Costa Rica Guide

travel information and maps

  • Vacation Planning
  • Best Trips Ever>>
  • More Fun Than Humanly Possible
  • Costa Rica
    • Top Ten
    • Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
    • Things To Do in Costa Rica
    • Maps
    • Transportation
      • Rental Cars
        • Advantages of Driving
        • Disadvantages Driving
        • Code of the Road
        • Navigation & Drive Time
        • Rental Insurance Explained
        • Can’t Get There
      • Airports
        • Flights Worth Taking
        • LIR or SJO
        • Airfare Deals
        • Domestic Airlines
        • Domestic Air Tips
      • Taxis
      • Bus Schedule
    • Food
      • Typical Menu
      • Batidos & Refrescos
      • Gallo Pinto
      • Tamales
      • Ceviche
      • Ensalada Palmito
      • Sopa Negra
      • Vinagre Chilera
    • Weather
      • Seasons in Costa Rica
      • Current Storms in Costa Rica
    • Regions
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • National Parks
    • Wildlife Refuges
    • Ecozones
    • Best Places to See Wildlife in Costa Rica
  • Practical Info
    • Health & Safety
      • Health Tips
        • Altitude Sickness
        • Chikungunya
        • Natural Disasters
      • Crime
        • Cons & Rip-offs
        • Corruption
        • Violent Crime
    • Will My Phone Work?
    • Packing List
    • Passports & Docs
    • Money – How To?
    • How Much Does it Cost?
    • Travel Tips
  • Stories
    • Photos
    • Trek Across Costa Rica
    • Sendero de Oro
    • Quebrada Gata
    • Bicycle Touring
    • About Us
  • Move to Costa Rica
  • Free Travel Pack
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Costa Rica Guide

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Travel Planning

Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio driving route map” Everything exactly as described on our family’s trip of a lifetime ” — M.M., San Francisco

Custom travel plans with lodges, tours, activities and rental car or shuttles. All positive reviews and A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, 98% excellent on TripAdvisor, registered in good standing with the Costa Rican Tourism Bureau (ICT) and CANTUR. Request your no obligation itinerary now.

” Our anniversary couldn’t have been more perfect. I really appreciated the time and care Maria took to help plan every detail and the surprise wine and flowers before one special sunset dinner. ” — S.R., Chicago

Waterproof Travel Map of Costa Rica

Waterproof Travel Map of Costa RicaWe research, GPS, author and publish the #1 bestselling map of Costa Rica – totally waterproof, current (updated for 2020) and accurate. –

Order yours now! and help us keep the best job in the world traveling around Costa Rica updating roads, lodges, and restaurants.

” This is the map that Expats living in Costa Rica recommend and use. ” — KS

” Great! Road conditions, distances and driving times spot on. Trusted it more than our GPS and recommend it to friends. ” — BN

Best Costa Rica Information

” …thank you for the amazing website. I found everything I needed to know without hype or advertising. Ridiculously helpful! ” — J.S., New York

Find top destinations, best kept secrets, things to do, what to take
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request personalized information & trip plan

Jumble of our Costa Rica photos

Photographs and Video

We like to think this website is a bit like scattering some of our photos on a table then telling you about that trip. We try to include captions and descriptions so with every picture you’ll hear a story.

Packing List

25-lb Packing ListOne of our most popular pages is the annotated packing list that not only suggests what to bring but tells you why.

If you’re traveling light we recommend the 25 lb. carry-on only version of the list & there are specialized lists for camping, photographers, bicycling and other recommendations.

Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

When to Visit Costa Rica Time MachineThinking about rainy season? crowds? low season discounts?
Because of regional micro-climates and vacation schedules it’s sort of possible to “time travel” – where you are changes when you are there.

The right destinations can put you in solid sunshine during the rainy season or provide solitude in high season. – Enter your data in the “Time Machine” and we’ll process it to find your best time to travel or the best places to go when you have vacation time.

National Parks & Wildlife Refuges

Costa Rica Map of National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and Reserves

Costa Rica’s National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and Biological Reserves protect some of the most endangered and unique ecozones in the world. Visiting the 100+ public and private protected areas to bring you photos, descriptions and logistical information about hours, permits and hiking trails is the best part of our jobs.

Some of our favorites are Carara, Poás, Rincon de la Vieja, Arenal, Tortuguero, Monteverde, Chirripó, and Corcovado – click the map to find the ones that fit into your Costa Rica vacation.

Breakfast - plato del futas and coffeeFood & Drink

Costa Rican culinary traditions include Bocas which are small snacks served with drinks and casual “tipico menu” restaurants called Sodas.

A simple recipe of beans and rice called Gallo Pinto is Costa Rica’s national dish but seafood, tropical fruit, chocolate and of course coffee are specialties too.

 

 

In 1993 we honeymooned in Costa Rica on touring bicycles and fell in love. In more than two decades of travel since then we’ve seen most of Costa Rica, lived some incredible experiences, accumulated vast amounts of information and beautiful photographs and we’ve always shared everything for free on this website.

We’ve answered over 50,000 e-mails since we first posted a bicycle travelog in the early nineties (they hadn’t invented “blogs” yet…) so don’t be shy. If you need advice or want travel planning assistance put your question or travel request in the form and hit submit.

Sue & Ray - Costa Rica Guide
Ray & Sue – Costa Rica Guide

 

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This website is dedicated to the loving memory of Joseph “Quincho” Rodriguez – the original Costa Rica Guide – and the whole Rodriguez family who made us welcome in our home away from home.

 

Joe "Quincho" Rodriguez and Panama Braulio Carrillo
Our Guides Joe “Quincho” Rodriguez and “Panama” on our first day in Costa Rica

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  • The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
  • Costa Rica’s Domestic Airlines
  • No Driving at Night in Costa Rica
  • Digital Nomad Visa for Costa Rica
  • Common Misconceptions
  • Charter Flights
  • Money- How to Get & Spend in Costa Rica
  • Useful Phone Apps for Travel in Costa Rica
  • January in Costa Rica
  • February in Costa Rica
  • March in Costa Rica
  • April in Costa Rica
  • May in Costa Rica
  • June in Cost Rica – Best Time to Travel?
  • July in Costa Rica
  • August in Costa Rica – The Best Time to Go
  • September in Costa Rica – Best on the Caribbean
  • October in Costa Rica – Best Time for the Caribbean
  • November in Costa Rica – Could be Great
  • December in Costa Rica – Best Time to Visit?



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