Welcome to Mytanfeet!
Thanks for checking out our blog and we’re happy you want to know more about us!
Who are we?
We are Yeison and Samantha, a couple living on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Yeison is Costa Rican, born and raised and has been working in the tourism industry for nearly 20 years. Samantha moved to Costa Rica in 2012 from Washington state in USA and ever since then, we have been traveling around Costa Rica and sharing our stories, tips and experiences on our Mytanfeet blog. It’s a lot of fun and we’re very lucky to have been doing this for many years!
About Mytanfeet: Costa Rica travel blog
Mytanfeet is a travel blog and resource where you will find all sorts of information on traveling in Costa Rica. We also share stories of our life in Costa Rica.
How the blog started
When Samantha first moved to Costa Rica, she started the blog as a way to document her new life abroad but it grew into much more than just a journal. Costa Rica as a tourist destination was becoming hugely popular so the blog became more and more popular.
We love Costa Rica and our goal is to help everyone fall in love with it like we did, especially Yeison as he is a Costa Rican. He wants everyone to have a wonderful time in his country and discover pura vida!
We wanted to share our stories and tips from not just a foreigner, but also a local point of view which we think sets us apart from other blogs and websites especially since most of the resources you find online are written from a foreigner perspective. Yeison loves sharing his insider local knowledge so people can experience Costa Rica a little bit like a local.
Ever since the blog started, we haven’t stopped blogging or traveling. We love traveling, we love Costa Rica and we love blogging so we want to share that love with all our readers and inspire them to take a life-changing trip to Costa Rica one day.
What you can find on the blog
If you’re looking for a blog that’s chock full of information but not written like a dry guide book, this is the site for you. On the blog, you’ll find all of our personal stories and experiences traveling around Costa Rica. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoy writing them!
- Guides. We do write a ton of guides and you will find all our personal recommendations in them. We write guides for towns, beaches, cities, national parks and more such as this La Fortuna, Costa Rica or Jaco, Costa Rica guide.
- Costa Rica destinations map: We put together a map with all our guides and articles.
- Costa Rica travel tips. Everything from what to pack, traveling safely, traveling on a budget, renting a car and more.
- Adventure. Costa Rica is one of the top adventure destinations in the world and as adventure junkies, you can read all about our favorite adventures in Costa Rica like white water rafting, canyoning, ziplining, horseback riding and more.
- Living in Costa Rica. Though we don’t publish as many posts about living in Costa Rica, we still do have a good chunk in there. You can read about Samantha’s first impressions on living in Costa Rica, things she had to get used to and what it’s like to be in a relationship with a Costa Rican.
- Itineraries. We plan a lot of trips for our families and friends and this is what Yeison did for many years when he used to work for a tour company.
- Discounts. You can find all our discounts for tours, hotels, transportation and more on the blog. We want to help you not just have a great time in Costa Rica, but save some money doing so!
Our main goal for the blog is to help visitors experience Costa Rica like a local and help everyone have a fun, safe and worry free time in Costa Rica and we write every single one of our posts with that in mind.
What sets up apart from other Costa Rica blogs
There are a lot of sites and blogs out there about Costa Rica and some of them have good information, some don’t. But something most don’t have is the local perspective since they are all mostly written by foreigners. Nothing wrong with that but since Costa Rica is such a touristic country, it can be hard to find that local flavor. We also write articles beyond the tourist destinations. Since we live here, we love seeking out the lesser known places and sharing that with those who enjoy off the beaten path adventures.
So we decided to focus heavily on bringing that Costa Rican flavor to our blog because Yeison is 100% Costa Rican. And as a Costa Rican, he wants to make sure every visitor leaves with amazing memories and experiences of his country. You will find a lot of local tips and perspectives on our site that you won’t find on other blogs.
We constantly update Mytanfeet to bring you the latest information as we personally visit the places ourselves and add more personal tips, more recommendations and more stories every single day.
Join Our Mytanfeet Family!
We love hearing from our readers so feel free to connect with us via our social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram. You can also join the Mytanfeet mailing list to get all our articles straight to your inbox and be first to know about our new deals, partnerships, discounts and other news!
For advertisers or businesses, you can check our Work with us page to learn more.
We also rescued two dogs and you can read about our first dog, Patacon here!
Johanna says
Hi, I just wanted to say thank your all your wonderful tips. I consulted your site both before and during our time in Costa Rica and it was really useful. Bravo!
Sammi says
We’re glad to hear that Johanna, we hope you had a nice time here 🙂
Maria Pinilla says
Hola, congrats on your blog! super useful. Do you guys know if there is public transportation from La Fortuna to Jaco? how long it takes and how much? if so do you know if I can take a bus late afternoon . thanks
Sammi says
Hi Maria, you can do La Fortuna – San Jose – Jaco but you must leave in the morning. Or check the Costa Rica by bus Facebook page to see if other people have tips.
Brie says
THANK YOU so very much for your blogs. All of your information and helpful tips really have been amazing in helping me to plan my trip.
Carolyn says
Our experience her in Costa Rica the past couple of weeks has been enhanced tremendously by the suggestions and recommendations on the MyTan Feet site and blogs. Samantha
and Yeison have been very helpful and respond very quickly to questions and concerns. Samantha and Yeison have sent reminders and backup confirmations with each reservation or tour booking. We have nothing but the highest regard for the My Tan Feet team.
