Testimonials

After hearing various things and learning that several key staff members had left, I was apprehensive about contacting Costa Rica Recovery. I reached out when I was trying to find somewhere safe to continue my recovery. i When I called, I spoke with Irene (or whoever initially answered the phone), and she was exactly the type of person you hope to encounter in this situation: non-judgmental, kind, and not trying to pressure me into making a decision. They were very welcoming but not pressuring me to come. My plans later changed, and because I had not signed any agreement stating that the payment was non-refundable, I asked whether they could refund the payment back to the card. To their credit, they did not argue or push back and agreed to issue a refund. Unfortunately, this is where my experience became frustrating. I was initially told that only the last four digits of the card were required. Later, I was informed that they needed the full card number and possibly the expiration date. I may be mistaken about which staff member provided which information, but the communication became inconsistent. There seemed to be employees with roles that they were trained in. What added to my confusion was that, around the same time, another hotel in Costa Rica refunded a payment to the same credit card ( They also use BCR) without requesting any additional card information. The refund was simply processed back to the original payment method. As a result, I struggled to understand why additional card details were being requested in this case. Since then, I have struggled to get a response. Calls to the various contact numbers have gone unanswered, and I have not received replies from Rich either. In my experience, one of the most important qualities of any treatment center is responsiveness. Families often reach out during a crisis, and I personally would be cautious about sending a loved one to a facility that is difficult to reach when questions or concerns arise. What makes this disappointing is that my interactions with the admissions and clinical team before payment were excellent. They were responsive, professional, and caring. In my experience working in this industry, it is frustrating to see such a contrast between the communication before payment and the communication after a refund is requested. I would be weary of sending loved ones, who are potentially financially struggling. They opened another center in Nosara ( which was ultimately a disaster ) and $2million Dollars worth of debt on just purchasing the property. I know this as i was clean/ and have owned a treatment center for over 10 year, so they asked me for help – when they did open up the new center. I still have the documents/finacials. I was at the property with the seller the day before. Any i would stay clear of places that dont pick up the phone. That said, I want to be fair. Everyone I met was lovely, appeared genuine in their recovery, and the program itself may well be excellent. One of the reasons I wanted additional time before committing was that there were only two clients at the time. I sincerely hope this is simply a communication issue and that the refund is processed promptly. If that happens, I would be happy to update this review accordingly. Also happy to share correspondence and financials. * I stand corrected and was wrong. The BCR can vary from platform to platform. So ignoring my calls would be the only thing could really say bad about this, knowing first hand..

The most caring and professional treatment center available. I give you my word as a man and a Mason if you or someone is struggling the answer can be found here.

Coming to Costa Rica to find a path to sobriety was the best decision Ive made in my life. Costa Rica Recovery was referred to me by a friend who also found success and new insights with their programs. Traditional and holistic approaches and a new environment was what I needed and I certainly found it there. Thank you to the incredible staff and accommodations.

Our daughter attended Costa Rica Rehab (CRR), and it was truly the best experience we could have hoped for. The value for what she received far exceeded any other program we considered-worth every penny. The team at CRR is not only dedicated but also incredibly knowledgeable, with a deep understanding of how to support those struggling with addiction. She felt supported every step of the way, from door to door (doorstep in Canada to doorstep of CRR), and her safety was always a priority. CRR recognizes the importance of building relationships, balancing therapy, classes and life skills with opportunities to laugh and enjoy life sober. When our daughter was ready for help, CRR was ready for her-no waiting. Less expensive than here at home for excellent support and intervention. The excursions and activities were thoughtfully designed, she learned more here than anywhere else. We couldn’t be more grateful to CRR for the positive impact on our daughter’s life. Huge thank you to everyone that was part of her journey.

