5 Mistakes Costa Rica Tourists Make (and how to avoid them)

[@manuelzuniga4057]

Very accurate! This is my costarican citizen opinion.

[@FindingMangos]

Thanks so much Manuel! It's great to hear from you!

[@FindingMangos]

Is there any advice you would add to this?

[@eduardocervantes8231]

As a planner, I appreciate the level of detail you provide for people to consider. Keep it up!

[@FindingMangos]

Eduardo, that's very kind. Thank you. We love that we get to do this.

[@mithra2396]

OMG...your channel deserves 10K subs....good info!

[@FindingMangos]

Well that is very kind of you. Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the videos. :-)

[@susangoslin861]

Guide Please! We want to go this summer :) Thank you!

[@Emanresuwww]

We’d love the guide when it’s available. Thx

[@jeffdelgadocantillano]

You won me there with Carling, so relatable. Pura vida mae!

[@FindingMangos]

LOL! Thanks! Pura Vida!

[@crBudgetWatches]

Great tips here are mine: 1. If you arrive after 3pm in San Jose , just stay the night , it will be 2 hrs til you get your car and you will bump into the afternoon rush hour. my suggestion is San Antonio de Belen has many hotels , it’s close to the airport and it is a nice and safe tico town. 2. Early birding pays in CR for everything. From long drives to best weather to less crowds to enjoying an empty beach , do it early. 3. Avoid weekends for popular national parks like Manuel Antonio or Poas Volcano. 4. Budget All inclusives like Riu or Barcelo usually buy cheap land which usually is not found in the best beach in the area. Do investigate neighboring beaches usually they are way better than the beach the hotel is located in and some you could even walk from the hotel in low tide. An exception are high end all inclusives those get the best beaches. 5. If you go to Jaco make an effort to visit Playa Blanca 20 min from Jaco and the only white sand beach in the area . Again, just avoid weekends. 6. Tamarindo area is awesome for beach hopping but if you don’t like crowds just stay in neighboring Playa Grande or even Junquillal and just drive to Tamarindo for food and fun. 7. Do bring sunscreen, it’s highway robbery in Costa Rica. They have even discussed it in our congress (Asamblea Legislativa).

[@FindingMangos]

These are great tips! Thank you for sharing.

[@judyrustrick7526]

Planning our first visit would love a copy of your GUIDE please! Thank you

[@FindingMangos]

That's wonderful! So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@robertlangland3351]

I live in Costa Rica, use WAYZE for directions. Much more accurate and aware of the physical challenges of the terrain. Eat at local places that aren't very nice physically but the local food is great and much less expensive.

[@siamiam4306]

WAZE was great giving a heads up on lane switches on ( still under construction ) HWY 32 to Limon/PV.

[@FindingMangos]

These are helpful tips too! Thank you! 😊

[@rasta4ridez884]

Im so happy you made this video My girlfriend and i are planning to go to Costa rica in May. It's our first time , as first-timers we have no idea where is what . Any areas are good to stay for a week? We saw puerto viajo, but it seems so far from the airport 4 hours . I dont even know how to get there if our plane arrives late. Is there a place you can recommend for first timers ??

[@FindingMangos]

Hey there! I'm so glad to hear that. A few thoughts: unless you are an experienced international traveler, you probably don't want to drive across the country in the dark. Remember sun sets (all year) by 6pm. We would recommend flying in and staying the first night in a hotel by the airport after you get your rental car. Then get up in the morning and start fresh with a drive across the country if you are staying somewhere further from the airport. Where you stay will depend largely on your budget, but the easy win for first timers to Costa Rica is the Guanacaste area. It's closer to the airport, has options across different budget spectrums, and offers a lot to be desired for beaches, hikes, waterfalls, and other activities. If you are interested in chatting more, or there are other questions you have, we'd be glad to recommend more specifics -- just shoot us an email. Jason's email address is listed in our KZbin bio. Thanks. Have a great trip!

[@perryelyod4870]

I could make this comment very long, giving advice, but I'll restrain myself here. The bit of advice I do want to give is regarding rental cars. Yes, rent a vehicle with high clearance, preferably with four wheel drive. You may never need it, but if you do, you'll be so glad for it. A Toyota Yaris may be cheaper, but not a good vehicle for Costa Rica beyond commuting within the greater metro area of San Jose or suburbs. Rental car companies, on their websites are not giving you an honest cost for their vehicles. A few do, and I suggest using them just for that. What the rental car companies don't include in their rates is the mandatory daily insurance charge (not covered by your credit card, it's compulsory). And it's not cheap, averaging $15 a day. I also fully insure any rentals with their coverage, the hazards in Costa Rica are much higher than back home. You never think about parking on the beach, and having a coconut fall on your windshield, shattering it as one of many examples. Take pictures and/or video before you drive off, including as much of the underside as possible. Some companies do very through inspections with you, others try to scam you to pay for previous damage. Waze is very popular in Latin America, and is the recommended navigation tool to use. Get a local SIM card with a lot of data. Availibility is good, any Kolbi, Claro, Liberty sign will have them. Cell phone is relatively cheap here.

