Nikki Solano

RatherBeEating –
We 100% agree! There is absolutely nothing wrong with all-inclusive resorts, however there is so much to experience beyond them. So glad to hear that you feel the same. A Costa Rican adventure is calling your name – should you ever make it back send us a note and we’ll help you formulate an awesome experience without the all-inclusive resort this time! 😉
Pura vida!

hotcrossbungay –
Thank you for the reblog! 🙂
Pura vida!

Rob Jones –
Great! We’ll keep an eye open for your trip plans. 🙂
Pura vida!

Bluebird Annie –
You are terrified with good concern! Driving in any foreign country (especially with language barriers present) is a challenge and one that should be approached carefully. For your specific request (travel between San Jose and the Limon province), I should ask… is it the port town of Limon specifically that you plan to visit or another area within the Limon province (such as Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva, etc.)? I will also ask… at what time of year do you plan to make the trip? Certain times of the year receive more rain than others, and when rainfall is prominent the Limon province (Caribbean coast) is one of the first areas to flood. Given that one major highway leads travellers out of San Jose towards Limon (and then on from Limon to the south Caribbean beaches), flooded areas can lead to road closures which you do not want to run into in any situation, let alone one in which you are the driver. If you plan to visit during times of the year when rainfall is more sparse, this significantly decreases the chance of flooding. In this case, the drive between San Jose (once you make it outside of the busy downtown core, depending on the exact San Jose location you will be departing from), is a fairly straightforward one. The road (that takes you through Guapiles and Siquirres) is paved, direct, and typically problem-free (with the exception of protesters who block the highway in and around the Guapiles area at random times throughout the year). If you plan to continue on from Limon to the southern Caribbean beaches, the road gets bumpier, however it is nothing that a 4X4 vehicle cannot handle. I would recommend renting a GPS with your rental vehicle (some companies such as ours – Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated – offer a free GPS with rentals through particular vehicle agencies) for the convenience of having one if needed, however with this by your side, a reliable rental vehicle, and plans to travel at times of the year when rainfall is not at its highest, you should have no problems along your journey. Of course, if you are hesitant to drive yourself to your final destination in the Limon province but you would like to have a rental vehicle once there (to explore the area), you can always take a shared shuttle service or private transfer service to/from San Jose and Limon (or the southern Caribbean beaches) and have a rental vehicle agency deliver/pick-up the vehicle where you will be staying.
As always, if you have any other questions we are more than happy to help! 🙂
Pura vida!