COSTA RICA: RESOURCES GUIDE
About Costa Rica:
Welcome to Costa Rica, a beautiful country that offers a wealth of experiences for travelers of all interests. With its lush rainforests, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and amazing biodiversity, Costa Rica is a destination that should be on every traveler's radar.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Costa Rica offers a range of activities to suit your interests. Explore the country's lush rainforests and spot exotic wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, and toucans. Hike to majestic waterfalls or zipline through the treetops for an adrenaline rush. Visit the beautiful beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts for some of the world's best surfing and scuba diving.
If you are interested in culture, Costa Rica has a rich history and vibrant arts scene. Explore the colonial architecture of San Jose, the capital city, and visit museums that highlight the country's history and art. Learn about the indigenous cultures of Costa Rica and their traditional way of life, and attend a local festival to experience the lively music and dance of the region.
Costa Rica is also famous for its delicious cuisine. Sample the country's traditional dishes, such as gallo pinto (rice and beans) and casado (a hearty meal of rice, beans, meat, and vegetables). Taste the country's exotic fruits such as guanabana and maracuya, and indulge in the world-famous Costa Rican coffee.
One of the highlights of Costa Rica is its national parks and protected areas, which make up over a quarter of the country's land. From the stunning Arenal Volcano National Park to the lush Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica's protected areas offer some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the world. Take a guided tour through the rainforests or relax on the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Lastly, visit the Nicoya Peninsula, located on the Pacific coast, which is known for its beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. The towns of Nosara and Santa Teresa are popular destinations for surfers and yoga enthusiasts, while the beach town of Tamarindo offers a range of nightlife and dining options.
Whether you are interested in outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or just want to relax on the beach, Costa Rica is a destination that offers something for everyone. So pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in this tropical paradise.
Welcome to Adventure Fares' Resources and Information Guide. These guides are compiled to provide a great "starting place" for planning. Here, we try to help you with the 4 big planning goals for any destination: Where to Stay / Where to Eat / What to See and Do / How to Budget. We even try to include some great itinerary links. Have fun planning your travel adventure! These resource pages are always being updated. If you would like to see a country / city / place not already in our resource guides, please email your requests or suggestions to: [email protected]
BUDGET RESOURCES:
We typically go to Budget Your Trip to research budgeting! We highly recommend their website. They do a fantastic job of compiling data from thousands of travelers around the world! This data is so useful for anyone who’s wanting to make the most of their travel budget. If you sign up and enter your own expenses - you contribute to the data and also get to access their fantastic planning tools - with charts, maps, graphs, and tables of your trip finances. Bookmark their site, and go there for a lot more in-depth budgeting research: BudgetYourTrip.com
With this chart, we just wanted to give you an idea of how your budget might look compared to a few familiar places here in the U.S
Rentals / Hotels / B&B Lists
Finding the perfect accommodation can make or break a trip. That's why we compile so many lodging lists - to help you find reliable and affordable recommendations for AirBNBs, VRBOs, boutique hotels, and B&Bs. These lists should give you a great starting place, and hopefully make that trip even better!
BED AND BREAKFASTS
AIRBNB Resources:
airbnb.com - It has become a very popular resource for travelers. We try to limit our lists to rentals in great locations, with good pricing, and great views when we find them. We use AirBNB a lot. ALWAYS double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings most of the time. Be sure to double check for air conditioning in the summer, and feel free to reach out to the owner for tips / questions!
VRBO Resources:
vrbo.com - VRBO is another great one to use. Sometimes you find rentals here you won't see on AirBNB - its always great to have more options, especially during peak seasons when rentals book up fast. Always double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings when possible. The VRBO system won't let us filter neighborhoods as well as some others, so always double check location after finding a good property.
Bed and Breakfast Resources:
Booking.com - this is often our “go-to” for this category. We find their customer reviews to be very reliable!
bedandbreakfast.guide (B&B Guide) - this one screens out the worst-reviewed places, so their lists are pretty reliable.
bnbfinder.com - this one is promising, but they don’t have near as many listings as the others here. We hope they grow!
Boutique Hotels Resources:
BoutiqueHotel.me - this one is usually our favorite. However, their list will only provide you with hotels who allow booking through booking.com - so some great hotels won’t be on their lists.
MrandMrsSmith.com - This is fantastic and inspirational resource for finding places to stay around the world. Much of their focus is on premiere hotels (and not what we would call “budget” finds), but it can be a fantastic place to search. It’s fun to just click on their “Inspiration” tab and find some new places around the world.
