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        • Mucho gusto! (Nice to meet you!)

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  • Itinerary / Trip Planning: Getting Started
        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about starting to plan a Costa Rica vacation. If you’re just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first.

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        • ► 75 photos that will make you want to go to Costa Rica ASAP!
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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn what to do in Costa Rica, including recommendations for the most popular Costa Rica activities, as well as ways to discover Costa Rica off the beaten path.

        • ► 30 popular things to do in Costa Rica (Costa Rica activity guide)
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        • ► Hanging bridges
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        • ► Volcanoes
          • Volcano comparison: Top 5 volcanoes
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          • Guide to 25 Costa Rica waterfalls
          • La Fortuna waterfall
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        • ► Parks, reserves, & refuges
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        • ► Wildlife & wildlife exhibits
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        • ► Canyoneering / canyoning / rappelling
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  • How To Get Around: Transportation
        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about transportation in Costa Rica, including different ways to get around Costa Rica.

        • ► The cost of transportation services in Costa Rica
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  • Where To Go: Cities & Towns
        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica destinations, including recommendations for cities, towns, and communities to visit in Costa Rica.

        • ► Guide to 70+ Costa Rica destinations
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        • ► San Jose
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          • La Fortuna city guide
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          • La Fortuna vs. Monteverde
          • Mistico Park vs Sky Walk/Adventures: Arenal hanging bridges comparison
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          • La Fortuna waterfall
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        • ► Monteverde / Santa Elena
          • Monteverde city guide
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          • Monteverde vs. La Fortuna
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        • ► Manuel Antonio / Quepos / Central Pacific Coast
          • Manuel Antonio city guide
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        • ► Alajuela (SJO Airport)
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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica beaches, including recommendations for beaches to visit in Costa Rica.

        • ► Guide to 80+ Costa Rica beaches
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  • Where To Stay
        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica accommodations, including recommendations for where to stay in Costa Rica.

        • ► The cost of hotels in Costa Rica
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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica luxury travel, including recommendations for high-end accommodations in Costa Rica.

        • ► 7 types of high-end accommodations for luxe-loving travelers
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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about saving money in Costa Rica, and to access free discounts for Costa Rica tours, hotels, car rentals, and shuttle services.

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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about spending money in Costa Rica, including Costa Rica payment policies, Costa Rica currency exchange, using USD in Costa Rica, tipping information, and more.

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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about staying safe in Costa Rica, including Costa Rica safety tips and ways to keep a level head while traveling.

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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about coming and going from Costa Rica, including Costa Rica packing information, Costa Rica souvenir information, and tips for practicing responsible, sustainable tourism.

        • ► What to pack for Costa Rica
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        • Browse our Costa Rica blogs to read our responses to some of the most common questions we receive about Costa Rica, including questions about white-water rafting in Costa Rica, questions about zip-lining in Costa Rica, questions about visiting the hot springs in Costa Rica, and more!

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Tag: mistico park

Mistico Park or Sky Walk/Adventures: Which Arenal Hanging Bridges Are The Best?

Mistico Park or Sky Walk/Adventures: Which Arenal Hanging Bridges Are The Best?

Looking for the best Arenal hanging bridges? We compare and contrast the Mistico Park bridges and the Arenal Sky Walk bridges.

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Aerial Trams, Hanging Bridges (Suspension Bridges), La Fortuna (Arenal), National Parks, Hiking, and Walking, Volcanoes, Waterfalls, What To Do In Costa Rica, Where To Go In Costa Rica, Wildlife Spotting, Gardens, and Exhibits, Ziplining (Canopy Tours)
A Step-By-Step Guide To The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

A Step-By-Step Guide To The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

Everything you need to know about touring the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park with or without a guide, plus free discounts!

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Hanging Bridges (Suspension Bridges), La Fortuna (Arenal), What To Do In Costa Rica

Hola, amigos!

We’re Ricky, a born-and-raised Tico (Costa Rican) and former tour guide; and Nikki, a writer, published guidebook author, and Tica (Costa Rican) at heart. We’re a happily married, nature-loving, adventurous couple in our 15th year of exploring Costa Rica together. In addition to writing this Costa Rica Travel Blog, we’re the team behind several other Costa Rica-based projects, including:

our business, Pura Vida! eh? Inc., home to hundreds of discounts for Costa Rica day tours

our “best of Costa Rica” compilation DIY Costa Rica, which includes our Costa Rica Destination Tool and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map

our free Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course

and our awesome Costa Rica travel guidebooks—Moon Best of Costa Rica (coming December 2022), Moon Costa Rica (2021), and Moon Costa Rica (2019)—published by the prestigious Moon Travel Guides

Click here to read our full bio and see pics of our Costa Rica travels!