Anna Marie Quintanilla says
Just returned from a wonderful trip to CR. Liberia-LaFortuna-Tamarindo-PlayadeCocos-Liberia. Flew in early on Thur-flew out the following Sat. Thank you so much for all your great info and insight on just about everything! Including our snorkel tour with Marcy from Coco beach–we got to see Humpback whales: a mom and a baby playing around for about 20 minutes! We felt more confident and were able to enjoy ourselves knowing more before we left so we didn’t have to worry and wonder about stuff during the trip. Hope you are enjoying living in such an amazing location. Pura Vida!!
Dave B says
Hi there Sammi, we just returned from our 5th trip to Costa Rica with every intention of retiring there in about 18 – 20 months. During our stay in Playa Flamingo a couple of weeks ago, I saw your vehicle parked at the Flamingo marina. I even told my friend that I recognized it as I have been following your blog for some time. We made some great friends in Potrero and are now putting in place the plan to move with their help and the info I read here.
Thanks for all the great information
Pura Vida
Dave from Pittsburgh
Sammi says
Hello Dave, thank you for the kind words on the blog and we’re glad you had a nice time in Costa Rica. Flamingo is a very nice area 🙂 Enjoy Costa Rica!
Sumant says
We just came back home from our wonderful Costa Rica trip. Thanks to the useful information (and video blogs) from this site, we could drive and enjoy touring a major part of the country (SJO-La Fortuna-Tamarindo-Monte Verde-Manuel Antonio-San Jose-SJO) without any problem. We won’t know whether one would get any better deal from another rental company, but we were very happy with the brand new Hyundai 5 seater 4×4 SUV that we rented from Adobe (@319 per week including mandatory liability insurance) through this site. Pay special attention to the notes on the road conditions. Part of the road was rough (particularly the road to and from Monte Verde) and windy. You do need a 4×4. (I must say that the road from Arenal to Tamarindo is getting better. )
Sammi says
Hi Sumant! Thank you for the feedback and we’re very glad you enjoyed touring Costa Rica and had a good experience with Adobe! The road up to Monteverde is quite an adventure for sure. Thank you for reading Mytanfeet!
Terri Teague says
Thank you for all your travel advice! We just returned from a week in CR. We had a blast. We rented a car from Adobe. Great price, no issues and they delivered to/from our hotel. As you stated using Waze was a great app. Suggestions for what to pack and expect were very helpful. Hugs to you both from Texas!
Sammi says
Hi Teri, we are very glad to hear that you had a great time in Costa Rica and the blog was helpful! Thank you for your feedback and for reading our blog 🙂
Zbigniew Pietrzyk says
Hi guys,
I plan to retire in Costa Rica next year. As you probably can imagine, I have a lot of questions about the whole process. What might be the best way to ask them?
Perhaps, you should know that I am also planning a reconnaissance trip in February next year.
Sammi says
Hi Zbigniew, we don’t do any consulting for retiring in Costa Rica. There is a Facebook page called “Retire for Less in Costa Rica” I recommend to contact them!
Dan Cutaia says
Hey MyTanFeet! We just got home from our trip to Costa Rica. Amazing. And MyTanFeet was invaluable. Great advice!! We used their recommendations for car and tour. Adobe car rental and they were great. We took a tour with Jacamar … and they were great! If you’re heading to Costa Rica, be sure to read this blog!!
Thanks MyTanFeet!!
Sammi says
Thank you for the nice words Dan, we’re so glad to hear you had a great time in Costa Rica and you had a good experience with Adobe and Jacamar. We’re glad the blog was helpful and thanks for reading! 🙂
Bob Stead says
Hi Yelson & Samantha
Just a wee note of thanks from Scotland. We used your blog extensively to help with our research, before coming to Costa Rica. We’ve just returned having visited San Jose, Là Fortuna, Santa Elena and Manuel Antonio. Your advice was invaluable. Thanks so much we had a fabulous time together with our friends from New Zealand. We all loved Costa Rica.
Bob & Joan
Sammi says
Hi Bob! Thank you so much for your note, we love hearing feedback from our readers and we’re very happy to hear the blog was helpful! Glad you had a great time here 🙂 Cheers!!
Ashley says
Hi Sami, Ny boyfriend and I are moving to Costa Rica for six months in a few weeks. Your blog has been so helpful! Just wanted to say thanks and keep up the amazing resources. I love that you can write from the perspective of a local and a tourist!
Sammi says
Hi Ashley, thanks for the kind words and glad the blog was helpful! Hope you have a nice time in CR
Molly M says
We have been travelling to Costa Rica from Canada for years and have always referred to your blog. You are both so incredible and have such a wealth of knowledge and experience in the country. Thanks again for all of your hard work compiling information for us travellers! Pura Vida!
Sammi says
Hi Molly! Thank you for the kind words and I’m glad the blog is helpful! Pura vida 🙂
Noreen says
Hello Sammi!
Amazing blog site I stumbled upon! You wouldn’t believe how many hours I have into researching Costa Rica. My husband and 2 daughters will be arriving in early June for a 2 week stay and reading your blog has been so helpful. We are flying into San Jose but want to stay in the Guanacaste area and don’t arrive until 7pm. We are trying to figure out if we want to rent a car or use a shuttle. If we choose a car rental do you think we need 4wd? Any recommendations would be great! We are also contemplating staying 1 night in San Jose just so that we aren’t driving in the dark for 5 hours after traveling from Washington to San Jose (12 hours)! We are so looking forward to this much needed family vacation before our oldest starts College.