TheHotelGuru.com - This site also links to booking.com, and can be a complimentary resource.
GreatSmallHotels.com - Another resource the books through booking.com, this one tends to go a little more upscale, especially in large European cities.
Some More Interesting Lodging Guides:
gounusual.com - Great Resource for those trying to find unique places to stay: Castles, igloos, boats, more!
eruoglamping.com - Just what it sounds like - a resource of upscale camping places in Europe:
goglamping.net - GoGlamping / More upscale camping experiences - UK and Europe
NOTE: No matter what form of lodging you book, we recommend you always confirm your booking one last time a week to 10 days ahead of your travel.
Restaurants / Dining Lists
Choosing dining options can be confusing and intimidating. We've compiled these lists to help you start planning some memorable meals. Lists are organized by city and include some of the best and most affordable dining destinations in each city/area. Every adventure deserves some great meals!
TripAdvisor Dining Lists:
TripAdvisor.com - We recommend using TripAdvisor’s dining directories whenever you find yourself needing good food in a place with which you’re unfamiliar. They have a huge volume of reviews, great genre help, and mapping.
Michelin Guide - Dining Lists:
Michelin Guide - For respected and relevant reviews of restaurants around the world, Michelin has been the Iconic dining guide since the 1800s. If you find a 1 star near you, book it. If you find a 2 star, you’re in for a treat. If you find a 3 star - make a travel detour if you need to and get there!
Wanderlog Dining Lists:
Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities. Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, but we’ve come to really like their restaurant lists. They’re just a little pickier than TripAdvisor, but not as exclusive as Michelin. They’re worth checking out in most towns.
When trying to get a nicer restaurant into your travel plans, we recommend making reservations at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. Some of the Michelin star restaurants might even require more advance (varies).
Things to See and Do Lists
Finding what to see and do is always a travel priority. We've compiled lists/links from the world's most credible sources to help you find the best adventures for your destination. These lists will help you find the most popular attractions (and some hidden gems) for your travel adventures.
Things to See and Do Resources:
These are some itineraries and itinerary resources from sources we trust. Even if you don't find the exact itinerary you need, they will give you some great places to start. Rank your priorities (and your travel friends' priorities), see what works for your schedule, and plan an amazing travel adventure. *Don't try to cram too much in - it's those "unplanned" moments that often product the best adventures.
FodorsTravel.com - In our experience, Fodor’s is the best overall place to start when planning a trip. Once you search and find their guide to a city - they break the guide down into Sights, Nightlife, Shopping, Performing Arts, and Sports and Acitivities. There’s not tons of inspiration here, but good, reliable information. There are ads, but they do a good job of keeping the content credible. They also have a great “Map View” feature for the different sections so you can always check to see what’s close. Their Hotels and Restaurants guides are also pretty good.
RickSteves.com - Rick Steves has been an awesome resource for budget travelers for decades, and his content just keeps getting better. His reviews are reliable, his itineraries are fantastic, and his reputation for credibility is great. We check out his information on any destination we're thinking about visiting.
AtlasObscura.com - This is our favorite guide source! We don’t know how the team at Atlas Obscura finds so many cool, interesting, and odd things to see around the world - but they do it. It’s easy to find those top few things to do in any location, but these guys go beyond - and get you some off-the-beaten path adventures.
TripAdvisor - Trip Advisor is pretty commercial in nature, but they have really high traffic - so it's easy to see what's popular pretty much anywhere in the world. That can be helpful for planning what to see, and sometimes what to avoid. It's one of our go-to resources for seeing what might be in the town ahead on a road trip.
Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities. Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, and we really like their “THINGS TO DO” lists. They’re pretty much ranked from most popular to least - so its a great place to figure out a priority list of things to see.
GetYourGuide.com - We really like this one! Get your guide is becoming a great source for planning as well as inspiration for travel adventures. Even if you aren’t looking for things to do on your trip, it’s a good place to get new trip ideas and browse exciting things to do. They have some "decent" pricing on local activities - worth considering for booking.
Nomadicmatt.com - Matt travels as much as any blogger / content creator we follow. He's a good writer, a good planner, and delivers entertaining content. We certainly recommend you check out his travel guides. If he's been somewhere, he shares great stuff!
OTHERS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
The Crazy Tourist - This is a travel resource that covers destinations all over the world. Just type the name of a country or city in their search section, and they have good
CultureTrip.com - This one is pretty commercial (lots of ads), but its also pretty reliable. They’ve been a travel industry leader for a long time, so there are enough reviews on things to know if you’re making good decisions. We always check out the Culture Trip guide for any location we’re planning on visiting.
