12 Essential COSTA RICA TRAVEL Tips | WATCH BEFORE YOU GO!!! 

✨Shop my 14-day Costa Rica Travel Itinerary bit.ly/CostaRicaItineraryGuide ⬅ All my favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants, and activities all in one easy-to-use interactive map! Check it out! It's super helpful! 50,000+ Likes 👍🏽- WE CAN DO IT TEAM! Hit the like button and if you’re new here, SUBSCRIBE. 🙏🏼 + Subscribe: bit.ly/ClickToSubscribeToAlex + Book Cheap Airfare: bit.ly/CHEAPFLIGHTSNOW + Book Your Hotel: agoda.tp.st/8cX0epof + Cheap Great Rental Car: discovercars.tp.st/teBb8YQ9 + Book Your Activities: viator.tp.st/OLzT6k8V + Book Your SIM Card: airalo.tp.st/5pkpPYWS + Get Travel Insurance: visitorscoverage.tp.st/YWHfLkCj Watch My 12-Day Costa Rica Itinerary Video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DKyTPOXNLN4.html Watch My Top 10 Costa Rica Travel Destinations: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uiIXjAxdaEA.html Learn How to Cook Gallo Pinto: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aj8mVCdcBxI.html READ MY COSTA RICA BLOG POST: www.alexanderayling.com/episodes/essential-costa-rica-travel-tips

When renting a car in CR or anywhere, always take pictures of the car, to avoid being charged for damages that were already there.

I'm from Costa Rica and I love when I find videos of people talking wonders about my country. It really fill us with joy knowing somebody enjoys it so much visiting us. Thank you very much for this amazing video. Pura Vida!

Everyone needs an extra cash flow apart from a daily job, anything that can help get a little extra dough each month is important to beat the tide. For a comfort vacation in mind, you should mainly be focused in channeling funds into investments that yield returns without constant intervention.

Hi, to all who came to watch this footage, to yearn, to contemplate, to wish, I beg you with all my heart, please TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS OURS, this is what we have, as a Costa Rican I beg u. Thank u to all the foreign tourist for considerate our beautiful country to visit. Please enjoy what we have by taking care of it. Good vibes, tuanis, PURA VIDA 🇨🇷💓

If you go to Costa Rica’s beaches PLEASE DONT STILL THE SHELLS!! It’s ilegal to still shells from the beaches in Costa Rica and please don’t do it. There are less shells everyday because people are stilling them and taking them home!

Ok the end just brought tears to my eyes... I fell in love with Costa Rica because of the Ticos! The Ticos are my family! La vida en Costa es perfecto! Ciao

You're a pro, Alex. As a permanent resident for 15 years now, I almost wish your tour wasn't so good! I've wanted to shut the door behind me since I moved here! There are thousands of tourists annually, some who are diligent about protecting this incredible country, and others who are not. If you visit, please show respect for the wonderful people of Costa Rica and the paradise which they allow you into. If you ask a Tico for help, and show your respect, it will be given. If you speak Spanish, you're apt to quickly meet some new friends.

I was born and raised in Costa Rica ever since I was 7-8 years old but then moved to the US, and I haven’t been there for 4 years and this videos really made me miss CR. Also, I love how you describe our beautiful country and thank you so much for enjoying and loving our country!! Pura Vida!🇨🇷🇨🇷 edit: omg hey y’all 2022 update but after 7 years i was finally able to go and visit family! :D

Hummingbirds= Colibri. That's how I know then in. Spanish.

Well Alex, let me tell you a little something, as a 40 year old Costa Rican traveler I can safely say this is by far the most informative and well put together tips video for visiting my country in RU-vid. Well done sir!! P.S. Hummingbird is Colibrí in Spanish.... Pura vida!

Planning my first trip to Costa Rica for May. Wanting to spend 3 days on a beach then 3 days more inland. I’d love to stay somewhere with a volcano view. This trip is a treat to myself for becoming a cancer survivor and celebrating the end of my treatments.

I've traveled to Costa Rica 14 times since 2005. Yes, compared to other Central American countries, the crime rate is low. The crime rate has changed from petty thefts, to rape & murder. This was not the case in 2005. I am from New York City & the crime rate there is worse than Costa Rica. Do travel there but be careful of your surroundings. I am going next month for 11 days. Pura Vida

I’m a Costarican living in the USA and this video made me miss my country even more 😭❤️ . Loved this video.

