Want To Buy: passage to Costa Rica

[Maryandcrew]

I'm exploring the possibility and cost of hiring a private boat to transport myself, 2 other adults, 2 large dogs(Great Dane and Bouvier des Flandres) and 1 cat, from the U.S. to the Port of Entry at Quepos, Costa Rica. As close as I can tell, its about a 12 day trip from San Diego, although we'd be okay with leaving from anywhere along the western coast.

We can take on some of the duties, like cooking, cleaning, etc. if that would help. We are looking at this because our dogs aren't good candidates for cargo on a plane. One is old and the other has an anxiety disorder. If you might be interested in a trip to the tropics somewhere around January to March of 2021, or if you were planning a trip and company is okay, please let me know and we can communicate and see if we could work a deal. Thanks

[chouliha]

Wait your dogs have issues traveling via air and you think 10 days at sea they would be fine. I am sorry to say with many of the countries closed from covid, it’s hurricane season now and trying to get a crew spot with two huge dogs that don’t travel well....... not sure how to say this kindly but it’s not going to work out.

[Maryandcrew]

As I mentioned, it would be about January to March timeline, on the Pacific side, and I assume that there would be occasional stops for fuel? I see a lot of people traveling with their dogs on board with no problem so I assume mine would be okay, as we'd be close enough to reassure them vs. having them crated in cargo in a noisy plane. Costa Rica is currently open to people from certain states. I'm anticipating that I'll be able to enter the country by the first of next year if things continue as they are.
thanks for your input.
Mary

[Benz]

I think the cost of buying a beater van and driving down yourself will be far less than hiring a boat.
If it's a sailboat, it might take longer than twelve days--lots longer. If it's a powerboat, the cost of fuel will be huge, added to the daily rate for chartering the boat and paying a captain--remember, you have to pay him to return. If you want to hitch a ride with a mom-n-pop cruiser who are going there anyway, I suspect very few will have room for 3 people with needy pets.

[BenBowSirocco]

I second the driving idea. I think your plan to put those dogs aboard a heaving boat is not a good one. Driving offers lots of positive alternatives.

The number one reason to take a van:
Letting the dogs out to run and use the bathroom consists of opening a door.
Where as on the boat you will need to come into a harbor of some kind (few and far between in certain areas of your planned voyage) anchoring, launching the dinghy, loading the dogs into it and bringing them ashore and then reversing the process to get back underway. Which means this will not happen often on the boat.

Number 2 reason:
You have been driving for years and have lots of experience.
Where as on the boat, you will not know what is going on and will certainly have a stiff learning curve and adjustments to make. If you do not love the sea already, you will certainly get seasick, wet, cold, exhausted.

Number 3:
You could probably buy a van, insurance and fuel for the cost of the charter.
You may not realize it, but even a direct passage at 14-20 days spent at sea will mostly likely cost you $10,000 to $15,000 dollars. Most charter boats are $5,000 a week. (depending on a lots of things- this is just a general round number).

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by BenBowSirocco

14-20 days spent at sea will mostly likely cost you $10,000 to $15,000 dollars. Most charter boats are $5,000 a week. (depending on a lots of things- this is just a general round number).

Where do I find a crewed charter for coastal passagemaking for $5k/week?

OP: You might have better luck finding a freighter-cruise that will take y'all. Chances are still near-zero, but marginally better than finding a private boat. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it would be a tough sell even without the dogs. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, I don't think you'd want to be on the boat that would accept you as passengers.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2825

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Maryandcrew

I'm exploring the possibility and cost of hiring a private boat to transport myself, 2 other adults, 2 large dogs(Great Dane and Bouvier des Flandres) and 1 cat, from the U.S. to the Port of Entry at Quepos, Costa Rica. As close as I can tell, its about a 12 day trip from San Diego, although we'd be okay with leaving from anywhere along the western coast.