(Translated by Google) Excellent Recovery Place (Original) Excelente Lugar de Recuperación

Being from Louisiana and having suffered with substance abuse my whole life, I have been to a lot of treatment facilities .Yet at age 36 , I decided I needed to do this for myself and nobody else. So , I left the United States to have the privilege of attending Costa Rica recovery. I was totally outside my comfort zone. I was welcomed with open arms. After the first 30 days, I felt like I had a new family. I experienced the level of care that I have never ever had before. They gave me the tools to be able to fight this disease. I made many good friends who I still talk to on a day-to-day basis. Costa Rica recovery is a magical place and the AA community outside of the center in Costa Rica is phenomenal. I give all my credit to Uncle Rich

This place saved my life. Literally rescued me from a dangerous situation and kept me safe and sober. I have been battling addiction for many years and have been in treatment in Canada and Costa Rica. Nothing clicked until I found Costa Rica Recovery. Their program was different from the rest. They treated me with empathy and compassion from the beginning. Once I detoxed I began the long journey of holistic and therapeutic healing. My recovery didn’t come overnight. It took many months with various ups and downs to fully accept what they were offering. Once I surrendered my self will and listened to their professional advice, I was able to take the actions I needed too. I was told I only had to change one thing, Everything! Leaving Canada opened my eyes about the negativity and temptation I was surrounded with. Costa Rica has now become my home where I am able to live a happy and fulfilling life. I have a huge group of likeminded friends here and I have stayed connected with the centre and staff since leaving. Many of the people I have met throughout my stay are sober and living their best lives. I have been fortunate to refer many people from Canada and the USA to come and get the treatment they needed. I have become an advocate for Costa Rica Recovery and their life changing program. If you are done suffering and need the help to change your life. This is the place and I’d be glad to recommend it and help anyone through the process. A special thanks to the whole staff and especially Rich, who personally picked me up from one of the most scary experiences of my life and became the mentor, with the compassion and tough love I needed. The owner Scott, is the most caring and selfless person I have ever met. I would not be alive today if it wasn’t for him and Costa Rica Recovery. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

In October and November of 2025 I spent 60 days at Costa Rica Recovery. I’m happy with my decision. I got along great with the staff, they were very supportive and there when I needed them. The food was good and the weekly trips were a nice bonus. Like with any place, I had some minor grievances but hey, it’s rehab, not the Four Seasons right? The point is, is that it worked. I’ve previously been in 3 rehabs in Canada and was drunk within days of leaving each of them. After 60 days at Costa Rica Recovery something they did worked. It stuck and I’m VERY grateful to be sober today with no thought of going back to my old life. After leaving the treatment center I continued to travel through Costa Rica and continued to receive support from Don (center manager), my councilor and my sponsor. The combined efforts of all at CRR caused a radical shift in my life, attitude and future. Thank you!

Virgil chiming in, wanted to pass by and say thank you. It was a great experience from the ups and downs i came out a better person for myself and my family. The food was banging and some of the staff are former addicts they been there and done that. Sorry for the mayhem I know I can be a tornado and thanks for the patience (: Send my greetings to, I think her name was Andrea the little one with the glasses she was so well spoken and interestingly odd. Thanks again for the help All the best

Words cannot express my gratitude for Costa Rica Recovery. I was broken, lost, and hopeless before going to this facility. The staff go above and beyond to ensure you feel welcome and safe, both upon arrival and throughout the entirety of your stay at Costa Rica Recovery. During my time there, I also learned how to develop healthy relationships in my newfound sobriety, and I continue to use the skills I gained every day. The weekend activities, outings, and beach trips were an important part of my recovery. Learning to reintegrate into society and enjoy activities without the use of alcohol or drugs is an essential part of recovery, and this place does a great job with that. You will work closely with the social worker (Andrea, who is wonderful) and your assigned counselor (who will also be great) to come up with a post-treatment plan. Whether that means sober living or reintroduction into regular life, they go above and beyond to help you create a plan tailored to you. The key to treatment is being willing to surrender to the things you don’t want to do. By doing that, I learned more about myself as a person than I ever would have if I had continued down the path of destruction I was on. As I approach one year of sobriety, I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to the staff and owners of Costa Rica Recovery for saving my life.

