FOR YOU, FOR FREE: 17 years' worth of firsthand Costa Rica trip planning and travel advice compiled into hundreds of articles, plus exclusive discounts. Created by a Costa Rican and a four-time published Costa Rica guidebook author. Welcome, amigos, and as we say in Costa Rica, pura vida!
Not sure whether La Pavona or Cano Blanco is the best dock to use to get to Tortuguero? We compare and contrast the two docks and provide photos from our visits to each!
We list the Costa Rica hours of operation for national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, and other attractions!
We explain Costa Rica’s ecological blue flag program, describe 25 exemplary beaches, and list 40 notable others so you can select the eco-friendly beach that’s best for you!
Looking for the best Arenal hanging bridges? We compare and contrast the Mistico Park bridges and the Arenal Sky Walk bridges.
Want to visit one of the Osa Peninsula beaches in Costa Rica? Don’t miss these noteworthy beaches!
Want to visit one of the Caribbean beaches in Costa Rica? Don’t miss these noteworthy beaches!
Have some free time to spend in Alajuela Costa Rica? Our list of the top 5 things to do in Alajuela span volcanoes, waterfalls, wildlife exhibits, and more!
Are you curious about the process of writing a travel guidebook? Here are my answers to popular questions about what it’s like to write a travel guide.
There are 40+ ziplining tours in Costa Rica; read our answers to popular Costa Rica ziplining tour questions, plus tips and need-to-know info!
Plan to travel to Costa Rica with kids? We outline the best things to do and provide child and student discounts!
Why we recommend staying at the Si Como No Resort in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica, plus a free discount promotion code for the hotel too!
We have rafted in Costa Rica 2,000+ times; read our answers to popular Costa Rica rafting tour questions, plus tips and need-to-know info!
Want to visit one of the Nicoya Peninsula beaches in Costa Rica? Don’t miss these noteworthy beaches!
Want to know where to stay in Monteverde Costa Rica? We recommend the Monteverde Country Lodge and we offer a free discount promotion code for the hotel too!
Use Costa Rica tour transportation to save time and money! We list tours that provide transportation between two destinations, and offer discounts for them too!
Want to know where to stay in Samara Costa Rica? We recommend Hotel Leyenda and we offer a free discount promotion code for the hotel too!
Want to know everything there is to know about flying to Costa Rica? We breakdown the information by airline so you can quickly find what you need.
Want to know which Costa Rica canyoning tour is the best? We recommend this tour, and we offer a free discount for it too!
Want to know how to save money on Costa Rica tours? Use our tips and sample itineraries to pay less for tours and activities in Costa Rica!
Want free Costa Rica discount codes? We’ve got plenty, including discounts for Costa Rica hotels, shuttle services, and car rentals!
We explain when and why you should (or shouldn’t) reserve Costa Rica tours and activities in advance, with recommendations month by month.
Introducing our new DIY Costa Rica project! We explain how to use DIY Costa Rica to build your own Costa Rica trip. Learn more here!
Wondering how our DIY Costa Rica project differs from our Costa Rica Travel Blog? We outline the differences and provide examples here!
DIY Costa Rica is the best Costa Rica travel guide we could image. Learn why, what it offers, and how you can gain access to it asap!
✓ We choose not to display ads, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing on our blog. Because we prioritize your privacy, we don't earn money when you visit us, when you sign up for our e-course, or when you click on our links, which means the time and work we put into this blog is entirely voluntary.
✓ Ricky is a born-and-raised Costa Rican and Nikki (married to Ricky) has explored Costa Rica since the mid-2000s.
✓ We've operated our Costa Rica-based business, Pura Vida! eh? Inc., for 16 years (and counting!).
✓ Our Costa Rica guidebooks are published by the prestigious Moon Travel Guides brand.
✓ We only ever write about experiences we know firsthand, and we never stuff our blog with general information about Costa Rica that is widely available elsewhere.
✓ We never copy or plagiarize other writers' content. How we wish other writers would show us the same respect!
✓ Unless stated otherwise, every photo displayed on our blog was taken by us, and with our own two hands. (Unlike some other bloggers, who rely on drones to travel and conduct research for them, we actually visit and explore the places we write about.)👍🏽
✓ We're active in promoting Costa Rica around the world. We've written about Costa Rica for Wanderlust Magazine (UK), presented Costa Rica on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel Show and podcast/radio show (US), and served as a Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist (Spain).
✓ Our work is backed by hundreds of positive reviews and testimonials (read some here)
✓ We are not overly active on social media. Instead of fixating on our own popularity, we spend the majority of our time exploring and researching Costa Rica, updating our various Costa Rica resources, and working with travelers one-on-one. We're focused on the quality of your travel experience, not the quantity of our followers. ❤️
