Travel Solo, Minus The Stress

It’s not easy to make a trip happen when no one you know has funds or PTO, especially if you’re already burned out, heartbroken, introverted, or unsure about what’s next.

Because deciding to go solo means:

📚 struggling through conflicting travel advice all by yourself

🤷‍♀️ making every decision along the way

💸 paying the “single tax”

😵‍💫 handling overwhelming logistics alone (like renting a car)

🤓 dealing with the awkwardness of meeting people abroad, and

🙉 avoiding mistakes without anyone watching your back…

And that’s if you can even get past the very real fear of traveling solo as a woman.

But if you try to make planning easier by joining a traditional group trip…

You end up waking up at the crack of dawn to be shuffled around in buses half the day and making endless small talk when your social battery is already hanging on by a thread, stuck rushing through someone else’s packed itinerary instead of actually flowing to your own rhythm for once.

And for the introverts, neurodivergent girlies, and women craving a little space after years of constantly accommodating everyone else…that kind of experience can feel straight-up suffocating.

(Also, respectfully, sharing rooms with randos is the opposite of relaxing 🙅‍♀️)

But not going at all isn’t an option either. Because you know, deep down, that nothing changes if nothing changes…

The bucket list won’t cross itself off, the memories won’t create themselves, a life of working to exist won’t spontaneously feel inspiring or meaningful, and time isn’t healing the wounds fast enough on its own.

Which is exactly why we ended up creating something that feels a bit more…anti-group-trip.

Because when you’re stuck in that maddening place between “I’m ready to go solo” and “I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing”…the best way to go is having an “acquaintance in town.”

Not a travel buddy you’re attached to 24/7 or even someone you feel obligated to plan your schedule around...

What you really need is just someone local who:

🗣️ speaks the language

🗺️ knows the area

✅ helps you get your basics set up

👉 points you toward trustworthy people, and

👭 mostly disappears so you can do your own thing

Enough support to feel grounded. But enough freedom to make the trip your own.

And if you don’t already happen to have an acquaintance in a magical beach town in paradise…

We gotchu 🤝 Let’s get acquainted.

Hola, Amiga 🤙

I’m Juan Carlos (“JC”), a Costa Rica native, licensed tour operator, and the owner of Shaba Surf School in Nosara since 2015.

My favorite part of giving tours and surf lessons has always been watching people who arrive tense and stressed get the light back in their eyes and the fire back in their souls. That’s the power of Costa Rica, and I love helping others tap into it.

So it was an obvious “yes” when my good friend and long-time surf student, Cass, asked me to organize an experience specially designed to make it feel easy, safe, and effortless for women to visit Nosara solo this summer.

As a girl-dad, I take women’s safety seriously, and I'm committed to creating a comfortable, respectful environment where women can fully relax and enjoy themselves.

I’ll be coordinating your logistics behind the scenes…hotel reservations, airport transportation, and lessons with the Shaba Surf team if you decide to give surfing a try.

I’m honored to be trusted with your visit, and can’t wait to welcome you to my home country.

Pura Vida 🏄🏼‍♀️

Cass’s solo travel journey started with a last-minute post-divorce workcation to Costa Rica, at a time when she also felt trapped in her life as a lawyer and knew something had to change.

But she would never have booked that trip if it wasn't for her "acquaintance in town"...a family friend she hadn't seen since she was 4 years old, who happens to live in Nosara with his family. He helpfully pointed Cass in the right direction for logistics and offered just enough support to make booking easy and stress-free, but otherwise let her make the trip her own.

What was supposed to be a 5-week stay quickly turned into 4 years of pura vida living that changed the course of Cass's future forever, giving her the clarity and confidence to build a life that actually felt good to live.

Cass now travels full-time through tropical beach towns around the world while helping others explore the planet more confidently and more frequently through her company, Off Path On Purpose...

But she still comes back for that Nosara magic every summer.

And this year, Cass had us organize a whole travel package just so she could be the "acquaintance in town" who helps other women finally embark on their own life-changing solo trip...without breaking down, burning out, or going broke.

She wanted to give her guests the best possible setup for their trip basics, in one easy booking, for less than they could book it all themselves.

Every service included in the Anti-Group Trip is provided by the same vendors Cass uses and trusts for her own visits, at special discount rates she helped us negotiate specifically for her guests (at least the law career came in handy for something, right? 😜).

And like any good acquaintance-in-town, Cass will give you the lay of the land, let you know what she plans to be up to in case you feel like joining (no pressure!)...and otherwise give you space to make the trip your own.

This isn't one of those overly scheduled, hyper-social group tours where you spend half the trip trapped in mandatory bonding activities and running around on someone else’s timeline.

Because it was designed to be…the opposite of that...

Something less like a “group trip” and more like having that acquaintance in town.

We'll get you safely to and from your ideal beachside base in the jungle, supply you with all the info you need to design your own adventure, and leave the rest to you.

The only agenda here is no agenda, and you won't find a schedule...just suggestions.