-Noreen
Sammi says
Hi Noreen, I’m glad the blog has been helpful. You don’t really need a 4wd for Guanacaste, unless you plan to go down to the Nosara/Ostional area but if you’re staying in like Tamarindo/Gulf of Papagayo/Samara areas, you don’t need a 4wd. I agree, you should definitely stay a night in San Jose because the drive from San Jose to Guanacaste is around 4-5 hours so it’s super long after an already long travel day. You can read more about renting a car here: Costa Rica car rental tips and get our car rental discount here: Costa Rica car rental discount
As for renting a car, I highly recommend it in Guanacaste, especially if you want to explore, be more comfortable and have more flexibility with your family. It’s the best way to get around Guanacaste and see more of the area because without a car, you’ll be stuck relying on taxis and shuttles which only go to the touristic areas.
Peter says
My wife and I will be visiting Costa Rica next February and I came across your website today. What a wealth of information you are providing here! Thank you both very much for all the info. I found many useful tips and even practised some Spanish survival phrases….:) Muchas gracias!
Sammi says
Hi Peter, we’re so glad to hear that 🙂 Our goal of the blog is to help everyone have a safe and stress free trip to Costa Rica so we are glad that the blog has been helpful! Gracias por leer nuestro blog!
Julie Picardi says
Hello Sammi,
Love your blog as we are planning a trip for bird/animal photography in December 2018. We have limited time…wondering if there is a location where we can see Keel Billed or Black Mandibled Toucan AND Scarlet Macaw. Any suggestions? Thanks! Julie Picardi, Franktown, CO
Sammi says
Hi Julie! There really isn’t anywhere where you can see all three. You can see Great Green macaws and both toucans on the Caribbean side though but for Scarlet Macaws, they are most common in the Osa Peninsula and South Pacific where the Keel billed toucans are not. You can see the Scarlet Macaws, black mandibled toucan and the fiery aracari in the South Pacific.
Ashlea says
Just stumbled upon this and had to chime in – check out Carrara National Park, it’s rarely crowded… close to Tarcoles (Jose’s Croc Tour is also great for animals and photography)… but this park is one of the greatest hubs for birds in all of CR and all you are looking for can be found there. 🙂
Tina says
Hi Sammi! My family is traveling to Dominical in July! Thank you for all of your articles they have been very helpful. What can you tell me about Dominical and the beaches near by! Are they safe? Have you stayed in Dominical? Any reccommendations?
Sammi says
Hi Tina, we have written a couple posts that will help a lot: Things to do in Uvita and Dominical and Dominical Costa Rica guide. Glad you enjoy the blog and thanks for reading!
Sammi says
Hi Wendy! For a family friendly place in Manuel Antonio, we personally love Tulemar. They have houses and bungalows so you have all the comforts of home, you can cook since you have a kitchen and they have a 24 hour concierge which is really nice. The property has a couple pools, their own beach and SO much wildlife (plus the exclusive Sloth walk with the sloth institute). It really has everything!
We stayed there a couple months ago and you can read our post on it here: Tulemar
Wendy says
Hola Sammi and Yeison!
I stumbled upon your blog last year and it’s encouraged us to take an extended family vacation in CR. We’re from Toronto/San Francisco and now we are here for 2 months! 🙂 We have most of our itinerary planned except for our final week… are you able to recommend a nice family-friendly place to stay in and around Manuel Antonio? We will already be visiting Jaco and flying out from SJO airport.
Thank you for all the amazing content and suggestions! Pura vida!
John phine says
Both of you are so darn charming. I am making a trip to Costa Rica in a month surprisingly with my children and mother. Remaining in Playa Hermosa, however, plan to visit Playas del Coco a couple of times while there. Anticipating utilizing your blog as an asset!
Sammi says
Thanks John! Have a great time in Costa Rica!
Hari says
What place did you take the last picture? The one where you both are in water?
Any recommendations for clear water beaches in Guanacaste region?
Sammi says
THat was taken at the San Blas Islands in Panama. For clear water beaches, Conchal is a great option but most of the clearest water beaches or the prettiest beaches are in the Gulf of Papagayo and are boat access only.
Helen (from NYC) says
I love your blog. I am a 73 yr. old traveler. Love seeing animal,birds,new people and places. Wish I would have had your spirit of adventure years ago. Found your site looking for places I can see sloths. Love your story and how you are thoroughly living life. I also bird watch and wow what gorgeous birds in Costa Rico. I travel alone(can’t find others to come with me) and want to find a good tour for people in my age group but I don’t want to spend a fortune, any suggestions?
Look forward to following your adventurous journeys.
Sammi says
Hi Helen, thanks for reading our blog and glad it’s helpful : ) For tours, we have gone with Costa Rica Monkey Tours before and they have several pre-set tours and they have some good deals, they have a couple on Groupon that’s good value.
Tammy says
Helen-
You inspire me!! I love travel and adventure and I sure hope I am healthy enough to enjoy it at 73, too!! I am so happy you enjoy it alone!! I love to travel with my husband, but also can enjoy solo, too. I hope you keep living life to the fullest.
Sammi- just starting your blog, enjoying every minute so far. Cannot wait to dive deeper!! Thanks for your time and sharing your life!!
