Planning a Corporate Event in Costa Rica? Here’s How! 

How to plan a team-building corporate event & incentive retreat in Costa Rica

Want your employees to perfect the art of working as a team? Get them to raft down one of the world’s best-rated whitewater rivers!

Costa Rica offers a wealth of options for extraordinary corporate events and team-building retreats. The tropical country, long revered for its wilderness and high-adrenaline adventures, is swiftly becoming one of the most desirable destinations for safe, unique and affordable corporate events. It’s certainly easy to see why!

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

In this guide, we’ll share…

1. Why so many small, medium and large businesses choose to hold their corporate events in Costa Rica.
2. A few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid when planning a complex event involving many employees and
3. The steps you’ll need to take to turn your corporate event vision into an unforgettable reality.

Planning your bespoke corporate event in Costa Rica could well be the best idea you’ll have all year!

Part 1: Why Costa Rica is PERFECT for Corporate Team-Building Events

Corporate events can be logistical headaches for those tasked with the job of planning them. There’s a long list of requirements that not every country ticks, leaving just a handful of truly suitable options.

Here are just a few reasons Costa Rica is perfect for corporate, team-building retreats:

1. This is paradise on earth

Been to Costa Rica lately? If you have, you’d know that this is a jaw-dropping country, one that’s filled with tropical jungles and cloud forests, endless miles of stunning beaches, as well as volcanoes, waterfalls and some of the most endearing wildlife on earth. This is one impressive country and if you wish to WOW employees, reward them or simply give them the priceless chance of a unique bonding experience, you couldn’t choose a more ideal location.

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

2. Costa Rica is safe

Not just COVID-safe, but overall safe, which is a very important aspect of corporate events. As one of the US’ top 3 holiday destinations, Costa Rica has developed a warm and welcoming vibe – tourism is a true lifeline here and everything is geared toward nurturing and safeguarding precious guests. Planning a corporate event in Costa Rica with peace of mind is an enormous benefit to organizers, and this is one of the many prime reasons the country has become such a popular team-building event destination in recent years.

3. Convenient and affordable flights

No matter where in North America your headquarters is based, you and your corporate tribe could be lounging on a dreamy beach or checking into your eco-lodge within mere hours of leaving home. With non-stop flights from many cities (including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Orlando, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Denver and many more), Costa Rica’s international hub (San Jose) can be reached in a jiffy.

And, naturally, short non-stop flights also mean your Costa Rica corporate event will be more affordable all-round. More time to enjoy everything and less time traveling means the entire adventure is easier, cheaper and infinitely more enjoyable.

Once you’ve got boots on the ground, you’ll find Costa Rica’s corporate events to be competitively priced – especially when you consider the next point.

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

4. Costa Rica has outstanding tourist infrastructure & high-quality services: perfect for corporate events.

Many countries may be affordable, but few offer the kind of value-for-money for which Costa Rica has become famous. Here, you don’t just pay less: you pay less for better quality and that makes all the difference.

From transfers to accommodation, food, activities and overall organization: Costa Rica offers world-class infrastructure at a fraction of the price back home. All this value, packaged in a unique and enticing destination… what more could anyone dream?

5. Costa Rica has experience hosting and entertaining large groups

An often-overlooked bonus is that Costa Rica has been one of the world’s most popular choices for destination weddings for years – even decades. This means it boasts a plethora of top-quality suppliers and event management services, who are well-versed in catering to small, medium and large group events. It’s been doing it for years!

Delivering unforgettable large-group events comes naturally to Costa Rica!

6. The array of fun team-building activities is out of this world!

Let’s get to the crunch, shall we? Costa Rica is indeed stunning, affordable and well-equipped to cater to corporate events of all sizes. Yet what sets it apart is the fact it boasts oodles of substance as well. Beyond the skin-deep beauty, the country’s amazing wilderness offers outdoor activities galore, so planning a multi-adventure corporate event is an absolute breeze.

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

Here are just a few of the amazing activities you can include in a corporate event or team-building adventure:

• whitewater rafting and kayaking to
• downhill mountain biking,
• volcano hiking,
• zip lining,
• canyoneering,
• wildlife spotting,
• thermal pool soaking,
• ATV riding,
• surfing, snorkeling and SCUBA diving
• sport fishing and so (SO!) much more –

The country has also developed a liking for all things ‘wellness,’ so you can combine a high-energy day with yoga classes, massages and all manner of indulgent treatments, no matter where you go.

7. Costa Rica offers an eclectic choice of destinations & venues

Speaking of where you can go…hmmm…deciding where to hold your corporate event in Costa Rica might just be the only difficult decision you’ll have to make!

On the upside, the country’s compact size means most corporate retreats can include more than one destination. Because, in all honesty, a destination revered for its luscious jungles, cloud forests, volcanoes, and outstanding beaches deserves some serious explorations.

