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...]
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
Coronavirus in Costa Rica Obviously the Covid 19 pandemic has replaced weather, crowds, bargains and wildlife migrations as the immediate consideration determining the best time to travel to Costa Rica. Limited travel is permitted from Europe and Canada starting August 1st and optimistically, … [Read more...]
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...]
Uber in Costa Rica – Okay? for Travelers
service area | violence | airport ban | other rides | best transportation | sample prices Unlicensed private taxi services are not legal in Costa Rica. Uber has never formally legalized but the government began taxation in July 2019 using the treasury to circumvent the need for legislation and … [Read more...]
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...]
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...]
Costa Rican Code of the Road
It doesn't take long to realize that there is a different code of the road in Costa Rica - at least if you want to survive it better not take too long... red = go? | arrows | ceda | danger boots | going straight | stupid | lights & siren | spares Traffic Lights, Yield and Stop Signs Check … [Read more...]
How to Rent a Car in Costa Rica
Renting a car in Costa Rica can be different - for example needing to decide whether 4WD is necessary or not. Other aspects are just plain bizarre, like the bumpy number requirement. If you want to skip all the fascinating quirks and just take the path of least resistance we've also written … [Read more...]
Stress Free Car Rental in Costa Rica
If you're reading this you've probably heard horror stories about renting cars in Costa Rica. It may be more expensive than you're used to but it doesn't have to be a trauma. Simple Instructions for Avoiding Frustration Reserve a car with an international rental agency or as part of a … [Read more...]
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...]
Which Airport is better – LIR in Libera or SJO Outside of San José?
Costa Rica has two international airports - Liberia (Daniel Oduber, LIR) and San José (Juan Santamaría, SJO). Both are fairly modern and efficient but are also operating well over their designed capacity. Your itinerary, interests, budget, timing and other factors will determine which is better or … [Read more...]
Current Storms in Costa Rica
current storms | forecasts to avoid | useful forecasts | historical storms After an early sputtering start to the seasonal rains on the Pacific side (middle of April 2020) NOAA predicts that precipitation will be normal for the second half of 2020 in Costa Rica. In the west that means afternoon … [Read more...]
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 and … [Read more...]
February in Costa Rica
Best Time to Travel? Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see when to travel summary 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 … [Read more...]
March in Costa Rica
Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see best time to travel summary 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 … [Read more...]
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...]
May in Costa Rica
Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see when to go summary May can be fantastic. The low season is kicking in, there are no crowds, prices are down and although the rains start in May it's usually nothing like the … [Read more...]
June in Cost Rica – Best Time to Travel?
Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see when should we go? If you want to get a head start on summer June is a great time to visit Costa Rica. Popular destinations have shed their crowds and you can enjoy some of the … [Read more...]
Best Restaurants in Costa Rica
Costa Rica boasts an off the grid farm where internationally renowned guest chefs create signature dishes based on the day's organic harvest, luxury resort seafood platters piled with langosta and camarones, and a modern menuless Mediterranean cafe that's truly family style because you'll eat what … [Read more...]
July in Costa Rica
Best Time to Travel - Low Season? Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see when to travel in Costa Rica A few years ago only insiders traveled to Costa Rica in July, but the secret is out so we've started … [Read more...]