Posts
January 12, 2026 / January 12, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Peñas Blancas Border Crossing: What’s Covered The Peñas Blancas border crossing sits about 90 minutes north of Liberia on the Pan-American Highway, making it Costa Rica’s only land crossing into Nicaragua. You’ll need your passport (valid for at least six months), small USD bills for various fees totaling around $25-27, and proof of onward travel […]
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100% Aventura Monteverde: What’s Covered If you’re looking for a zipline experience that pushes your limits without throwing you completely off the deep end, 100% Aventura in Monteverde delivers exactly that. This family-owned adventure park has been perfecting their canopy tour for over 18 years, and they’ve figured out something important: the best way to […]
Heredia Cultural Tour: What’s Covered Heredia is absolutely worth visiting if you want to experience authentic Costa Rican culture beyond the beaches and rainforests. Known as the “City of Flowers,” this Central Valley province sits just 10 kilometers north of San José and offers colonial architecture, traditional mask-making artisans, vibrant local markets, and a window […]
Arenal 1968 Reserve: What’s Covered The Arenal 1968 private reserve offers one of the best Arenal Volcano hikes in Costa Rica, combining dramatic lava field terrain with panoramic views of both the volcano and Lake Arenal. Located just 15-20 minutes from La Fortuna, this 7-kilometer trail system takes you directly through the path of the […]
January 9, 2026 / January 9, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Pacuare River Rafting: What’s Covered The Pacuare River consistently earns its spot among the top five white water rafting destinations on the planet, and it’s not hard to see why. This 108-kilometer river carving through Costa Rica’s Caribbean slope delivers Class III-IV rapids wrapped in untouched rainforest, cascading waterfalls, and wildlife encounters you simply won’t […]
Treetopia Park Monteverde: What’s Covered Treetopia Park (formerly Sky Adventures Monteverde) combines Costa Rica’s only cloud forest aerial tram, ziplines reaching 328 feet above the canopy, and six hanging bridges across nearly 2 miles of pristine forest—all in one location about 20 minutes from Santa Elena. If you’re looking for that quintessential Monteverde adventure experience […]
Rainforest Adventures Braulio Carrillo: What’s Covered Just 45 minutes from San José, there’s a 475-hectare private reserve bordering one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse national parks—and most travelers have never heard of it. Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic offers the longest aerial tram in the country, a 10-cable zipline course, and the kind of wildlife […]
Museo Finca 6 Stone Spheres: What’s Covered Over 300 perfectly round stone balls scattered across southern Costa Rica—some weighing up to 16 tons—remain one of archaeology’s most puzzling mysteries. The Diquís stone spheres have baffled researchers since the 1930s, and the best place to encounter them is Finca 6, a UNESCO World Heritage Site tucked […]
Peñas Blancas Safari Float: What’s Covered The Peñas Blancas Safari Float is one of the best ways to see Costa Rica’s wildlife without hiking for hours through humid rainforest. This gentle river float takes you through the Tilarán Mountain Range just 30 minutes from La Fortuna, where monkeys, sloths, caimans, and dozens of bird species […]
Arenal Horseback Riding: What’s Covered Riding through lush rainforest trails with Arenal Volcano rising behind you isn’t just for experienced equestrians—it’s one of the most accessible adventure activities in Costa Rica’s Northern Zone. Most Arenal horseback riding tours cater specifically to first-timers, using gentle, well-trained horses that follow established trails through private nature reserves. Tours […]
Los Chorros Waterfalls: What’s Covered Los Chorros Waterfalls sits just 45 minutes from San José, making it one of the most accessible waterfall destinations in Costa Rica. Located near the charming town of Grecia in Alajuela Province, this pair of cascading waterfalls offers the kind of local experience that most tourists miss entirely. The name […]
January 8, 2026 / January 9, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Catarata del Toro: What’s Covered There’s a waterfall in Costa Rica that plunges 270 feet into an extinct volcanic crater, and somehow it still flies under most tourists’ radar. Catarata del Toro sits nestled in the misty highlands of Bajos del Toro, about two hours north of San José which is close enough for a […]
January 6, 2026 / January 6, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Cascada El Pavon: What’s Covered Cascada El Pavon is one of those Costa Rica waterfalls that most visitors drive right past without knowing it exists. Tucked away on a back road near Ojochal in the Costa Ballena region, this small but charming cascade drops into a natural swimming pool where locals gather on weekends to […]
December 10, 2025 / December 15, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Turrialba Volcano National Park: What’s Covered Turrialba Volcano National Park offers one of Costa Rica’s most dramatic volcanic experiences—a 4.5-kilometer hike to the rim of an active stratovolcano that regularly reminds visitors why it earned the indigenous name “Tower of Fire.” At 3,340 meters, this is Costa Rica’s second-tallest volcano and its most consistently active, […]
November 24, 2025 / November 27, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to Sirena Station Corcovado Sirena Station sits deep in Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, accessible only by boat or 8-hour jungle trek. This 3-day minimum adventure costs $400-500 per person but delivers Costa Rica’s highest wildlife concentration—90% chance for scarlet macaws, 70% for tapirs, all four monkey species guaranteed. You’ll sleep […]
November 21, 2025 / December 7, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
Caribbean Coast Activities: What’s Covered Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast delivers something the rest of the country doesn’t—Afro-Caribbean culture, reggae rhythms, coconut-infused cooking, and beaches that stay sunny when the Pacific side gets drenched. This 134-mile stretch offers wildlife-rich national parks like Tortuguero and Cahuita, world-class surf breaks, indigenous Bribri villages, and some of the country’s […]
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 […]
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 […]
November 6, 2025 / December 7, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
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 […]
