Viva Adventures was born in 2012 out of the desire to connect folks with one another, new cultures, and off-the-beaten-track experiences. Today, we are a boutique female-owned and operated Costa Rica Destination Management Company (DMC) and global tour operator that has carved out a niche in creating and leading group travel.
In This Article
- The Art of Curating Truly Unique Journeys
- Why Customization Matters in Group Travel
- Our Process: From Vision to Seamless Execution
- Safety, Education, and Wellness at the Core
- Why Our Guides Make All the Difference
- Beyond Costa Rica: Taking Our Expertise Global
- The Experience for Group Leaders
- Conclusion: Travel Designed to Inspire Connection
The Art of Curating Truly Unique Journeys
What does all of this mean? While Costa Rica is the homebase of Viva Adventures and we have deep knowledge and connections throughout the entire country, our reach is global. We have run countless custom group travel experiences all over Costa Rica through the years, and we have also gone as far afield as Panama, Mexico, Greece, Italy, and the Galapagos.
We work exclusively with groups. Here are a few of our specialities:
- Wellness retreats
- Company retreats
- Specialty or affinity clubs
- University study abroad programs
We create truly unique journeys for each respective group: in fact, we are proud to have never run the exact same itinerary twice. We don’t just sell pre-packaged trips; we design experiences that connect people to place, culture, and purpose.
Why Customization Matters in Group Travel
No two groups are the same, and we believe that no two group travel experiences should be carbon copied either. There are many cookie-cutter group travel itineraries that exist, but they often forego lesser-known gems, genuine connections, and moments of spontaneity.
Each group leader comes with their own goals for the trip, whether that’s an established curriculum, a wellness slant, leadership activities, or an adventure agenda. Part of the process of co-creating an amazing group travel experience abroad is to work hand-in-hand with every group leader from start to finish.
Whether you are a professor, a yoga instructor, a coach, or a company leader, we work collaboratively with you to design your perfect group trip that meets your group where it is at, and curate a series of experiences to complement learning and goals.
In addition, as a responsible trip organizer and B Corp company, we are committed to ensuring that the communities we visit are equal stakeholders in this relationship. That means any activities, experiences, and service work that we do are based on community needs and local recommendations.
At Viva Adventures, we are proud to have never once repeated an exact itinerary in our 14+ years of operation. Even if you work with us and we do the same style of trip every year, there will always be small changes from year to year to ensure the best possible and most tailored travel experience.
Our Process: From Vision to Seamless Execution
Our process is simple, yet tailored to every group’s distinctive needs. It follows the same basic structure:
- Discovery: This involves a few conversations to help us understand the group’s purpose, needs, and desires. It is also helpful for the group leader to do some brainstorming and research as well.
- Design: This is the fun part! Dreaming, co-designing, and bringing to life a series of events and experiences that balance education, exploration, wellness, and fun.
- Logistics: This is where Viva Adventures gets to shine. We take the plan and turn it into action, managing on-the-ground transport, lodging, activities, and meals for a totally seamless experience. We rely heavily on local knowledge and suggestions for this part.
- Execution: We lied: THIS is the fun part. Enjoy the trip and soak in every moment of cultural exchange, experiential learning, and seeing the participants grow and reap the benefits. Viva Adventures’ trained, bilingual guides ensure every moment runs smoothly.
What is it like to plan an immersive travel experience with us? We pledge to provide great communication every step of the way; to be responsive to the needs and questions as they may arise; and to provide or cultivate local expertise that is only possible with a robust on-the-ground knowledge and vast network.
Safety, Education, and Wellness at the Core
For us at Viva Adventures, we define ourselves by our three main pillars that are present in each and every trip that we plan:
- Safety: Our guides are all trained in CPR and First Aid, as well as having valid Wilderness First Responders certifications. Many of our trips take place in the world’s most beautiful and wild places, where immediate access to medical care is limited. For that reason, we also have several emergency plans in place and access to private transportation at all times. We are fully insured and adhere to all local rules and regulations of whatever area we are in.
