News & Features
News Stories Tagged costa rica
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To find the best beaches in Costa Rica look for Blue Flags
The Blue Flag ecological rating system evaluates water quality—both ocean and drinking water—trash cleanup, waste management, security, signage, and environmental education. Blue flags are awarded to communities, rather than to individual hotels, which feeds a sense of cooperation.
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Be wary of the Tourist Information signs in San Jose, Costa Rica
The ubiquitous Tourist Information signs you see around downtown are really private travel agencies looking to sell you tours rather than provide unbiased information. The ICT is the official tourist office.
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Traveling around Costa Rica by plane? Make sure your luggage isn't overweight
A luggage weight limit of 11.3 kilograms or 25 pounds is almost always enforced on the tiny domestic planes.
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Know when to tip in Costa Rica with these guidelines.
Tip only for good service. Costa Rica doesn't have a tipping culture, but positive reinforcement goes a long way. Taxi drivers aren't tipped, but leave an extra 200–300 colones if they've helped you navigate a complicated set of directions.
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Make the most of Costa Rica with a professional, bilingual nature guide.
To get the most out of your trip, hire someone who can turn what looks like a mass of green foliage to the untrained eye into a widely diversified trove of plants and creatures great and small—one of the highlights of a trip here. For the full effect, bring or borrow binoculars. See our recommended tour operators here.
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Costa Rica: Reserve rental cars several months in advance
This is a must if you plan to rent any kind of vehicle between December 15 and January 3, or during Holy Week around Easter, in April.
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Costa Rica: Once you get to the capital, leave
San José is not representative of what Costa Rica has to offer. Don't plan to stay long; use the city just as a transportation hub and for any last-minute necessities—although there are a few good international restaurants, if you do have a night to kill.
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Costa Rica: Hire a professional, bilingual nature guide
To get the most out of your trip, hire someone who can turn what looks like a mass of green foliage to the untrained eye into a widely diversified trove of plants and creatures great and small—one of the highlights of a trip here. For the full effect, bring or borrow binoculars.
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Costa Rica: Pack light
A luggage weight limit of 11.3 kilograms or 25 pounds is almost always enforced on the tiny domestic planes.
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Costa Rica: An Age-by-Age Guide to Traveling with Kids
Thinking of venturing to Costa Rica with your family this year? Here's a guide to the best kinds of trips for babies, teens, and everything in between.
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