Sol Tropical Tours Story
At Sol Tropical, we strive to provide our clients with vacation adventures and tours that deliver highly memorable and enriching life experiences (along with a lot of fun), so that you may hopefully serve as personal ambassadors upon your return home, helping us to promote our friendly people and beautiful country.
Sol Tropical Tours have over 30 years experience operating day and complete overland tours from San José, Costa Rica for family vacations, groups for multiday programs, each custom tour provides a typical view of the Country, as well as more unusual sights and adventures.
We are authorized with the Costa Rica Tourist Board as Costa Rica Tours LIC ICT 243.
PLAN YOUR NEXT VISIT WITH US!
First Class Services:
* 5 Star Accommodations
* Inclusive Packages
* Latest Model Vehicles
* Handpicked Hotels
* Multilingual Guides
* Premium Tour Packages
Sol Tropical Tours have over 30 years experience operating day and complete overland tours from San José, Costa Rica for family vacations, groups for multiday programs, each custom tour provides a typical view of the Country, as well as more unusual sights and adventures.
We are authorized with the Costa Rica Tourist Board as Costa Rica Tours LIC ICT 243.
PLAN YOUR NEXT VISIT WITH US!
First Class Services:
* 5 Star Accommodations
* Inclusive Packages
* Latest Model Vehicles
* Handpicked Hotels
* Multilingual Guides
* Premium Tour Packages
Our Mission
Our mission is to make our visitors into Ambassadors for Costa Rica, who can share their great experiences with all their friends and relatives back home. Costa Rica, the land of Pura Vida is a vacation for all ages and abilities there is always something for EVERYONE! COME SEE US!
OUR DEDICATED TOUR GUIDESSol Tropical's Team
At SolTropical Tours, we offer safety and convenience of travel. Our guides are extremely well versed in their country's history as well as flora and wildlife.
Mark Ayala
Hello, I’m Mark Ayala, founder of Sol Tropical Tours. I was born in San Francisco, California, but for over 40 years, I’ve proudly called Costa Rica my home. Life here has given me the richest experiences imaginable—and it’s my mission to share them with you.
My background is rooted in travel, hospitality, and public relations. I’ve spent my life creating memorable experiences for visitors, always striving to leave a positive, lasting impression. Since the 1990s, when Costa Rica became a top destination, I’ve been at the heart of it—welcoming travelers from around the world to discover this country’s incredible natural beauty.
With Sol Tropical Tours, we’ve guided small and large groups—up to 150 people a day—through lush rainforests, stunning coastlines, volcanoes, and cultural treasures. We’re fully licensed by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT), and we work with top-tier local guides who share our passion and knowledge.
Over the last 25 years, I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Canadian groups like Taranova and working alongside amazing people like Douglas Brisebois and the Robertson family, for whom I now manage luxury vacation properties in Tamarindo.
This journey has also been shaped by the influence of my late father, Sal Ayala—known as “Mr. Tourism” for his role in building Costa Rica’s reputation as a global destination.
Today, whether you’re seeking adventure tours, real estate opportunities, or property management, I bring experience, dedication, and genuine care to every interaction.
Thank you for considering Sol Tropical. I look forward to welcoming you to Costa Rica and making your time here unforgettable.
.
My background is rooted in travel, hospitality, and public relations. I’ve spent my life creating memorable experiences for visitors, always striving to leave a positive, lasting impression. Since the 1990s, when Costa Rica became a top destination, I’ve been at the heart of it—welcoming travelers from around the world to discover this country’s incredible natural beauty.
With Sol Tropical Tours, we’ve guided small and large groups—up to 150 people a day—through lush rainforests, stunning coastlines, volcanoes, and cultural treasures. We’re fully licensed by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT), and we work with top-tier local guides who share our passion and knowledge.
Over the last 25 years, I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Canadian groups like Taranova and working alongside amazing people like Douglas Brisebois and the Robertson family, for whom I now manage luxury vacation properties in Tamarindo.
This journey has also been shaped by the influence of my late father, Sal Ayala—known as “Mr. Tourism” for his role in building Costa Rica’s reputation as a global destination.
Today, whether you’re seeking adventure tours, real estate opportunities, or property management, I bring experience, dedication, and genuine care to every interaction.
Thank you for considering Sol Tropical. I look forward to welcoming you to Costa Rica and making your time here unforgettable.
.
Diego Madrigal Bermudez
One of the first professionals in Costa Rica with a degree in Eco Tourism Management and founder of the Costa Rican Tour Guides Union. Advisor and co-instructor of personnel of companies as SAGA holidays, Camino Travel, Buen Paso, Sol tropical Tours, Expediciones Tropicales and the Costa Rica Tourism Board.
