, fresh veg, pasta dishes, and gorgeous sauces throughout the trip.

The hiking was challenging at times, and I was exhausted by the end of it, but this Costa Rica adventure will go down as one of my favourite trips.

The group was highly adaptive, and a bunch of people from all different background but thoroughly interesting, intelligent, and part of the bonus of the trip itself. Perhaps we were lucky they were so civilised and not just intent on drinking like some other tours.

When it rained due to a storm and the route could not be taken, suggestions were welcome and we did an alternative route. The leadership was always listening, and there's a lot of credit to them.

The food from Mauro was awesome. A real delight and massive boost to morale when tired. Did not expect such rustic and wholesome quality where very little went to waste.

The additional help from the guides was also so helpful.

What a christmas adventure this turned out to be. We didn't quite have the weather in the photos but a little bit of rain (or 8 days) didn't dampen spirits.

The itinerary works really well allowing you to see the highlights of the Camino, chopping out some of the road sections. You really get to experience the changing landscapes, culture and livelihoods of the different parts of Costa Rica you walk through, while also barely seeing another tourist. I feel very lucky to have been on the Camino in its infancy and before the rest of the world has discovered what feels like a well kept secret.

We were led by Mike who always had a story to tell and had such a clear passion for the country. Ably supported by Miso and Jimmy, we navigated some tricky jungle sections, river crossings and poisonous snakes. Our support driver and all round chef extrodinaire Memo kept us incredibly well fed and watered (with locally brewed coffee always available). Special shout out to Rosa who was very responsive and I am sure played a big part in ensuring all of the logistics worked as well as they did. It was an incredibly well organised trip from start to finish, even when our plans changed slightly due to the weather.

The trip was challenging - a few long days of hiking with alot of elevation and an awful lot of mud. I loved winding down the coffee roads at the end of the trip to the pacific. Two of the camps are amazing but some of the other accomodation is pretty basic and I would definitely pack a travel pillow and earphones next time. I would also recommend quick dry clothing and trousers as we were all quite the magnet for the local bugs.

The group was great - everyone took everything in their stride and kept smiling throughout. A christmas to remember.

I have done a longer write up of the trip here: https://catherinefalconer.substack.***/p/feliz-navidad

Highly recommend

Really great trip through remote and unspoilt areas of Costa Rica - we didn't see any other tourists aside from the first and last days.

The trip was well organised, the food was delicious, and the guides (Josue, Mike, Miso, and chef Mao) excellent.

I joined the second Camino trip run by MBA and Coast to Coast.

It was a fantastic trip and I’m so pleased to have been able to discover the Camino in its infancy.

Our trekking was challenging but expertly managed by the team - Mike, Memo and local guides Miso and Jimmy. We had a great mix of scenery and daily routines, so it was never monotonous and there was something new to learn about Costa Rican culture or the landscapes we were hiking through every day.

Our food was plentiful and delicious, and the accommodation always had what we needed. Some of the camp sites need more work, but they will get there.

Overall the highlight of the trip was the people (fellow guests and our hosts) and their collective spirit… always fun, always upbeat, always capable and out for adventure. Highly recommended!