About Us

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us!

Pasión Costa Rica is an operator of naturalist guided tours in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Founded in 2012, Pasión Costa Rica provides experienced natural guides to help you enjoy Monteverde’s natural history, cloud forest, and culture. A seasoned guide can turn a good tour into an exceptional one.

We specialize in private tours which are great for families with kids, birders, or anyone who wants to make the most of their time in Monteverde.

Watch the video for an intimate look into our main guide’s vision for conservation.

Our Team

Our Team

Susu Gray 

Co-founder & Reservation Manager

Susu Gray is from Rochester, NY, United States and draws her energy from her European and Afro-Latino roots.

She got her start in the travel industry when she moved from the US to Costa Rica in 2001 to work in educational tourism on the Pacific coast. Originally planning to stay for just 1 year, she eventually moved to Monteverde where she met her husband (Marcos) and where they raise their two daughters.

Susu is a details person and has arranged itineraries as small as 2 hour tours all the way to 3-month multi-country itineraries for 40 people. She enjoys helping travelers get the most out of their experience.

My goal for Pasión Costa Rica is for us to be a trusted source for high quality information and tours.

My goal is for every single guest to enjoy the beautiful and historically rich landscape of Costa Rica.

Marcos Méndez S.

Co-founder & Certified Naturalist Guide

Marcos is from Guacimal, just 10 miles outside of Monteverde. A tried and true naturalist, Marcos brings heart and soul into Pasión Costa Rica.

From an early age, Marcos set his sights on learning English and making connections between his cattle ranch upbringing, his commitment to conservation, his love for the forest, and his love for international travel.

He learned English in Alberta, Canada, has traveled to about 35 countries, and loves to teach people about Monteverde’s forests on all of the trails in the area.

Marcos is an ICT certified guide (Costa Rica Tourism Institute). Some of his favorite things about the forest are the interconnectedness of the forest, how everything depends on everything else, sounds and smells of the forest, pure fresh air.

Jorge Chavarría

General Manager

Born and raised in Monteverde, Jorge Chavarría Méndez has been an entrepreneur since he was 8 years old, selling all kinds of stuff to his classmates from grade school to university where he studied Industrial Engineering, played soccer, did theater and was involved in politics as the president of his career association.

Jorge has been a business consultant and coach for 4yrs and most recently developed his own brand JorgeTeAyuda to help others and manage his own business and projects.

We are excited and confident in Jorge’s knowledge and aptitudes to take our business to the next level.

My goal is that Pasión Costa Rica guests end up loving CR as much as I do.

Susu Gray 

Co-founder & Reservation Manager

Susu Gray is from Rochester, NY, United States and draws her energy from her European and Afro-Latino roots.

She got her start in the travel industry when she moved from the US to Costa Rica in 2001 to work in educational tourism on the Pacific coast. Originally planning to stay for just 1 year, she eventually moved to Monteverde where she met her husband (Marcos) and where they raise their two daughters.

Susu is a details person and has arranged itineraries as small as 2 hour tours all the way to 3-month multi-country itineraries for 40 people. She enjoys helping travelers get the most out of their experience.

My goal for Pasión Costa Rica is for us to be a trusted source for high quality information and tours.

Marcos Méndez S.

Co-founder & Certified Naturalist Guide

Marcos is from Guacimal, just 10 miles outside of Monteverde. A tried and true naturalist, Marcos brings heart and soul into Pasión Costa Rica.

From an early age, Marcos set his sights on learning English and making connections between his cattle ranch upbringing, his commitment to conservation, his love for the forest, and his love for international travel.

He learned English in Alberta, Canada, has traveled to about 35 countries, and loves to teach people about Monteverde’s forests on all of the trails in the area.

Marcos is an ICT certified guide (Costa Rica Tourism Institute). Some of his favorite things about the forest are the interconnectedness of the forest, how everything depends on everything else, sounds and smells of the forest, pure fresh air.

My goal is for every single guest to enjoy the beautiful and historically rich landscape of Costa Rica.

Jorge Chavarría

General Manager

Born and raised in Monteverde, Jorge Chavarría Méndez has been an entrepreneur since he was 8 years old, selling all kinds of stuff to his classmates from grade school to university where he studied Industrial Engineering, played soccer, did theater and was involved in politics as the president of his career association.

Jorge has been a business consultant and coach for 4yrs and most recently developed his own brand JorgeTeAyuda to help others and manage his own business and projects.

We are excited and confident in Jorge’s knowledge and aptitudes to take our business to the next level.

My goal is that Pasión Costa Rica guests end up loving CR as much as I do.

Conservation

At Pasión Costa Rica, we consider our tours a part of our lifestyle, not a “job”Our tours are focused on appreciating nature and raising awareness about conservation. We do this in the most engaging ways we can.

In addition to our tours, we also encourage visitors to offset their carbon footprint via our Monteverde Community Fund donation link (bottom below).

Conservation

At Pasión Costa Rica, we consider our tours a part of our lifestyle, not a “job”Our tours are focused on appreciating nature and raising awareness about conservation. We do this in the most engaging ways we can.

In addition to our tours, we also encourage visitors to offset their carbon footprint via our Monteverde Community Fund donation link (bottom below).

Ready to meet in person and explore Monteverde?

Choose your tour and prepare for a lifetime experience with us.

Open chat
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Pasión Costa Rica
Hi 😊 Can I help you find the best tour / Te ayudo a buscar el mejor tour?