How We Did Costa Rica For Free
Costa Rica is one of those places that almost feels too good to be real. Think lush rainforests, volcano views, relaxing beaches, and some of the kindest people you’ll meet.
Trips like this don’t have to cost a fortune.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how we planned an 8-day Costa Rica trip and used points and miles to cover over $5,500 in travel. If you’re newer to this, don’t worry. I’ll keep it simple so you can see what’s possible and how to start doing this yourself.
Why Costa Rica (and Why This Trip Meant a Lot)
Costa Rica has been special for both of us for years.
I’d visited twice before, once during grad school and another time through a nonprofit. My wife had also been on a mission trip there in high school. So this trip felt like a full-circle moment, focused on slowing down and enjoying it together.
It was also our first bigger trip with our 1-year-old. Travel looks a little different with a toddler, but after a stretch of fewer trips, it felt really good to get back into the rhythm of using points again.
Our 8-Day Costa Rica Itinerary
We kept this trip simple and family-friendly, with just a few stops:
- Flights: Denver to Liberia (LIR), San Jose (SJO) to Denver
- 4 nights: Hyatt Andaz Papagayo (Liberia)
- 2 nights: Royal Corin Hot Springs (La Fortuna)
- 1 night: Marriott Hacienda Belén (San Jose)
This kind of two-to-three-stop itinerary is a great sweet spot for families. It gives you variety without feeling rushed.
Where We Stayed
Hyatt Andaz Papagayo (4 Nights)
This was a bucket list stay for me, and it absolutely lived up to it.
What stood out most wasn’t just the views, which are incredible, but how easy it felt as a family:
- Kids under 4 eat free, including room service and buffet
- On-site kids club and babysitting options
- Walkable, relaxing layout with great pools
Beginner takeaway: Hyatt points can go a long way at high-end properties like this. This is one of those redemptions that shows why points are worth learning.
The Pools and Atmosphere
The pools were built into the hillside overlooking the bay, so you get that jungle feel and ocean views at the same time.
It felt relaxing without being overly fancy or stuffy, which matters when traveling with a toddler.
The Food
We were genuinely impressed with the food across the resort.
One fun highlight was a cocktail at Chao Pescao served in a treasure chest with cinnamon smoke. It was memorable, but still approachable. It didn’t feel over the top in a way that takes away from the experience.
Royal Corin (La Fortuna, 2 Nights)
La Fortuna is perfect if you want a mix of adventure and relaxation.
You have options like:
- Zip-lining
- Volcano hikes
- Coffee and chocolate tours
- Wildlife experiences like sloths and birds
We kept things pretty low key, but my wife did get away for a zip-lining tour near Arenal.
The standout here was simple: the hot springs.
Every night after our son went to sleep, we’d head down and unwind. It’s not a luxury Instagram-style hotel, but it was a really enjoyable and relaxing stay.
Marriott Hacienda Belén (1 Night)
This was a practical and smart final night.
- Close to the airport
- Easy use of a Marriott free night award
- Beautiful property with a historic feel
Beginner takeaway: Free night certificates are perfect for short stays like this, especially airport nights where you don’t want to overthink it.
How We Covered This Trip with Points
We used a mix of points and miles across a few programs:
- Hyatt points, transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards®, for the Andaz stay
- Chase Travel℠ Portal for the Royal Corin booking
- Marriott Free Night Award for the final night
- American Airlines miles for flights
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card miles to reimburse travel purchases like the rental car and food
If that sounds like a lot, here’s the simple version:
Focus on flexible points first, like Chase or Capital One, and you’ll have options like this later.
Flights
We used American Airlines miles for our flights. It might not have been the best use of AA miles, but we were able to get the flights we wanted (including a seat for Micah) instead of paying the $900+ roundtrip prices in cash.
A Simple Way to Cover Food Costs
Here’s an approach that worked really well for us:
At the resort, we charged all meals to the room. Then we paid the final bill with our Venture card.
After that, we used Venture miles to reimburse the cost.
Why this works:
When everything is bundled as a hotel charge, it codes as travel, so you can reimburse it with miles.
Total Savings
Here’s how the savings broke down across the trip:
- Flights (American Airlines miles): ~$2,700 in cash fares avoided (3 roundtrip seats at $900+ each)
- Andaz Papagayo, 4 nights (Chase Ultimate Rewards® transferred to Hyatt): ~$1,600 retail value
- Royal Corin, 2 nights (Chase Travel℠ Portal): $625.96 retail value
- Marriott Hacienda Belén, 1 night (Free Night Award): ~$150 retail value
- Rental car + food (Capital One Venture miles reimbursement): ~$440
Total: ~$5,513 covered by points and miles.
That’s not an everyday outcome, but it’s very achievable over time with a simple strategy.
Final Thoughts
Using points doesn’t just save money. It changes how you experience travel.
You’re not stressing over every extra expense. You’re not second-guessing small upgrades. You can actually enjoy the trip for what it is.
For us, that meant:
- Slowing down
- Spending time together as a family
- Reconnecting with a place that’s meant a lot over the years
If you’re just getting started, don’t worry about recreating this exact trip.
Start simple. One card. One trip.
That’s how all of this begins.
Want to start planning your own trip like this? Start tracking your cards with Travel Freely today – it’s free, beginner-friendly, and built to make stories like this possible. Have a success story you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it! Reach out to us at or fill out our form here.