We can take on some of the duties, like cooking, cleaning, etc. if that would help. We are looking at this because our dogs aren't good candidates for cargo on a plane. One is old and the other has an anxiety disorder. If you might be interested in a trip to the tropics somewhere around January to March of 2021, or if you were planning a trip and company is okay, please let me know and we can communicate and see if we could work a deal. Thanks

the trip is 2500 sea miles,or about 18 days not stop in most yachts averaging 6 knots

take the plane,get some tranquilizers for the dogs,much kinder and less stress

[Sailshabby]

Check with CR’s entry rules. They’re currently only accepting Americans from certain US states.

[tarian]

Got to agree with atoll , as someone who cruises with 2 large dogs it is a hassle , they also get anxiety in bad weather and we plan our journeys so they can get ashore , they are my family and always come with me but I would not do it again
Your dimogs will be fine on freight , a vet will give you some calming meds
How do you know if your dogs anxiety is triggered by planes. They are dogs not humans and if they have never been on boat , then sorry your being cruel to them taking them on such a trip on a boat.
My 2 dogs came from Greece to the uk on freight and no issues at all be sensible and take the plane

[Cpt Mark]

Just because you've seen people with dogs on boats doesn't mean your dogs will be fine. It takes training to get them used to a boat, doing their business on a boat and not all dogs can do this. Some, like people get seasick. Older dogs are more problematic, can't teach an old dog new tricks sorta thing. If you found a power boat motoring down they will not be stopping for fuel daily. It may be several days or not at all depending on the boat.

A van makes much more sense or a motorhome.

[Stewie12]

driving would be the most humane

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Maryandcrew

As I mentioned, it would be about January to March timeline, on the Pacific side, and I assume that there would be occasional stops for fuel? I see a lot of people traveling with their dogs on board with no problem so I assume mine would be okay, as we'd be close enough to reassure them vs. having them crated in cargo in a noisy plane. Costa Rica is currently open to people from certain states. I'm anticipating that I'll be able to enter the country by the first of next year if things continue as they are.
thanks for your input.
Mary

In spite of all the negative comments on your idea, it might just work out. Dogs are usually good if they can be within 5' of you (which is easy for them on a sail boat). I'd look for somebody with a good sized catamaran as that will make the trip easier on the dogs and you. Many cruisers are open to passengers to help with the watch schedule, if for no other reason. If you're willing to do some hands on learning and be an asset, then what you're proposing may not be as outlandish as some are making it out to be. Just to be safe, I'd start a bit further north than San Diego so you'll have a few days to see if it's really going to work out with an exit strategy.

[Maryandcrew]

Well, most of the reply's are not positive. We hesitated to drive because we've heard its become more risky since the Covid outbreak. I guess we'll bail on the boat and explore a road trip......3 girls, 2 dogs and a cat......should be interesting, aye?

[Sailshabby]

Originally Posted by Maryandcrew

Well, most of the reply's are not positive. We hesitated to drive because we've heard its become more risky since the Covid outbreak. I guess we'll bail on the boat and explore a road trip......3 girls, 2 dogs and a cat......should be interesting, aye?

“What could possibly go wrong?” 😂 Stop back and fill us in!

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Maryandcrew

Well, most of the reply's are not positive. We hesitated to drive because we've heard its become more risky since the Covid outbreak. I guess we'll bail on the boat and explore a road trip......3 girls, 2 dogs and a cat......should be interesting, aye?

Mexico and parts south can be pretty shaky. Costa Rica is about the only place down there that's really safe. Three girls making that trip, pets aside, doesn't sound like a good idea to me. You have some time and should not bail on the boat idea just yet. This is not a normal scenario, so who really knows what's possible? Plan B would be to book passage on a freighter headed to Costa Rica. Your pets would probably need to be in crates but at least you could visit them regularly and a big ship like that would do the trip pretty fast. Here is one google search for a freighter cruise ( there appear to be many) https://www.arrivalguides.com/en/Tra...a/Costa%20Rica