Amazing Costa Rica Travel

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One country, covered in depth. Planning, destinations, getting around, and what it really costs, for travelers who have already decided to go.

A calm Guanacaste bay with anchored boats seen from a dry-forest hillside

guanacaste · Latest

Resorts in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Which Coast, Which Tier, and What They Really Cost

Resorts in Guanacaste, Costa Rica compared by area and price: Papagayo luxury, Conchal all-inclusives, budget picks, current rate ranges, and drive times.

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13 pieces
A dirt road winding across dry golden hills in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
car rental Car Rental in Liberia, Costa Rica: What It Costs and How the Airport Pickup Actually Works Car rental at Liberia airport (LIR): real all-in daily costs, mandatory TPL insurance, deposit holds, shuttle pickup, and drive times to Guanacaste beaches. Jul 6, 2026
Arenal volcano's green cone rising above forest under a partly cloudy sky
la fortuna Things to Do in La Fortuna: What Is Worth the Entry Fee and What Is Free Things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica: waterfall and volcano entry fees, hot springs from free to $100+, hanging bridges, and a realistic 2-day plan. Jul 6, 2026
Paved highway curving through green tropical hills, the kind of road an Adobe car rental Costa Rica road trip covers
adobe car rental Adobe Car Rental in Costa Rica: What Your Quote Leaves Out Adobe car rental in Costa Rica: what the base rate hides, the mandatory insurance you cannot decline, which airport to use, and when to skip the 4x4. Jul 4, 2026
A paved highway leading toward green mountains through the Costa Rica countryside
car rental Car Rental in San Jose, Costa Rica: The All-In Cost and What the Quote Leaves Out Car rental in San Jose, Costa Rica: the real all-in daily cost, why the counter beats your online quote, mandatory TPL insurance, deposits, and SJO vs Liberia. Jul 2, 2026
A wide Pacific beach and green headland on Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast
costa rica Costa Rica Beaches: Which Coast and Town to Pick for the Trip You Actually Booked Costa Rica beaches, by coast and town: which one fits your trip, by travel month and airport, plus swim vs. surf, real drive times, and honest up-front costs. Jun 30, 2026
Aerial view of the forested point and twin coves of Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica's Pacific coast
manuel antonio Manuel Antonio National Park: What to Know Before You Go, and Who Should Skip It Manuel Antonio National Park: whether it is worth it, if you need a guide, how SINAC tickets and hours work, plus drive times, wildlife odds, and when to go. Jun 28, 2026
Cloud drifting over the forested summit of Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
rincon de la vieja Rincón de la Vieja National Park: Volcano Trails, Mud Pots, and How to Visit Rincón de la Vieja National Park: the two sectors, the mud-pot loop, La Cangreja waterfall, SINAC fees and hours, the drive from Liberia, and where to stay. Jun 28, 2026
Mist and sun over the forested mountain ridges of the Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica
monteverde Monteverde Cloud Forest: Is It Worth the Drive, and How to Visit It Well Monteverde Cloud Forest: is it worth the rough drive? Real drive times, the best reserve, when to see a quetzal, entrance fees, and how many days to stay. Jun 26, 2026
Aerial view of the calm Gulf of Papagayo with sailboats anchored below a resort hillside in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
papagayo Papagayo, Costa Rica: The Resort Coast Near Liberia, and Who Should Skip It Papagayo, Costa Rica: gulf resort zone vs. gated peninsula, drive times from Liberia, real costs, when to go, and who should base in Tamarindo instead. Jun 24, 2026
Surfers carrying their boards along a Pacific beach near Tamarindo, Costa Rica
tamarindo Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Who It's Right For, and Who Should Base Somewhere Else Tamarindo, Costa Rica: too touristy? Who it suits, who should base in Nosara instead, plus drive times from Liberia, costs, safety, and the best time to go. Jun 22, 2026
Calm horseshoe bay with sailboats anchored below dry-forest hills at Playas del Coco in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
playas del coco Playas del Coco, Costa Rica: The Diving Town Near Liberia, and Who Should Skip It Playas del Coco, Costa Rica: the diving base 30 minutes from Liberia, the beach, nearby bays, real drive times and costs, when to go, and who should skip it. Jun 16, 2026
A driver's hand on the wheel of a rental car at dusk in Costa Rica
car rental Costa Rica Rental Car Insurance (TPL): The Mandatory Fee That Doubles Your Quote Costa Rica rental car insurance: the mandatory TPL you cannot decline, what it costs per day in 2026, TPL vs CDW, and how to avoid overpaying. Jun 4, 2026