[@FindingMangos]

This is really great advice. You are spot on. We've paid as much as $25/day for TPL insurance, and they don't tell you about this in advance. We also had a rental car company try to scam us too (said the scratch on the car was our fault and, tried to charge us $1800 for repairs, but I had taken photos and videos of the car showing the damage before we left on day 1-- definitely a close call). AND we had a coconut fall on our windshield while parked on the-- no im just kidding. But you are exactly right about all of this. Thanks for adding in your advice for the community here. It's beneficial to many.

[@kristensims2064]

I am looking forward to the guide. Thank you!

[@FindingMangos]

Wonderful! Thanks so much. We are putting the finishing touches on it and hope to release it soon!

[@DebMiller-d7i]

I would appreciate a guide. Thank you!

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@christinacalvit5933]

we'd love a guide!

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We're putting finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀 Thanks!

[@kasiaio]

I would love a guide, please and thank you ;)

[@FindingMangos]

Thanks so much! We’re working hard on making the guide perfect before we release it in the Spring! 😃 we’ll keep you posted!

[@annrichmanrn4514]

Thanks!

[@carlsolie7250]

Guide. Thank you for the info!

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@BrittneyChristina]

Guide! Great video.

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@karriaxtell9533]

Guide please. Visiting La Fortuna.

[@FindingMangos]

Wonderful! Organico Fortuna is our favorite place to eat there. We're putting the finishing touches on the guide and plan to release it soon. We'll keep you posted and post the link here as soon as it's available.

[@janderijck5298]

Thanks! Would love the guide

[@FindingMangos]

Coming soon! We’ll keep you posted.

[@bryan4052]

Guide please. Thank you in advance

[@michalmisio64]

So I am going to Quepos region next year in June whats the best transportation for me to take from the airport In San Jose I don’t wanna rent a car are the taxis reasonable priced ? Guide please Thank you !

[@FindingMangos]

Sounds like a great trip you're planning! :-) We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! For your trip from San José to the Quepos region, there are a few great transportation options without needing to rent a car: Private Shuttle: Many companies offer private shuttles that will take you directly from the San José airport to Quepos. These are convenient and comfortable, though a bit more expensive than other options. Prices typically range from $150 to $200 for a one-way trip, depending on the provider. Shared Shuttle: If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, you can take a shared shuttle, which is usually cheaper but can take a bit longer as it makes multiple stops. The cost for a shared shuttle is typically around $50-$60 per person. Public Bus: The most affordable option is to take a public bus from San José to Quepos. It's not as fast, as it can take around 3.5-4 hours, but the fare is very reasonable, around $8-$10 per person. Taxis: Taxis are available, but they can be pricey for longer distances like this one. A taxi ride from the San José airport to Quepos could cost anywhere from $120 to $150, so it’s not the most cost-effective option. If you're not in a rush and want to save some money, the shared shuttle or bus would be your best bet! Have a great trip!

[@michalmisio64]

@ thank you so much for the detail info mow I have clear mind which one to choose . May be you can post video on this topic as there is no videos about it on youtube . Thank you 👍

[@FindingMangos]

@@michalmisio64 Thanks! So glad to be helpful. We did a video on planning a trip to Costa Rica in which we did talk through the pros and cons or transportation options. Here's that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXrPkqSOqpd3iqc

[@davidpeters3846]

You can take a bus from the airport or if you plan on going every year get to know a local family ship a $3,000 car over there because renting a vehicle is a pain

[@FindingMangos]

@@davidpeters3846 That's a really interesting option!

[@trishkuffler6958]

I would love to see the guide

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@michaelwaite1132]

Guide please. Thank you

[@FindingMangos]

Hey there! We are just getting the guide finished up and want it to be as helpful as possible before we release it. We'll keep you posted. Are there any particular questions you have or things that would be most helpful to you?

[@KathrynBeerline]

I would love a guide!

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@terrellmiller7361]

Guide. ¡Gracias!

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide, making it sing, and hope to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted. Much love!

[@JoVe-pe5mr]

Guide please and thank you!!

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@denidobson6194]

Guide link please😊

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it soon! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@jEll-l7u]

Guide txs!

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release soon! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@davidz1103]

Is the guide available

[@FindingMangos]

Hi! Thanks. We're putting the finishing touches on the guide, and want to make sure it's perfect before we release it. We'll let you know as soon as it's available.

[@davidpeters3846]

I really love Costa Rica and the people but nowadays even if you live like a Costa Rican it is not cheap

[@FindingMangos]

Thanks for watching David, and good to hear from you. It can be definitely pricey in some places.

[@adamherman18]

guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Glad you’re enjoying the videos! we’re putting the finishing touches on the guide now and plan to release it here in the next few weeks. Will keep you posted.

[@adamherman18]

@@FindingMangos I'm going in a week. If you could send now, that would be great.

[@TheBoo2116]

When will the planning video be out?

[@JasonDrumm]

Hola! :-) We'll be releasing several upcoming videos on this. The first of these will go live next Monday the 4th.

[@JasonDrumm]

When are you planning your trip? Any particular challenges or questions?

