Vicente Varela
Trip Designer
I was born and raised in Arenal, and after many years away, I made the decision to bring my family back from the city to my hometown. Arenal is a truly special place where nature, adventure, and one of its greatest treasures come together: some of the best hot springs in the world.
We are currently enjoying an excellent summer season in 2026, and the outlook for the coming months is very promising, with ideal conditions to go out and enjoy unforgettable experiences. My daughters, ages 13, 11, and 11, are already counting the days to get back to their favorite adventures such as ziplining, ATV rides, and white-water rafting.
Thanks to them, and to my wife, who is very active and passionate about outdoor activities, I have learned to plan trips through the eyes of those who travel together. This perspective allows me to design experiences that are not only exciting, but also safe, well-balanced, and truly enjoyable for everyone involved.
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What travelers have said
We used Anywhere.com to plan a fairly complex two-week family trip through Costa Rica, and they exceeded my expectations. I came in pretty focused on value and with a lot of opinions about the itinerary. Vicente was great about working with that rather than pushing us toward a canned package. We went through quite a few iterations, including changing activities, finding better-value lodging options, arranging private surf lessons, and even tracking down a mountain biking option that fit what my son and I wanted. The biggest value, though, became obvious once we were actually there: **I didn't have to manage any of the logistics.** We moved between Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and San José with a lot of activities along the way, and everything just worked. Drivers and guides reliably showed up where and when they were supposed to. Even more complicated transfers—like getting from Los Lagos across the lake toward the Monteverde/cloud forest area—were seamless. At one point a vendor was only about 10 minutes late, and when I messaged Vicente he responded immediately. That gave me a lot of confidence throughout the trip that if something actually did go wrong, there was someone accountable who could fix it. There were a handful of times during planning when I had to follow up on something, but given how customized and complicated the itinerary became, that felt minor. The trip itself was fantastic. Rappelling/canyoning was probably our family's favorite adventure, and the different pools at Los Lagos were another highlight. I initially wondered whether using a trip-planning service would be worth the additional cost versus booking everything myself. After doing this trip, I think the answer is absolutely yes. The combination of local knowledge, customization, reliable vendors, and not having to personally juggle dozens of reservations and transfers was a huge value. We've already been recommending Anywhere to friends, and we're now working with them again on another international trip. Easy 5 stars.
Jim B.
I needed a very last minute transportation for my son and 2 friends that got their planned transportation with another company canceled on them just an hour before departure. They were left without option in Monteverde and needed togo to Tamarindo. Anywhere.com helped in a matter of minutes, with such professionalism, personalized service, I wouldn't go anywhere else when needing !
Claudia B.
when we traveled with nine of us to Costa Rica and there were multiple pickups at the airport and different people arriving at different times and all of these moving parts. Different groups of us could go in different directions and it was flawless. All of those details were flawless. The transfers, the bookings, all of the hotels were exactly what I hoped they would be.
Michelle K.
Vicente planned a custom trip that was perfect for our interests. The transportation was on time and super kind and courteous at every transition. The hotels were great and all of the tour guides were knowledgeable and interested in sharing their natural resources and teaching visitors about the region. This is the third time I’ve used Anywhere Costa Rica and the trips have always been seamless and a lot of fun.
Jennifer T.
Great trip, loved all the activities planned, accommodations were excellent. The only thing we would have changed would be renting a car in Arenal because we were out of town (lovely and quiet) but it was expensive to take taxis into town
Amy C.
I really liked how he took the time to Taylor our trip to our wants and our likes. He really did spend extra time going over all of our wish list and making sure that we had the best vacation possible. He did extra things for us and ensure that we had some of the best guides that could be offered. He was amazing.
Elijah .
Trips I've Tailored
A sample of what my clients get by working with a local insider
Family Time in Costa Rica
Michelle and her family embarked on a multi‑generational adventure in Costa Rica, where mist‑cloaked cloud forests meet surf‑kissed Pacific beaches, offering a vibrant contrast of cool heights and warm tides. Your journey weaves through Monteverde’s canopy zip lines and canyoning thrills, the turquoise Tenorio River’s Class III/IV rapids, and La Leona waterfall’s lush river tubing. Guided by local experts and supported by a comfortable van, your family will soak up Pura Vida hospitality, returning home with shared stories of soaring forests and surf‑side sunsets.
Costa Rica
Family Adventure Through Costa Rica
Rachel and her family of four spent a week moving across Costa Rica, from Arenal to the Pacific coast, with every transfer and tour arranged door to door. In Arenal they rode the Sky Adventures aerial tram and ziplines, took on the Balsa River's Class II–III rapids, and walked the EcoGarden trails to find sloths in their actual habitat, not a roadside stop, then the falls at La Fortuna. On the coast at Manuel Antonio they hiked the national park with a local guide, snorkeled the reef, and chased the Mulguri waterfall. As Rachel said, these weren't tours with twenty other tourists trailing the buses. They were the real thing, reachable only through local connections, with the family's days handled start to finish.
Costa Rica
Family Annual Adventure
It's a beautiful country and the rainforest, Arenal volcano, rafting safari and catamaran sail were all wonderful. We learned a lot,laughed a lot, and would go back.
Costa Rica
Solo Exclusive Trip
An incredible country which went beyond expectations. Absolutely amazing & so many memorable experiences. The welcome from all the people & the hospitality everywhere is fantastic. I always felt safe
Costa Rica