Costa Rica Custom Trips

03/10/2024

Last night's night tour. Rio Celeste Hideaway.

09/08/2024

RIP Jim Damalas!

I first met Jim in 1994 when I began writing for Frommer's and Si Como No was just a year or so old.

Jim was a pioneer in sustainable tourism and conservation and tireless worker for both causes in Costa Rica.

He was always open, generous, good for a conversation and smiling.

I and many will miss him dearly.

https://www.centralamerica.com/news/remembering-jim-damalas-costa-rica/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEjMtlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaeGL7FZnzjXEOV-CWJMUN1g2Rc1shPvkyVAvHIVk17E7i8xSs3qjhwoqA_aem_6jKyHoNqFsYbTawIDxZ8BQ

Remembering Jim Damalas, the founder of Greentique Hotels and a true pioneer in Costa Rica's eco-tourism industry.

31/07/2024

Zarcero is a small town located about an hour away from Costa Rica's Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and on the way to Arenal from the Central Valley, so it's a great place to stop and stretch your legs.

In addition to its church and topiary gardens, the town is famous for their local and mostly artisanal cheese production. On your way into town, you can almost always see a line of stalls selling a delicious variety of freshly made local cheeses.

25/07/2024

Today we celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the annexation of Guanacaste to Costa Rica.

Before 1824 a large portion of what is now known as Guanacaste belonged to Nicaragua, but after a good deal of political maneuvering & turmoil, the people of this region held a plebiscite & voted to become a part of Costa Rica.

This began a lengthy transition process during which several political figures and institutions fought to overturn or ignore the plebiscite. Until finally, in 1958, a treaty was signed officializing the "new" borders between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Today, Guanacaste is home to some of Costa Rica's most popular beach destinations, remote volcano and rainforest lodges, hidden waterfalls and the country's second largest international airport.

22/05/2024

Piro Beach is a gorgeous stretch of sand and rock located in the Osa Peninsula, far away from the rest of the world.

This is a place where you can relax and marvel at the beauty of untouched nature 🍃.

20/04/2024

The Resplendent Quetzal is one of the most beautiful, yet elusive birds in all of Central America and although it may often be challenging to find, the sight of it never disappoints.

If you would like to have the chance to see a Quetzal in full display, come down to Costa Rica to San Gerardo the Dota and join some of the most experienced guides in the area on a search for this amazing creature.

21/02/2024

Golfo de Nicoya, one of Costa Rica's two large, protected Pacific coast gulfs. The Golfo de Nicoya is home to Isla Tortuga, Isla Chiquita and Isla San Lucas, the "Prison Island" made famous in Jose León Sánchez's true-life novel "Island of Lonely Men".

18/02/2024

Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast is a wonderful destination full of thrilling activities, lush rainforests, intimate boutique hotels and gorgeous beaches, that is often overlooked when planning trips to this beautiful country.

14/02/2024

Beaches are often the best at sunset!

10/02/2024

Mangroves are home to a great variety of species including monkeys, reptiles, sloths and tons of birds.

Mangroves also play a crucial role in keeping mother nature's balance, since they are responsible for filtering sediments that flow down stream, trapping nutrients, preventing coastal erosion and overall protecting/managing the passage between fresh bodies of water and the ocean.

03/02/2024

The white-faced capuchin monkey or "cebus capucinus" is a medium sized monkey native to the forests of Central America and the northeast end of South America.

They play a crucial role in spreading seeds and pollen across their habitats and are also very smart creatures who have been known to make & use all sorts of tools.

Nevertheless, their habitat has been increasingly encroached upon by humans and thus, encounters with these monkeys have become fairly common. However, if you have a close encounter with one of these fellas make sure to keep your distance, don't make any sudden movements and never attempt to feed or pet them 🐒.

31/01/2024

Crocodiles are commonly found in rivers, mangroves and estuaries throughout Costa Rica. They can reach sizes of up to 14 feet in length and weigh nearly half a ton. Although they are powerful predators, they are actually quite chill most of the time, regulating their temperature on the banks of rivers and lakes🐊.

24/01/2024

¡Tan Linda Mi Costa Rica! 🇨🇷

From "Mae" to "Pura Vida", come learn more about the beautiful history, nature, traditions and culture of this marvelous land 🤩.

17/01/2024

The Arenal Volcano is one of the most amazing and popular volcanoes in Costa Rica. It stands over 1,630 meters tall and has a crater that measures around 140 meters in diameter.

The Arenal Volcano is surrounded by a National Park that shares the same name and has a vast array of natural marvels featuring vibrant flora and fauna (specially birds), thermal springs, fumaroles, the imposing sight of one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes and so much more

13/01/2024

The Rincón de la Vieja National Park is a gorgeous national park that is set around a volcano and expands over 141.3 km² (a little under 88 square miles). It features breathtaking views of both the volcano & the ocean, vibrant flora & fauna, bubbling mud baths, fumaroles, thermal springs and so much more.

Hacienda Guachipelín is one of our favorite hotels in the region, sitting just a couple of kilometers from the National Park entrance. Hacienda Guachipelín has a wide range of adventure activities, hiking trails, hot springs and amazing waterfalls on its own grounds, so definitely budget a few days to fully explore the region.

10/01/2024

The Los Quetzales National Park is a 50km² protected area located in Dota, which is a relatively short drive away from the country's capital.

It has a wonderful beginner friendly trail through luscious rain forest and is home to the breathtaking Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno).