Posts
November 7, 2025 / November 11, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Costa Rica Activities: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s best activities cluster in five main regions, each requiring 2-3 days minimum to experience properly. From Arenal’s hot springs and ziplines to Manuel Antonio’s wildlife encounters and Guanacaste’s adventure sports, planning around drive times and vehicle requirements makes the difference between rushed tourist stops and meaningful experiences. Morning […]
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Budget-Friendly Costa Rica: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s best budget experiences combine free public beaches, national parks under $20, and local sodas serving $5-8 casados. From Cahuita’s donation-based park to free crocodile viewing at Tarcoles Bridge, you’ll find world-class nature without the premium price tags. A rental car from Vamos unlocks remote free beaches and lesser-known […]
November 6, 2025 / November 6, 2025 by Alex Villalobos
Vamos Rent-A-Car is pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive update to our brand identity, featuring a redesigned logo and refreshed visual system. This evolution marks a significant milestone for our company as we continue to enhance our services and commitment to providing an exceptional car rental experience in Costa Rica. Strategic Refresh for […]
November 6, 2025 / November 10, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Bird Watching in Costa Rica: Quick Guide Costa Rica’s 900+ bird species narrow down to four showstoppers everyone actually wants to photograph: toucans, quetzals, scarlet macaws, and hummingbirds. Hit Carara’s entrance by 6 AM for guaranteed macaw sightings, or stake out San Gerardo de Dota in March for an 80% chance at quetzals. Having your […]
One-Week Costa Rica Itinerary: What’s Covered Seven days works best with two complementary regions instead of four rushed destinations. Costa Rica’s mountains make distances deceptive—add 30% to drive times. Choose San José airport for La Fortuna/Monteverde or Manuel Antonio, or Liberia for Guanacaste beaches. A 4×4 handles all routes comfortably, especially Monteverde’s unpaved sections. Quick […]
Two-Week Costa Rica Itinerary: What’s Covered This 14-day clockwise route hits cloud forests, volcanoes, beaches, and wildlife without backtracking. Fly into SJO and follow: Monteverde Cloud Forest (3 days), Arenal and La Fortuna (3 days), Tamarindo beaches (4 days), then Manuel Antonio (2 days) before returning to SJO. A 4×4 is essential for Monteverde’s rough […]
Costa Rica Beaches: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s 800+ miles of coastline is split between the Pacific and the Caribbean, offering world-class surf to calm family swimming. Guanacaste’s Pacific beaches deliver dry-season sunshine December-April with Tamarindo for beginner surfing and Conchal for snorkeling. Manuel Antonio sits 3 hours from San José, combining beaches with wildlife, while […]
Wildlife Viewing in Costa Rica: What’s Covered Costa Rica packs 5% of the world’s biodiversity into 0.03% of Earth’s landmass. Manuel Antonio delivers guaranteed sloth and monkey sightings with standard car access, while Monteverde requires 4×4 for mountain roads to spot quetzals. Arrive at 7 AM when animals are most active. Dry season concentrates animals […]
Costa Rica Ziplines: What’s Covered Costa Rica invented modern canopy tours, and its mountains create world-class ziplining. Monteverde’s cloud forest cables stretch 2,500 feet through mist where quetzals nest, but require a 4×4 for mountain roads. Arenal offers volcano views with better access, while Manuel Antonio sits 3 hours from San José on excellent highways. […]
Coffee Tourism in Costa Rica: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s volcanic soil creates distinctive coffee experiences accessible within hours of San José. Visit during harvest season (November-February) when plantations buzz with cherry-picking and processing mills run at capacity. Having your own vehicle lets you explore multiple farms across mountain roads where the best beans grow. Quick […]
November 4, 2025 / November 4, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Santa Teresa & Montezuma Costa Rica: What’s Covered Santa Teresa and Montezuma sit on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, about 20 minutes apart, offering authentic bohemian vibes without tourist crowds. Getting there requires the 1.5-hour Paquera ferry from Puntarenas ($3 foot passengers, $15-20 vehicles) plus 45-60 minutes of challenging road conditions that demand a 4×4 vehicle. […]
November 3, 2025 / November 3, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to Poás Volcano National Park Poás Volcano showcases one of the world’s largest active crater lakes just 37 kilometers north of San José, making it Costa Rica’s easiest volcano experience with only a 10-minute walk to the viewpoint. The stunning turquoise sulfuric acid lake sits at 8,900 feet, surrounded by steaming fumaroles that […]
November 1, 2025 / November 1, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Costa Rica Volcanoes: What’s Covered Poás and Irazú volcanoes sit less than 2 hours from San José, offering completely different crater experiences for day-trippers. Poás requires advance reservations through SINAC but features better roads and developed facilities, while Irazú operates first-come-first-served with rougher final approach roads. Having a reliable rental vehicle lets you start early […]
October 31, 2025 / November 4, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to Children’s Eternal Rain Forest Children’s Eternal Rain Forest spans 56,000 acres across northwestern Costa Rica, saved by schoolchildren from 44 countries who raised funds starting in 1987. This largest private reserve protects 400+ bird species and all six Costa Rican wild cats across four visitor stations ranging from family-friendly trails at Bajo […]
October 25, 2025 / October 30, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to La Marta Wildlife Refuge La Marta Wildlife Refuge protects 3,750 acres of primary cloud forest just 1.5 hours southeast of San José, offering 17km of trails without the crowds of Manuel Antonio or Monteverde. This hidden Cartago province gem features 17 natural swimming pools, atmospheric 1870s coffee hacienda ruins consumed by jungle, […]
October 24, 2025 / October 31, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to Marino Ballena National Park Marino Ballena National Park is the only place on Earth where humpback whales from both hemispheres migrate, giving you two annual viewing seasons instead of one. Located 4 hours south of San José near Uvita, this 13,000-acre marine park combines the famous “whale’s tail” tombolo formation (visible only […]
Cahuita National Park: What’s Covered Cahuita National Park combines Caribbean reef snorkeling with rainforest hiking along a 5-mile coastal trail where howler monkeys and sloths hang out in the trees above pristine beaches. Located 3.5 hours from San José via Route 32 through Braulio Carrillo, this 2,639-acre park has two entrances—Kelly Creek operates on donations […]
September 7, 2025 / November 6, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Braulio Carrillo National Park: What’s Covered Braulio Carrillo National Park sits just 20km from San José, making it Costa Rica’s most accessible primary rainforest experience. Entry costs $15 for adults, with trails ranging from easy 1-hour loops to challenging 5-hour volcano hikes. The park opens 8 AM-4 PM daily. Any standard vehicle handles the well-maintained […]
Costa Rica Weather: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s weather varies dramatically across 12 microclimates within a country smaller than West Virginia. Guanacaste stays bone-dry December-April while the Caribbean gets rain. The Central Valley enjoys an eternal spring at 60-80°F year-round. Understanding regional patterns helps you pick the right destinations and vehicle type for road conditions. Quick […]
Quick Guide to Costa Rica with Kids Costa Rica with kids works beautifully once you understand the logistics. Manuel Antonio offers flat trails for toddlers, Arenal has adventure activities for elementary-age kids, and Guanacaste beaches provide surf lessons and calm waters. Activities run $3-15 per child. Having a reliable vehicle with car seats (legally required) […]
September 7, 2025 / November 10, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Liberia Airport Driving Routes: What’s Covered Guanacaste Airport (LIR) sits 7 miles from Liberia city, putting you within 30 minutes of Gulf of Papagayo beaches and 1.5-2 hours from Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Conchal. Standard cars work for most Guanacaste beaches—roads are well-paved and flat. LIR’s compact 10-gate terminal processes faster than SJO with shorter immigration […]
September 5, 2025 / November 6, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Driving in Costa Rica: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s roads range from modern Highway 27 to the Pacific to challenging mountain passes where GPS underestimates time by 25-50%. Standard cars work for SJO to Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste beaches; 4WD is required for Monteverde, Santa Teresa, and Osa Peninsula. Green season afternoon rains turn gravel roads […]
August 29, 2025 / November 6, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
SJO Road Trip Routes: What’s Covered SJO’s central location puts you 3 hours from Arenal, Manuel Antonio, or Caribbean beaches—offering more flexibility than Liberia (LIR), which commits you to the northern Pacific. Three proven routes connect volcanoes, cloud forests, beaches, and rainforests without excessive backtracking. Standard cars handle most main highways; a 4×4 is required […]
Costa Rica Car Rental Guide: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s rental vehicle choice depends on destinations and seasons—economy cars work for San José and major beach towns like Jacó during the dry season, while 4x4s unlock destinations like Monteverde, the southern Nicoya Peninsula, and the Osa Peninsula. The green season (May-November) transforms secondary roads into 4×4-only […]
