Has anybody been to Costa Rica, Panama or Nicaragua on holiday? Advice needed on logistics

FrankFalcon

Hi all

My wife and I have decided that we want to go to Costa Rica for a relaxing holiday in January 2027. However, we have 3 weeks holidays so we want to add in another stop first, either Nicaragua or Panama (because they are both adjoining countries). However, we can't seem to make it work without flights being ridiculously long or costs being silly. Because I don't know anybody that has travelled to either of these countries I can't ask for advice locally.

With this in mind, please can I ask (if you have been) how you got there? where you flew from? Where you flew into? Any other transportation tips please.

Thanks in advance.

MyRealNameToo

3 weeks to do a whole country I would argue is far from enough, 3 months trip and I may consider adding a second country.

Regional flights in LatAm are much more expensive than we are used to in Europe, even internal flights can be. Buses/coaches can be ok but it really depends on where you will be based in Costa Rica and where in Panama/Nicaragua you want to get to. Wife's a native Spanish speaker and is Latina so have certain advantages both in communication and not being ripped off.

FrankFalcon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962125#Comment_81962125

Apologies, I didn't mean I'd do the full country. Just selected areas for a few days here and there.

El_Torro

Looking at Google Flights you can fly from London to Panama City and then fly back to London from San Jose (Costa Rica) for less than £800 in January. A single flight between Panama City and San Jose is about £120.

While I don't consider these prices particularly cheap they don't seem overly expensive by today's prices.

Also I think 2 weeks in Costa Rica is plenty of time. Not everyone has the luxury to spend 3 months in each country they visit.

Keep_pedalling

My advice would be to stick to Costa Rica it is a country with lots to see and three weeks is not really that long. What part (or parts) of CR are you planning to visit?