A first Costa Rica surf trip comes down to four decisions: which coast, when to go, where to base yourself …
Costa Rica Domestic Flights: SANSA Airlines Guide
A five-hour drive to the beach or a 45-minute flight: in Costa Rica, a small plane can save you most …
Cheap Flights to Costa Rica: When to Book and How to Save
The cheapest flights to Costa Rica usually come in the green (rainy) season: May and June, and September through mid-November, …
Palmares Festival Costa Rica: Dates, Tope and Tips
The Palmares Festival, or Fiestas de Palmares, is a 10- to 12-day fair held every January in Palmares, a small …
Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica: A Family Beach Guide
Playa Flamingo is one of the better Costa Rica beaches for families. It sits on a sheltered bay on Guanacaste’s …
Costa Rica Animals: 9 You Can Actually See and Where
You don’t need a biology degree or a week in the deep jungle to see Costa Rica’s wildlife. With the …
5 Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica: Beaches to Volcanoes
If it’s your first trip, five places cover the best of Costa Rica. Arenal and La Fortuna have the volcano, …
Sopa Negra: Costa Rican Black Bean Soup Recipe
Sopa negra is Costa Rica’s black bean soup: black beans simmered in their own cooking liquid with onion, sweet pepper, …
Marino Ballena National Park: Whale Tail, Fees and Tips
Marino Ballena National Park protects a strip of beach and more than 5,000 hectares of ocean around Uvita, on Costa …
Costa Rica Health Insurance for Expats: Caja vs Private
Moving to Costa Rica as a resident means joining its public health system, even if you never plan to use …
La Llorona in Costa Rica: The Legend and Its Local Versions
La Llorona, the Weeping Woman, is a ghost who walks Costa Rica’s riverbanks at night, crying for the child she …
10 Advantages of Green Season Travel in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s green season, the rainy months from about May to November, has real advantages. Hotels and tours are often …
Religion in Costa Rica: Main Faiths, Holidays and Customs
Every Costa Rican town is built around a church and a soccer field, and that tells you something. Religion still …
Jaguars in Costa Rica: Where They Live and How to See One
Yes, there are jaguars in Costa Rica, but not many, and seeing one in the wild is rare. Conservation groups …
What Is a Sabanero? Meaning and Costa Rica’s Cowboy Culture
Drive through Guanacaste and you’ll see them on horseback along the road: wide-brimmed hats, boots, a coiled rope on the …
El Tope Parade in Costa Rica: What It Is and Where to See It
El Tope is Costa Rica’s traditional horse parade: hundreds or thousands of riders in cowboy hats and boots ride through …
Chorreadas: Costa Rica’s Fresh Corn Pancakes (Recipe)
Chorreadas are Costa Rican corn pancakes made from fresh corn kernels puréed into a thick batter and cooked on a …
El Gordo Navideño: Costa Rica’s Christmas Lottery Explained
Every December, lottery vendors in Costa Rica start calling out one word: “¡Gordo!” That is the national Christmas lottery, and …
Books About Costa Rica: 5 Must-Reads Before You Go
The best books about Costa Rica explain what you’ll see on a trip and why the country works the way …
The Filibuster War: How Costa Rica Defeated William Walker
The Filibuster War of 1856–57, known in Costa Rica as the Campaña Nacional (National Campaign), was the war Costa Rica …
Are There Capybaras in Costa Rica? The Short Answer Is No
Plenty of travel sites, including an earlier version of this article, will tell you where to spot capybaras in Costa …
What Is a Pulpería? Costa Rica’s Corner Store Explained
A pulpería is Costa Rica’s neighborhood corner store: a small, usually family-run shop selling groceries, cold drinks, snacks and household …
Costa Rica Carnivals: Limón, Puntarenas and Festival del Mar
Costa Rica has two main carnivals. The Limón Carnival on the Caribbean coast runs for about 10 days in mid-October …
Costa Rica Plastic Ban and Recycling: A Traveler’s Guide
Costa Rica’s plastic ban affects travelers in two main ways. Single-use plastics, including disposable bottles, bags, straws and cutlery, are …