Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see when to go summary You have to be a little choosy to find the best things to do in September and unless you know where to look the wildlife might be hidden away trying to escape the … [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
October in Costa Rica – Best Time for the Caribbean
Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December or see best time to visit Costa Rica The typical rainfall patterns are inverted this month some of the top itineraries to the Pacific resort areas get washed out. It's the perfect time of year to get … [Read more...]
November in Costa Rica – Could be Great
A good friend of ours is a Costa Rica wedding planner and when she scheduled her own beach ceremony for November and we thought she was nuts. Every bride wants everything perfect and she must have led a charmed life indeed because it turned out perfectly despite the fact that it's one of the most … [Read more...]
December in Costa Rica – Best Time to Visit?
December starts out with lower prices and occupancy during the tail end of the rainy season. By Christmas the dry season is normally beginning and hotels and rental cars are sold out for Christmas and New Years. The trails, zip-lines and white-water rivers are flowing with tourists. don't get … [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. CRGDISCOUNT code for 10% off car rentals with the #1 local company January through April have dry, hot, sunny weather every day on the Pacific beaches - but insiders … [Read more...]
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. CRGDISCOUNT code for 10% off car rentals with the #1 local company The rains … [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. "CRGDISCOUNT" code for 10% off on Costa Rica's #1 local rental when you book it direct Although a few km of modern highway … [Read more...]
Guide to Rainy Season Driving In Costa Rica
save 10% with code CRGDISCOUNT #1 local SUV rental Roads in Costa Rica are not all designed to handle rainfall which can be problematic since it can rain…a lot leading to widespread flooding and landslides. With the Pacific and Caribbean sides rainy seasons on the opposite ends of the calendar … [Read more...]
Your Key Unlocked Your Vehicle for the Thieves…
how it works | what to do? Save 10% on rental from the #1 local for 30+ years - use code CRGDISCOUNT ...the keyless relay attack We've said for decades - "Never leave anything of value in an unattended vehicle in Costa Rica. Never. Anywhere. Even for a minute." It's the only way to ensure … [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. save 10% code CRGDISCOUNT - #1 local company for more than 30 years 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 … [Read more...]
Uber in Costa Rica – Okay? for Travelers
save 10% on SUV rental - code CRGDISCOUNT Unlicensed private taxi services have never been permitted in Costa Rica but the government began taxation in July 2019 using the treasury to circumvent the need for legislation and making the ride shares de facto legal - the logic being even if there are … [Read more...]
Private (Pirate) & Turo Car Rentals
Save 10% on rental from the #1 local for 30+ years - use code CRGDISCOUNT As the average price of a rental SUV has pushed past $100 per day there has been an explosion in "private rentals". Individuals who have an extra vehicle or don't need theirs for a few days see the opportunity for huge … [Read more...]
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 (save 10% with code CRGDISCOUNT). Typically tourists don't … [Read more...]
Big Detour – Tempisque Bridge Closure
Alert: The ferry service from Puntarenas to/from Paquera has been resumed. It was closed for several weeks after the Naviera Tambor Ferry crashed into and damaged the dock at Paquera in early April.>> UPDATE MAY 1, 2024 Tempisque Bridge Repairs Starting April 1, 2024 the Friendship Bridge … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Small Boats – Panga, Lancha, Ferry & Raft
Shortcuts - boating across may be much faster than driving around a body of water in Costa Rica. For example the boat ride across the Gulf of Nicoya from Jacó on the mainland to Montezuma on the peninsula (see orange line below) takes about an hour while driving around takes over four hours. ██ … [Read more...]
La Nada, La Niña & El Niño in Costa Rica
NOTE: the 2023/24 El Niño ended in mid-April and there's a 85% chance that La Niña will develop by August. Details from U.S. NOAA Warm water in the Pacific Ocean influences weather patterns around the world in a phenomenon called El Niño while cool water and the associated weather patterns are … [Read more...]
Costa Rica’s Domestic Airlines
luggage restrictions | ticketing | airports | flights worth taking | charters | recommended Prices have definitely increased on average since the lengthy competition between Sansa and Nature Air ended. You can still find flights worth taking in Costa Rica but it may take more looking. Puddle … [Read more...]
Charter Flights
Private Planes & Helicopters in Costa Rica A thirty minute flight may save six or eight hours compared to ground transportation. save time & money | scheduled flights | charter companies | air destinations | flying Chartering a plane might sound like something only the rich and … [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 … [Read more...]
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...]