About Us

COSTA RICA TOURS, LTD. (CRT), specializes exclusively in Costa Rica and Panama. It was founded in 1998 in Charlotte, NC by a former Peace Corps Volunteer who served for two years in Costa Rica. Our current owner, Sharon Johnston, brings an extensive background of international residency and experience planning and leading tours in Southern Africa.

Our company is passionate about:

1. The preservation of our environment
2. The enrichment of local communities
3. The offering of experiences that create a sense of wonder in our passengers

We have a 100% safety record and have provided thousands of people with the opportunity to experience the joy of discovering the beauty of our earth’s natural wonders.

Small Group Tours

Our Costa Rica Variety Tour is offered in February and features small group size (maximum 16 passengers; adults only), knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guides who find wildlife “surprises” around every corner.

Our Panama with Canal Transit Tour is scheduled prior to the Variety tour in February. This enables passengers to travel in either country, or to combine both countries. Since we focus on history and culture in Panama, and on nature and relaxation in Costa Rica, the two tours combined are each unique.

Private Tours

Any of our group tours can be arranged as private tours on our clients’ selected dates throughout the year. They include the same locations and activities of the small group tours but may be modified with fewer included meals and guide time to give the passengers more flexibility but still at a reasonable cost. These tours are popular with couples and with families with children. Other private tours we can arrange throughout the year on your selected dates are the Beach and Rainforest Escape in Tamarindo and Arenal and our Caribbean Adventure in Turrialba and Puerto Viejo.

With 10 or more passengers, we can arrange a Student Tour on a school’s selected dates. This tour includes science and nature, cultural exchange, volunteer service, and adventure sports (zipline and white water rafting).

Our passengers come from throughout the United States and Canada. We have arranged tours for couples, families, and many multi-generational families; for educational institutions including Kent State University, Iowa State University, The Art Institutes of Dallas and Houston, Country Day Schools and Montessori Schools; for non-profit organizations including The Charlotte World Affairs Council, WTVI Public Television, The Garden Clubs of North Carolina and New Jersey.