Sammi says
Hi Tammy! I’m so glad you like the blog! Thank you for reading and glad that you find it useful! 🙂
Danielle says
Hi Sammi,
Thank you for your blog . I’ve been visiting some ex-pat websites for CR and they’re ummm not good . They don’t reveal what I’m seeking. We are still youngish and want to retire in CR. We visited Guanacaste and stayed at Casa Conde. We traveled with Tico’s and we want to escape a life of materialism , war, politics here in New York. I couldn’t find cost of rentals and couldn’t find real ex- pat life. I’m told Pura Vida life can be lived at 1,500 US dollars per month realistically ( commensurate to living on Long Island) is this true ? I grew up in NYC so I don’t want to live in a city – or on the beach. It’s nature and all things natural that I love. I don’t want to live to isolated as a gringa, as one quote said, ” this ex pat website makes you want to live under the bed with a gun.” Guanacaste didn’t strike me like that and I wasn’t sure what ex Pat community they spoke of. We would like to feel security as we live in a village now and it is one of the safest places to live . Can you guide us in our dream to live in beauty and peace in CR. I love the U.S. but I relate better with the CR mindfulness and nature. Any pointers? You are probably half my age but I relate completely . My dream is to practice healing arts through botany and the Solar Body Method. Maybe I will begin helping others heal naturally. That’s the dream.
Sofia says
Hi Danielle! I came accross this blog by coincidence. I’m Costa Rican living abroad. I recommend to research a few places in Guanacaste (Bagaces, Fortuna, Guayabo) those are little villages that are not so touristy, with basic services around and close to nature. You can also try the vecinity to Rio Celeste and Volcan Tenorio (Bijagua, Rio Naranjo). I have extended family in their 50s that moved there from abroad and seem happy. Also Ive seen Nuevo Arenal looks nice. Other bigger towns you might like are Atenas, San Rafael de Heredia, Coronado.
Hope it is useful 🙂
Zoe says
Hello! Fellow UW Husky here! Woof Woof!! lol…
Very glad that I stumbled into your blog today. I love your love story!
I had visited Playa del Coco in 2015, joined a friend last minute – stayed in Pacifico for just 4 days. Didn’t have time to research then. I’m planning a return trip later this year, so planning better now. I will like to buy a vacation condo. I really loved Pacifico, but it’s way above my budget. Any recommendations of condos that are as nice/safe or a bit comparable to Pacifico that cost less? Thanks in advance!
Sammi says
Hi Zoe, hello fellow Husky! 🙂 Glad to see you here on the blog! The other popular condo complex in Playas del Coco is called Las Palmas. It’s not as fancy or luxury as Pacifico but a ton of foreigners live there or bought a vacation condo there as it’s a 2 minute walk to the beach, secure and each complex has its own pool, parking lot and laundry and easy to meet other foreigners since that’s where most of them are. We used to live there when we were in Coco. They aren’t super cheap for how big they are (most are around 70 meters squared) and can go around $90k. Some of them are a bit bigger and go more than $100k which is kinda ridiculous in my opinion but Coco is very expensive due to all the retirees. We have one friend who bought an empty kinda run down one for around $60k and he fixed it all up and bought new furniture so that is an option too.
Sally Chen says
What a wonderful resource you two provide – thank you! We’re well beyond our adventure days (for now at least) — with 2 small children and school calendars to mind, but the wanderlust never left us. We are taking our children to see Taiwan; your website has been so helpful. Best of luck to you and keep up the good work! — Sally
Sammi says
Hi Sally, glad the website is helpful and have an awesome time in Taiwan!! I was just there 😀
Michelle says
You two are so darn cute. I am traveling to Costa Rica in a month for the first time with my kids and mom. Staying in Playa Hermosa but plan to visit Playas del Coco a few times while there. Looking forward to using your blog as a resource!
Sammi says
Thanks for reading Michelle and glad you enjoy the blog!
Lala Oli says
Hello Samantha and Yeison,
It’s a joy reading your story and how you guys met and fell in love. Continue sharing your travels and stories. More power to you both!
xx,
Lala
yeison says
Thank you Lala!
Joanne says
Hello,
Adobe car rental does not have a 6pp rental available for March 23-31. picking up at Liberia airport.
Is there another car rental you’d recommend?
thanks so much! BTW- your blog is amazing. I am using all of your reccomendations to plan our trip.
Best,
Joanne
yeison says
Hello Joanne,
Thank you so much for the nice words, we have a great solution for you please check your email in 10 minutes 🙂
Sabrina says
I can’t believe I just found your site now – 8 days before leaving for Costa Rica. I have a LOT to read now in a short time, haha. It seems very helpful already and fun. Thanks for sharing your stories, tipps and infos! 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Sabrina! Nice to see you here and hope you find the blog useful. Have a great time in Costa RIca!
John Humleker says
A big Thank YOU! We just returned from our 2-week vacation in Costa Rica! And you both made it very special – starting with the rental car recommendation – the folks at Adobe were amazing, straight forward and no up sale! Highly recommend them. We also took your advice and re-ordered the sun screen, bug spray and towels all very useful. With your help we adventured beyond our home base in Playa Grande (lovely beaches – I counted at least 12 we visited in the area). We ventured out and stayed at Arenal Lodge Observatory for 2 days and saw the volcano the entire time! Their trailers are amazing and toured high bridges in the rain forest! Also went to Ricon deLa Veija per your experience and did the zipline/Tarzan swing/rock climb – you guided us through it all! THANK YOU – we will be back!
