Pura Vida baby! If you are looking for an experienced Costa Rica travel agent, you have come to the right place. In addition to completing my Costa Rica Destination Expert certification by Essential Costa Rica, I have personally sent many clients to Costa Rica on vacation. There’s no place on earth quite like this country located in Central America.
Costa Rica continues to be one of the hottest vacation and adventure-travel destinations in Latin America, and for good reason. It is rich in natural wonders and abundant biodiversity. Costa Rica boasts a wealth of unsullied beaches for sunbathing and surfing, lush jungle rivers for rafting and kayaking, and spectacular cloud forests and rainforests with ample opportunities for bird-watching, wildlife viewing, and hiking. In addition to the emblematic eco- and adventure-tourism offerings, you will also find luxury resorts and golf courses, plush spas, and some spectacular boutique hotels and eco-friendly lodges. In this section, you’ll find the very best of what this unique country has to offer.
Costa Rica Travel Agent – Destination Specialist
Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica (Adults Only)
Set in the exuberant Arenilla Beach, Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica will offer adults a stunning Unlimited-Luxury getaway in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Papagayo. At this all inclusive resort, guests will enjoy limitless gourmet cuisine, without reservations, at four restaurants and one café in addition to five bars that will serve unlimited top-shelf spirits. Days and nights are filled with land, beach and water activities and live entertainment. Two pools and a pristine beach await.
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica
From their hillside perch overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this Costa Rican resort is your launching pad into boundless adventures. After a day of zip lining, surfing or hiking a volcano, return to our tropical retreat for farm- and -sea-to-table dining, refreshing swims in our four swimming pools or relaxing spa treatments. With customized itineraries for families and couples alike, I can’t wait for you to experience “pura vida” at the Papagayo Peninsula.
Andaz Costa Rica Resort
Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo captures the magic of Costa Rica’s pristine natural beauty with breathtaking views of Culebra Bay and an immersive experience in the tropical forest. Located within the exclusive Peninsula Papagayo community on Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast, this luxury resort is home to 152 guest rooms, including 21 luxury suites featuring extensive amenities with modern designs and touches of local character. Rooms are consistent in size and amenities, but views vary. The resort offers four restaurants, a spa, four pools, including an adults only pool and three pristine beaches.
In this blog, you’ll see an overview of the different regions of Costa Rica, popular things to do, sample vacation package pricing, and more. The first thing you need to do in planning your Costa Rica vacation: Decide which area(s) you want to visit. Typically, most clients prefer to fly into Liberia International Airport (LIR) as opposed to San Jose (SJO). Guests feel safer flying into the Guanacaste/Liberia area, and that is also where you will find the majority of the touristy accommodations.
Costa Rica Overview
Guanacaste and the Northwest
As a Costa Rica travel agent, who has booked countless people to this destination, I can say without a doubt that Guanacaste is the most popular region.
Guanacaste is Costa Rica’s “Gold Coast”—and not because this is where the Spanish Conquistadors found vast quantities of the brilliant metal ore. Instead, it’s because more and more visitors to Costa Rica are choosing Guanacaste as their first—and often only—stop. Beautiful beaches abound along this coastline. Several are packed with a mix of hotels and resorts, some are still pristine and deserted, and others are backed by small fishing villages. Choices range from long, broad sections of sand stretching on for miles, to tiny pocket coves bordered by rocky headlands. There are several famous surf breaks and beaches, and protected spots perfect for a mellow swim or snorkel.
Perfect for Nature Lovers
Guanacaste is home to several active volcanoes and some beautiful national parks, including Santa Rosa National Park, the site of massive sea turtle nestings and of a major battle to maintain independence; Rincón de la Vieja National Park, which features hot springs and bubbling mud pots, pristine waterfalls, and an active volcanic crater; and Palo Verde National Park, a beautiful expanse of mangroves, wetlands, and savanna. The beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula don’t get nearly as much attention or traffic as those to the north in Guanacaste. However, they are just as stunning, varied, and rewarding. Montezuma, with its jungle waterfalls and gentle surf, was the first beach destination out this way to capture any attention. It’s since been eclipsed by increasingly trendy Malpaís and Santa Teresa.
The Guanacaste area is the perfect starting point for tour pick up. From here, you can take a day trip to Nicaragua, go on an ATV tour of Tamarindo, or even go on a blue dolphin sailing adventure.
Did you know? Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species, which represents nearly 5% of the total species estimated worldwide, making Costa Rica one of the 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Of these 500,000 species, a little more than 300,000 are insects.
