The Costa Rica Travel Guide
Ultimate Pura Vida
Honest guides from Cody & Anna, written from our home in Playa Flamingo.
the places we keep going back to
Popular places
Santa Teresa
Nicoya Peninsula
La Fortuna & Arenal
Northern lowlands
Manuel Antonio
Central Pacific
Playa Flamingo & Potrero
Guanacaste
Monteverde
Cloud forest
Puerto Viejo
Caribbean coast
the stuff we wish we’d known
Plan your trip
Trip planning map
Every spot from our guides on one map, so you can plan your route.
Open the map →
Renting a car
What we’ve learned about insurance, roads and 4x4s, plus our Adobe discount.
Read the guide →
Packing list
What actually earns a spot in our bags for beach, rainforest and cloud forest.
See the list →
Hola, we’re Anna and Cody 👋
Your guides
Costa Rica is our special place. The people, the culture, the chaos and the natural beauty kept pulling us back, and after a decade of trips we moved here for good.
Everything on this site comes from places we’ve actually been. If something’s changed or you need help planning, send us a message.
We also run Colibri Hospitality, a small vacation rental company in Playa Flamingo.
start with these
Our favorite guides
The Quick Travel Guide To Rio Celeste
Hola 👋 There are so many beautiful places in Costa Rica that it’s surprisingly easy to keep pushing some of them down the list. That’s exactly what happened with Rio Celeste for us. When we finally made the trip, it just so happened to be during the two days that...
The Ultimate Guide to San Jose
Hola 👋 Welcome to our Ultimate Guide to San José, Costa Rica. This guide looks a little different than our other Ultimate Guides, simply because San José is HUGE compared to most destinations we cover on Ultimate Pura Vida. Instead of our standard format, we’re...
The Ultimate Guide to Playa Flamingo, Potrero, Brasilito
Welcome to our Ultimate Guide to Playa Flamingo, Potrero, and Brasilito. Planning a trip is already hectic enough, so we’ve done our best to highlight the most helpful details of some of Costa Rica’s best northern beach towns.
The Ultimate Guide To Puerto Viejo
Welcome to Puerto Viejo Thinking about planning a trip to Puerto Viejo? Do it! We finally branched out from the Pacific Coast for our first time in August 2023, and love going back whenever we can. Puerto Viejo is an under-the-radar beach town on the Caribbean side of...
Tips On Renting A Car In Costa Rica
Hola 👋 Renting a car in Costa Rica is hands down the best way for most travelers to explore the country. It gives you the freedom to go at your own pace while avoiding the hassle and cost of taxis or shuttles. In this guide, we’ll break down key cost considerations,...
The Ultimate Costa Rica Packing List
Hola 👋 Getting ready for your trip to Costa Rica and not sure what to bring? We’ve got you covered. Packing for Costa Rica might seem a bit challenging at first. After all, this tropical paradise offers a range of climates and unpredictable weather. We’ve put together...
what home looks like lately
Life in Playa Flamingo