John & Cordelia
Sammi says
Hi John and Cordelia,
Aww we are so happy you guys had an amazing time! That’s exactly why we work so hard on the blog 🙂 You guys did some awesome stuff and we’re glad you had a lot of fun! Thank you so much for reading our blog and for the kind words, we really appreciate it! 🙂
Sammi says
HI Damien, thanks for reading our blog and glad you found it helpful. July is not too bad for rainy season, it isn’t the peak month yet but it is possible to run into rain especially in the Arenal/Monteverde area. You can definitely do that itinerary and since you’ll be staying 4-5 nights in each place, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the destination. The driving times are a bit long but a lot of people drive them in one day, Manuel Antonio to Monteverde is around 3-4 hours, MOnteverde to Arenal is around 3 hours and Arenal to the Pacific Coast (say Gulf of Papagayo) is 3.5 hours and then Guanacaste to San Jose is around 4. You could also fly out of Liberia since you’ll be way closer to there.
We have a partnership with a Costa Rican car rental company here and offer our readers great discounts and benefits you can check out here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Have fun on your honeymoon and congratulations on getting married! I’m sure you guys will love Costa Rica
Damien Marshall says
I stumbled upon your site and have found it to be very helpful! I’m planning our honeymoon for this coming summer…we are both well-traveled, but it will be our first time in Costa Rica. We’ll be there for a couple weeks in July, which I understand is the rainy season, but I guess things will be extra green, and hopefully we’ll still get some sunshine 🙂 We are open to suggestions, but right now we are thinking of staying the first couple days in San Jose, then renting a car for the remainder of our trip and driving down to Manuel Antonio for a couple days, followed by 4-5 nights around the Monteverde/Arenal area, and then 4-5 nights near the Pacific coast, before heading back to San Jose for our departure flight. We’ve been looking at rental properties on Tripadvisor. Does this look like a pretty good plan for first-time visitors? You two seem like you’re living the dream and we would be happy to chat over a drink or a meal if you happen to be in the same area as we are during our trip! We would love to learn about some hidden gems and just to meet some nice people during our stay. Thanks in advance for any advice you have!
Sammi says
Hi Anne, yes you can rent a car from the airport right when you land. The travel time from Liberia to Las Mareas according to Google Maps is about 1.5 hours and the GPS is good, the route to the Mareas isn’t too difficult and you can switch the language to English. You can check out the discount we have with Adobe here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Anand says
You make a lovely couple.
So, Finally what did you major in?
Sammi says
Thanks Anand, I ended up majoring in biology
Kim Armstrong says
Hi guys,
Thanks so much for all the great information. My family and I are arriving on Dec 31/16. We have friends that live in Panama and just wondering what the best way would be to travel into Panama….would it be ok to rent a car or would you recommend a different way?
Thank you
Kim
yeison says
Hello, I would recommend you to either flight or take the bus, you can’t cross borders with car rentals.
James Terry says
I’ve been a regular reader of your blog since I discover it at Matthew Woodward’s personal marketing blog. You guys are still pushing high-quality content. I’m a big fan. Keep it up!
Sammi says
Thank you James! We work hard to keep the quality up 🙂
yeison says
Hi, It’s kind of along drive and all depends if you find any traffic, usually it takes around 4 to 5 hours. The dreams Las Mareas resort is there, if you are thinking about renting a car you can check our deals here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Anne says
We are traveling to the Dreams Las Mareas on Thursday..I need some warm and sun!! We want to rent a car at the airport…why pay for transfers, right? What do you think the travel time is from Liberia to Las Mareas? Is the gps from the adobe rental company up to date? can we switch the language to English? This blog is wonderful!! We cannot wait to experience Costa Rica..
Sharain H. says
Hello! AWESOME website, thank you for taking the time to chronicle your exploits. 🙂 So a friend and I are traveling to a resort near El Jobo Beach and sadly purchased flights into San Jose. We’re trying to decide between renting a vehicle or taking the resort’s suggested shuttle. I read some travel time estimates but they were dated a while back. As of 2016, what is the travel time via car between San Jose and El Jobo?
Thanks super much in advance and keep having fun!!! 🙂
Karen says
Do you think it’s possible to find a local to drive us around Arenal for a day?
Sammi says
I recommend hiring a driver from a tour/transportation company, all the drivers are Costa Ricans and they’ll have insurance.
Robert says
Haven’t seen much of your website yet but just wanted to let you know: What a great and inspiring story Sam and Yeiso! One day, you had the feeling something needed to change, and you followed it. It needs courage and persistence. Respect! I’ll be happy to read on.
All the best,
Robert
Sammi says
Thank you Robert!
Gregg says
Sammi I understand completely about your being unable to decide about med-school, optometry school or nursing school. I spent most of my time trying to figure out how I could graduate as an undeclared major. That not being possible went for the one that didn’t require any math.
You sound like a great couple and I wish you the very best
Gregg
Sammi says
It is difficult especially when you don’t feel particularly passionate towards one over another. And yes, that is hard since they all require math! Thanks for reading Gregg 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Karla! We have, here is our guide: Catarata Llanos de Cortes (and how funny we were just there yesterday and you saw the post on FB!) We always go on our own because it’s the best way to visit and have it all to yourself! If you go on a tour they’ll go around mid morning when ALL the other tours stop by there and everyone else does too.
Karla says
Hi! I am so excited to read through your site and all about your story. Thank you for your details about driving in Costa Rica. I will be traveling in late August with family and we hope to rent a car and get away. I’ve downloaded your free ebook and hope to book a car through Adobe! SO EXCITED. Have you been to llantos de cortez? If so have you gone on your own?