Costa Rica is my favorite country in the world.

I’m from Costa Rica but I live in California currently. The word for hummingbird is COLIBRÍ. Great tips !

I will be living in Costa Rica for a college program very soon, can’t wait!!✨🇨🇷

I am Costa Rican and every time I see this kind of videos I feel truly grateful for living here and is just wonderful that other people can enjoy as much as we do every day. Even for us this is a magical place to live for its nature and everything that is around us. Pura vida!

The only country I traveled too but it found a place in my heart and I'm going back again next year I decided to there to volunteer with animals and it was the greatest time of my life

What an amazing video! You captured a bit of the essence of CR. As a Costa Rican who's been traveling for a long time, this made me feel nostalgic, yet proud and happy to have been born in such a jewel. Thank you for putting this together Alex, it is a great guide for visitors!

Planning my trip! Thank you for this video soooo excited

I am a Argentinian guy that lives in Costa Rica, and is the best country I ever went to and lived. I also lived in Brazil

“ mosquitos loves gringos blood “😹 I’m from Costa Rica and i love this video everything is so true

This came to me at a perfect time. I’m planning my trip as we speak. I’m not perfect in Spanish, but I think I’ll do just fine being immersed in it. I’m coming for the rich biodiversity; and how the residents take care of what beautiful sites they live with. My grandpa was there every year before he passed.

Love the video, I was there last year and totally agree with most of your tips!!

As someone from Costa Rica, let me just say that this is by far the best video I've seen for tourists. These are relevant tips and actually helpful. San Jose is pretty damn boring so that especially is a great tip, tho I'd encourage you to eat somewhere there the next time you come, there are some great places there. Also try going to a restaurant in the mountains overlooking the city is really nice, you'd be surprised how far a one hour drive in a mountain can take you. Here are just a couple more tips: try avoiding July, since there is kind of a mini high season in that month due to the mid year school break. June or August are so much better for coming and avoiding crowds. Also, if you are renting a house or someplace with a kitchen, definitely consider cooking some of your foods, like making some pasta or something really easy, since eating out here is very expensive sometimes. Oh and definitely use GPS here. We flat out don't have a freaking system for locating things, so quite literally a valid direction would be "get to this town, find the park, then this bank, and from there go 200 meters East and then 25 South"...so yeah, definitely buy a chip and use Waze, otherwise you'll get lost easily.

I'm from Costa Rica and this video is really accurate

Hello Alex, thank you very much for the great affection you have for my country and for the Ticos, seeing your excellent video makes me feel very nostalgic. I really want to be there with my family and my people, because I don't currently live in Costa Rica. Thank you especially for your last comment about respecting the locals when they visit, it is a very beautiful detail and gesture on your part and very important to always have respect towards the locals and the country wherever we are. Kind regards from Marseille, France. Pura Vida!!!! 🇨🇷🌋✌️😊👍🤙🤝

heading to CR next week, appreciate your tips!

My wife is from Costa Rica & I'm from northern Mexico . Although Mexico if larger than CR by far and has so many beautiful Cities, jungles and gorgeous beaches , it's a real shame that it's national security is so bad that I prefer to spend our month long vacation in this small beautiful country of Costa Rica. I'm more attracted to mountains and jungles and Costa Rica as small as it is , it offers all of this in a matter of ours. I hardly reccomend Turrialba , If you want a town to just lay back for few days , then go trekking on the hills, enjoy the gorgeous mountain views ,visit coffe plantations, come back to your place ,relax , go out to one of many restaurants up on the hills , then contact the local white water rafting company for the best rivers in C.Rica ,right there in Turrialba, there's also good cannoying and zip lines . What makes the difference really is it's people. Man! I love this country. Blessings Vagabond!

Well done . As a local I have to say that you have a good well known knowledge about Costa Rica . I agree on all in this video . Pura vida Mae .

Costa Rica is known for its incredible national parks, where tourists can enjoy some thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and zip lining. It's also one of the best places for animal lovers to discover some interesting wildlife like macaws, sea turtles, and adorable sloths.