So while you're more than welcome to join Cass for an occasional sunset dance session on the beach or her usual pilates or breathwork classes...

No one's gonna judge you if you skip it all and do entirely your own thing. Because that's actually the whole point.

Create Your Own Costa Rica Adventure

🐚 Some women will spend all day exploring the beaches and tide pools and jungle paths.

🏄‍♀️ Some will learn to surf every morning.

👩‍💻 Some will work remotely during the week and watch the sunset from the beach afterward.

⛰️ Some will drive ATVs up into the mountains and hike to local waterfalls.

🧘‍♀️ Some will take yoga classes and sit in cacao ceremonies.

💃 Some will learn to salsa or take tai chi lessons.

🍽️ Some will make reservations for an instagrammable brunch, happy hour, or dinner-with-a-view at Nosara's ocean-view and mountain-top dining options

👭 Some will make new best friends to rent a boat with for the day.

📖 Some will barely socialize at all and quietly journal at the hotel pool or cafés between ocean swims.

And all of those are totally valid ways to do this trip.

The goal isn’t to force everyone into the same experience...

It’s to create enough ease, safety, and space for you to finally have your own experience.

Every detail of this trip was designed to maximize your Costa Rica solo travel experience while minimizing your stress.

That means:

• trip dates strategically chosen to coincide with the Veranillo de San Juan, a rare pocket of sunny beach days tucked into the region's lush green season

• longer stay options (8 days or 2 weeks) give you enough time to actually experience the vibe instead of rushing through paradise

• walkable beachside accommodations in the heart of town to eliminate transportation stress

• negotiated rates not available to the public make it easy to access our trusted providers' services for less than you could book them yourself

• taxes and fees included upfront, so there are no surprise “wait…why is this suddenly 13% more expensive?” moments later (yeah, sales tax in Costa Rica is intense 😅)

• weekend-only travel days and option to work remotely during the work-week, to minimize your PTO burn

So, basically...the best possible Costa Rica solo trip setup, without having to do all the legwork to plan it 😌

Your home base is a peaceful top-rated 3-star boutique hotel tucked into one of the quietest, most walkable corners of Nosara…just steps from the beach and the center of town, but hidden enough to feel like your own little sanctuary.

Because of the hotel's ideal location, you can realistically spend most of your trip walking between the beach, cafés, yoga classes, restaurants, and your room...without having to deal with transportation logistics.

Your stay includes:

• complimentary daily breakfast

• outdoor space (balcony or garden terrace)

• access to pool and open-air yoga shala

• on-site restaurant serving fresh-made local and international dishes

• air conditioning + hot water

• private entrance

• prime location in the center of town

• easy walking distance to restaurants, cafés, shops, and essentials

• private walking path to the beach (Playa Guiones)

• direct access to walking paths in adjacent protected jungle area (Ostional Wildlife Refuge)

• friendly local staff

• complimentary use of surf racks

Door-to-door transport from the airport directly to your accommodations and back again, with convenient optional stops along the way at a reliable ATM and/or local restaurant...so you’re not arriving exhausted, starving, and immediately scrambling to figure out basic life functions in a foreign country.

Your driver will track your flight and coordinate with you directly via WhatsApp, making it easy to figure out where to go after landing.

And because transportation is shared only with fellow trip participants, if no one else happens to land near your arrival time…you may even end up with a private shuttle all to yourself.

The drive to/from LIR airport takes about 2.5-3.5 hours, depending on traffic (not including stops).

Along the way, you'll get to watch the lush Costa Rican countryside roll by and see the local towns that dot the rustic roads into Nosara...or catch up on some sleep.

Travel days can feel chaotic enough already. This part won’t.

You’ll receive a curated local travel guide that gives you the full lay of the land before you even arrive, including:

• trusted vendor contacts for local transport and tours

• restaurant recommendations (including the must-visits)

• the best coffee shops (including Cass’s all-time favorite around the corner from the hotel)

• wellness studios and classes for every vibe

• detailed maps and points of interest

• exclusive discounts for optional tours and private lessons with Shaba Surf

• packing list

All the information you need to feel confident and independent during your visit…without drowning in research.

Although the Anti-Group Trip purposely leaves most of the agenda-filling to you, Cass can't resist inviting her guests to share what makes her feel most alive in Costa Rica…

Dancing wildly on the beach at sunset with feet in the sand, wind in the hair, and headphones blasting the latest hyperfixation songs.

No choreography, or pressure, or performance...

It's as simple as grabbing your favorite tunes and headphones, and following your hotel's path to the beach to move your body in nature, reconnect with what joy feels like, and experience the kind of freedom most adults forget they’re allowed to have.

(And if beach-dancing sounds mildly terrifying…you can totally just come watch the sunset and vibe with us. No one’s judging around here 😌)

As a part of the WhatsApp chat with Cass and the other Anti-Group Trip guests, you'll always have a way to reach out to someone else in town.

No managing multiple bookings.