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

At Costa Rica Rios, we plan bespoke, all-inclusive package retreats that include a little of everything that makes the country so amazing. In Costa Rica, you can overnight in a dreamy eco-lodge immersed in a tropical rain forest teeming with wildlife, spend mornings zip lining, kayaking and mountain biking, and afternoons soaking in natural thermal pools – all before settling in for sundowners and delicious local dinners with a view that’ll take your breath away.

Naturally, you can expect a range of extras that make corporate team-building events easy to plan, like access to meeting halls, catering to suit all kinds of dietary requirements and an array of activities to suit groups boasting diverse ages and fitness levels.

That’s the beauty of a Costa Rica corporate event: no matter the age or propensity for adrenaline-packed adventures in the great outdoors, everyone has the absolute time of their lives.

At Costa Rica Rios, we’ll take your corporate event ideas and turn them into your company’s best investment. Reward your crew with an all-inclusive adventure retreat in Costa Rica and their enthusiasm, energy and creativity will blossom.

PART 2: Costa Rica Team-Building Corporate Events – Mistakes to Avoid

Planning a corporate event in Costa Rica is not something that should ever be rushed – the logistics of creating a multi-event, multi-destination adventure for a group of people abroad can be substantial. Not only do you need to time to connect all the dots and create a workable itinerary, but you also need time to source trustworthy suppliers that won’t let you down. Team-building events are not unlike a game of domino: if just one piece falls apart at the last minute, the entire event can fail.

Here are some of the most common mistakes you’ll definitely want to avoid:

1. Start planning too late

You should have your budget, and general ideas sorted way ahead of time. In planning your event in Costa Rica, this advance time frame will depend on when you wish to travel. High-tourist season runs between December and April, so if you wish to have the greatest choice of venue and accommodation, you will need to start planning at least six months ahead.

If you wish to visit Costa Rica outside the highest season, however, you can make it work in less than that. But only just. Remember that the more time you have, the less stressful and easier the entire planning will be.

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

2. Not considering festivals or religious celebration

Your ‘random’ corporate event date could well fall on one of Costa Rica’s most popular religious or cultural events, a time when locals travel en masse throughout the country. This can make everything more difficult and more expensive. Always check in advance about possible clashing issues with your chosen dates.

3. Using suppliers who won’t work together

Oh, the irony! You’re ready to plan a team-building event in Costa Rica but have inadvertently employed several suppliers who simply refuse to cooperate with one another. This results in a massive headache for you and a logistical nightmare to boot. Everything about a corporate event needs to be smooth, and that means transfer, accommodation, activities and catering suppliers need to work together to create one totally seamless plan.

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!

4. Not planning enough ‘fun’ activities

An underwhelming corporate event itinerary is the slow-death no planner wishes for and, to be honest, we think this is one of the most important reasons to choose Costa Rica. You couldn’t plan a dull itinerary here even if you tried! The country exudes adventure at every turn. Just about every lodge and resort boasts a multitude of exciting activities and national parks, awash with activities of their own, are found in every single province.

Planning a fun, enticing and invigorating corporate event itinerary should be a priority, and Costa Rica makes this ridiculously easy yo do.

5. Not confirming everything, multiple times

Event organizers usually have back-to-back commitment, which means mistakes can sometimes happen. When the mistake involves a large-group corporate event abroad, however, that’s just not acceptable, right? So, work with a planning agency who takes your event personally and who’s committed to delivering on their promise. Then confirm, multiple times, every step of your plan.

6. Not having a rainy-day contingency plan

Costa Rica is a beautiful, tropical country which means nourishing rain should be expected, at any time of year. Yes, it’s more likely there will be less rain between December and April, but that doesn’t make it a guarantee.

Experienced adventure tour planners in Costa Rica know the best contingency plans for when the unexpected happens. No matter what that might be!

Part 3: How to Plan a Costa Rica Corporate Team-Building Event

Costa Rica Rios is one of the country’s most trusted adventure-travel planners. We’ve been planning and running award-winning adventure tours in this outstanding destination for well over two decades.

We are experienced at organizing logistically challenging tours for groups of all sizes and have experience in tailoring itineraries to suit specific corporate goals. Whether you wish to motivate or reward your people, and ensure they experience an unforgettable adventure, together, we’ll create a bespoke corporate retreat so suit your needs.

The best part? We take care of ALL the logistics so you don’t have to. Simply give us a lowdown of all you envisage and we’ll do the rest. We’ve even sourced out an array of trusted Medical Centers for COVID-19 tests for those who require them before returning home.

Want to engage, energize and motivate your team with a corporate team-building event in Costa Rica? Then reach out to us today!

Plan Your Corporate Team Building Adventure in Costa Rica Today!