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Costa Rica Travel Guide

Bienvenidos. You've come to the right place for Costa Rica travel information! Read on, or check out the quicklinks below.

Cheap Airfare | Hotels | Resorts | Beaches | Fishing | Diving | Attractions

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Costa Rica is a unique country set in the heart of Central America. On one side, it faces the Caribbean Sea and its vibrant culture, whichCosta Rican Sunset includes traditional forms of Latin music, delicious food and incredible nightlife. On the other, Costa Rica faces the Pacific and boasts long expanses of white sand, world-class surfing and a beach culture that features both international nightlife and tiny, tucked away beaches and towns. Between these two coasts lie miles of dense rainforest, thousands of different species of animals, a series of towering volcanoes and adventure activities waiting around every bend.

This is just the place to find Costa Rica travel info and tips, including my first hand knowledge as a former resident. I’ve thoroughly researched the places and topics on this site and I've even enlisted the help of my Costa Rican friends while writing certain sections. My tips and info on Costa Rica travel will help you make the best of your vacation in this jewel of Central America. But first a little background on me.

I’m an avid traveler – I’ve been to Europe, the Caribbean, throughout Southeast Asia (lived in Bangkok for a few months), lived in Mexico for seven months and have been to every country in Central America. Even took a boat to Colombia.

I’d wanted to include Costa Rica in my travels for years, and then it finally happened. I had quit my job in the States and already been to Mexico and back, so I decided to improve my Spanish while diving and studying to be a divemaster. I just so happened to come upon an offer for a divemaster internship on the northwest coast of Costa Rica in a little pueblo called Playas del Coco.

I arrived with a plan to spend three months.

I came back almost exactly one year later.


So, be careful, the Costa Rican lifestyle can be a bit addictive. You might end up like I did…living there for a year and enjoying every second of it! And I’m putting my time spent there to good use by compiling a Costa Rica travel guide to help prepare any potential travelers. Though I’m sure when I’m through with you you’ll be chomping at the bit to hop a plane down here.

Why travel to Costa Rica though?

Costa Rica just has so much to offer:

  • Cheerful and friendly people – they call themselves Ticos (Ticas for the ladies)
  • 26 National Parks – teeming with amazing flora and fauna (5% of all documented species on earth call Costa Rica’s 12 distinct ecological zones home)
  • Water sports galore – diving, snorkeling, surfing, white-water rafting, kayaking
  • World-class fishing
  • Volcanoes (including active ones that light up the night more dramatically than fireworks)
  • Pacific and Caribbean beaches
  • Golf courses
  • Spas
  • Honeymoon spots
  • Great coffee
  • And it’s closer to some US states than Hawaii and MUCH cheaper!


That was by no means an exhaustive list. You’ll have to poke around the website a bit to get a better understanding of this and all the great Costa Rica travel info I have to offer.

There are lots of wonderful little towns to get lost in for a couple of weeks of tranquility. But as a country that is the size of Vermont and New Hampshire together, it’s also easy to spend those weeks exploring all of Costa Rica with a rental car. You have even more options if you rent a 4x4 – which is required in some of the more remote regions, and just more comfortable on unpaved roads. Ticos will amaze you with their ability to use 2-wheel drive on rough terrain, but I did all my driving around in a 4x4. Makes those swimming pool size potholes along the coast a little more manageable – especially in the rainy season.

Don’t get scared though, road tripping around this country is a blast.

Costa Rica really does have it all. From luxury to adrenaline spiking adventure activities – imagine my heart rate when I was scuba diving and saw a ten-foot bull shark – this country will make a lasting impression on you. And perhaps you’ll begin a life long love affair as I certainly have. You wouldn’t be the first as there were over 80k expats counting Costa Rica as home in 2004.

Look around and find out what you’ve been missing!



Cheap Airfare to Costa Rica: Tips for Finding Cheap Flights to Costa Rica
Cheap Airfare to Costa Rica: Guide providing tips and info for getting cheap flights to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Hotels
Guide for Costa Rica Hotels: Tips and Info on accomodations in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Attractions Guide
Costa Rica Attractions Guide: Find out what draws over 1 million vistors annually to this tiny country.

Best Costa Rica Beaches
Best Costa Rica Beaches: Descriptions of the best and most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Adventure Travel: Activities for a true Costa Rica Adventure Vacation
Costa Rica Adventure Travel Information: Learn about all the amazing opportunities to make your adventure vacation unforgettable.

Costa Rica Fishing
Costa Rica fishing information: everything you need to know to plan a perfect fishing vacation.

Costa Rica Scuba Diving: A Guide to Scuba Diving in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Scuba Diving Guide: All the infomation you need to make your Costa Rica adventure vacation complete by seeing Costa Rica's amazing marine life.