Sammi says
Hi Julio,
Honestly, that is a pretty tight itinerary for 10 days. The drive to each destination takes at least 4 hours and the drive from La Fortuna to Jaco is about 5-6. Are you planning on taking the ferry to Tambor from Puntarenas? That will save you a ton of time to get from Manuel Antonio to the Montezuma area. The drive from Montezuma to Tamarindo area is really long too, anywhere from 6-8 hours depending on which route you take. I did a similar itinerary with my brother except we went to Monteverde, Arenal, Santa Teresa/Mal Pais and Playas del Coco, spending around 3 days in each place because the drive to every destination was so long. You can take a look here: 2 week Costa Rica itinerary
Not saying that it’s impossible, but it will be tight and you won’t get to see/experience as much because you’ll be driving a ton. You can probably only spend no more than 2 days in a destination including travel days if you want to go to all those places.
As for driving, you won’t necessarily need a 4X4, but the roads around Montezuma and Santa Teresa aren’t the best and it’s not paved for some of the way from the Nicoya peninsula to Liberia area. The road to Monteverde is also not paved, and it’d be a lot more comfortable in a SUV.
As for rates, February is still high season and Semana Santa isn’t until end of March so you will at least avoid the peak season rates and crowds. It’s pretty crowded and busy in February so you’ll run into people in all those destinations since they are the touristic places in Costa Rica. Also, only the Limon area has a big Carnaval festival, here in Costa Rica they celebrate “Semana Santa” which is Easter week.
As for cars, it wouldn’t matter if you got a big or small car because it is really easy to spot a rental car (they all have rental car stickers and generally all companies use the same models). Make sure never to leave any valuables in the open of your car, try not to leave any if it can’t be helped.
Julio says
Hi Sammi,
I ran into your page/blog and I’m really glad I did, found really good information specially around renting a car.
My wife and I are traveling to CR for the first time, we are flying from SEA to LIR on Feb 5 and plan to stay there for 10 days returning on Tuesday Feb 16. Our idea is to visit the essential CR sites, starting with the Monteverde , then up to Arenal and la Fortuna, then down to Puntarenas o Jaco to follow the coast line down to Manuel Antonio, then back up the coast to Guanacaste starting at Montezuma and up the peninsula to Tamarindo before returning to Liberia. What do you think about this itinerary? Will we need a 4X4? I know is high season and we are arriving before Carnaval, but after Fat Tuesday will rates and crowds go down at parks and hotels? We heard there are a lot of car thefts and thieves know a car rental, if we pick a small car would it be easier to blend in? We speak Spanish and would be easier to find our way around, but we are not Ticos, so we are trying to be wise and not fall or make foolish mistakes. Thanks for your time and support.
Jordan Young says
Y’all have such a cool story! What an exciting way to live! I was actually just in Costa Rica last year and it was AMAZING there are so many “untouched places” and then some really cool touristy stuff too! If you are ever down near Uvita, Costa Rica my cousin(Steve young) and his wife just started a resort there…you should check it out! There always looking to make new connections and meet fellow adventurers. Below is the link to there website. They have a fantastic set up on the top of a mountain and a great view over Rio Uvita. I might be a little biased but it was an fantastic experience!
http://www.manoas.com/
Keep up the good work and Pura Vida!
Sammi says
Hey Jordan! Thanks for the kind words. You know, I was just looking at places in Uvita to visit in January so this is perfect. Their resort looks beautiful! I’ll give them a shout. Glad you enjoyed Costa Rica and pura vida!
Yogesh Rawat says
Good to read all the stuff you provided on your website. I’ve always dreamt of living a life like you live, travelling around the world, meeting new people, sharing experiences and moreover living life at fullest. I really wanna know how to be like you.
Sammi says
Hi Yogesh! It is definitely possible, the Internet has so many opportunities now. It’s just a matter of finding something you’re good at and making it work for you. Working online has allowed us to do exactly that – move around, work on our own schedule, meet new people. It’s been great and it is definitely possible! You can take a look at Yeison’s internet marketing blog which has more details of how we monetize our blog to sustain our lifestyle: http://yeisonkim.com/
Good luck!
Tracey says
Hi guys, just found your site as myself and my partner are off to malaysia / vietnam / new zealand in sept/oct this year!!
I love your story and your site!! I have just started an internet business and at the beginning of creating my own digital lifestyle journey and you are such an inspiration to me already!
Thank you so much for supporting the fact that we don’t need 9-5 jobs 🙂 Its taken me til I am 42 to believe this fact!!
Much love, and take care
love Trace xxxxxx
Sammi says
Hi Tracy!
Wow what a trip. That sounds amazing, I’m sure you guys will have a fabulous time. NZ is my dream country 😀
I think you can be any age and succeed in having an online business, all you need to do is believe you can do it, work hard and success will come!
Good luck with your trip and with your internet business!
If you are ever in Costa Rica, feel free to give us a shout 🙂
Zene says
OMG, I love your story. One, it’s adorable and Two, it is so much like how I met my husband. I was going thru a similar process as you but at a different stage of life…and on a fabulous trip to Costa Rica, I met my “lobster”! Everyone knew we were destined to be even before we did. It was magic. So cheers to you both! Finding love the way we have is amazing and rare, hold on to it and each other!
Really hope we meet personally some day!
Pura Vida
Zene Randall Morales
Owner, Cristal Azul Retreat & LocosCocos Marisqueria
Sammi says
HI Zene!! Aw thank you for the lovely comment and yes I really hope we can meet one day! we would love to come visit and will let you know when that happens 🙂 And yes we feel especially lucky to have found each other in albeit a not so normal way and I’m sure you know the feeling!
Gemma Two Scots Abroad says
Oh you guys are so sweet. Very romantic!
Sammi says
Haha thanks 🙂
bryan says
Hey,
Love your site. We, my wife and three children, moved to flamingo a few months ago. I have been looking for a two person kayak, any suggestions on where to purchase.