- Education: All of the travel experiences that we are involved with, elementally, are about learning. Going to a new place and being exposed to a different culture and way of living is one of the best ways to get out of your comfort zone and soak up a ton of information. It’s also incredibly inspiring and has the potential to be transformational in the lives of both visitors and host communities.
- Wellness: A trip does not have to be wellness-themed to incorporate elements of wellness. Great and healthy food, ample down time, and being in nature are three easy components to weave into any trip to ensure that participants feel great at the end of each day, and leave the trip with a greater sense of wellbeing than when they started.
These are the Viva Adventures “non-negotiables,” and regardless of the trip’s theme, location, duration, or any other feature, all of our trips highlight the three pillars.
Why Our Guides Make All the Difference
Behind every seamless day in the field is a person who has spent years earning the trust of local communities, learning the lay of the land, and — just as importantly — knowing how to read a group. Our guides are the heart of Viva Adventures. They are trained, possess local knowledge, passionate about teaching, and skilled facilitators. Many of them have worked alongside us since our earliest years, and all of them carry a genuine love for sharing Costa Rica with the world.
What makes our guides different is that they are able to wear two hats at once. On one hand, they’re storytellers: the ones who can point out a sloth three branches up before anyone else spots it, who know the history behind a small mountain town, and who can turn a bus ride into a lesson on biodiversity or local customs. On the other hand, they’re safety professionals — calm under pressure and always thinking two steps ahead.
But if you ask us what really sets our guides apart, it’s that they don’t just lead trips; they create connections that last. Ask any past traveler and they’ll likely tell you about a guide’s name before they tell you about a waterfall or a zipline. That’s the result of years spent building a team who cares as much about the people in front of them as the places they’re sharing.
Beyond Costa Rica: Taking Our Expertise Global
Costa Rica will always be home base for Viva Adventures — it’s where we started, where our deepest relationships live, and where our roots run the strongest. But our approach to group travel doesn’t stop at Costa Rica’s borders.
Over the years, we’ve brought our model of thoughtful, community-centered group travel to destinations like Greece, the Galapagos, and Mexico, working with universities, wellness groups, and specialty clubs looking for the same kind of meaningful, custom-built experience.
Whether it’s a study abroad program focusing on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a wellness retreat on a remote island, or a cultural immersion built around a group’s specific learning goals, our process travels well because it is not about a single destination — it is about the art of travel. Discovery, design, logistics, and execution: the same four components that shape a trip in Monteverde shape a trip on the Mediterranean.
No matter where in the world we go, the ethos stays the same: the same level of care, safety, and personalization that Viva Adventures is known for in Costa Rica, delivered anywhere your group dreams of going.
The Experience for Group Leaders
If you’re a professor, wellness facilitator, coach, or organizational leader thinking about planning group travel, here’s what we want you to know: your job is to gather your group, the theme, and any sessions you may want to lead. Ours is to handle everything else.
From the first discovery call, we prioritize clear, responsive communication — no confusing back-and-forth, no guessing where things stand. We build flexibility into every itinerary because we know that even the best-laid plans need room to breathe, and we believe in transparent pricing so there are never surprises for you or your travelers.
As a registered, fully insured, and experienced DMC with a decade plus of on-the-ground expertise, we exist to be the kind of travel partner you can actually trust — one who treats your group’s goals as our own and shows up prepared for whatever the trip brings.
Ready to see what stress-free group travel planning looks like? Schedule a discovery call with our team, or reach out for a sample itinerary to see our process in action.
Conclusion: Travel Designed to Inspire Connection
At the end of the day, we believe every journey should reflect the unique spirit of the group taking it — never a copy-paste itinerary, never a one-size-fits-all package. It’s why we’ve never repeated a trip exactly the same way twice, and why our work will always come back to the same three pillars: connection, education, and wellness.
Ready to start designing your own immersive group itinerary? Contact us to begin crafting a journey your travelers will never forget.
