It's tempting to look at a 25 minute flight time compared with a four hour drive and think it's an obvious choice but it's often misleading. We recommend flying on a few select routes where a small plane is the cheapest and fastest transport What are the Problems with Flying A few things … [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
Timing the Tides
You cannot account for all the possible variables when choosing the best timing for a Costa Rica vacation - rainy vs. dry season, micro-climates, weekend beach traffic, school vacations (both in Costa Rica and at home), turtle nesting and hatching seasons, flight schedules and costs, and many more - … [Read more...]
Natural Disasters in Costa Rica
hurricane | volcano | earthquake | tsunami | flood | updates Earthquakes Earthquakes are quite common in Costa Rica with small ones occurring daily and tremors strong enough to feel a few times a year. Major quakes strike about once a decade but no tourist has ever been killed or seriously … [Read more...]
Here Comes the Dry Season
Pacific ocean surface temperature increases accentuate the seasonal shift in the inter-tropical convergence zone amplifying the trade winds across the 10th parallel... ...in other words... The 2018 Rainy Season Might End Early in Costa Rica! The rains usually taper off between late … [Read more...]
Nature Air Grounded
Update January 21, 2019 - One year after shutting down Nature Air has made a financial settlement with Lloyd's of London and announced that they are accepting offers of financing and job applications for all positions in hopes of eventually resuming operations. No new information was provided about … [Read more...]
Strikes, Protests & Road Blocks – Explained & Summarized
locations | history | explanation | the end? | maps Update Thursday September 12, 2019 - Both the truckers leadership and taxi union have called for massive blockades and strikes this week but so far none have materialized... In September traffic disruptions have been minimal except in downtown … [Read more...]
Unexpected Expatriate
If a one week vacation turns into a forced stay of a couple of years it would have severe consequences for your job, your home and your family. A Hypothetical Situation Tom slams on his brakes to avoid hitting a child dashing across the highway. The car following crunches into the rear of Tom's … [Read more...]
No, No, Your Other Izquierda – Passing Lanes
On Costa Rica's roads it seems derecho means "left" and izquierda is translated as "right" "tráfico lento mantener a la derecha" = "slow traffic should block passing lane" One afternoon when driving Costa Rica's "super-highway" 27 Sue and I both exclaimed simultaneously "Woah! Did you see … [Read more...]
Guide to Rainy Season Driving In Costa Rica
Roads in Costa Rica are not all designed to handle rainfall which can be problematic since it can rain…a lot. For example, tropical storm Nate caused widespread flooding, loss of life and wiped out sections of nearly every road on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. There's nearly always a weather … [Read more...]
How Caribbean Storms Bring Pacific Flooding to Costa Rica
In October of 2017 Tropical Storm/Hurricane Nate provided a perfect example of how a cyclonic low pressure system in the Caribbean could cause massive rainfall and flooding in the central mountains and on Costa Rica's Pacific side. (see road closures) The Caribbean coast ends … [Read more...]
Crime Tips for Photo, Video & Content Pros in Costa Rica
Photographers, naturalist guides, video teams, bloggers and other professionals face two difficult security challenges in Costa Rica. Protecting tools and work product in Costa Rica requires education and hyper-vigilance. The most important thing to learn is that being surrounded by genuine … [Read more...]
Con Artists and Rip-offs in Costa Rica
Internet Travel Scams If you’re shopping for travel on the internet you should check the company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), ICT, and Canatur before sending any money. Nearly all of the travel service companies, tour companies, hotels and lodges are honest and legitimate but … [Read more...]
Violent Crime in Costa Rica
Violent crime involving tourists is rare in Costa Rica but it's a serious and rapidly growing problem for residents. Since 2015 the murder rate has significantly exceeded the World Health Organization homicide epidemic threshold of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2016 the U.S. Department of State … [Read more...]
Terrorism in Costa Rica
Because of the nature of transportation and the use of hostages to leverage the U.S. and European governments, international terrorism has become part of travel. Fortunately Costa Rica is not a prime target. There is almost no connection with the hatred in the Middle East and Islamic extremism, … [Read more...]
Age Appropriate Adventures
Our recommendations for appropriate age ranges for a number of the most popular tours and activities in Costa Rica are shown below and you can read the reasons by clicking on any symbol. Obviously not all kids are the same and as a parent you know best whether yours can push the limits when it … [Read more...]
Keeping Kids Entertained
After a morning of canopy zip-lines adults are usually happy to grab a drink, lounge by the pool, or kick back in a hammock for a nap. However, parents know the kids will barely be out of their harness and helmet before they ask "What's next?!" If the parents have the energy for another … [Read more...]
Scientific Perspective on Zika Virus
I was planning a Costa Rica vacation for my extended family (3 years to 73 years old, none pregnant) in 2016 and wanted to know what risk the Zika virus posed. My PhD in Biochemistry doesn't usually contribute directly to my current job as a travel writer, but in this case it provided me with the … [Read more...]
No Tell Motels
Anytime you hear the question "¿cuántas horas le gustaría quedarse?", (how many hours would you like to stay?) when shopping for a hotel you should suspect that maybe you've wandered a bit too far off the tourist trail. Fun for the Whole Family We were planning to spend the night in the rustic … [Read more...]
San José, Airport and Metropolitan Buses
There are five different types of public bus systems in Costa Rica each with hundreds of routes operated by independent companies. InterCity Buses - operate between San José and other major cities around Costa Rica. For example Liberia, Nicoya, Santa Elena/Monteverde or Quepos/Manuel … [Read more...]
All Inclusive Beach Resorts
Travelers considering All Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica sometimes discover their expectations and previous experience don't apply. There are some amazing resorts but there are things you should consider before you reserve a non-refundable week in Papagayo. Geographic and economic … [Read more...]