Alajuela
As the second largest province in Costa Rica, Alajuela is home to a vast variety of both man-made and natural attractions. The province is the site of one of the most pristine mountain ranges, the Cordillera Central Mountain Range, in addition to several volcanic national parks.
As one of the most beautiful parts of the Costa Rica landscape, the Arenal Volcano is an ideal spot for travelers. Its symmetrical shape make it a true sight to see. While the storied history of the volcano has kept it at the top of travelers’ lists for decades. Horseback riding, hiking and wildlife viewing are all available here. Less adventurous travelers can get a sprawling view along a sky tram canopy tour or go for a horseback ride to the stunning La Fortuna waterfall. Near the Arenal Volcano, you’ll find the Baldi Hot Springs. Jump in – the water’s warm!
Poás Volcano may not be as sought-after of a traveler destination as the Arenal, but this towering volcano is just as magnificent. Stretching up 8,885 feet tall, Poás Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the country. The raid-fed main crater is nearly a mile in diameter and descends nearly 1,000 feet. Besides the area around the main crater, the park features dense vegetation and is a great place for travelers to catch a glimpse of native wildlife. There are also several different life zones, including a cloud and mountain rain forest.
Puntarenas
Puntarenas has never taken off as a major tourism destination, though some Ticos in the Central Valley swear by it as a great weekend getaway. Despite serious investment and the steady influx of cruise ship passengers, Puntarenas retains its image as a rough-and-tumble, perennially run-down port town. Although the seafront Paseo de los Turistas (Tourist Walk) has a string of restaurants and souvenir stands, this town has little to interest visitors, and the beach here pales in comparison to most others. Today, Puntarenas is primarily popular as a weekend holiday spot for Ticos from San José (not to mention all the tourists lining up for the ferry) and is liveliest on weekends.
One of the biggest treasures in this area is the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a Costa Rican reserve located along the Cordillera de Tilarán within the Puntarenas and Alajuela provinces. Named after the nearby town of Monteverde and founded in 1972, the Reserve consists of over 10,500 hectares of cloud forest. It draws roughly 70,000 visitors a year.
San Jose
Costa Rica’s bustling capital and population center is not a bad place to hang out for a few days, or to get things done that can’t be done elsewhere, but it isn’t a major tourist destination. Still, that lack of tourism makes the city feel uniquely Tico. And because San José is the country’s biggest urban center, it has varied and active restaurant and nightlife scenes, museums and galleries worth visiting, and a steady stream of theater, concerts, and other cultural events that you won’t find elsewhere in the country. To really immerse yourself in the culture, take a cooking class!
Pura Vida
The term “Pura Vida” has been present in Costa Rica’s vocabulary for over 50 years. It’s English translation means “pure life.” Or rather “simple life.” However its more then just a phrase- it is a way of life.
Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, to say goodbye, to say everything’s great, to say everything’s cool. However, it is not the words that reflect the true meaning of ¡Pura Vida! Pura Vida is the way Ticos live. Not surprisingly, Costa Rica has been named one of the happiest countries in the world. Mostly because its inhabitants don’t stress about things the way most foreigners do.
Although many people use the saying ‘pura vida’, until you’ve been to Costa Rica, you will not truly know what pura vida feels like. It’s an emotion, it’s an attitude, it’s happiness, and it’s a way of life. Once you’ve visited, you will understand the true meaning of pura vida.
Sample Costa Rica Vacation Package Pricing
Check out my sample Costa Rica vacation packages below. Whether you’re on a budget, or looking to splurge on a special occasion, I have a package option for you.
Minimum deposit: $265 per person | Remaining balance due: 45 days before departure
Solo Traveler
Costa Rica is perfectly safe for solo travelers. Book that solo adventure!
- Round-trip flights from your closest US city
- Hotel accommodations (based on 1 traveler)
- Round-trip transfers to take you safely to/from your resort
- Cancel for any reason travel insurance
Couples Getaway
Ooh-la-la… Celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary?
- Round-trip flights from your closest US city
- Hotel accommodations (based on 2 travelers)
- Round-trip transfers to take you safely to/from your resort
- Cancel for any reason travel insurance
Family Vacation
Bring the kids and grandparents along for this exciting adventure!
- Round-trip flights from your closest US city
- Hotel accommodations (based on 4 travelers)
- Round-trip transfers to take you safely to/from your resort
- Cancel for any reason travel insurance
Ready to lock in your trip with a low deposit?