Costa Rica Surfing: Guide to Surfing in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Surfing Information: Everything you need to know to have a blast surfing costa rica's world-class waves and warm waters.

Costa Rica Whitewater Rafting
Costa Rica Whitewater Rafting Guide: Everything you need to know to plan an exciting whitewater rafting trip including river descriptions and helpful advice.

Car Rental Costa Rica: Tips for a Positive Costa Rica Rental Car Experience
Car Rental Costa Rica: Valuable guide with information and tips that will make sure your car rental experience is trouble free.

Costa Rica Weather: Find out "how's the weather in Costa Rica?"
Costa Rica Weather Info: Everything you need to know about weather in Costa Rica including an up to date weather map!

Costa Rica Travel Tips and Advice
Costa Rica Travel Tips: Travel advice to help prepare for your Costa Rica vacation.

Costa Rica Currency Exchange Info
Costa Rica Currency Guide: Current exchange rates and money information for travelers

Costa Rica Coffee
Costa Rica Coffee Guide: info about Costa Rica's amazing coffee, including Organic and Fair Trade coffee.

Learn Spanish in Costa Rica: Why Choose Spanish Language Schools in Costa Rica..
Learn Spanish in Costa Rica: Find out why this Central American gem is the perfect place to learn Spanish!

Costa Rica Honeymoon
Costa Rica Honeymoon: Ideas to help plan your perfect romantic honeymoon getaway!

Costa Rica Weddings - Getting Married in Paradise
Costa Rica Weddings: Find out why getting married in paradise is easier than you think.

Snorkeling in Costa Rica
Snorkeling in Costa Rica: Everything you need to know to enjoy the beautiful marine life of this country.

Kayaking Costa Rica: Sea kayaking and Freshwater
Kayaking Costa Rica: Your Guide to Kayaking the beautiful waters of this Central American gem.

Windsurfing Costa Rica's Lake Arenal and Bahia Salinas in Pacific Northwest
Info on Windsurfing Costa Rica's Lake Arenal and Bahia Salinas in the Pacific Northwest

Costa Rica Mountain Biking
Costa Rica Mountain Biking: Plan your perfect mountain biking adventure in beautiful Costa Rica

Bird Watching Costa Rica Style
Bird Watching Costa Rica: Find out why Costa Rica is one of the best birding destinations in the world.

Tamarindo Costa Rica: Fun, Sun, and Surf
Tamarindo Costa Rica: Your guide to this fantastic beach vacation getaway!

Jaco Costa Rica: Your Guide to Jaco Beach
Jaco Costa Rica: A description and guide to Jaco Beach on Costa Rica's beautiful Pacific coast.

Liberia Costa Rica: The Hub of Guanacaste
Description of Liberia Costa Rica, the gateway to Guanacaste, within minutes of beautiful beaches and towering volcanoes.

Costa Rica National Parks: Your guide to the national parks of Costa Rica
Drawing thousands of visitors every year, Costa Rica national parks are treasures full of gorgeous scenery and exotic wildlife, providing perfect opportunities for hiking, biking, and photography.

Living in Costa Rica: The Good Life
A former resident tells you what living in Costa Rica is like. And yes, it really is that good!

Costa Rica Plastic Surgery: A Paradise for Cheap Cosmetic Surgery
Costa Rica Plastic Surgery: Find out the about affordable, high-quality cosmetic surgery in paradise.

Costa Rica Resorts: Beach, Wilderness, and Luxury All Inclusive
Costa Rica resorts have a lot to offer, from beach side relaxation to luxurious outposts nestled in the heart of the tropical rainforest.

Costa Rica Geography Info
Costa Rica Geography Info: Find out why this country's geography sets it apart.

Costa Rica Airports
Costa Rica Airports: A List of International and Domestic Airports

Costa Rica Newspapers
A listing of the various Costa Rica newspapers, including links to their homepages.

Costa Rica Vacation Rentals
Discover why Costa Rica vacation rentals are the smart choice for extened vacations.

Costa Rica Spas - Guide to Costa Rica Spa Vacations
Info on Costa Rica spas, from locations to amenities and treatments.

Map of Costa Rica: Explore Costa Rica Maps Here Before You Go on Vacation!
Explore a detailed map of costa rica as well as other political and topographical maps.

Costa Rica Food: Guide to Foods in Costa Rica
Your guide to Costa Rica food, from the common rice and beans to the exotic fruits and delicacies.

Costa Rica Travel Guide - About Me
About me, my site, and other relevant stuff!

Costa Rica Travel - Contact Me
Contact form for travelcostaricaonline.com

Costa Rica Retirement: Guide for those wishing to retire in Costa Rica
Discover why Costa Rica retirement is is a viable option for spending the rest of your life in paradise.


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