Route Pura Vida

Itinerary Assistance

Personalized Costa Rica Itineraries, From Someone Who's Driven, Flown and Shuttled All Over

A 25-minute call and a custom written report covering where to go, how to get around, and where to stay — based on your trip, not someone else's.

Start Your Itinerary

$249 flat. No upsells. No commissions.

Why this exists

Costa Rica looks small on the map. Then you start planning and realize the drive from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio takes longer than the blogs claim, that "rainy season" means something very different in Guanacaste vs. the Caribbean, and that the Airbnb you liked is actually an hour past the last paved road.

Most trip planning advice online is generic, contradictory, or written by people who've never driven up a mountain outside of La Fortuna. After five years living here, plus years of vacations before that, I've watched tourists make the same handful of mistakes over and over.

This service exists to keep you from making them.

What you get

A 25-minute video consultation and a custom written report covering:

  • Where to go — destinations matched to the trip you actually want: adventure, beach, family, romantic, wildlife, slow travel, or a mix

  • How long to spend in each place — realistic, not crammed

  • Transport plan — rental car vs. shuttle vs. domestic flight, route by route, with specifics on what to book

  • Vehicle recommendations — sedan vs. SUV vs. 4x4, when each is actually required (and when rental agencies will tell you it's not)

  • Lodging recommendations — Airbnbs, hotels, and eco-lodges by area, matched to your budget and style

  • The stuff guidebooks miss — driving times that account for traffic and road conditions, river crossings, mandatory insurance traps, ATM access in remote towns

How it works

  1. Fill out the trip questionnaire

    About 10 minutes. Tells me the kind of trip you want, your dates, your group, and your non-negotiables.

  2. Pay and pick a call time

    Secure payment via Stripe.

  3. 25-minute video call

    Google Meet. We talk through your trip, I answer questions, and I take notes for your report.

  4. Custom report in your inbox

    Delivered within 48 hours of the call. Organized by destination, with the specifics you can actually act on.

Included

Personalized advice on destinations, routes, transport methods, vehicle types, and lodging. Concrete picks, not vague suggestions.

Not included

Booking. I don't reserve hotels, rent cars, or buy flights on your behalf — I tell you exactly what to book and where, and you handle it.

This keeps the service honest. I don't take affiliate commissions on the lodging or rental car recommendations, which means what I recommend is what I actually think is best for your trip — not what pays me the highest cut.

Why me

I've lived in Costa Rica for five years and vacationed here for years before that. I've driven through roughly 90% of the country, including the parts where the GPS gives up. I've gotten a flat tire on the Costanera to Quepos, flown Sansa into Nosara, and spent a very long shuttle ride talking to the driver about his family.

I built routepuravida.com because I kept watching tourists make the same logistical mistakes — and the smartest place to fix that is before they ever book.

Aaron Bailey, Route Pura Vida

Who this is for

  • First-time visitors who want someone to cut through the noise
  • Returning travelers planning a more remote or adventurous trip
  • Families balancing kid-friendly with the real beach/jungle experience
  • Couples trying to fit beach, cloud forest, and volcano into 10 days without driving themselves crazy
  • Anyone who's read 30 blog posts and is more confused than when they started

Who this isn't for

  • Travelers on rock-bottom budgets who just need quick free tips (read the blog instead)
  • Anyone wanting a fully booked, hand-held package — that's a tour operator, not me
  • Last-minute trips inside 7 days (I can't always turn around in time)

Pricing

$249

flat

That covers the questionnaire review, the 25-minute call, and the written report.
No upsells. No commissions baked in.

Start Your Itinerary

Frequently asked questions

Why pay when free info is everywhere?
Free info is everywhere — that's the problem. The cost of the wrong rental car, a bad route, or a sketchy neighborhood is way more than this consultation.
Do you book hotels or rentals for me?
No. I tell you exactly what to book and you handle it. I don't take affiliate commissions, so my recommendations are based purely on what's best for your trip.
Is 25 minutes really enough?
Yes. You fill out the questionnaire ahead of time, so the call is focused on the decisions specific to your trip. The written report covers everything else.
What if my plans change after?
The report is yours. For meaningful changes (new dates, different region), a follow-up consult is available at a discounted rate.
How far ahead should I book?
Ideally 4–8 weeks before your trip. That gives you enough lead time to actually book the lodging I recommend before it's gone.
Do you cover all of Costa Rica?
Most of it. I know Guanacaste, the Central Valley, La Fortuna/Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Jacó, the Nicoya Peninsula (Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa, Montezuma), the Osa Peninsula, and the Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita) firsthand. If you're headed somewhere I have less direct experience with, I'll tell you upfront.
Refund policy?
Full refund before our scheduled call. After the call, no refund — the work is done.

Ready to plan a trip you'll actually enjoy?

Start Your Itinerary

Most people book 4–8 weeks before their trip. Slots fill faster around January and June.