Nikki Solano Talks Costa Rica on Rick Steves’ Europe Monday Night Travel Show
Watch Nikki Solano cover 10 of the most sought-after Costa Rica destinations (and standout experiences at each) on Rick Steves’ Monday Night Travel Show.
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!
Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about food and drink in Costa Rica, including recommendations for things to eat in Costa Rica, drinks to try in Costa Rica, and Costa Rican recipes so you can re-create Costa Rican meals in your own home!
Watch Nikki Solano cover 10 of the most sought-after Costa Rica destinations (and standout experiences at each) on Rick Steves’ Monday Night Travel Show.
We describe the most memorable aspects of the family-run El Toledo Coffee farm in Atenas, Costa Rica, plus share photos from our visits.
We describe the most memorable aspects of the traditional Hacienda Doka Coffee Farm near Alajuela, Costa Rica, plus share photos from our visits.
Our helpful charts illustrate the cost to go to Costa Rica according to activities, hotels, transportation services, meals, souvenirs, and more!
Our Costa Rica guidebook, Moon Costa Rica, is full of tips, recommendations, photos, maps, and itineraries. Learn more!
We detail the top things to eat in Costa Rica, including where and when to eat them, and how to pronounce them!
We detail the top things to drink in Costa Rica, including where to try them and how to pronounce them, plus offer photos to spark your thirst!
Everything you need to know about vegan and vegetarian food in Costa Rica, including what to eat and other tips!
Everything you need to know about gluten-free Costa Rica, including gluten-free food in Costa Rica, gluten-free restaurants in Costa Rica, and more!
As a child growing up in Costa Rica, Ricky worked as a bean-picker on a Costa Rica coffee plantation. Learn about his experiences here!
What is gallo pinto? We answer your questions about gallo pinto in Costa Rica, including where to eat Costa Rican gallo pinto and how to pronounce the phrase.
What is casado? We answer your questions about casado in Costa Rica, including where to eat Costa Rican casado and how to pronounce the word.
What are copos? We answer your questions about copos in Costa Rica, including where to eat Costa Rican copos and how to pronounce the word.
Want to know how to make Costa Rica’s infamous gallo pinto? We provide a gallo pinto recipe, preparation instructions, photos, and tips!
Want to know how to make Costa Rica’s infamous tres leches cake? We provide a tres leches cake recipe, preparation instructions, photos, and tips!
Want to know how to make Costa Rica’s infamous flan de coco? We provide a flan de coco recipe, preparation instructions, photos, and tips!
When Costa Rica hands you rain days, make banana pancakes! Don’t miss our favourite banana pancake recipe for ideal comfort!
✓ 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. ❤️