Very helpful information. Thank you!

In the cloud forest we were surrounded by dozens of hummingbirds hovering right next to us. Unforgettable

Excelente vídeo, realmente sos un embajador de Costa Rica en el extranjero, gracias por mostrarle al mundo un poco de lo que es mi país Costa Rica. Cuando veo este tipo de videos "se me hincha el pecho de orgullo" y nos hace entender que como ticos, debemos cuidar y proteger mas la biodiversidad y enorme naturaleza que tenemos. Vuelvan pronto, pura vida. Mae ¡¡¡¡ 🇨🇷

Loved the video thank you for sharing!

So peaceful!

I love this and LOVE COSTA! Let’s go back soon!! 🌴🌞

Just in case the high prices are due to the fact that we have a lot of taxes haha. But glad you enjoy our country!

Alex, thank you so much such and informative and well put together presentation. Really good, many thanks from London UK

WOW, I'm costarican and I can tell you did a great job explaining things people should know/consider consider when coming here. 🦎 ¡Pura vida!

Incredible video! All the things you have said are absolutely true! An excellent guide for any tourist planning a trip to Costa Rica! It is really nice to see people creating videos like this one from our country! Pura vida! ✌🏼 🇨🇷

Also, it is worth mentioning that even though our first language is Spanish, you can rest assured that you'll find natives who speak proficient English specially in the central valley. Just say hi and ask, cause chances are we will be able to communicate with you in English.

I loved it Alex!!! Pura vida!!! Thank you for this beautiful video. Here! Proud tica and super grateful with your honesty and kind words. ❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏

Thank you Alexander, you broke things down so inclusively. I feel like I'm better informed now with the bullet point tips you provided. We are headed there at the end of the month staying in Manuel Antonio and then trying to decide where else to go, we're a family of four adults and we're gonna be there for five nights.

Thank you Alex, this is a wonderful video. So much beauty and diversity!! Your Spanish is impeccable. I also love the comment in the end suggesting that tourists or expats respect others with care and kindness

Hola Alex, your Costa Rica video is very awesome. It's one of the nicest nature places that we've visited on planet Earth. I was there with my wife and we had a mucho bueno tiempo (friendly stoked natives, muy bonita ladies, glassy left surf breaks, zip lines in the rain forest, incredible coffees, climbed the active volcano, river boating, visit San Jose churches, and fantastic wild life (huge butterflies, miniature snakes, alligators, monkeys, snorkeling). I got to practice my Espanol. I ate rice, beans, chicken, fruits,... clean air. I need to plan another trip with my wife. Life is too short not to get more of Costa Rica. Big love and gratitude to all the friendly Costa Ricans, and sharing their paradise with my wife and I.

Thanks SOOOOOOO much dude, we heading there in march and this video was super well made!! Cheers!!

love it, appreciate your work! Hopefully I can travel to Costa Rica next week

Thank you for the kind words! This make me feel really proud of my country and my culture!

Hey everyone!!! Hope you enjoy the video. If you have any questions just leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them. Pura Vida!

Love Costa Rica! Great Video

Thanks for all the vids! This one especially helpful as you gave some good clues as to how it might feel to live there - FYI I've been watching your vids with the idea of one day living in CR... have been about 10-11 times and explored a lot of the country but have a lot more to go lol - anyway this area is def on the list for next time!

Costa Rica is also my favourite country in the world. I’ve been a few times and also ready to come back! I’d say visit Santa Teresa and puerto vierjo! Life their is so slow and peaceful but also people love to enjoy life. And for San Jose, to do a walking tour in the city where they tell you a bit about the history of the country, political atmosphere and cultural tip. It helped me a lot to know about this while traveling alone. It’s safe for a woman to travel alone in Costa Rica but don’t go on public beaches alone at night, it can be a bit dangerous! Otherwise loved the video and love this country! Thank you for this made me dream a little

