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Travel

Practical travel information like transportation options, driving, safety, health, packing, lodging, holidays, festivals, money and much more. Includes a section on weather, seasons, crowds and pricing to help you decide the best time to visit

The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

When Should You Go to Costa Rica? The most popular time for Costa Rica vacations is the holiday peak season around Christmas and New Years but the best time to visit may be a couple of weeks later after the crowds thin. The rains end in December but the forests remain lush into the new year … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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January in Costa Rica

January in Costa Rica

The last three weeks of January is one of the best times for a Costa Rica vacation.  New Years is also great from the perspective of weather but it's crowded and peak season surcharges make it one of the most expensive weeks of the year. All the best tours and activities are going full blast … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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February in Costa Rica

February in Costa Rica

February might just be the best time there is for a Costa Rica vacation. The weather is hot and dry in the most beach popular destinations and it's when we discovered many of our "Best Trips Ever." Best Time to Travel? Select … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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March in Costa Rica

March in Costa Rica

Early March is definitely a good time for a Costa Rica vacation (see our favorite routes). The most popular destinations have hot dry weather and many hotels and lodges have some rooms available even a couple of weeks ahead. Later in March Spring Break travel may reduce availability and raise … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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April in Costa Rica

April in Costa Rica

Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see when to travel? Our favorite time to travel is when it's cold up north and many of our "Best Trips Ever" were in the first part of the year.  The tropical beaches are a sure cure … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Required Covid Vaccination for Costa Rica

Required Covid Vaccination for Costa Rica

UPDATE:  As of April 1, 2022 the vaccine mandate and all other Covid related entry and travel restrictions for Costa Rica have been suspended. No testing required No vaccination required No "pase de salud" electronic health pass required No travel insurance required No QR codes … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Secrets of September & October

Secrets of September & October

Ask locals about the best time to visit Costa Rica.  They never choose the dry season months that are most popular with tourists. January through April have dry, hot, sunny weather every day on the Pacific beaches - but insiders prefer the secrets of the (not as wet as you think) rainy … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Self Test for Travelers Returning to the U.S.

Self Test for Travelers Returning to the U.S.

Update August 8, 2021 - alternative home test for travel to the U.S. "GetTestedNow" antigen tests - the price is a bit higher than eMed (2 tests for $99 + $3 convenience fee + $15 to $60 shipping depending on speed... so about $60 to $80 each test) but they don't seem to have the wait times that … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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New Instant Covid Viral Test – $30, FDA Approved

New Instant Covid Viral Test – $30, FDA Approved

Update February 28, 2021 - eMed modified their website to include the following statement " these tests are NOT APPROVED for international reentry requirements" Update February 22, 2021 - The Chief Marketing Officer of eMed contacted us today requesting that we stop recommending their … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Choosing Transportation in Costa Rica

Choosing Transportation in Costa Rica

How should you travel around Costa Rica?  It depends on your priorities - budget? time savings? convenience? safety? cost comparison | uber | 4WD? | air | boat The best way for many visitors to get around in Costa Rica is with a rental car.  Typically tourists don't leave the pavement and driving … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Uber in Costa Rica – Okay? for Travelers

Uber in Costa Rica – Okay? for Travelers

NOTE: As of April 2022, the license plate based driving restrictions that were making it difficult/impossible to find an uber even in the city have been lifted.  Availability is back to the normal  limited service area.  Unlicensed private taxi services have never been permitted in Costa Rica but … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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No Driving at Night in Costa Rica

No Driving at Night in Costa Rica

"The Arenal volcano tour ends with a sunset mirador at 5:30 p.m. so we'll just pack and drive up to Monteverde for dinner then..." More like breakfast if you're lucky. Although a few km of modern highway are added to Costa Rica's road system each year driving at night on most routes is … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Current Storms in Costa Rica

Current Storms in Costa Rica

current storms | forecasts to avoid | best time to visit | useful forecasts | historical storms After an exceptionally active and long hurricane season NOAA predicts that precipitation will be normal for the first half of 2021 in Costa Rica.  That means very dry on the Pacific side until … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Costa Rica Holidays & Fiestas

Costa Rica Holidays & Fiestas

Covid Note: Until the vaccine brings the pandemic under control, festivals, fiestas, rodeos, parties and gatherings of all kinds are not only a bad idea they are illegal in Costa Rica for the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. embassy in San Jose, fines of up to $3,800 ($750 minimum fine) … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Camping

Camping

Camping in Costa Rica is a great way to get to out of the way places, and experience the fascinating night and very early morning hours in the tropical forests. Costa Rica's Best Camp Sites boondocks | national parks | RV parks | backpacking | cabinas | glamping Tips for Tropical Camping in … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Costa Rica’s Domestic Airlines

Costa Rica’s Domestic Airlines

Note: The premium tourist airline, NatureAir, ceased operations in January 2018 and a pack of newcomers arrived for the 2019 travel season just in time to be devastated by Covid. Of the four Green Airways is the only one active in April 2021.   Aerobell, SkyWay, and TAC all have suspended flights … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Coronaviris & Covid19 in Costa Rica

Coronaviris & Covid19 in Costa Rica

The recent sixth consecutive extension of the closure of Costa Rica's borders from the end of June until at least August 1 was expected but disappointing. At a press conference at the end of June the president promised international visitors a comprehensive and detailed plan with specific … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Covid Perfect Destination – Costa Rica

Covid Perfect Destination – Costa Rica

2020 was rough and a tropical getaway to Costa Rica is the perfect remedy. outdoor everything | low cases | low risk | modern medical | perfect weather | assistance | restrictions insurance | electronic health pass | where to test | planning/logistics assistance What Makes Costa Rica the … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Do I Need Four Wheel Drive in Costa Rica?

Do I Need Four Wheel Drive in Costa Rica?

The answer to the question "is 4WD necessary in Costa Rica?" is nearly always no.  Since renting an SUV can be twice as expensive as choosing a standard car it's worth considering whether the extra capability is needed.  Paved access to the most popular destinations means the majority of travelers … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Saving Money on Public Buses

Saving Money on Public Buses

I recently helped a family of 4 work through the best transportation options to get around Costa Rica and we were surprised by the results. They arrived late at SJO so planned to spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express before traveling to a rental house in Manuel Antonio the next … [Read more...]

Ray & Sue

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Transportation
  • Choosing Transportation in Costa Rica
  • Uber in Costa Rica – Okay? for Travelers
  • Costa Rica’s Domestic Airlines
  • Do I Need Four Wheel Drive in Costa Rica?
  • Saving Money on Public Buses
  • Costa Rican Code of the Road
  • How to Rent a Car in Costa Rica
  • Stress Free Car Rental in Costa Rica
  • Which Airport is better – LIR in Libera or SJO Outside of San José?
  • Credit Card Insurance
  • Navigation & Drive Time
  • Getting the Best Airfare to Costa Rica
  • You Can’t Get There From Here
  • Costa Rica Small Boats – Panga, Lancha, Ferry & Raft
  • Traffic Violations, Citations & Fines in Costa Rica
  • You GOTTA Be Kidding – Stupidity on the Roads
  • Best Car Rental Agency
  • Flights Worth Taking
  • Nature Air Grounded
  • Strikes, Protests & Road Blocks – Explained & Summarized



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