General information about Costa Rica
Costa Rica, the rich coast. Our home base country. Yeison is 100% Costa Rican, born and bred in the pura vida land. Samantha moved down in 2012 from the US and since then we’ve been traveling around the country, experiencing the best of what Costa Rica has to offer.
We want to share our love of Costa Rica with you and so we have dedicated this page to our beautiful little country. We share what it’s like to travel and live in this country from the perspective of a foreigner and a local. You can find all sorts of helpful travel information and our articles about living in Costa Rica as a foreigner.
If you’d like to see all our guides laid out, please go to our Costa Rica interactive map.
Travel Tips
Need some tips for your trip? We got you covered! Let us help you plan the perfect Costa Rica vacation. Travel stress free with our up to date information. From planning your trip to when you are actually here, we’ve got the best tips and advice for getting around, staying safe and more.
Costa Rica Travel Guide: Read this first if you’re a first time visitor.
Travel Planning Tips
Facts
Learn some facts about Costa Rica. Find out where it is, what the official language is, what kind of government they have and more. We also have a post about common misconceptions and stereotypes we’ve heard about the country.
Important Facts
Common Misconceptions
Weather
Healthcare
Dental care
Culture
It’s always good to read up on the culture of a country first before you visit since each one is always different. This is what most people fall in love with, the Latin American culture. Get to know the customs, the traditions and the Costa Rican way of life.
Spanish slang
Super Banco Monopoly
New Year Traditions
Costa Rica farmers markets
Independence Day
Meaning of the flag
Food and Recipes
Costa Rican cuisine may not be as exotic as others, but it still does offer up some tasty bites. Find out what are some of the dishes you’ll try when you’re there. Click here to go to our Costa Rica restaurant map, where we put all the places we have eaten and recommend.
20 Dishes You Have To Try
Eating Vegetarian/Vegan
Beer
Coffee
Copo
Fruit
Soda (local restaurants)
Snacks
Recipes
Beaches
Here’s our guides to some of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica and a few of our personal favorites, separated by province. You can also read our article about the best beaches in Costa Rica, or best white sand beaches in Costa Rica.
Guanacaste
Avellanas
Barrigona
Buena
Bonita
Cabuyal
Calzon de Pobre
Carrillo
Conchal
Coyote
Danta and Dantita
Flamingo
Grande
Gulf of Papagayo
Hermosa
Iguanita
Junquillal
Lagartillo
Langosta
Marbella (Frijolar)
Mina
Negra
Ocotal
Panama
Pelada
Penca (Potrero)
Penca (Playas del Coco)
Prieta
Puerto Viejo de Conchal
Punta de Pelencho
Rajada
Real and Bahia de los Piratas
San Juanillo
Sugar Beach
Ventanas
Puntarenas
Agujas
Bejuco
Dominicalito
Esterillos Oeste
Drake Bay
Hermosa (Jaco)
Hermosa (Uvita)
Hermosa (Santa Teresa)
Pochote
Cuevas Mal Pais
Cocolito
Herradura
Linda
Peñon de Guacalillo
Ventanas
Limon
Cities/Towns/Beach Towns
San Jose is the capital city in Costa Rica. We also have a post for the best beach towns in Costa Rica.
Bajos del Toro
Bijagua
Brasilito
Cartago
Curubande de Liberia
Dominical
Grecia
Heredia
Jaco
La Cruz
La Fortuna
Liberia
Mal Pais
Monteverde
Montezuma
Nicoya Peninsula
Nosara
Paquera
Playas del Coco
Potrero
Puerto Viejo
Puntarenas
San Jose
Samara
San Gerardo de Dota
San Vito
Santa Teresa
Sarapiqui
Tamarindo
Turrialba
Uvita
Zarcero
National Parks/Wildlife Refuges/Reserves
Costa Rica has over 40 national parks, wildlife reserves, refuges and sanctuaries spread out throughout the country. Actually more than 25% of Costa Rica’s land is protected! Though we have yet to make it to all (hopefully one day), here are our articles about the ones we have been to so far.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Barra Honda National Park
Baru National Wildlife Refuge
Cahuita National Park
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Carara National Park
Children’s Eternal Rain Forest
Corcovado National Park
Curi Cancha Reserve
Irazu Volcano National Park
La Marta Wildlife Refuge
Los Quetzales National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park
Marino Ballena National Park
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Palo Verde National Park
Poas Volcano National Park
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Santa Elena and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserves
Tenorio Volcano National Park (Rio Celeste)
Tortuguero National Park
Turrialba Volcano National Park
Wildlife and Nature
Containing 5% of the world’s biodiversity, Costa Rica’s wildlife and nature is simply incredible. Listen to howler monkeys in the morning, see colorful tropical birds fly above you and don’t be surprised if you hear a little guest in your room at night. Some of the most popular animals to see are toucans, monkeys and sloths. There is no telling what you’ll see out in the water and on land!