No additional 13% Costa Rica taxes or surprise rental car insurance fees.

No scrambling to coordinate a million moving parts after work every night.

Just one clear up-front payment covering all your core trip logistics upfront...for less than you'd pay to book on your own.

This trip was purposely designed to feel welcoming, low-pressure, inclusive, and genuinely relaxing for solo female travelers.

That means:

• women-only guest list, so you can properly chill without dealing with romantic dynamics

• super-casual environment immersed in nature (Come as you are! And you can skip the usual pre-trip shopping spree :) No need to impress anyone here!)

• women of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, personalities, and life stages welcome

• no forced socializing

• no pressure to party, perform, or constantly be “on”

• zero mandatory activities included, so you can truly make the trip your own

Just the ideal basics for an actually-rejuvenating adventure in a beautiful beach town in the jungle.

Break Free Without Breaking the Bank

With its potable tap water, stable political environment, and its famous Blue Zone, Costa Rica isn't the most affordable destination in Latin America.

And the 13% sales tax is no joke either.

But that doesn't mean you have to get financially irresponsible to get your moment in paradise...

The Anti-Group Trip was designed to strike that perfect balance between bougie and budget.

And with the discounted rates Cass negotiated exclusively for Anti-Group Trip guests, you get the fully-curated travel experience, from the same reliable vendors Cass trusts when she visits...at a lower cost than you could book it individually.

And you get it all done with one easy booking :)

Save $80+ With Exclusive Anti-Group Trip Discounts: Here's the Breakdown

A night at your beachside hotel goes for $197.75 at this time of year, after factoring in all taxes and fees. That's a total of $1,582 for 8 nights.

Plus private round-trip airport transfer, which comes out to $434 after taxes.

So if you were to book on your own, you're looking at $2,016 just for hotel and airport transfer...

But you can book the ENTIRE Anti-Group Trip package for less than that. $81 less, to be exact.

That's 4% off, and a savings of over $10 per night...just for booking with the Anti-Group Trip.

And that doesn't even factor in the value of everything else you get with your trip package...including your Nosara Insider's Guide, trusted contact list, and the peace of mind that comes with having an acquaintance in town.

Save Even More When You Stay An Extra Week

If you choose to book the extended 2-week version of the trip, you save $208 ($15 per night) off the total retail price!

That's a 6.5% savings, available exclusively for Anti-Group Trip guests.

Independence from:

• waiting for someone else to go with you

• burnout disguised as productivity

• constantly putting yourself last

• endlessly saying “maybe next year”

• and a life that looks fine on paper but doesn't actually feel good to live

This isn’t about becoming a completely different person...

It’s about finally giving yourself enough space from the expectations of everyone who thinks they know you, so you can finally hear your own inner voice again.

And maybe even realizing that freedom was never reserved for “other people” after all.

• you secretly want to disappear into a beautiful beach town for a while and remember who you are outside of work, obligations, relationships, or survival mode

• you’ve been considering solo travel for a while but keep getting stuck somewhere between “I want to go” and “this feels scary and overwhelming”

• you’re craving the freedom and independence of solo travel…without feeling completely isolated

• you crave authentic connection, future travel friends, and the kind of conversations that happen naturally when people are genuinely relaxed and being themselves

• the idea of a rigid, hyper-social group trip sounds almost as exhausting as staying home

• you want a trip that feels spacious enough to follow your own rhythm instead of constantly performing “vacation mode” for other people

• you’ve outgrown chaotic party trips, but you’re also not trying to spend your getaway whispering affirmations in a matching linen set 😭

• the thought of slow mornings, ocean swims, wellness classes, hidden-gem cafés, beach sunsets, and long barefoot walks sounds like exactly what your nervous system has been begging for

• you'd rather have a menu of activities to choose from as you go (versus a pre-planned schedule to keep)

• you want a daily itinerary with activities planned out for you in advance

• you want to party (Nosara's more of an early-bird chill/workout/cafe/nature vibe)

• you’re expecting a luxury influencer trip or content-farming experience (this trip is about how it feels, not how it looks...but yes, you'll go home with some gems no matter what 🤩)

• you want a built-in group of people to hang out with 24/7

• you thrive on cliques, social hierarchy, or competitive energy instead of genuine connection and mutual respect

• you expect perfection, control, or nonstop productivity instead of spontaneity, flexibility, and a little pura vida chaos sometimes (the internet here is genuinely amazing AND sometimes it goes out, along with the power) 😌

• you aren’t willing to let other women show up as their full authentic selves without judgment

• or honestly…if something deep down inside you is screaming “absolutely not” while reading this page, trust that too...

This trip is about learning to listen to yourself again.

• Howler monkeys

• Turtles

• Bright crabs and other sea creatures

• Tons of bird species, including parrots, motmots, falcons, eagles, and blue jays

• Coatis (known locally as Pizotes)

• Green iguanas

• Anteaters

• So many more (Costa Rica holds 6% of the world's biodiversity)!