Great informative video, the best I've seen so far. You gave the best tips. The WORST part of Costa Rica is driving and getting around. The traffic is terrible. From south San Jose to the airport may take up to 2 hours in the morning. Like Alex mentioned, there are a lot of twists, narrow roads, and aggressive BUS, semi, and truck drivers. Not only that, you will always encounter slow small truck drivers, or farming/construction equipment driving on single lane roads and you will be tempted to "rayer" or pass the vehicle in front of you, you have to be really really careful not to do it in if a curve is approaching or if the road ahead slopes down. Better to just wait it out for a reasonable straightaway. My tips: •Carry about $50 -$100 worth of colonies at a time, you never know if you'll be mugged. It's complete random, never travel alone. Be wary during evenings. Get around light, not with those large camper backpacks like most gringos do. •If you use credit card, always tell the clerk to charge in you dollars. Based on the exchange rate, it's cheaper. •For renting a car if you're on a budget decline all coverage, just get the exact minimum required. I ended up paying a grand total of $100 for a sedan for 3 days with Enterprise. Cheap. Just make sure your VISA credit card has the vehicle coverage benefit. I use the Capital One Venture card and it's a great card for traveling. I also don't get charged foreign fees. •AVOID San Jose. When Alex said he is not a fan of SJ, no further explanation was needed. Yes, it is modernizing, it's getting safer but it's really a one day activity. If you must, visit San Jose once and go to the Mercado Central. That is the best tourist spot and take a stroll on Avenida Central to get a better sense of the culture there. •If you don't want to travel too far upon landing, do yourself a favor and just land at Liberia airport and just stick to Guanacaste. It'll be 2 hours tops or less to the nearest beaches. All of them nice. •If you're coming from San Jose, the nearest best beach to me is definitely Manuel Antonio, the city of quepos right next door for your supermarket, restaurant, pharmacy, etc. needs. Manuel Antonio is elevated on a mountain and depending where you stay, you will see an AWESOME view of the ocean. Also, Manuel Antonio has a really big national park, prepare to stay the entire day there. •As far as volcanoes, Arenal is indeed the best spot. Hotel Baldi is a great alternative to Tabacon due to price. Volcan poas has a really great zoo with enormous waterfalls that is a must see. •If you are into ghosts and the paranormal I highly recommend Sanatorio Duran in Cartago (far from the coast) and just 10 minutes north of there is Prusia forest which looks like something out of lord of the rings. •Have POPS Ice Cream. The best ice cream parlor ever. •Have Dos Pinos products, especially the ice cream and popsicles. •Have "PIPA" coconuts. They're so good! •For food, always look for the casado as Alex mentioned, arroz con pollo/camaron/calamari, whole fried fish of "corvina" "dorado" "pargo", chifrijo, olla de carne (vegetable and beef stew), and the tamales. •Support local businesses. What is destroying Costa Rica is USA culture and businesses. Most local businesses can be cheaper as well, especially "sodas" (small mom & pop restaurants). •I honestly prefer to travel TO Costa Rica at night (red eye flights). You'll get there in the morning to start your day. FROM Costa Rica to go back home, the later the better. Trust me. The traffic is bad. Damn airlines should pick up on this.

Ahhh just found your vids today, great to watch! Thanks guys! Will help me decide where I'm headed to next! LoveJoyBliss

Amazing footage and information ! 🙏🏽 thanks 😊 ciao

Hola, gracias x el video. Vivo en la Zona Atlántica, Puerto Viejo de Limon . Y los meses de Setiembre y Octubre es el verano de este lado, es el mejor mes para visitar este Paraiso!Ven en tu proximo viaje, y te daras cuenta!

Thanks very much for the info! Am off to CR next month - can hardly wait!!

What a way of describing my little but amazing piece of land! I've been almost 10 years living in the middle east, in the desert and I miss so much all our nature, we're really blessed! Pura vida Alexander for all ur kind words about our country and our people!!!

Very informative THANK YOU!

Thank you Alex for such an excellent quality video.. This little country is indeed one of the best in the world... I love Costa Rica!!!

We are in the process of moving, we have visited several times love the pacific side!

Planning on traveling to CR in June sometime. Thank you for this informative video!

Thank you for such a great video and especially, for asking visitors to show up with respect. Not the norm and matters SO much. sweet days to you. Kris

The main airport is located in Alajuela (Juan Santamaria Airport) the otherone is located in Liberia (Daniel Oduber)

Central San Jose is not at all a place for tourists, but the surroundings and the San Jose's mountains are so beautiful. Also the west side (Escazú, Lindora, Rohrmoser) has a lot of fancy neighborhoods and expensive but super delicious restaurants. The rural part of Cartago is incredibly beautiful, places like Irazú Volcano (check the opening hours), Tapantí National Park etc.

