Costa Rican Manners
Costa Ricans are also very polite people, and knowing a few of the customs will definitely be handy during your stay in Costa Rica.

1. If you enter someone’s home, please keep your shoes on, otherwise they will feel uneasy about you being in their home.
2. Just like anywhere, saying please and thank you are always appreciated.
3. Don’t tell people what to do, ask them if it is possible to do something. For example, if you want them to put the meter on in the taxi, don’t tell them to put it on, ask them if they have a meter, and they will put it on for you.
4. If someone asks you to stay for a Zarpe (one last drink), it is expected that you stay for a Zarpe.

Costa Rican Communication
Costa Ricans are as a whole quiet and respectful people. They make an effort not to take too much space, and ensure they never speak loudly, as that is often perceived as being rude and self centered. North Americans, more so that Europeans, seem to speak a few notches louder than the rest, especially in buses and restaurants, so keep your tone in mind when you speak.

Costa Rican Humor
Also, Costa Rican tend to make fun of themselves to get a laugh rather than ridicule others. I still remember the sound of crickets after one of my many jokes that would have been a hit in Canada. Eventually I got, and making fun of others here, although all in good fun, was a no go zone.

Most people come to Costa Rica for two to four weeks to either learn, or master this romantic language. Often mixed in with the classes (which usually last between three to four hours a day), are local cooking classes and dance lessons. The most common dances here are the well known Meringue and Salsa dances, as well as the lesser known dance called Cumbia where dancers bounce up and down following the beat of the song. Cumbia originated in Columbia and has infiltrated Costa Rica.

Many of the language institutes in Costa Rica also have more than one location. This is due to people wanting to study near the beach (Pacific Ocean usually beats out the Atlantic Ocean), but also wanting to learn about the culture and integrate within a community, which is not possible at the beach. This is why you will also see a location within the Central Valley. Some of the activities that students enjoy most involve intercambios, where they get paired up with Costa Ricans who are learning English. This is one of the reasons why many of the language institutes also offer English classes at night for Costa Ricans.

Well worry no more friends, as there is plenty to do when the sun decides to take a little break on your vacation!

Go for a walk in the Rain Forest
Costa Rica’s most treasured asset is its nature. And the rainy season means you’ll get to see the Rain Forest at its lushest. Just make sure you pack a pair of rain boots and rain coat and you will have everything you need to enjoy yourself in the forest. I strongly suggest doing with a guide, and during the day of course, as the forest is dangerous at night.

Check out the Hot Springs
Volcanic Hot Springs are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Rain or shine, you will enjoy yourself at the Hot Springs. As a matter of fact, I personally enjoy going to the Hot Springs when it is raining, as it allows me to stay in them as long as I wish. When it’s hot outside, swimming in hot water is not always very enjoyable.

Check out a Museum or Coffee Tour
Don’t book these in advance. Keep both of these activities in your back pocket while you are in the Central Valley. This way, when you get up in the morning and see the rain, you will have something to fall back on that will keep you dry. Both the Doka Coffee Tour and Cafe Britt Coffee tour are great choices.

Do a water activity
Being wet is not fun, unless you are suppose to be wet anyways. For this reason we suggest doing a water activity like rafting of kayaking when it starts to rain. You will be uncomfortable the first few minutes you step out, but it will pass and you will very quickly forget that it is even raining.

The park boasts two very different beaches, one on each side of the point. The most interesting part of these beaches is that you are surrounded by rain forest that pretty much grows right to the high tide line. You will literally be surrounded by nature.

The most popular beach Playa Manuel Antonio, is located of the south side of the point. Here you will find a half mile white sand beach in the form of a crescent. On one side are rain forests alive with the sounds of white faced monkeys, three toes sloths, and many other tropical species of birds and reptiles. The other side is a quiet, tranquil, and secluded cove.

While here be sure to pack a lunch and bring plenty of water as there are no amenities located within the park itself. Also do not forget to take the short hike up to Cathedral Point, where you will get a breath taking view of the entire National Park, surrounding Rain Forest and Pacific Ocean,

Espadilla Sur is located on the Northern side of Manuel Antonio National Park. The first difference that you will note between this beach and Manuel Antonio is that Espadilla Sur has much darker sand and the water tends to be rougher. Here you also lose a sense of being surrounded by nature. This beach is backed by the rainforest; however it looks over the southern part of Quepos and the parking lot for the National Park. You will also notice less wildlife on this beach as well, due to the fact that it is not as deep into the rainforest.

One important thing to note is that because this is a National Park, there is an entrance fee as well as hours of operation. The Manuel Antonio National Park entrance fee is US$10 per person. Children under 12 are free. Hours: 7am. To 4pm, and is closed on Mondays.

This smaller hotel offers an intimate and charming style that blends in perfectly with the Guanacaste Pacific Coast. Hotel Playa Hermosa has recently been renovated, making this boutique hotel a great choice for people looking to stay in front of a beautiful beach, without having to deal with the hussel and bustle of a large beach town like Manuel Antonio, Jaco Beach, or Tamarindo Beach.

