Things to know for a Costa Rica trip

There are 2 international airports in Costa Rica you can fly into. 

1. Central Valley (SJO) Juan Santa Maria International Airport (San Jose) 
2. Pacific Coast  (LIB) Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (Liberia)

SJO in the central valley is a great airport to fly into when planning a trip to Costa Rica. From this airport you can get to all the great spots Costa Rica has to offer.  Most flights you will find fly in to this airport. It is where the main city in Costa Rica is San Jose.

• Cahuita National Park 3 Hours 30 Min
• Tortuguero 3 Hours (30 min in a hopper plane)
• Arenal Valcano 2 Hours 30 Min 
• Manuel Antonio 2 Hours 30 Min
• Jaco 1 Hour 30 Min
• Mal Pais 5 Hours
• Tamarindo 4 Hours
• Playa Hermosa 3 Hours 30 Min 

LIB in the pacific is a great airport when you are looking to get out to the north pacific of Costa Rica quick. Surfers paradise.

• Playa Hermosa 30 Min
• Tamarindo 1 Hour 15 Min
• Playa Avellana 1 Hour 30 Min
• Mal Pais 4 Hours
• Arenal Volcano 2 Hours 30 Min

Be aware these are estimates. Always give yourself extra time. This is Costa Rica. You never know what may happen. Road closures are normal here. Landslides happen, floods or people protesting in the streets. I have seen it all. If you don't like the stress of driving buses leave to all the hot spots from the bus terminal in San Jose. You can also take the Interbus. These minibuses will pick you up from all the major hotels and get you where you want to go. Super easy.

When traveling to Costa Rica deciding what to bring depends on where you are going and when.

The North Pacific Region 

• Dry season is from December to April 
• Rainy Season is from May to November. 

(Beach/Surfing/Fishing)

The Central Pacific Region  

• Dry season is from December to April and the rainy season is from May to November

 (Beach/Surfing/Fishing/ Jungle)

The South Pacific Region

• Dry season if from December to April 
• Rainy Season is from May to November.

(Beach/Surfing/Jungle)

The Central valley/San Jose 

• Dry season is December to April 
• Rainy season is May to November. 

(City tours/coffee tours)

Arenal Volcano Region 

• Dry season May to November
• Rainy Season December to April

(Jungle/volcano/spa/waterslide)

Northern Caribbean Region

• Dry Season February, March, September, October
• Rainy Season November to January, April to August

(Exploring Nature)

Southern Caribbean Region 

• Dry Season February, March, September, October
• Rainy Season November to January, April to August

(A little bit of everything)

Booking Hotels in Costa Rica can be a little tricky. Why do I say this? Because the pictures you see online can be very deceiving. 

Let me give you an example. On one trip I wanted to find something different for me and the kids to do when we were in San Jose. I saw this amazing looking hotel with hot tubs, water slides, beautiful views, zip lines, paintball and even a tree house.  Best of all on sale 60% off $57 a night and that was for the tree house. Pictures looked amazing. So we go to the hotel, the hot tubs were cold, water slides barely worked. Some had water, some did not. The amazing tree house, falling apart no hot water but we had bats in the room. Yes you heard that right. Bats in the room. As you can imagine we left after the first night even though we had booked for 2.

The moral of the story. If you are going to search online yourself. READ THE REVIEWS or get a travel agent who knows the area. Costa Rica can tend to get a little run down. The pictures you see online could be years old. When I travel here I either go to places I have been before and liked or take advice from close family or friends. The major sites are great but read the reviews. Newest ones first and decide from there. If you are looking for a hotel I would say hotels.com or Travago. If i am going to rent a house. Airbnb or VRBO. On your first trip to Costa Rica I would say play it safe. Go to a hotel. If you are looking for more comfort try to find a nice resort. When you feel a little more adventurous, maybe have found the spots you like. Then rent a house. Being at a resort and having the accessibility of a seasons staff to ask questions to is a huge plus. They will let you know the vibe of the town, the great restaurants to eat at, what beaches are best for the activities you are looking for. Experience the country in comfort before you venture off into the unknown. I love this country with all of my heart. The most important lesson I can teach you. Be aware of your surroundings, be careful what you touch and know your limits.

Renting a car in Costa Rica is easy. There are many rental companies you can choose from. The prices are very reasonable until you add the insurance. It is very important to purchase the insurance. The roads in Costa Rica can be rough. A flat tire can be common. Someone could break into your car and smash the window. That has happened to me. Even a broken lock. On average you can expect a car rental to be about  $800 to $2000 a week.

Car Rental Companies

• Adobe Rental Car
• Alamo Rental Car
• Budget Rental Car
• Avis Rental Car
• Enterprise Rental Car

Driving in Costa Rica can be interesting. I have seen mud slides, overflowing rivers, accidents and even protests. Getting from point A to point B can sometimes be challenging. Here are a couple tips to help your travels.

1. Always plan your route
2. Check the news for any road closures or construction
3. Take your time. Just because other people are driving crazy and in a rush doesn't mean you need to. 
4. Pack snacks. You never know when traffic is going to stop and you may be stuck far away from anything.
5. Bring plenty of water. Keep hydrated.

The food in Costa Rica can be hit or miss. I would say a good approach is to eat local Costa Rica dishes. You can find these in a plethora of places. Look for the sign that says "Soda". These can be tiny whole in the walls along the highway in the middle of nowhere to large almost truck stop looking restaurants. The typical dishes to look for are.

1. Gallo Pinto (Rice and beans)
2. Casado (Rice, Beans, Salad, Plantains and a Protein)
3. Pescado Entero (Whole fried fish)
4. Chicharrones (Fried Pork Cubes)
5. Arroz Con Pollo (Chicken and Rice)