Click here to listen to podcast interviews we’ve been featured on!

 

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puravidaeh

Today's the day! The second edition of my #CostaRi Today's the day! The second edition of my #CostaRica #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) with @moonguides is out now. Thank you to every future Costa Rica traveler who preordered the guide. You helped it reach "bestseller" status on Amazon.com on Day 1. I appreciate you! 💛⁣
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Sending a virtual hug to @richelmichel to thank you again for all you did to make this guide great! 🤗⁣
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To everyone else, if you're planning a trip to Costa Rica in the near future (or you know of anyone who is) please consider picking up a copy of the book. My Costa Rican husband and I worked tirelessly on this book to help you have an incredible and affordable #vacation. We'd be honored if it makes it into your home and travel pack. ⁣
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Gracias amigos and #puravida! 👍
Marvel at the nation’s beautiful landscape! #Cos Marvel at the nation’s beautiful landscape! #CostaRica is a mountainous country. You’ll see #mountains and/or #volcanoes almost everywhere you go, even if you’re destined for beach communities (several are backed by or fan out over hills). Some cities and towns located in and around the Central Valley and Highlands sit in valleys or atop plateaus surrounded by tall, rugged terrain, which creates endless opportunities to snap multidimensional landscape photos like the one captured here near Turrialba.⁣
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Learn more about Turrialba and other picturesque destinations in the “Central Valley and Highlands” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Lounge around in paradise! A sign at the @BananaBe Lounge around in paradise! A sign at the @BananaBeach restaurant and hotel in the coastal community of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula in #CostaRica reads: “Welcome to Paradise!” If you’ve been to #SantaTeresa, you know the sign is spot on—the town’s long, silky beaches; inventive, healthy cuisine; and calm surf and yoga vibe are all paradisiacal. Coming here is easy. Leaving is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. ⁣
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Learn more about Banana Beach and Santa Teresa in the “Nicoya Peninsula” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Drink pipa fria! Cold coconut water is just as del Drink pipa fria! Cold coconut water is just as delicious and refreshing as it sounds. Not only is it the perfect way to cool down on a hot day in #CostaRica, but if you’re lucky enough to find a street vendor stationed at a scenic spot, the drink also provides an excuse to pause travel and take in a beautiful view. I purchased this pipa fria along Highway 34 just south of the beach town of #Jaco on the central Pacific coast. It was a great way to reenergize AND admire #PlayaJaco at a distance.⁣
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Learn more about Jaco, Playa Jaco, pipa fria, and Costa Rican food in general in the “Central Pacific” and “Essentials” chapters of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Relax on a secluded beach! If you want to chill ou Relax on a secluded beach! If you want to chill out by the water, you’ll have your pick of prime beaches in #CostaRica. This shot of #PlayaPreciosa (also called #PlayaPlatanares) near the town of Puerto Jimenez on the #OsaPeninsula shows just how heavenly Costa Rica’s remote, unoccupied beaches can be. At places like these, you’ll have the ocean, the beach, the view, and the wildlife sightings all to yourself. Enjoy!⁣
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Learn more about Playa Preciosa and Puerto Jimenez in the “Osa Peninsula and Southern Pacific” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Explore the Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands! Rega Explore the Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands! Regardless of whether you sign-up for a guided boat tour that weaves around the wetlands or you’re merely cutting through the wetlands on your way to or from Drake Bay, they’re worth a look. Here, you can admire multiple types of #mangroves, and you may even see some of the resident wildlife, including crocodiles, snakes, birds, and more. ⁣
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Learn more about the Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands in the “Osa Peninsula and Southern Pacific” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Witness a rainforest phenomenon! One attraction th Witness a rainforest phenomenon! One attraction that never ceases to catch travelers’ attention and draw in people from all over the world is Rio Celeste inside the #TenorioVolcanoNationalPark in #CostaRica. While there’s a lot to see inside the #nationalpark, #RioCeleste is most eye-catching, especially at the spot known as “Los Tenideros” where you can see the river’s clear water instantly transform into opaque, bright blue water. ⁣