“I’m forever grateful to the Costa Rica Recovery Center in San Jose, Costa Rica, for being a beacon of hope during my darkest days. The unwavering care and compassion provided by their exceptional staff not only saved my life but also empowered me to rediscover my purpose. As a veteran who served during the Persian Gulf War, I’ve had the privilege of linking up with the VA to pay it forward and support fellow veterans on their recovery journeys. Today, I’m proud to be a healthy, positive role model for my loved ones, friends, and community. I wholeheartedly recommend Costa Rica Recovery Center to anyone seeking a world-class recovery program. Their dedicated team and comprehensive approach will provide you or your loved one with the tools and support necessary for lasting transformation. Thank you, Costa Rica Recovery, for giving me a second chance at life.”

This place changes your life. They have a great team of staff who genuinely care about your well being and they teach you all the tools you need to get your life back on track. If you need help with addiction I highly recommend Costa Rica Recovery!

This is an amazing place. The staff is amazing – they really care about you and it shows. Special shout out to Eddie, really helped me through the hard times, especially at the beggining of my treatment. Food is great. Thank you CRR -Kris

Life saving. Totally turned my life songs. Forever grateful.

My son went to CR Recovery four years ago as a last ditch effort. He had been to many pricey rehabs in the states, but shortly after getting out, he would relapse. He was in bad shape. He went to their extended living arrangement after initial treatment and it was there he began getting connected with NA / AA. The support and community from CR Recovery made all the difference. He has decided to stay in Costa Rica and is truly happy for the first time in his life. Addiction is tough, but CR Recovery was a life saver for him.

Costa Rica Recovery saved my life. The staff is like my second family. I always felt safe, loved and being guided in the right direction. Of courser the program has the 12 steps included but the new holistic approach is also applied. The combination is powerful, take what works for you. For myself the extra things like Breath work, Yoga, early morning gym works put me back into routine. I will say it was needed because the food is so good I ate way too much. If you are on the fence but feel you need help… just make a call and speak with the loving staff… most of which have been where you are and recovered Ash

I have nothing but positive things to say about Costa Rica Recovery. The staff are amazing and they really believe in what they do. They taught me a new way of life and I am very grateful. I now have 1 year sober after 15 years of addiction. My quality of life has already improved so much since I did their 90 day program. I can’t thank the team at CRR enough.

This has been one of the most positive experiences in my life. I had been through rehab before, I left sober, but I never left feeling better. What initially stood out to me most was the compassion, spread out by everyone in the building. This is a place of joy and healing. You can hear the laughter and feel the energy when you enter, and it stays with you when you leave. –Veteran from Minnesota

I had an eye opening time at CRR. My withdrawl process went smooth with medications and round the clock staff, checking on me. After withdrawls, I was introduced to a great staff. Each staff menber was specialy appointed to me based on my needs. The process was long and hard. The staff helped me, talked me and helped me with any problem that I was dealing with. A Veteran staff member was also avalible to talk to, which was a great help. The eneviornment, rooms and food was very nice. Being in a bad physical state, they always made me comfortable and safe. They helped my understand alcoholism and gave me the tools that will help me in my recovery.Thank you CRR and Staff memebers

Make the choice for life This is the most amazing place. Start your journey into real recovery Love ❤️

I am forever grateful for my time at Costa Rica Recovery. I just celebrated 7 months sober after completing 90 days inpatient. I was without insurance in the US and unable to afford treatment in the states. I was scared and felt like I had no options. I am so grateful I found CRR because it was affordable and the best quality of treatment I have received yet as I had been to other centers previously in the states. The program provides the perfect balance of structure someone new in recovery needs with the opportunities to exercise freedoms as the timing is appropriate. There is an excellent balance of 12 step work, holistic mind and body approaches through meditation, yoga, and sound healing, cognitive therapy such as REBT, one on one counseling with some of the most passionate and caring counselors I have ever encountered and just generally an amazing support system in both the staff and the sober community of the city. I highly recommend this place to anyone seriously looking to get their life back and get to work on building a strong foundation for their sobriety.

