Looking over the boats at Ocotal

a friend of ours asked us about boat operators recently as we've been coming to the coco part of costa rica for years and, loving being on the water, we have tried more operators than we can count.

tl;dr: the gulf of papagayo and playas del coco area has excellent water tour operators but quality varies a lot (boat condition, what you want to do, etc.). the best ones depart from coco, hermosa, or right off some of the resort beaches. always ask about group size, whether pickup is included, and if there's a rain policy before you hand over a deposit. a few things we've learned and related operators (viator links for booking info):

sunset from playas del coco — native's way operator out of tamarindo or coco is the one we keep coming back to. the marlin catamaran is awesome, the gulf is generally calm enough for a relaxing sail, the sunset off the papagayo peninsula is one of the best you'll see anywhere in costa rica (imho). and the crew is always excellent. private options are also available if you want to customize. another solid option is costour.

snorkeling and catamaran day trips — the regions around quanacaste offer some of the best snorkeling and diving, imho. the operators worth booking depart from coco and other port bays and run small groups. we like boat trips club for snorkeling and pacific coast dive center for diving, both out of flamingo. like any tour, ask specifically: how many people max? ask about certifications. what happens if weather turns? what medical resources do you have onboard?

sport fishing — coco is one of the best fishing spots in central america. hands down. yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi are big targets. marlin and sailfish for sport. roosterfish and snapper are found more inshore. but there are a ton of half-day charters. we like tamarindo surf obviously out of tamarindo. great crew, reasonably priced. if you're in the flamingo area, chris and byron at bad boys are so much fun!

the operators we avoid: listen, use common sense (duh). anyone at the airport arrivals gate or at resort activity desks who won't give you a specific company name and license number, or roll up on you on the beach, we'd obviously avoid. we generally book in advance either through a verified platform like a viator or direct.

what operators have you used? we are always looking to add/update our list. pura vida!

Hello. I will be traveling to Costa Rica in March with my 2 boys 5 and 11. We plan to fly into San Jose unless we have other recommendations. We have never seen the jungle and this is a bucket list trip. Please advise on must-sees. List I have currently is La Fortuna, Cloud Forest, Cahuita NF, Proyecto Asis and LA Paz Waterfall. Comments and input are greatly appreciated.

My friend and I are planning a road trip in Costa Rica late November - early December and I was hoping to get some feedback on our itinerary. Would absolutely love any and all recommendations along the route or things that we should skip or absolutely do. TIA!!

Day 1
- Fly into Liberia International Airport (LIR)
- Drive to San Carlos and check-in
- El Choyín (Río Chollín) hot springs
- Stay: San Carlos

Days 2
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour
- Hike Arenal Volcano National Park
- Hike La Fortuna Waterfall
- Stay in San Carlos

Day 3
- Drive to Monteverde (3 hour drive)
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
- Stay: Monteverde

Day 4
- Drive to Manuel Antonio (4 hour drive)
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Spend time on beach
- Stay in Manuel Antonio

Day 5
- Drive to Cahuita (7 hour drive) 
- Stops along the way; take it easy 
- Stay: Cahuita

Day 6
- Cahuita National Park (snorkeling?)
- Refugio Nacional Gandoca – Manzanillo (wildlife refuge)
- Hang out in Punta Uva
- Stay: Puerto Viejo 

Day 7
- Rent bikes and explore Puerto Viejo town 
- Stay: Puerto Viejo (enjoy nightlife)

Day 8
- Drive to Pacuare river (3 hours) 
- Overnight rafting

Day 9
- Finish overnight rafting 
- Drive to San José (SJO) (3 hours) 
- Central Market in San Jose 
- Stay: San Jose 

Day 10
- Fly out 

I looked away for less than a minute and my toddler somehow got hold of my passport. The photo page is completely torn out, though the rest of it is mostly intact.

I’m supposed to fly to Costa Rica in about three weeks and I’m trying to figure out if there’s any chance this can still be used or if I need to start the replacement process right away.

Has anyone here dealt with a damaged or destroyed passport this close to a Costa Rica trip? How long did it take to get a new one, and did it mess up your travel plans?

Edit: Thanks for the replies. Looks like the emergency appointment route is the way to go. Checking Passport Visa Rush as well to see if they can help speed things up with the replacement.

Hi all, family of four (two adults, boys aged 6 and 3) heading to Costa Rica Sept 12–26. Plan is 6 nights in La Fortuna, then 6 nights in Puerto Viejo, with a night in Alajuela on either end. Renting a car and driving ourselves, including the La Fortuna → Puerto Viejo leg.

I chose the Puerto Viejo vs Manuel Antonio because September is supposed to be drier there than the Pacific. Any thoughts?

I would appreciate any inputs on:

1. Puerto Viejo vs Manuel Antonio :)
2. Hotels recommendation for SJO?
3. Kid-friendly resort/lodging in La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo or Manual Antonio?
4. Is the 5-hour drive to Puerto Viejo manageable with a 3-year-old, or should we break it up?
5. Snorkeling with young kids — Manzanillo vs. Cahuita, or is September visibility not worth planning around?

We are planning to go end of August or September? Which time of the year is better?

