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!
Wondering which Costa Rica volcano is the best to visit? We compare Costa Rica’s top 5 volcanoes, outline ways to visit each, and answer popular volcano-related questions!
We outline three ways to make a day trip to Monteverde from La Fortuna / Arenal (or vice versa) and explain why doing so isn’t a good idea.
Want to plan a trip to Costa Rica? Follow our steps for free and easy Costa Rica vacation planning help!
Curious about Costa Rica trip reservations? Here’s when you should book hotels, tours, transportation services, rental cars, and restaurants.
Want to know how to choose a Costa Rica hotel based on its location? We’ve gathered the best resources to make choosing a Costa Rica hotel easy!
Curious about Costa Rica payment policies? We describe 3 policy types to help you identify legitimate companies and avoid fraud.
Over two decades, we’ve visited the Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica several times. In this article, we explain what keeps us going back.
Want to visit one of the Central Pacific beaches in Costa Rica? Don’t miss these noteworthy beaches!
Debating renting a car in Costa Rica? We outline advantages and disadvantages, scenarios to consider, and rental tips to help you decide!
Choosing our ultimate happy place in Costa Rica was as difficult a task for us as a Lays-lover being challenged to eat just one salty, crispy, delicious potato chip. If you bet we couldn’t do it, you were right. We thought long and hard about …
We answer the question “is Costa Rica safe?” while assessing robbery, assault, water safety, car safety, money safety, and other travel risks.
Have questions about Costa Rica? We answer the top questions we receive about Costa Rica travel, tourism, trip planning, and saving money.
Wondering what to pack for Costa Rica? We outline what to pack, what not to pack, and offer photos and packing tips with our Costa Rica packing lists!
Considering a Groupon Costa Rica vacation package? We calculate the cost breakdown of the “travel deal” offered by Costa Rica travel agencies.
We compare/contrast 15 types of Costa Rica transportation, plus offer free discounts for shuttles and car rentals. Learn more!
We describe the most memorable aspects of the Arenal Springs Resort & Spa in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, plus share photos from our visits.
Want to know where to stay in La Fortuna Costa Rica? We recommend Silencio del Campo and we offer a free discount promotion code for the hotel too!
Want to know where to stay in La Fortuna Costa Rica? We recommend La Pradera del Arenal and we offer a free discount promotion code for the hotel too!
Want to know where to stay in La Fortuna Costa Rica? We recommend the best hotels in La Fortuna and offer free discount promotion codes for each!
Interested in the mangrove tour Costa Rica? We outline who should go, what you’ll learn, which guides to trust, and offer a free mangrove tour discount too!
Want to know where to stay in San Jose Costa Rica? We recommend Hotel Buena Vista and we offer a free discount promotion code for the hotel too!
Looking for all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica? We list some, but we also explain why the country is not an all-inclusive resort destination. Learn more!
We compare the most popular hanging bridges in Costa Rica and offer free discounts for hanging bridge tours and entrance fees!
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!
✓ 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. ❤️