Thanks- Bryan
yeison says
Hi Bryan we are glad you like our site!
A friend of mine helped us to find our Kayak, I would recommend to look on facebook groups like those garage sales and craig list, you can find deals all the time.
Thanks for commenting and have a great day!
Chris says
Hi Yeison and Sam,
Love your stories – both the travel ones and the personal ones. Yeison, you’re an inspiration! Keep on doing your thing it’s awesome.
Would love to chat with you both about some conservation projects if you’re interested. My addy is cjdowsett at G mail dot com (Split it out so the spam bots don’t get me). No worries if not, keep up the great stories!
Chris
yeison says
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the kind words 🙂 I will send you an email
Talk to you soon
Adrenaline Romance says
Lovely story you’ve got there! And for Yeison, the world healed you, buddy! Stay sweet and adventure on!
yeison says
Thanks guys
Happy travels for you too !
Isabelle says
Happy to have com across your site – will be in Playa Hermosa over te holidays (december 22 to January 5) along with my boyfriend and another couple, friends of ours!!! Will definitely be going on your site more thoroughly while there for ideas, and more!!! You’re quite inspiring
Sammi says
Hi Isabelle!
We are happy that you find our site inspiring!! That is our main goal. Hope you enjoy Hermosa and Costa Rica!! 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Eileen says
Hola! Heard about your site from a coworker who knew Samantha from high school. We’re leaving US to go on a group tour tomorrow to see CR national parks, flora, fauna, culture. Love your story and you living your dream. Hope you get back to vet school one day, if not there will be other paths. Really looking forward to seeing the country.
Sammi says
Hi Eileen! Thanks for stopping by!! I hope you have a great time there, Costa Rica is the best place to enjoy the outdoors and nature. It’s so much fun and you get to see a lot! Let us know how it goes! Enjoy!
Rambo is going back to Bhutan says
You have a great story to tell to your kids and grand children. Good luck in your future travels and looking forward for more stories from you.
Roving Jay says
Great video and the branding of your tan feet is fabulous — I’ve been looking to create something similar for my blog – and you’ve just inspired me to get on with it!
p.s. I loved your icons on Twitter the best – the ones without the bags.
Sammi says
Thanks Jay!! So glad you like it and you are inspired to make your own! 🙂
Teresa says
Love your new blog! I have the CR itch again already but hubby said “we need to go elsewhere”.
Sammi says
Thanks Teresa!! Aww you can still sneak in a short trip here and then go to Panama or something! 🙂
Rikaine @beansntortillas says
I love your story & website! The about video is fabuloso! I have wanted to go to Costa Rica for awhile now – maybe I will get there soon. If you are ever both in Honduras we can show you the Caves of Talgua, eat great tamales de elote & adventure up into the mountains!
Cheers!
Sammi says
Thanks Rikaine! You should let us know when you come, would love to meet up! We both want to take a road trip through L. America so will definitely let you know when we go! It sounds like a lot of fun!
The Dessert Engineer says
Love your story and reading your Costa Rican adventures!
Sammi says
Thanks !! 🙂
Sharon @ Wheres Sharon says
What a great story, and I’ve only heard the half of it. I find it hard not to believe in fate when I read things like this!!
Sammi says
Agreed! Life throws you curveballs for sure but seems like we all have something in store for us 🙂
Kathy says
Hi guys, thank you for such a fast reply. I love playas del Coco hope to see you soon!¡pura vida!
Sammi says
You’re welcome Kathy! Happy New year !
eduardo chinchilla valverde says
Hi, sammi! Have you ever visited Copey de Dota in Zonal de los Santos? You gotta go there and enjoy the nature and the people this place offers to all who come with a smile in their faces.
Bridget says
Hi, just read ur blog, cute story on how u met. I grew up in panama from about 1973 to 1985, and also for 2 yrs in mayb 1968. My dad was in the army, than reired and worked for the Panama canal. I luved growing up there, there is no place like it. I would luv to go back.again for a visit. But never did go visit Costa Rica, to my older sis did. Well, take care and happy new year!! I was actually trying to see if u can shop online from the albrook mall 🙂 Bridget
Sammi says
Hi Bridget! We had a blast in Panama and I bet your dad and you have some good stories about working and living there, it’s a beautiful country. I hope you get to visit Costa Rica one day, it’s really amazing and surprisingly quite different from Panama. Thanks for stopping by! Hope you had a great New Year! I think some of the stores you can buy from (we tried to buy from the electronics store) but not positive about it – better to take a look at their site 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Eduardo! No we haven’t but it sounds like a wonderful place, I’d love to visit one day!!
Sammi says
Thanks Chris! We didn’t even notice the ranks were posted. Congratulations to you too as well!! Keep it up 🙂
Sue and Bob says
Hi Yeison and Sammi! I heard about you two from our frinds who own the great Mini Golf Bolas Locus in Tamarindo. They appreciated your visit and told us what great things you are doing. We took an early retirement when my employer started changing philosophies without telling the staff…. We sold everything we had built for 61 years of life and bought four little cabins 500 meters from the beach in Tamarindo. The cabins are LOTS of work and with no income, we are trying to do as much as we can as economically as possible. We would love to put you two up for a night or weekend sometime when we have an empty cabin. We love to share our love of Tamarindo and the great life we have now. Find us on Facebook or via our email!
Pura Vida, Mae.