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Learn more about Rio Celeste and the Tenorio Volcano National Park in the “La Fortuna and Monteverde” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Tour a #coffeeplantation! As a young boy, Ricky en Tour a #coffeeplantation! As a young boy, Ricky endured grueling work at #CostaRica coffee plantations so we have a deep, earned respect for the strong and hardworking individuals who handpick coffee fruit—the first step in coffee production. To learn how coffee is made and to get to know the people who make it, spend a few hours at a coffee farm, ideally one like the family-run @ElToledoCoffeeTour where #organiccoffee and other coffee-based products are manufactured using #sustainable practices. ⁣
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Learn more about El Toledo Coffee in the “Central Valley and Highlands” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Hike a cloud forest reserve! Foggy, mysterious, bi Hike a cloud forest reserve! Foggy, mysterious, biologically diverse cloud forest reserves sit atop high-elevation destinations in #CostaRica waiting to be explored. Home to unique species of wildlife, birds, plants, and trees, cloud forests invite a different kind of hiking experience than what’s possible in the rainforest, and provide equally important learning opportunities. This enticing photo, taken inside the #Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve (one of Costa Rica’s most visited cloud forest reserves), displays the lush, damp, lichen-coated growth that’s characteristic of a #cloudforest.⁣
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Learn more about Monteverde, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, other cloud forest reserves in Costa Rica, and cloud forest ecosystems in general in the “La Fortuna and Monteverde” and “Background” chapters of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Get creative in Sarchi! Art, woodworking, and cult Get creative in Sarchi! Art, woodworking, and culture coexist in the humble small town of #Sarchi, #CostaRica, where you can visit a factory that manufactures the nation’s beloved oxcarts. Not only can you purchase beautiful souvenirs at the factory but also you can meet and financially support working artists and craftsmen. If you’re lucky, you may even get to shellac an oxcart wheel!⁣
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Learn more about the town of Sarchi and traditional oxcarts in the “Central Valley and Highlands” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Check out some beach caves! We love this photogeni Check out some beach caves! We love this photogenic beach cave at #PlayaVentanas, not far from the community of Ojochal in the Central Pacific region of #CostaRica. The #beachcave is best accessed during low tide, at which time you can walk through the rock formation from the beach to the ocean or vice versa. Remain watchful of the tide, however; it can rise quickly and make playing around in the cave dangerous.⁣
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Learn more about the beach cave, Playa Ventanas, and Ojochal in the “Central Pacific” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍 ⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
Swim at the base of a waterfall! There’s certain Swim at the base of a waterfall! There’s certainly more than one #waterfall you can swim at in #CostaRica but the Llaños del Cortes Waterfall (oftentimes cited erroneously as the Llaños del Cortez Waterfall) is one of the easiest waterfalls to access, not to mention an easy day trip from Liberia and the LIR airport. Tucked away in #Guanacaste near Bagaces, this gentle cascade is steps from a parking lot and is suitable for kids, making it a great choice for families and travelers of all ages. ⁣
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Learn more about the Llaños del Cortes Waterfall, Bagaces, Liberia, and the LIR airport in the “Guanacaste and the northern Pacific coast” chapter of our newest #guidebook Moon Costa Rica (2021) published by the prestigious @moonguides. Pre-order the paperback book or e-book now and get it as soon as it’s released on November 16th, 2021, just in time for the holidays and winter travel! #Puravida amigos! 👍⁣
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Photo credit: @puravidaeh Ricky & Nikki Solano
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DIY Costa Rica
DIY Costa Rica is our “best of” content portfolio documenting firsthand Costa Rica travel experience, tips, photos, and recommendations for do-it-yourself travelers.

DIY Costa Rica provides 100+ unique experience recommendations, each written as a chapter in a book, complete with photo galleries, Costa Rica field notes, experience details, Spanish pronunciation help, links to additional resources, and maps.

Itemized by category, the following is a breakdown of the recommendations documented on DIY Costa Rica. Register today to start browsing!

