costa rica
Pura Vida, which translates into the Pure Life, is the National motto for this Central American country. With laid back beach vibes and sloth-filled jungles, this nation lives up to that reputation with its slower pace of life and beautiful landscapes
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Costa Rican colón
- Main Airport: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
- Train System: none, only buses
- Credit Card Friendly: In most of the major cities, but it is wise to have some cash for the smaller cities and shops
While the beaches are what draws most people to Costa Rica, the jungles and cloud forests are not far behind. Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the top attractions and is well worth the visit. Located northwest of San Jose, it takes about three hours to drive there from the capital city. You can take a bus, guided tour or rent a car to drive yourself. Driving in Costa Rica can be a little tricky, which you can read more about in our blog below.
Monteverde is a biological reserve that was established in 1972 to preserve its natural resources and also for educational programs. There are guided tours available, but you may also walk along the jungle paths and over impressive suspension bridges on your own to look for monkeys, quetzals, ocelots, sloths and jaguars. For the more adventurous, there are even night tours where you have a better chance of seeing the Costa Rican orange-kneed tarantula and other more nocturnal species.
investing in their country
Costa Rica is known for its biodiversity and it is a source of pride for Ticos. In 1949, Costa Rica was one of the first countries to disband their military in favor of civilian rule. Even though there were political motives behind this, it has enabled the country to invest more of its resources into education and conservation. While being a risky move in an area with a history of political unrest, it has served the Costa Rican people well by making it the most visited and the most stable country in Central America for decades. It also continues to be one of the top international destinations in the world.
SODAS
This is a must in Costa Rica – eat at Sodas, which are what they call little roadside restaurants that serve traditional Tico cuisine. Whether it is for lunch or dinner, the food is very affordable and always delicious
GUARO
The national liquor is Guaro or also known as Cacique, which is the official brand name. It is a clear spirit distilled from sugar cane and is served widely in guaro sours or a Costa Rica version of caipirinhas
cocktails
roadside cafes
smoothies
brews
healthy
rice & beans
GALLO PINTO
Considered the National dish of Costa Rica, gallo pinto is a side dish of rice, beans, vegetables and salsa lizano. It is traditionally served with eggs for breakfast along side the likes of fresh fruit, cooked plantain, cheese, ham, sausage and bread or tortilla.
BATIDOS
Available in Sodas, batidos are super fresh fruit smoothies made with local variations like pineapple, guanábana, cas, papaya and mango. These can be ordered with or without milk, the latter one generally being cheaper
FRESH FRUIT & FOOD
The amount of fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood are incredible. I have never eaten so healthy on a vacation without even trying. Costa Rican fare is uber local and fresh, which we loved
COFFEE
As a fan of the earthy yet bright and fruity notes of locally grown beans like Tarrazú, I thoroughly loved the coffee in Costa Rica. I highly recommend visiting a coffee plantation to see and taste the process
- Hotel El Viandante Grace y Renzo
- Bedrooms: varies depending on room
- Baths: 1
- Child Friendly: Yes
- Elevator: No
- Breakfast: Included
- Close to: Monteverde Cloud Forest (by car), restaurants, shopping
- Transportation: rental car or bus
- Note: This is a bed & breakfast so the rooms are just like hotel rooms with beds and a bath. We did not have our kids with us this trip, but they do have family rooms available. It's a great place to stay, clean, budget friendly, and a great location - though no frills.
While the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica is the most popular for tourists, the Caribbean side is well worth the trip. We stayed in Playa Cocles, which is in the Southeastern corner of the country located about 10 miles north of the Panamanian border. The Caribbean side felt more laid back and definitely had less tourists. This area was also filled with so many animals. Dogs and even horses were roaming free on the streets. To the north of where we stayed is Cahuita National Forest which is home to an abundance of wildlife including sloths, Capuchin monkeys, raccoons, toucans, turtles and frogs just to name a few. Playa Blanca, the beach at Cahuita, boasts of white sand and coral reefs. To the south is Punta Uva beach, which has gorgeous, palm-tree studded beaches and cliffs to hike for a breathtaking view of ocean.
Just south of Playa Cocles is the Jaguar Rescue Center, a sanctuary for ill, injured or orphaned animals. This is a temporary home for sloths, monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, birds and reptiles to be rehabilitated or a permanent home for those that will never be able to survive in the rain forest or their natural habitat.
The entrance fee is $25 per person and you can schedule your visit online to ensure your spot. The fees are used to provide continued veterinary care and homes to these disabled animals. While many of the residents here need to remain separate from human visitors for their well-being, you can interact with the monkeys as they love climbing and jumping on you.
- Casa Caracola Bungalow
- Bedrooms: 1
- Baths: 1
- Child Friendly: No
- Elevator: No - small, stand alone bungalow with a few steps
- Kitchen: Yes
- Close to: beach, grocery store, town center, restaurants
- Getting there: we suggest renting a car to get around this area
- There is a larger home on this gated property called Casa Marisa, which would be better suited for families.
- Beach access: Yes, though you will need to walk through a small wooded area (bring shoes) since homes are not allowed to be built directly on the beach in Costa Rica.
painted ox carts
These traditional carretas were designed to carry coffee beans from the central valley, over the mountains and to the Pacific coast. The wheels do not have spokes but are a cross between Aztec and Spanish design to enable them to not get stuck in the mud. Starting in the early twentieth century, ox carts were painted with a design specific to their region, which enabled others to know the origin of the driver. While there is less need for them now, they are still painted for festivals and to continue the tradition of the carreta
