Bill Beard is the true pioneer of scuba diving in Costa Rica. On his first trip to Costa Rica, there were no scuba tanks in the country. In 1970, Bill brought tanks with him on his next trip, got them filled at Miller Gas, and started diving in Costa Rica from dug out canoes. He was the first working instructor and had the first professional dive shop in the country located in San Jose. In 1974, Bill Beard branched out by opening a beach location in Playas del Coco on the Pacific Ocean and operated daily dive trips from there and Playa Hermosa. Bill has many firsts to his credit, including bringing scuba diving and adventure tours to Guanacaste. In 1988, Bill and his wife Nadine formed an association and were the first to combine scuba diving and adventure tour packages. Bill and Nadine are multi-agency scuba diving instructors. Because of its compact geography, everyone in Costa Rica is presented with a cornucopia of choices. The biggest challenge in Costa Rica is trying to decide which combination is best for your vacation. This is where Bill Beard's Costa Rica Adventure Travel comes in. We have been in Costa Rica since 1970 and know the country well enabling us to provide our clients with the best that Costa Rica has to offer. Our goal is to help you share in the wonders of nature and enjoy every minute of your vacation. Our commitment to quality and personalized service is unsurpassed. All of our Bill Beard's Choice Tour packages are privately escorted in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle by one of our English speaking, Costa Rican naturalist guides traveling at your pace. We also offer non-private tours for vacations that are affordable for all budgets Invariably, when we ask our clients what one thing stands out most about their vacation, the reply is "the guide." Guides take the hassle out of travel. They provide education, insight into the host culture, and in many cases a lifetime friendship. Our Costa Rican staff all have many years experience in the industry. Our association includes the best hotels, resorts and restaurants available. We have Costa Rica’s most knowledgeable, experienced operators, instructors and guides with proven track records providing you with the safest and best vacation possible. However, if you are on a budget, we also offer non-privately escorted tours where you combine with a variety of other customers and travel at a predetermined pace. We can adapt any package for self-drive if you prefer the freedom of having a car available for further exploration. Since 1970 we have had thousands of clients visit Costa Rica and most of them have remained our friends and many have returned several times. This is what makes this the most enjoyable business we could ever imagine. We always recommend our meet-and-greet transfer service. If you have ever been in a foreign country and lost your luggage, passport, money, had an emergency, or any one of a multitude of unpleasant situations, then you know the value of having a bilingual guide meeting you at the airport. We are a full-service tour operator and are licensed and insured. Our U.S. office is located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and all of our agents are scuba divers and adventurers. English is their first language. They have all traveled extensively throughout Costa Rica and have experienced all of our tours and activities. We constantly check all of the hotels, resorts, restaurants and rest stops that we use to make sure they maintain our standards for client satisfaction. Our goal is to continue providing first class service to our clients for a memorable vacation and a desire to return. Our service is second to none, worldwide. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica it will be our pleasure to give you an itinerary so you can compare prices to make sure you are not paying too much or getting too little for your vacation dollar. All activities we offer may be combined and customized to suit your needs and maximize your vacation time. We can make all the arrangements for your air and ground transportation, accommodations, and activities.