Love the video. I have two properties in Costa Rica. Love the place so much. You bring the joy and colors and vibrancy of the place. Pura Vida.

Thank you. Great video!

I really enjoyed how informative your video was. It wasn't just, "this beach is pretty," or, "this hotel was nice." You taught culture and history as well as talking specifics. I don't subscribe to many channels on RU-vid, but you've got a fan for life!

This is such an honest review of the Costa Rican Tourist experience especially from your channel which i love very much, I liked that you told your personal stories and advised people to be careful, even thought I love my country i appreciate someone who objectively talks about it, since it can have its disadvantages and not so pretty things. Either way I am so happy that you enjoyed the times you've come, I hope you can visit as much as you want and also that prices get lower so that more people can come. Overall amazing video, scenes and editing too!

Great video! I’m planning a trip to CR and this was very helpful.

Great information. Thanks for sharing

hummingbird: colibrí. Love my country ❤️ Pura Vida 🤙🏻

Wow! What a great video you put together. Thanks for expressing, in the way you did, about this little piece of earth that some call paradise and that I can proudly call “homeland”. 👏💕🇨🇷

Love this Video Alex, thank you! I was in Costa Rica in December of 2022. It was the most beautiful place I’ve seen, it was just like everything that see in the photos of magazines. Yes it was that beautiful. Also, if you have the chance, take a cross country road trip, I drove from Jaco to Puerto Viejo and the sceneries were simply amazing. Really looking forward to going back a second time.

I lived in San Jose for 3 years..Love it there and Great Video!!

I am going to Costa Rica this summer, seeing the clips you put in the video, I am really exited!

Even ticos really hate and avoid San José😆,Great video✌ Greeting From Costa Rica🦜🐢

Thank you for all the tips! This really helped, We were planing to go in October but you have changed my mind 😅 we will save it for a better month

Thank you for all the great information. Looking for a private tour guide with everything included

First time in Costa Rica and just loving all the outdoor adventures we did ecogliding rapelling was my first time too and so much fun. Beach in Christmas day ..Oh yes...My favorite area is Arenal and Manuel Antonio...

Thank you so much!! This is amazing!! ❤️

Thanks for these great tips. I'll be in CR soon for the second time and your tips are more then helpful!

Thanks for the video!! Very informative!! I'm form Costa Rica and everything is true!! Jajaja!! I LOVE MY COUNTRY ♥️♥️

Some of the best video and info production out there. Thanks, man.

Currently in Costa Rica from the uk. It’s the most beautiful county I’ve ever traveled to and would recommend to any one who enjoys the wild life and nature.

Great video !!

Very informative. Thanks!

Thank you for sharing my country with whole world ! Come and stay forever !

Alex, thanks for the information! Love the quality of the video! Specially since I plan to retire this year in Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

I'm from Brazil and it's my dream to visit Costa Rica. It's such a natural wonder!

Thank you so much for all the savings and helpful details🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😊

October is actually the nicest month to visit the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica

Lived in CR for 9 years. I´m taking a fairly large group of students this summer to share my love of the most amazing country!!!! Thanks for the video. I will share with my students.

Thank you for the video! Looking forward to visiting tomorrow!

Very informative! Thank you!

I’m from Costa Rica, and can confirm everything you said is true. The beaches here are amazing, coastal people are the best, and casados and gallopinto is food for your heart. Be wary though, like you said, rent a car directly from the airport or arrange transportation to the hotel, since cities like San José are places even a local like me dislike even thinking about going lol. I live in Heredia which is a bit nicer but you can never be too careful. Apart from places like that, Costa Rica truly is a welcoming place for all! I highly encourage anyone to come and visit us and have an amazing time here! Pura vida!

THANKS FOR THIS!!! I’m a Tica and you got our essence! Such a beautiful video! We are so blessed! Please keep Coming back!

Pretty cool video. We had an amazing time in Costa Rica and are definitely going back for more, but it was also expensive as mentioned in the video. The best beaches we experienced was around Uvita, pretty lush and wonderful place