How to plan a family reunion in Costa Rica for 15 to 20 people

Why Costa Rica works for family reunions

A family reunion for 15 to 20 people requires a destination that works across three or four generations, an accommodation that can hold everyone under one roof, activities that cover an age range from grandparents to toddlers, and logistics that do not require someone to become a full-time event coordinator. Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast checks every box, and Casa Bonita Beach is specifically designed for exactly this group profile.

The multigenerational travel segment has grown significantly in recent years. Families are pooling resources for meaningful shared experiences rather than accumulating individual vacations. A week together in a private villa in Guanacaste produces the kind of shared memories that a resort stay, with everyone on different floors and different schedules, rarely does. Groups Are a Trip's multigenerational Costa Rica planning guide has real examples of large family groups navigating the logistics.

The 12-month planning timeline

For a reunion of 15 to 20 people, planning 9 to 12 months in advance is the right target. Peak season dates (December through April) book out fastest. Here is a working timeline:

Room configuration for 15 to 20 people

Casa Bonita Beach sleeps 14 to 19 guests depending on configuration. The four standard bedrooms are identical, which is the most important feature for family reunions: no arguments about who got the better room. The master suite for the family organizer or senior couple. The ADU studio for grandparents or a couple who need morning quiet.

For groups at the higher end of the capacity range, the bunk room accommodates 2 to 3 children, and the bedroom daybeds allow additional sleeping. Confirm the exact configuration with the concierge before arrival so rooms are assigned before the group walks in the door.

Activities that work for the whole reunion

The hallmark of a successful reunion itinerary is a mix of shared anchor events and independent time. Not everything needs to involve everyone. The activities that consistently work for whole-group participation include: morning breakfast (automatic, daily, organized by the housekeeper), catamaran excursion from Tamarindo (accessible for all ages), private chef dinner at the villa (the natural reunion dinner), sunset walk to Playa Bonita (the last evening), and howler monkey watching from the villa grounds (no planning required, just waking up).

For subgroups: teenagers to the surf lesson, grandparents to the Beach Club by golf cart, parents for the spa at the JW Marriott. A good reunion itinerary has structure for the shared moments and space for the independent ones.

What a reunion group needs to tell the concierge before arrival

The more the concierge knows before you arrive, the better the week runs. Share ages across the group (especially young children and elderly guests), any mobility considerations, the occasion being celebrated, any dietary restrictions for the chef dinner, which excursions the group is interested in, and whether a birthday cake or welcome arrangement would be appreciated. Several reviews mention surprise arrangements that Renzo organized based on information shared before arrival.