Itineraries to Get You Started
Building an itinerary for your travel adventure can be a daunting task. Here are a few resources to help you get started without all the "noise" associated with online research. These are sample itineraries from travel pros who are credible, reliable, and know the places they're writing about. Itineraries are made to be broken, but hopefully these will start you out on the right path.
If you're planning a trip to Costa Rica, there's so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help you plan your itinerary, here's a comprehensive checklist of must-see destinations and off-the-beaten-path gems to explore. Below our checklist, you'll find several sample itineraries we recommend.
DON’T MISS:
- Explore the stunning Arenal Volcano National Park, known for its beautiful landscapes, stunning volcanic vistas, and abundant wildlife.
- Visit the stunning Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the north of the country, known for its stunning biodiversity, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.
- Relax on the beautiful beaches of Guanacaste, located in the northwest of the country, known for their stunning scenery, crystal-clear waters, and abundant wildlife.
- Take a dip in the beautiful La Fortuna Waterfall, located in the Arenal Volcano National Park, known for its stunning natural beauty and crystal-clear waters.
- Visit the charming town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, located on the Caribbean coast, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine.
IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME:
- Take a trip to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park, located in the central Pacific coast, known for its stunning beaches, beautiful landscapes, and abundant wildlife.
- Explore the stunning Tortuguero National Park, located on the Caribbean coast, known for its stunning biodiversity, beautiful canals, and rich cultural heritage.
- Visit the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula, located in the northwest of the country, known for its stunning beaches, beautiful landscapes, and charming traditional villages.
- Take a hike in the stunning Corcovado National Park, located in the south of the country, known for its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural heritage.
- Visit the beautiful Osa Peninsula, located in the southwest of the country, known for its stunning beaches, beautiful landscapes, and rich biodiversity.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
- Explore the stunning Palo Verde National Park, located in the northwest of the country, known for its beautiful wetlands, abundant birdlife, and charming traditional villages.
- Visit the beautiful Rio Celeste, located in the north of the country, known for its stunning turquoise waters and beautiful waterfall.
- Take a trip to the beautiful Chirripó National Park, located in the south of the country, known for its stunning mountain landscapes, beautiful lakes, and abundant wildlife.
- Explore the charming town of Santa Teresa, located on the Nicoya Peninsula, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine.
- Visit the stunning Tenorio Volcano National Park, located in the north of the country, known for its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.
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Costa Rica Itineraries / 4 days to 16 days - HUNDREDS of Options / kimkim.com
These are great looking itineraries with several options. This site does a fantastic job of putting all the highlights into concise, practical plans. If you're wanting a few great ideas for a unique trip to Costa Rica - you couldn't go wrong with this one. *There are dozens of great itineraries here with maps and tons of info.! This is our favorite place to start planning Costa Rica!
Several Suggested Itineraries for Costa Rica / Essential Costa Rica
This is a great resource for planning Costa Rica adventures. Itineraries are categorized into Adventure, Relaxation, Culture, Nature, and combinations of those. We wish they had more photography, but the itineraries themselves are fantastic.
Suggested Itineraries in Costa Rica / 3 Days to 2 Weeks / Frommer's
Frommer's has been around for decades, helping travelers explore the world. This page gives you 7 different Costa Rica itineraries of varying length - and varying areas of the country. Check this one out. You can almost plan an entire trip on their site.
OTHER RESOURCES:
•17 Best Hiking Trails in Costa Rica
Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Costa Rica / AllTrails
Best Hikes in Costa Rica: 8 Best Trekking Routes / Much Better Adventures
Best of Wines and Cheeses in Costa Rica
*photos from pixabay.com, pexels.com, unsplash.com and Darrell Potts
EMAIL Us - We Want to Hear From You!
We believe that the best travel advice comes from those who have experienced it firsthand. That's why we're inviting our members to share their travel tips, and recommendations with us. Whether it's a hidden gem of a restaurant, a must-see attraction, or an off-the-beaten-path adventure, we want to hear about it. Your contributions are helping us build a new database of "Member Suggestions." Email us when you get a chance - links, maps, and reviews all help! Email us at [email protected]
These resource pages have been fun to work on! We hope they keep getting better. Are we missing something? Are we missing one of your favorite travel resources? Please email me - I'd love to learn anything that can help make travel adventures even better! Darrell Potts.