[@TheBoo2116]

​@@JasonDrummOk, I will keep a look out for them! I'm planning for 4/19-27. I am for sure doing la fortuna for the first part, but undecided on if Manuel Antonio is a good second place. Also thinking about taking a day away from La fortuna to see monteverde. I am planning on using a private driver/shuttle service instead of renting a car.

[@FindingMangos]

@@TheBoo2116 That's great! April 13-19th will be such a great time to visit because it's right after Semana Santa, so everyone will have JUST taken their vacations and be back to work and school. So things will be less busy. La Fortuna is such a cute little part of the country -- "Organico Fortuna" is our favorite restaurant in town there -- great food and great staff. Tabacon hotel is excellent, with free admission to the hot springs, or their day pass is really worth it for the hot springs if you are staying at another spot. If you look into "Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges" it's right there near La Fortuna, and is widely considered the Monteverde alternative. If Mistico has what you're looking for with rainforest and hanging bridges, it might save you the drive to Monteverde. Hope you have a great trip! Let us know if there is anything else we can do to help or any other questions we can answer for you. 🙂

[@markmcconnell9513]

Guide please!

[@FindingMangos]

Hey there! 😃 so glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and plan to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted here. Thanks!

[@AngelinaVogt-z8i]

guide, please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide, making it sing, and hope to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted. Much love!

[@ShawnandJillHaynes]

Guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide, making it sing, and hope to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted. Much love!

[@seanhogan6897]

Having lived in Costa Rica for roughly 3 1/2 years, I would guess that 90%+ of tourists will never need a 4x4, but it makes them feel more like they are on safari. Nonetheless, the rest of the tips are good!

[@FindingMangos]

Interesting! Thanks for your perspective. When we had to do a river crossing on our first trip, we were really glad we had taken this advice. Glad to hear from you!

[@FindingMangos]

We're curious -- what tip would you add in place of this one?

[@dianebrown4343]

Guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi! :-) SO glad the video was helpful to you. We are putting finishing touches on the guide, and want it to be perfect before we release it, so we will let you know as soon as it's ready. Thanks!

[@showmetravelsandtourswhats9212]

a guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@tb6577]

Guide?

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it soon! 😊 We will keep you posted here with a link to the guide as soon as it's available.

[@JordanHunter-i9h]

Guide please (:

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there Jordan! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it soon! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@chloebelair2141]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@jadebrady1885]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hi! Thanks. We're putting the finishing touches on the guide, and want to make sure it's perfect before we release it. We'll let you know as soon as it's available.

[@lizazhou5043]

guide

[@Wannakatana2112]

Another long KZbin video solved with a one minute PowerPoint

[@FindingMangos]

Thanks. You seem lovely. 🥰

[@swan77a]

The more I check into this place it sounds like nothing but hassles and problems right from the get go.

[@FindingMangos]

Oh not at all! 😃 These few challenges to be aware of are far outweighed by the vast majority of wonderful things about Costa Rica! Every place on earth has pros and cons, so it helps to know what they are before you go.

[@swan77a]

@@FindingMangosAs a Gringo speaking zero spanish the cons far out weigh any pro's. This should be the main advice to anyone thinking of visiting Costa Rica!

[@FindingMangos]

@@swan77a That's helpful. Do you mean people should learn to speak some Spanish? Like just some basics?

[@joangrant5248]

Is it unkind to say, Costa Rica has been discovered by Americans.

[@MilZennial]

No more unkind than saying KZbin has been discovered by Joans

[@FindingMangos]

I think that's true. A lot of Americans have realized how great Costa Rica is -- that's for sure.

[@HeidiBurnett-z6k]

Guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@FabianHonegger]

Guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide, making it sing, and hope to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted. Much love!

[@owenlawrence8670]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@sherylproctor5377]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide, making it sing, and hope to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted. Much love!

[@jtdewildt4451]

Guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide, making it sing, and hope to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted. Much love!

[@isabelg8788]

Guide please

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@patriciajack2512]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hey there! Thanks! We’re going to have the guide ready in the Spring and we’ll keep you posted!

[@danielmontano-smith8791]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@GregQuigley]

Guide please.

[@FindingMangos]

Hey there! 😃 so glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and plan to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted here. Thanks!

[@KaylaBadilla-n6m]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it this Spring! 😊 We will keep you posted here.

[@jeesss31]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hey there! 😃 so glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and plan to release it soon. We’ll keep you posted here. Thanks!

[@ThomasRice-c9w]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready in the Spring. We'll keep you posted! 😀

[@deryltitus1157]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it soon! 😊 We will keep you posted here with a link to the guide as soon as it's available.

[@mb4076]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

Hi there! Glad you are enjoying the videos. We are putting the final touches on the guide and plan to release it soon! 😊 We will keep you posted here with a link to the guide as soon as it's available.

[@johnkauh9200]

Guide

[@FindingMangos]

So glad you find the videos helpful! We are putting the finishing touches on the guide and hoping to have it ready soon. We'll keep you posted by providing a link here! 😀