This place changed my life! The staff are incredible. I have been to A few treatment places, some non-12 staff, and some 12 staff and this place exceeds both places. I have been to a very expensive place and also a place covered by the the government And an average price plAce. This place exceeded all of the others with professionalism with staff, food, quality of care, information, Experience strength and hope. The staff there practice what they preach, they have been through the journey that I have been through, and everything they told me to do, they do in there every day lives, so it was a lot easier taking Suggestions from people who live attainable full happy lives!! It was also very important to have fun in recovery, places in North America don’t do a lot of fun in recovery and it was important to get to learn how to live and have fun in sobriety! Otherwise it would be hard To stay sober sobriety was not fun at all, not that it Hass to be all fun and games. Most importantly I feel like you cannot pay people to care about you and the people there genuinely care about your well-being, I felt so loved, so cared for, I felt understood, not alone, there is hope, and most importantly that there is a solution to the misery! This was the best decision of my life I am so much happier now my life is completely different. This place is run by people that have gone through the experience themselves who better to teach you the way them people that have gone through the experience themselves.

Entire experience was fantastic. Came into Costa Rica Recovery skeptical, hopeless, and seemingly helpless. Through the love, care, and dedication of the entire staff I was able to undergo a psychic change that has enabled me to realize and experience that recovery is possible and attainable.

Costa Rica Recovery SAVED MY LIFE!!! Amazing experience, especially getting out of the United states and going to one of the most beautiful countries ever. A lot of people think “what?? Going to treatment in another country??” Well, it is completely different than what anyone can imagine, in a good way. It is such a peaceful and nice vibe. Staff was great, the food was out of this world, and the program used to treat addiction is by the far the best program ever. I was given all the knowledge and help I needed to recover from addiction from everyone at CRR. You receive classes, one on one time, group time, meetings, yoga, gym, meditation, and many other different activities. Experiencing recovery in another country (especially Costa Rica) was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. It helped me become who I am today, now I live Happy Joyous and Free. I owe my life to Costa Rica Recovery and everyone there, where I got clean and built my life. If you want to get clean and need a change, this is the place to go, give yourself a chance to better your life!

This place is absolutely amazing. I got my life back because of all the great people that work here. At first I was a little hesitant to travel from the United States to a country that I have never been before. But I knew I needed to make a major change in my life so I decided to go ahead and do it. I could not have been happier with my decision. Everyone at Costa Rica Recovery made me feel at home and they took care of me every step of the way. There are other rehab options available but the staff here is why I chose this place. The genuinely care and want to see you succeed. Everything from private counseling sessions, group therapy, yoga, field trips to the beaches, jungles, volcanoes(there is a lot to see in Costa Rica), recovery meetings, meditation, and going to the gym, my days were filled with activities that helped me with my internal issues and let me grow as a person. So thankful to have found this place and the people here. I highly recommend to anyone needing a change in their life!

By far the best recovery center I have experienced. My girlfriend and I are so thankful for the help she received and the staff was wonderful.

Coming from a tough city Costa Rica Recovery helped me be myself and enjoy a casual living applying their education on a daily basis leaving the past with no worries in my future!

I went to the CRC when I was in a bad way. This treatment center taught me that I suffered from the disease of addiction. I was given the tools to recover and discover a path in my life which allows me to go forward with the knowledge, and ability to live without the use of alcohol. Classes were in-depth and very informative. Staff was very knowledgeable, and helpful. To this date they still help me and are available to answer any questions I may have. The accommodations were very good, and food was great. They provided me with any care I needed including medical care. Part of the program had us in the gym on a daily basis, as well as attending yoga classes. I lost a total of 20 pounds. When I left the center I was a new and happy person. I would recommend this center to anyone in need of help with an addiction.

Costa Rica Recovery helped save my life. It is a scary thing to check into rehab and CRR made this very comfortable for me and soon it felt like home. The atmosphere is very relaxed but at the same time you really get a ton of knowledge and learn the tools you need to stay clean and sober. They provide fun day trips to cool places like the beach, volcanoes and awesome hikes. Between the gym, yoga and awesome food you really start to feel healthy again in no time. I owe the amazing life that I have today to this place!