In total, they offer 20 Junior Suites with two queen beds, a nice sitting area, a patio or porch, as well as the must haves such as A.C, cable T.V, and hot water. If you would like to pamper yourself a little, you can stay in one of their twelve new Deluxe rooms with unbelievable Ocean view rooms. Six of them even include your very own Jacuzzi in front of the beach.

Another great asset for this beach is the location. If you fly into Liberia airport, you will only be looking at a thirty minute drive. Of course, if you fly into San Jose, like most people do, you will need to drive closer to four and a half hours to get there. Once you arrive at this charming boutique hotel, you will get pampered by the wonderful service offered by both the owner personally and the wonderful staff at Playa Hermosa Hotel.

La Fortuna is also a tourist town, so don’t expect to see much culture, unless you drive outside of the city limits. The park in front of the Church is where you will find souvenir shops, restaurants and travel agencies. Most hotels are located away from the city center in order to offer better views of the main attraction. If you want to have a drink in a spectacular bar, we suggest the Lava Lounge at Royal Corin.

The most over-hyped hotel in the area is in our opinion Tabacon. Tabacon was the first major hotel in the area, and is most likely the famous famous one because of this fact. However, their rooms have NO views of the Arenal Volcano, and their hot springs are grossly overpriced and luke warm at best. You would be much better off to check out the new hot springs at the Springs Resort and Spa or even Baldi Hot Springs for a more affordable option.

If you ever want to get your blood rushing you will want to check out the Canopy Tour by Sky Trek. Be careful which canopy provider you choose as there are some providers that have very sketchy foundations making them not the safest option. Sky Trek is more expensive than the rest, but their service and quality, as well as insurance policies make them the best choice in Arenal.

Most companies that hire Gringos are Sprots books (online gambling casinos), and English Schools. Schools and online casinos rarely request work Visas from the Costa Rican government, which mean that you would be on your own. The only solution left for you is to do what we locals call a “border run”. Costa Rican immigration requires you to spend 72 hours outside of the country before your 90 day Visa can be given anew. You need not worry, as long as you stay out of the country for the necessary time, getting back in should not be an issue. So where should you go for your border run? There are many wonderful choices for you to choose from. Just click on any of the links to read more. New posts will be published each week.

My favorite option is Bocas del Toro, in Panama City.

My second choice is Granada in Nicaragua.

My third choice is Panama City in Panama.

My fourth option is Managua in Nicaragua.

My last suggestion is for you to do a Central American jourey by bus using Tica Bus. You will need much more than just a few days off to accomplish this option which is why it is last on my list.

Pavones Beach is known for having on the the World´s biggest and meanest left breaks. Surfers from all around the World travel to conquer the waves. Other than get on your feet and staying on your board, the hardest thing is getting to Pavones.

Locals often opt to take a bus into Pavones. This is by far the cheapest option for people wanting to travel to Pavones. Other locals and tourists opt to drive from San Jose to Pavones. The drive to get there is about 7 hours. It is vital you get a report on the road conditions before heading out there, as access is at times blocked due to weather and road conditions.

My personal choice for getting to Pavones, although much pricier, is flying into Golfito from San Jose, and then hopping on a cab. The cab ride is a little costly as well going for around $65 USD each way (sometimes that is more expensive than the flight itself). Good deals online for flights to Golfito can be found on Sansa´s website, as well as Nature Air.

The town of Pavones is very small and there is very little to do there. There are a few restaurants, and a few hotels, but that is about it. Pavones is by far the quietest surf town in Costa Rica. If you ever travel to Pavones during your stay in Costa Rica, I suggest doing it anytime between the months of January and April.

I have visited Corcovado twice, from two different destinations. My first adventure departed from Drake Bay. Me and my friends hopped in our rented SUV (I do not recommend bringing your own car), and drove 8 hours straight to Drake Bay. From there we had to coordinate a boat tour to the National Park, since there was no way for us to drive there. This tour was pretty expensive in comparison to other prices I have paid around the country ($110 USD). I believe this is due to the lack of options once in Drake Bay.

My second journey to Corcovado National Park came from Puerto Jimenez, which is the largest Coastal Town on the Osa Peninsula. I stayed at the Cabinas Jimenez (the only hotel located directly on the beach), and organized a self guided tour to the park. I had to hope on a public bus and drive two hours to finally get to the park. I found the drive a little too long and uneventful. The park was absolutely amazing, and I had a great time, but I was definitely ready for bed when my day was nearing the end.

When I was in Puerto Jimenez I met a couple that had booked a two night tour inside the park with a guide, which I did not know was possible, given you usually can’t sleep inside Costa Rica national parks. Next time I want to check it out and enjoy Costa Rica’s best park, I may book such a tour and really be able to enjoy every aspect of the park, and not just for a couple of hours.