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!
Our reflections on the week that tropical storm Nate hit Costa Rica and the week that the Costa Rica futbol team qualified for the World Cup.
Last updated on May 20th, 2017 at 05:10 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)Although miles away, my heart is with Canadians today. Happy birthday Canada! You might not be able to make it out clearly, but Ricky’s shirt in the photo above says “proud to be Canadian”. Ricky …
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!
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!
Last updated on June 25th, 2019 at 08:12 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)On US election night 2008, Ricky and I were away from our home and spent the evening tracking poll results from a Costa Rican hotel room. To our surprise, the hotel’s housekeeping left …
Last updated on November 29th, 2017 at 05:49 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)WHY TRAVEL? Every traveller is different. Some travel to do something, many travel to avoid something, and others travel to become something. Some love it and some hate it. Some even make a …
Last updated on June 25th, 2019 at 08:12 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)UPDATE: Since writing the blog post below, we have created a donation project aimed at benefiting the children of some of Costa Rica’s indigenous communities. Please read more about our donation (and plans to …
For me, there’s nothing better than coming across a group of individuals so utterly dedicated to a cause that they commit their work to it. Don’t get me wrong, everyone who volunteers their time and resources to worthwhile initiatives in addition to the daily demands …
Last updated on June 25th, 2019 at 08:12 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)If there is anything we are passionate about throughout our work at Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated it is helping travellers save money when planning a trip to Costa Rica. Our online discount database …
Check out what our Green Alliance Partners at Save The Turtles are doing! *photo courtesy of Save the Turtles (Robert Van Damm, 2005) As part of our Reach Out Costa Rica Travel Philanthropy Project we (the Pura Vida! eh? Incorporated team) donate to Save the …
Last updated on May 17th, 2017 at 06:51 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)A few months ago Ricky and I were fortunate enough to receive a truly inspirational email from a client. This client mentioned that he and his wife were planning a trip to Costa Rica …
A minute to stop and smell the roses… or, when in Costa Rica, the bromeliads! A few perceptions from our doorstep in la fortuna, costa rica: 1. Sunshine! The rainclouds have departed and we are left with the arenal volcano, exposed, with sun beaming on its …
Wondering about La Fortuna weather? We outline what you should expect and how to plan your visit according to the weather in La Fortuna!
Last updated on September 29th, 2017 at 05:56 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)COSTA RICA IS “PURA VIDA”! The above photo was taken within days of Ricky and I meeting for the very first time. He bought us each a pura vida bracelet and I was sold. We were excited …
✓ 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. ❤️