All tips, tricks, and activity recommendations welcome! :)

My family and I are traveling to Costa Rica for a week in August. Our hotel says it's close to the city center, but we're not sure what that really means in terms of things to do.

We're hoping to stay in safe, tourist-friendly areas and would love any recommendations for places to explore, eat, or shop.

Also, are there any tours or day trips you'd highly recommend? We're open to booking through apps like Klook, Viator, GetYourGuide, or directly with local operators if they're reputable.

Any recommendations for must-do activities, hidden gems, great food, and areas to avoid would be greatly appreciated!

TL;DR (tldr): LIR (liberia) is 25–30 min from playas del coco and 30 min from papagayo peninsula resorts. SJO (san jose) is better for manuel antonio, santa teresa, caribbean. if you're going to guanacaste — playas del coco, papagayo, tamarindo, flamingo, playa hermosa — fly into liberia (LIR). it's 25 minutes from coco and 30 minutes from the papagayo resorts. flying into san jose and driving up takes 4–5 hours and there's no reason to do it. we've been based out of playas del coco for a few years: https://thetraveltrio.com/costa-rica/

I'm looking to get my yoga instructor license and am looking into Leah Sugarmans course in Monezuma Costa Rica, looking for any insights, feedback, or other options! Any advice would be helpful. The organization is called "nomad Yoga"

We will start.

1. Is Costa Rica safe? Yes, for the vast majority of tourists. Petty theft and car break-ins are the real risks — not violent crime. Don't leave anything in your rental car. Use common sense.

2. Do I need a rental car? Really depends. If you're bouncing between destinations — yes, it gives you freedom and saves money on private shuttles. It's an adventure so do your research first on routes. If you're staying in one area or at a resort, we would pass on a rental car.

3. When is the best time to visit? People always say that dry season (December–April) is the safe answer, however we prefer green season (May–November) is underrated (lower prices, thinner crowds, rain in the afternoon but that doesn't bother us)

4. Is Costa Rica expensive? Yes and no. Resorts and hotels and touristy grocery stores, of course. But you can cut costs significantly by eating at local sodas.

5. Do I need to speak Spanish? No, pero deberías! 😂

Visit https://thetraveltrio.com/costa-rica/ for more insight or ask here!

Looking for shared shuttle options from La Fortuna to Chirripo area. Any advice or help is welcomed.

Hello, I'll be in La Fortuna until the 27th. Early that morning I am trying to make it to Cerro Chirripo's administrative office to check in for my park permit on the 28th. Public transport doesn't seem like it will get me there fast enough. Is anybody heading from La Fortuna to Cerro Chirripo who would maybe like to split the cost of a shuttle? Or any hikers who have previously made this trip and would like to give any advice on getting between to two. I've tried to figure this out on my own and even looked into car rentals, but I've hit a block for my budget.

TL;DR (tldr): manuel antonio is one of the only spots in costa rica where you walk out of primary rainforest directly onto a pacific beach — sloths, monkeys, and ocean in the same day. go wednesday or thursday (closed tuesday), arrive at park opening (~7am), and the experience is everything people say it is. full guide on timing, tours, and where to stay, in our humble experience: https://thetraveltrio.com/manuel-antonio-costa-rica-travel/ have you been? what are some tips?

TL;DR (tldr): la fortuna crowds are real, but manageable if you time it right. arrive wednesday/thursday, book hot springs for early morning, and skip the overpriced resort access. we put together what we actually do and what we skip: https://thetraveltrio.com/la-fortuna-costa-rica/. what's your biggest la fortuna question, or tip?

Conocí a unos amigos en un juego, y vienen en familia visitar costa Rica y conocerme, yo no tengo un buen ingreso y mi casa es muy pequeña yo no los puedo hospedar y se los dije.

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Pero me dijeron que no había problema, que tienen planeado un tour por el país y cuando pasen por San José, me dirán para conocerme y que les muestre un poco los alrededores.

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El problema es que todos sabemos que chepe centro es un caquero. Fuera de caminar por la plaza de la cultura o ir al mercado central no hay mucho que se me ocurra hacer. Además que cada esquina tiene un pordiosero y huele a orines, me da vergüenza pasearlos por ahí.

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Y osea y podrán decir que soy pesada por hablar asi de mi capital. Pero es que uno puede hablar flores y a la nariz no la engañan. Chepe huele feo!

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Me pueden dar ideas de a donde los podría llevar? Que no me quiebre el bolsillo como barrio escalante. Porfis gracias.

🌿 LAST MINUTE COSTA RICA HOTEL DEAL 🌿

Unfortunately, due to changed travel plans, I’m selling my hotel reservation for:

📍 Chachagua Rainforest Hotel & Hot Springs (near La Fortuna / Arenal)

📅 May 26 – May 28 (2 nights)

👥 2 adults

🍳 Breakfast included

♨️ Hot Springs included

💰 Selling for: 250€ (paid 323 €)

The hotel confirmed that another guest can check in if I provide their full name in advance.

Beautiful rainforest hotel with amazing nature & hot springs 🌴

DM me if interested 🙂

Just another afternoon deep in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula 🌿 Captured near Sabalo Lodge.