Budget Travel Under $1200: How to plan a vacation to Costa Rica on a budget
- GottaBeMaddy
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
This month, we're headed to Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica for just $1200/person. Here's when we're going, where to stay, things to do and how to book it.
Remember: Flight and hotel prices fluctuate often and without warning, so be sure to book ASAP.
📍 Destination: GUANACASTE PROVINCE, COSTA RICA
Trip Dates: Saturday, September 12 - Tuesday, September 15 | 4 days, 3 nights
Total Budget: $1200/person, based on double occupancy for hotel; amount includes flight, hotel and listed activities
🛫 Flights
For this trip, our flight budget is $500. This means some flights might be significantly lower or slightly over the amount, but we'll generally stick to this number as a max. Be sure to calculate your individual total at the end.
We found some great roundtrip deals Here's how to book them:
From Raleigh, NC - $488: From RDU on American 👉 Book this flight
From New York City, NY - $460: From LGA on American 👉 Book this flight
From Philadelphia, PA - $405: From PHL on JetBlue 👉 Book this flight
From Atlanta, GA - $442: From ATL on JetBlue 👉 Book this flight
From Las Vega, NV - $487: From LAS on United 👉 Book this flight
From Dallas, TX - $426: From DFW on JetBlue 👉 Book this flight
From New Orleans, LA- $426: From MSY on JetBlue 👉 Book this flight
From Denver, CO - $517: From DEN on American 👉 Book this flight
A little over budget (by $50 or less):
From Phoenix, AZ - $517: From PHX on American 👉 Book this flight
From San Antonio, TX - $528: From SAT on American 👉 Book this flight
Book soon! Flight prices can change quickly.
By the way, we found most of these flights through our Going membership. Going is a travel app that sends flight deals to places all around the world.
🏨 Where we're staying
I recommend staying at the BOHO Tamarindo. It has good reviews on TripAdvisor and has rates within our budget.
Room type: Double Room (King) w/ Garden View
Price per night: $153
Total w/ taxes and fees: $610
Price per person: $305 👉 Book BOHO Tamarindo
🗓 Things to do
For this trip, I'm including two activities within the budget. Here's how to book it:
Sunset Cruise w/ Open Bar + Lunch - $105/person: Snorkel, drink and vibe on the water during this afternoon cruise. On the way back, get a beautiful view of the Costa Rican sunset. 👉 Book it
Diamante Adventure Park Day Pass - $160/person: Zipline, see animals and enjoy the outdoors at the day-long adventure. Plus, it includes lunch! 👉 Book it
We've included a $10 tip for tour operators in each of these activities. Tipping is always optional (and feel free to increase as desired), but we included a small amount just in case!
💰 Budget Recap
Item | Cost |
Flight | $500 (max) |
Stay | $610 ($305/person) |
Activities | $265 |
Total | $1070/person |
🔁 Come back every month
Each month, we feature a new trip on a budget — so if this month’s location isn’t quite right, check back soon or subscribe to my newsletter for updates! And if you want to go somewhere specific within a $1200 budget, I can help plan it.
Affiliate Link Notice: Sometimes our articles include affiliate links. This means I might make a small commission if you book or purchase through certain links. These links don't increase your price nor affect your booking.
Happy Travels,
Maddy
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