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!
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!
Last updated on May 29th, 2017 at 04:39 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)We think Costa Rica is pretty inspiring, however it is great to learn that our peers within the blogosphere think the same about our writing. A huge thanks to The Seven Minds, Writingrenee’s Blog, Lulu and …
Want to skip the Costa Rica all-inclusive resort? Great! Here’s how to do so without sacrificing your “inclusive” vacation. Learn more!
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!
Want to know which is the best river for rafting in Costa Rica? We compare and contrast a number here, and offer discounts and savings for each!
Avoid confusion, frustration, and travel mistakes by learning how to correctly identify similarly named Costa Rica destinations, including towns and beaches.
Last updated on June 25th, 2019 at 08:13 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)28,728 WORDS OF AWESOMENESS AND COUNTING… “Pura Vida! eh? was amazing to work with, from the quick response to my initial emails to booking activities through them. Their informative blog was so useful …
Debating when to go to Costa Rica? We outline the best times to visit if you want to save money, have great weather, see wildlife, and more!
Last updated on September 29th, 2017 at 05:37 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)Looking for something specific? The following is a list of all of our blog posts (written by Nikki and Ricky) listed alphabetically. Looking for something not already written about below? Ask us here.
Use our Costa Rica Destination Tool to filter 66 Costa Rica destination recommendations according to nearly 150 different criteria. Learn more!
Last updated on February 27th, 2020 at 09:23 am GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)Most travellers who choose to visit Costa Rica do so with the intent to immerse themselves in a culture different than their own. With tourism booming in Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean, part …
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 …
Looking to convert colones to dollars? Use our handy dollars to colones currency exchange charts and tips to maximize understanding and minimize money loss!
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 …
Want to know our best Costa Rica hotel tip? If you plan to visit La Fortuna (Arenal) or Monteverde, don’t miss this critical advice!
Last updated on June 25th, 2019 at 08:12 pm GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)Travellers interested in experiencing two of Costa Rica’s greatest tours – cruises through the Tortuguero Canals and rafting on the Pacuare River – are faced with the challenge of best incorporating both activities …
Want to visit one of the Northern Pacific / Guanacaste beaches in Costa Rica? Don’t miss these noteworthy beaches!
Looking for the best zipline in Costa Rica? We compare and contrast a number here, and offer free discounts for ziplining tours!
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 …
✓ 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. ❤️
