Posts
January 9, 2026 / January 9, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
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 […]
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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 […]
January 9, 2026 / January 10, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
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 (82 meters) 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 […]
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 is Costa Rica’s most consistently active volcano—requiring guided tours for the 2.8-mile hike to the rim at 10,958 feet (3,340 m). Tours cost $45 USD plus $12 park entry through ICETUR, running 6–10 AM. A 4WD rental is required for the Tapojo access road. Quick Facts: $45 guide […]
November 24, 2025 / March 27, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to Sirena Station Corcovado Sirena Station is the interior hub of Corcovado National Park — not an entry point, but the park’s core, reachable only by boat or an 8-hour jungle hike. A standard 2-night visit requires a mandatory certified guide, costs $400–500 per person, and delivers Costa Rica’s highest wildlife concentration in […]
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 […]
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. […]
November 6, 2025 / December 15, 2025 by Zachary Ellison
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 / March 27, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to Poás Volcano National Park Poás Volcano National Park sits 23 miles (37 km) north of San José on fully paved roads—no 4×4 needed. Entry is $15 adults, $5 children, paid online when booking. Arrive by 8–9 AM for clear views of the turquoise acid crater lake; clouds roll in by 10:30 AM. […]
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 / March 27, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Children’s Eternal Rainforest: Quick Guide Costa Rica’s largest private reserve spans 56,000 acres across seven life zones — twice the size of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve — funded by schoolchildren from 44 countries starting in 1987. Entry costs $18 adults at most stations, with Bajo del Tigre accessible 10 minutes from Santa Elena, and […]
October 25, 2025 / March 27, 2026 by Zachary Ellison
Quick Guide to La Marta Wildlife Refuge La Marta Wildlife Refuge protects 3,750 acres of cloud forest, 1.5 hours from San José in Cartago province, with 10.6 miles (17 km) of trails and 17 natural pools — far fewer crowds than Manuel Antonio or Monteverde. A standard sedan works in the dry season; higher clearance […]
October 24, 2025 / January 31, 2026 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 whale-watching windows — July to November and December to April. Located near Uvita, 4 hours south of San José Airport (SJO), this 13,000-acre marine park combines the […]