Operational leader of important travel/ tourism projects and ops. as congress, conventions and some events as the Laos Princess visit , China´s National Team, Concorde´s first visit to Latin America, Biocursos of the Organization for Tropical Studies (conservation´s program oriented) and responsible of the biggest educational program of the tour operative´s staff in Costa Rica since its creation.
Group leader of operations in Patagonia, Brasil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, México and Spain. Designer of more than one hundred tourism programs for Pymes, local organizations and special events as the Costa Rica´s National Stadium. Operations manager of several tour operator and Hotel /Tour Manager Representative of prestige British firm SAGA Holidays in Double Tree by Hilton Puntarenas.
Almost 20 years of experience in tourism and field operations. Full customer service oriented, university´s professor and writer of articles for educational programs. Finally, is the unique individual person in the country able to certify Official Tour Guides.
Operational leader of important travel/ tourism projects and ops. as congress, conventions and some events as the Laos Princess visit , China´s National Team, Concorde´s first visit to Latin America, Biocursos of the Organization for Tropical Studies (conservation´s program oriented) and responsible of the biggest educational program of the tour operative´s staff in Costa Rica since its creation.
Group leader of operations in Patagonia, Brasil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, México and Spain. Designer of more than one hundred tourism programs for Pymes, local organizations and special events as the Costa Rica´s National Stadium. Operations manager of several tour operator and Hotel /Tour Manager Representative of prestige British firm SAGA Holidays in Double Tree by Hilton Puntarenas.
Almost 20 years of experience in tourism and field operations. Full customer service oriented, university´s professor and writer of articles for educational programs. Finally, is the unique individual person in the country able to certify Official Tour Guides.
Christian Bogantes
From San José at the age of 9 my family and I moved to a little town on the Atlantic of Costa Rica. Living in the middle of the jungle and falling asleep to the croaking of the red eyed tree frogs and wake up to the sounds of howler monkeys and the toucans. My days would be full of swimming in rivers, riding mountain bikes in the woods and climbing trees with my friends after school. I could not help to fall in love with nature and its wonders. I went to a vocational high school our classrooms where in the forest we learned how to protect and understand our natural resources. Also, education programs include English so very quickly I became bilingual which years after still is essential in my career.
Study at the (National Institute of Biodiversity) natural sciences such Ornithology (birds) and Herpetology (amphibians/reptiles), here, I became a licensed tour guide registered under the Institute of Costa Rica Tourist Board. I.C.T.
Worked for multiple tour agencies and have worked in Sol Tropical Tours for the last twelve years. During this period, I have grown into Eco, Guide, Concierge, Sales, photographer.
I truly believe that being a tour guide is to become an Ambassador of your country where you are given the chance to show the beauty and the greatness of your nations in all its means, natural and cultural.
It’s been an amazing journey! I’ve had the opportunity in meeting great people from all over the world. Together we’ve seen more than 700 species of birds, more than 170 species of reptiles, the 7 different types of jungles of Costa Rica and more than 30 of its national parks. Still there is a lot we need to discover. Would you like to join me on my next journey?
Join us and together explore our incredible jungles, amazing volcanoes, relax at our paradise like beaches and take photos of our unique animals.
I’m looking forward in meeting you and show you the meaning of the “Pura Vida” lifestyle…
Study at the (National Institute of Biodiversity) natural sciences such Ornithology (birds) and Herpetology (amphibians/reptiles), here, I became a licensed tour guide registered under the Institute of Costa Rica Tourist Board. I.C.T.
Worked for multiple tour agencies and have worked in Sol Tropical Tours for the last twelve years. During this period, I have grown into Eco, Guide, Concierge, Sales, photographer.
I truly believe that being a tour guide is to become an Ambassador of your country where you are given the chance to show the beauty and the greatness of your nations in all its means, natural and cultural.
It’s been an amazing journey! I’ve had the opportunity in meeting great people from all over the world. Together we’ve seen more than 700 species of birds, more than 170 species of reptiles, the 7 different types of jungles of Costa Rica and more than 30 of its national parks. Still there is a lot we need to discover. Would you like to join me on my next journey?
Join us and together explore our incredible jungles, amazing volcanoes, relax at our paradise like beaches and take photos of our unique animals.
I’m looking forward in meeting you and show you the meaning of the “Pura Vida” lifestyle…
TRAVEL ALL OVER COSTA RICA!Great Tours
We will discover a whole different world of Costa Rica while our expert tour guides show you the wildlife of this unique country as well as its flora and rich history. Ask our guides just about anything and after many generations of living here, they will have an answer for you.
From
$115.00$
From
99.00$