Tours, tour operators, and activities

Best Adventure Tour
Best Zipline Tour
Best Zipline Cable
Best Aerial Tram Ride
Best Hanging Bridge
Best Night Tour
Best Coastal Tour
Best Safari Float
Best Intermediate Hike
Best Extreme Hike
Best Accessible Tour
Best Cultural Tour
Best Nature Tour Operator
Best Adventure Tour Operator

Views

Best View Of The Sunrise
Best View Of The Sunset
Best View Of The Central Valley
Best View Of The Arenal Volcano
Best View Of The Continental Divide
Best View Of The Guanacaste Plains
Best View Of Volcano Lava Rocks
Best View Overlooking The Town Of La Fortuna
Best View Overlooking Arenal Lake
Best View Overlooking The Caribbean Coast
Best View Overlooking The Pacific Coast

Wildlife and wildlife-spotting

Best Place To See Capuchin Monkeys
Best Place To Hear Howler Monkeys
Best Place To See Toucans
Best Place To See Scarlet Macaws
Best Place To See Crocodiles
Best Place To See Caimans
Best Place To See Coatis
Best Place To Feed Pigeons
Coolest Animal To See Up Close

Sites and attractions

Best Volcano To Visit
Best Hot Springs
Best River For White Water Rafting
Best Museum
Best Theatre
Best Art Gallery
Most Breathtaking Architecture
Best Historical Site
Best Ancient Ruins
Best Butterfly Garden
Best Hummingbird Garden
Most Convenient Waterfall To Visit

Destinations

Best Airport
Best Place For White Sand
Best Place For Black Sand
Best Surf Town
Best Shallow Beach
Best Place To Scuba Dive
Best Swimming Lagoon

Restaurants, food, and drink

Most Common Dining Expression
Best Soda Restaurant (Caribbean)
Best Soda Restaurant (Inland)
Best Novelty Restaurant
Best Late Night Restaurant
Best Breakfast Menu Item (Traditional)
Best Breakfast Menu Item (Non-Traditional)
Must-Try Fruit (Cooked)
Must-Try Fruit (Raw)
Best French Fry Doppelganger
Best Coffee
Best Fruit Smoothie
Weirdest Drink To Order
Best Street Vendor Purchase
Best Post-Meal Treat

Accommodations

Best Vacation Rental Property
Best Beach Hostel
Best Luxury Hotel Bathroom
Most Underrated Hotel Amenities

Transportation

Best Shortcut
Most Stressful Encounter During A Road Trip
Most Erroneous Costa Rica Travel Myth

Shopping

Best Souvenir Purchase
Best Woodshop

Culture and tradition

Best Way To Get Into The Costa Rican Spirit
Best Slogan To Recite
Best Holiday Celebration
Best Navidad (Christmas) Tradition
Best Semana Santa (Easter Week) Tradition
Most Addictive Local Pastime

Fun and funny

Best Donation Item To Bring From Home
Best Use Of An Extra Two Dollars In Your Pocket
Best Opportunity To Take A Selfie
Best Item To Rent For A Day
Most Romantic Gesture
Best Mascot
Best Site For A Titanic “I’m The King Of The World” Moment
Best In-Pool Hot Springs Feature
Best Poolside Cabanas
Best Yoga Pose
Most Likely Fruit To Give You Montezuma’s Revenge

Random and strange

Most Stunning Product Of A Chemical Reaction
Coolest Tree
Most Dangerous Roadway Bridge Crossing
Best Way To Avoid A Parking Ticket
Most Likely Beach Companion
Best Equipment (Other Than A Camera) To Pack
Most Important Reason For Keeping Colones On Hand

For more information, please visit DIY Costa Rica.


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Nikki and Ricky

Each Costa Rica Travel Blog article reflects our own work, travels, and lessons learned. We strive for quality, not quantity, and we never stuff our blog with general information about Costa Rica that is widely available elsewhere. We write only what we believe or choose to believe in, and not a word more. .

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Our Site, Our Right

All of the opinions, recommendations, and advice expressed on Costa Rica Travel Blog are our own. We support our comments with evidence, however we welcome opposing comments. Please note that our reviews are not financially supported by the companies we choose to evaluate. Our thoughts are influenced by our own travel experiences for the sole purpose of contributing feedback to the greater travel community.

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All content, concepts, and photos (unless credited otherwise) property of Ricky and Nikki Solano. © Copyright 2007-2022 Costa Rica Travel Blog (Pura Vida! eh? Inc.)
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