Terry Reid/ Abuelita Pipilacha says
Although I signed up a while ago this is my first visit to your site. I live in San Blas de Sardinal, Canton de Carrillo, Guanacaste, where I landed in the Peace Corps in late 1968. My former husband & I came straight out of PC camp & college in the Los Angeles, CA area to become atytpical volunteers who “went native”, stayed for almost 10 years, had 3 CR born kids, failed at back-to-the-land funky farming, returned to LA, I got a teaching crede ntial & taught for 20 years, I returned to my home in San Blas to retire & raise one CR born grandson in 2002, added 3more grandsons in 2004, am currently in the home-stretch with the last grandson, Robert, 13, whom I will raise. I am 66 years old, love to travel, but have very creaky knees which limits me somewhat & my finances don’t include the extra cash for a Cleopatra litter & 4 strong bearers, so my travel is mostly wishful hoping or practical doing.
My acupuncture doctor/ friends in Liberia are Taiwanese who came separately in search of a peaceful place found each other & have two CR born kids. I haven’t seen them in a while & will visit soon. Marilyn, the 78 year old, sounds like she is in better shape than many of us a decade younger. I retired here in 2002 & know that as the permanent resident mother of 3, grandmother of 8 & great grandmother of one Costa Rican that they will never kick me out even if I never take the citizenship test. I love what you are doing & that it is absolutely real & not hype. This little corner of CR is my heart’s home & in spite of cultural differences that will never disappear I love my adopted “gente” completely, even the incomprehensible. Keep on informing & enjoy what you do.
Sammi says
Aw thank you for the kind words Terry! It’s amazing what can change your life with one simple decision and it’s amazing to hear a story of how someone discovers and ends up in a small country far away from their original home. I hope that I can stay in Costa Rica for a long time. The cultural differences definitely make it an even more enriching experience and it’s been a wonderful adventure so far! Thanks for the comment, it means so much to us to hear you enjoy it and we just want our readers and everyone to know how amazing Costa Rica is. Pura vida!
Ruthie Turner says
I’m a huge fan of yours on Twitter and Facebook and just signed up for your newsletter. I’m Puerto Rican living in Florida and have started blogging about travel. I love all your tips, advice and suggestions that you have on your website. Costa Rica is a place that I have on my bucket list of places to visit!!
Best,
Ruthie
Sammi says
Hi Ruthie! Thanks so much and happy to hear you like the blog. Great to connect with you and hope to see you in Costa Rica soon 🙂
Felico Li says
Hey Guys!!! it was just random that i decided at your site and Got myself reading!!! great to see people blogging about living down in Costa RIca.
My family is from Taiwan and we’ve been here for 30+ years, and my parents decided to build a small hotel spot in Arenal. If you have free time, be more than have you come and visit and fun to cook up a little Asian hot pots!
Take cares and Pura Vida!
Sammi says
Hi Felico!!
Thanks for reading and glad you enjoy the blog! We’ve driven by the Kokoro a few times and it looks amazing. Next time we go to Arenal, we will definitely contact you, I am sorely missing hot pot 😛
Glad to hear from other Taiwanese people living here, haven’t met any so far in Guanacaste!
Keep in touch and thanks again 🙂
Charene says
What a great story. I am planning a trip to Costa Rica in June 2014…and may stay forever who knows! Beautiful pictures
Sammi says
You never know! 😉 That’s what happened to me. Went once and it changed my life. Thanks for visiting Charene! Let us know if you need any tips or advice for your trip!
Charene says
Thank you! I will be in touch. So thankful I found this website! PURA VIDA!
Sammi says
Awesome! Thank you for finding us! Pura vida 🙂
Rebecca C. says
Sam you look great! What a wonderful life adventure!! Good for you! I look forward to following your blog:)
Sammi says
Aw thanks Becca! Happy to have you on board 🙂
Dale and Diane Williams 7039 says
Hello You Two,
We are coming down for a week in Sept and hope to see you then.
Dale and Diane
yeison says
Hi !
Great to hear ! See you soon !
Marilyn Braswell says
Just happen on your web site. I love your name, so cleaver. I have been to CR 6 years in a row helping building a Methodist Church in Alajuela. I have been two time with the Arkansas Master Garderners. On the first trip with them I got very sick with your crug. And one of the tour guides took me under his wing and took the best care of me. Long story short short we bonded and have became great friends. Last summer he visit in Ark and spent a week with us. Then in Feb of this year I spent 1 week with friends from the church and 1 week with Maguiel and his wife. Then he and I flew to Panama to meet the Master Gardeners and spent 10 days there. He was the tour guide. So I have seen alot of the c jountry but thereis so much more to see. I am 78 so my tiome is getting short. I do hope to visit them again next year if possible. So this is the reason I know that I am really going to enjoy what you all have to say about your land. I would love to live there, but should have found out about CR before I begin to get older. Tthanks, so much, Marilyn Braswell, DeWitt, Arkansas
Sammi says
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you so much for the kind words! It is comments like yours that inspire us to write more and work harder. It sounds like you have had some really wonderful experiences in CR, the people here are SO nice so I’m not surprised that you and your guide became such great friends! I think at no matter what age, travel is always something everyone can enjoy and there’s always something to learn even if it’s just a few miles from your house. I hope that you will be able to continue visiting CR and see as much as you can! It is a wonderful country with so much to offer. If you have any more questions or if there’s something in particular you would like us to talk about, feel free to tell us! We will make sure to have good content for you to enjoy. We truly appreciate you stopping by our page 🙂 Take care!
Yeison says “pura vida mae and see you soon” 🙂