Costa Rica

Travelogues Costa Rica

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Vacation in Costa Rica : Highlights & Travel Tips

Costa Rica is a standout destination for travelers thanks to its remarkable mix of biodiversity, adventure, and easygoing "pura vida" culture. In a relatively small country, you can move from cloud forests and volcanoes to Pacific surf towns and Caribbean beaches in just a few hours, making it ideal for travelers who want variety without complicated logistics. Nature is the main draw: national parks, wildlife refuges, and private reserves offer frequent sightings of sloths, monkeys, toucans, sea turtles, and colorful frogs, while the country’s strong commitment to conservation makes it especially appealing for eco-conscious visitors.

Key highlights include zip-lining through Monteverde’s misty canopy, hiking around Arenal Volcano, soaking in natural hot springs, rafting jungle rivers, and relaxing on beaches in Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa, Tamarindo, or Puerto Viejo. Travelers can also enjoy snorkeling, surfing, waterfall hikes, and coffee or cacao tours, with excellent opportunities for both luxury stays and budget-friendly eco-lodges. For practical planning, expect a mix of microclimates and pack for both heat and rain, especially if visiting the rainforest or cloud forest regions. Renting a car offers flexibility, but road conditions can be rough in rural areas, so shuttle services are often easier; booking popular parks, lodges, and activities in advance is wise during peak season.

Best time to travel Costa Rica

The best time to visit Costa Rica is from February through March, when travel popularity peaks and conditions are typically ideal for exploring beaches, rainforests, and national parks. January is also a strong option, while April can still be pleasant with slightly fewer crowds before the wetter, quieter months begin.

All travel reports from Costa Rica

THE FORTUNA

And then the big trip to my favorite weekend (so far) began! We left on Thursday to have more time on site, because La Fortuna has so much to offer. It is a small town at the...

Weekend in Puerto Viejo

The first weekend in Costa Rica was truly amazing. We planned the trip during the week and booked the hostel in advance. On Friday, after our Spanish classes, we took the bus...

Costa Rica - Really “Pura Vida”?

Hi! My last night in Costa Rica is approaching and what can I say? To be honest, I'm glad that I'm going to Panama tomorrow. Nothing against the country, the nature and the...

Sometimes my genius is almost frightening (JC) ... at blue falls

This beautiful quote from Jeremy Clarkson takes on a special meaning today. But let's start from the beginning After we had a good night's sleep, we drove to Alamo at 8:00 a.m....

Farewell to the Star Clipper and Crocodile Tour in Costa Rica

At Tarcoles we saw numerous water birds and crocodiles.

Pura Vida!

In Costa Rica, our adventure started not far from the border with Panama in Puerto Viejo. A place advertised as a surfer and hippie paradise on the Atlantic coast. The city and...

Pools are overrated

Yesterday was a very calm day as announced. After defeating the coconut and the dog eating half of it (I hope he doesn't have diarrhea from so much fat🙈), we watched and...

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

Good morning! Today a bit later as I sleep better every night and have no time to write at night 😅 it's 8 o'clock now and we've already had breakfast and explored the area. But...

The Rainforest

Okay, those are a lot of pictures 😅 but today we also experienced a lot. Last night, I asked for something to happen that would improve our mood. He wasn't in a good mood...

Monteverde - Extreme Cloud Forest

Following the beautiful village at the volcano is the cloud forest. Our next destination was Santa Elena, a city in the Monteverde region, which is known for its unique cloud...

Top 5 activities in Costa Rica - our selection

Must-see. Our top 5 for the perfect Costa Rica trip...

Goodbye Monteverde, back to the coast to Manuel Antonio (02/08/2022)

From the most beautiful view to explore the wildlife on the coast...

La Fortuna

Getting to La Fortuna Once again, it became clear that although the country is not very large, the roads somehow feel endless. You start in the morning fresh and lively, in a...

The first dives of the journey & Tamarindo pure (04.02.2022)

A rollercoaster of emotions in the water, as on land...

From La Fortuna with a stop at Rio Celeste to Tamarindo (02/03/2022)

From sky-blue waters, Cafe Europa, and the road trip to the surf hotspot...

Day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park

We haven't been in touch for a while now - it's been really busy the past few days! ;) From the cloud forests in Monteverde, the tour continued south to Manuel Antonio National...

Rescue Diver II

Every day brings new and sometimes unexpected challenges.

Day 3 Mangrove restoration Project

On our first day of work, we are trying to reforest a mangrove forest.

Next stop, Costa Rica!

After bidding farewell to Nicaragua with a beautiful sunset, we set off to Costa Rica to the first national park, the Monteverde Cloud Forest. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua We...

Costa Rica's Atlantic coast - from Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo

We head to the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica to explore the jungle swamp and surf spots.

Tortuguero National Park - by boat to Mawamba Lodge

Now we have reached the last destination of our journey. This is unprecedented: the last 40 km had to be covered by boat to reach the hotel. There are no cars and no roads in...

Vulkan Irazu and the Elixir of the Gods

Today we passed by the Vulkan Irazu to learn at a cocoa plantation how cocoa is harvested, dried, roasted, and then transformed into cocoa mass. We were able to make our own...

Manuel Antonio National Park and Swimming in the Pacific

Today's excursion took us to Manuel Antonio National Park. After standing in line for a while in the blazing sun at around 32°. In the shade, we encountered many local animals...

Cahuita

Cuckoo cuckoo children, The journey to Cahuita almost went well. The pirates wanted to be paid, but only in cash. Guess who had hardly any cash and no Havana rum to negotiate?...

Wow, what a day in Manuel Antonio

Lunchtime kids, Today was a very long and exciting day. We started in the Manuel Antonio National Park. Many people advise against visiting the park because it's very touristy....

The black dragon at Lake Garda

What a fantastic morning. After a good night's sleep, we woke up at 6:00 a.m!! and enjoyed the sunrise. A little girl ran up to us, speaking 3 languages at the age of 5,...

Flight to Costa Rica and arrival in San José

A long journey to escape the German winter

Road trip

In the last few days we have driven a lot. The day before yesterday we made a stop near Cartago. What can I say... the accommodation was nice but it was really really cold. You...