How to Plan a Large Group Trip to Costa Rica

Planning a group trip can be a surprisingly delicate balance. It's part logistics, part diplomacy, part understanding that not everyone wakes up at the same speed. But if there's a destination that sets you up for success, it's Costa Rica. With direct flights from major North American cities, reliable tourism infrastructure, and a long list of activities for mixed ages and interests, it's one of the most group-friendly countries in Central America.

Jaco Beach, on the Pacific coast, is especially convenient for groups thanks to its proximity to the airport and its range of accommodations. Many travelers opt for villa rentals here, and several local operators, including JacoVIP, which manages a portfolio of more than 60 villas and provides customized concierge support, have built their business around helping groups navigate the region with fewer moving parts.

Here's how to plan your own group trip, and where services like JacoVIP's offerings fit into the picture.

Why Costa Rica Is Great for Groups

Costa Rica has a reputation for being laid-back, safe, and easy to get around. It doesn't hurt that it's also a diverse and visually stunning country with lots of opportunity for adventure as well as relaxation. Within a short distance, you can find surf beaches, rainforest canopy tours, wildlife reserves, adventure parks, and calm stretches of coastline better suited for unwinding.

For group travel, Jaco tends to be one of the smoother options. It's about 90 minutes from San Jose's international airport, which cuts down on transfer fatigue, and it's surrounded by an unusually dense cluster of activities. You can fill days without spending hours in a van, which matters when you're juggling different attention spans and energy levels.

The Case for Renting a Villa

The classic hotel model starts to lose its shine when the headcount creeps above eight. A villa solves that by giving the group a single shared base with communal areas, private bedrooms, and a kitchen if you need it. It also eliminates the "whose room are we hanging out in?" problem. 

In Jaco, villa rentals are common, and companies like JacoVIP manage a wide range of them, from modest multi-bedroom homes to larger estates designed for reunions, bachelor/bachelorette groups, and corporate retreats. What tends to appeal to travelers is less the square footage and more the infrastructure around it: private pool, indoor-outdoor living spaces, and layouts that are homey, rather than a string of hotel rooms and public spaces. 

For families, multigenerational groups, or travelers who prefer privacy, it can be an easier fit than a resort.

What Concierge Support Actually Does

A lot of villa companies in the area pair rentals with optional (or bundled) concierge services. JacoVIP, for example, has a concierge service that can help with coordinating airport transportation, arranging private chefs, setting up local drivers, helping schedule activities, and coordinating daily cleaning services.

For some travelers, these are luxuries; for others, especially large groups, they're the difference between spending the trip worried about logistics and relaxing.

Different Types of Group Trips, and How to Approach Each One

Families and Multigenerational Trips

Costa Rica is famously kid-friendly, and Jaco is no exception. Beginner surf lessons, wildlife tours, waterfalls, and canopy zip lines all work well for families with a range of ages. A villa allows younger kids to nap while older ones keep swimming in the private pool nearby, and having a chef can simplify mealtimes, especially when there's a range of palates involved.

Bachelor and Bachelorette Groups

Jaco has a lively nightlife scene, and for groups that want both adventure and evenings out, the area is an easy fit. Many bachelor/bachelorette groups stay in party-friendly villas and use local concierge teams to handle transportation and steer them toward reputable operators, particularly helpful for nightlife, where not all venues are created equal.

Corporate Retreats

Costa Rica has become a popular setting for retreats because it blends downtime with accessible outdoor activities. In Jaco, villas with large common areas often function as meeting spaces, and companies can build itineraries that include morning work sessions, afternoon excursions, and chef-catered meals.

Wedding Groups

Destination weddings are increasingly choosing Costa Rica for its scenery and climate. In Jaco, some couples host ceremonies on the beach and house guests in nearby villas. Local planners or concierge teams can help coordinate catering, décor, and group outings around the event.

Activities That Work Well for Groups

The Jaco region is dense with options, most of which can be organized through a villa's concierge team or directly with tour operators. One of the biggest advantages of basing a group in Jaco is how close the region's most popular activities are to town. You don't have to spend hours in transit to experience what you came to Costa Rica for.

Surf lessons are a natural starting point. Jaco's main beach has warm, forgiving waves that are ideal for beginners, and local instructors are used to working with groups who want to learn together. For something higher adrenaline, the area's canopy tours offer the classic Costa Rica zip-line experience, with long cables that sail over rainforest canopies and views over misty, wildlife-filled canyons.

Sport-fishing is another major draw, especially with the Los Suenos Marina only 20 minutes from town. Full- or half-day charters can accommodate groups looking to spend a day on the water, where that means serious fishing or a more "sun and snacks" kind of outing. The marina's operators are used to hosting bachelor groups, families, and corporate teams, so they're equipped to handle a wide range of experience levels.

For land-based adventures, ATV excursions are an easy crowd-pleaser. Most routes meander through forested backroads and end at a waterfall or lookout point. Groups who prefer something slower-paced can book catamaran cruises to Tortuga Island, a full-day outing that combines snorkeling, beach time, and a scenic ride along the coast.

Nature lovers may prefer a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica's most biodiverse regions. JacoVIP can arrange guided walks, where you'll have the chance to spot monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds. For wildlife fans who don't want to commit to a park visit, shorter guided nature walks around Jaco offer plenty of opportunities to see local flora and fauna. 

Closer to home, groups can arrange yoga sessions or professional massages directly at their villa. Golfers can squeeze in a round at La Iguana Golf Course in Los Suenos. 

What makes these activities especially group-friendly is how easily they can be arranged. JacoVIP's concierge teams coordinate directly with vetted local operators, which takes the logistical guesswork out of planning and minimizes potential language barriers.

Questions to Consider Before You Start Planning

Any group trip benefits from a few decisions made early:

1. What's the purpose of the trip? A celebration? A family reconnection? A retreat?
2. What budget feels comfortable for most people?
3. Who makes the final call on logistics? (Too many decision-makers slow everything down.)
4. How much downtime vs. activity does the group want?
5. Are there dietary restrictions or accessibility considerations?
6. Do you want nightlife nearby, or a quieter environment?
7. Are you comfortable cooking, or would chef service be helpful?

Why Many Groups Use Local Support Teams

You don't need a concierge team to travel in Costa Rica. Plenty of people rent cars, choose independent hotels, and plan activities on their own. But once the group gets large enough, the appeal of having a local point of contact becomes more obvious.

Companies like JacoVIP fill that role: arranging villas, streamlining transportation, booking tours, and troubleshooting when plans shift. For travelers, the benefit is less about luxury and more about ease — fewer logistics, fewer surprises, and more time spent actually enjoying Costa Rica.