Birds
Sloths
Whales
Turtles
Toucans
Monkeys
Arachnids and insects
Amphibians and reptiles
Wildlife watching guide
Things to do
There is just SO much to do in Costa Rica! Some favorite activities are ziplining, white water rafting and hiking but there is something for everyone! Here are our articles on things to do (separated by province and/or area).
50 awesome things to do
Things to do with kids
Ten cheap things to do
Best hikes
Best waterfalls
Fishing
Scuba Diving
Guanacaste
Snuba
Helicopter tour
Bat Islands (Islas Murcielagos)
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
Catarata La Leona
Snorkeling in Flamingo
Boating in Playas del Coco
Playa Conchal
Nicaragua one day tour
Playa Tamarindo
Buena Vista Combo Tour
Guachipelin Combo Tour
Catarata Llanos de Cortes
Road tripping Guanacaste to Arenal
Things to do in Guanacaste
Hacienda El Viejo
Catalinas Islands Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Witch’s Rock surf trip (Roca Bruja in Santa Rosa National Park)
Rainforest sloth tour
Jaco, Puntarenas and Manuel Antonio
10 things to do in Jaco
Crocodile Bridge
Things to do in Manuel Antonio
Hiking Manuel Antonio National Park
Tortuga Island Day Cruise
Damas Island Mangrove boat/kayak
Manuel Antonio catamaran cruise
South Pacific/Osa Peninsula
Cascada El Pavon
Uvita waterfall
Osa Peninsula
Finca 6 stone spheres
Whale watching
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Cano Island Snorkeling
Things to do in Uvita
Day trips from Dominical (and things to do)
Surf Expedition Surf Camp
Arenal
Hot springs
Free swimming holes
Balsa River white water rafting Class 2 & 3
Cerro Chato
Fortuna cooking class and farm tour
La Fortuna coffee tour
Rio Frio Pure nature safari float
Arenal Volcano 4 in 1 Combo Tour
Canyoning
Sloth tour
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
La Fortuna waterfall
Horseback riding
Chocolate Tour
Things to do in La Fortuna/Arenal
Arenal 1968
Penas Blancas safari float
Lake Cote
Night Walk
Lake Arenal
Monteverde
Selvatura Park
Treetopia
Night walk
Things to do in Monteverde
100% Aventura
Free things to do in Monteverde
El Arbol Hueco (Hollow Ficus Tree
Ficus Root
El Tigre Waterfalls
Cerro Pinocho
Central Valley (San Jose/Heredia/Alajuela/Cartago)
Territorio de Zaguates
Sanatorio Duran
Doka Coffee Estate
The National Theater
Heredia Cultural Tour
Hacienda La Chimba
San Jose city tour
Irazu Volcano day tour
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park
Tortuga Island Day Cruise
Day trips from San Jose
Hacienda Orosi
Lankester Botanical Garden
San Jose Central Market
Ram Luna Dinner Show
La Sabana Park
Arenal Volcano Day Tour
Rainforest Tour from San Jose
Bajos del Toro
Blue Falls of Costa Rica
Catarata del Toro
Catarata Rio Agrio
El Silencio Lodge and Spa
Caribbean (Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limon)
BriBri chocolate tour
Rio Pacuare White water rafting Class 3 and 4
2 day Rio Pacuare white water rafting
Rainforest Adventures Atlantico
Jaguar Rescue Center
Things to do in Puerto Viejo
Turrialba
Guayabo National Monument
10 things to do in Turrialba
Bijagua
Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste Free Pool