Toorizta Articles
Travel stories, guides and tips from Toorizta and its community of Costa Rica travelers.
Getting to Limón, Costa Rica: Fly 40 Minutes, or Give Route 32 Half a Day
Sansa flies San José to Limón in about 40 minutes; Route 32 takes half a day and sometimes closes in rain. Every way into Limón, compared. Ask us.
Things to Do in Liberia, Costa Rica: Pick the Day of the Week Before the Tour
Rincón de la Vieja, Palo Verde, canyon rafting and tubing: what each Liberia day takes and costs, who it suits, and what to book first. Ask us.
Hotels in Escazú, Costa Rica: San Rafael, the Old Town, or the Hills
Most Escazú hotels sit in San Rafael, by Avenida Escazú and Multiplaza. Which base fits a first night, a family stay or a quiet hill. Ask us.
Getting to Puntarenas: the Bus From San José, the Bus From Liberia, and Every Other Way In
Hourly buses from San José, ten a day from Liberia, eight ferries to Paquera: every way into Puntarenas with schedules, and when a driver wins. Ask us
Things to Do in Monteverde: Book the Clock, Walk Into the Rest
Cloud forest walks, hanging bridges, ziplines, night tours and dawn birding in Monteverde: time, cost and season for each, and what to book first. Ask
Where to Stay in Jacó With Kids: Pick the Water First, Then the Hotel
Jacó and Playa Hermosa are surf beaches; Herradura is the calm cove. Which Jacó base suits a family, who can walk to dinner, and where kids swim. Ask
How to Get to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica: Bus, Shuttle, Flight or Private Driver
From SJO it is 4.5 to 5 hours by road, or a 40-minute Sansa hop to Limón. Every way into Puerto Viejo, from Liberia and Bocas too. Ask us which fits.
Things to Do at Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica: What to Book Ahead, and What to Walk Into
Arenal Volcano tours compared by time, cost and traveler type: hikes, rafting, bridges, hot springs and lake. What to book ahead in La Fortuna. Ask us
Getting to Arenal and La Fortuna: Every Way In, From SJO, Liberia or Your Last Stop
From SJO or Liberia, Monteverde or the beach: every way into La Fortuna and Arenal by shuttle, private driver, bus, plane or lake boat. Ask us.
Getting to the Papagayo Gulf: Land at Liberia, Not San José
Land at Liberia and the Papagayo Gulf is a short private ride away. From San José it's a flight or a half-day drive. Every way in, compared. Ask us.
Things to Do in Tamarindo: Sort the Week by Where Each Tour Starts
Estuary at dawn, Catalinas by boat, La Leona inland: every Tamarindo tour worth booking, by time, cost and season, and which ones to lock in early.
Getting to San José: the Airport Is in Alajuela, and That Changes the Ride
SJO sits in Alajuela, not San José, and Liberia is a long drive away. Every way into the capital and onward, with live transfer prices. Ask us.
Getting to Tamarindo: Land in Liberia, or Give San José Half a Day
Liberia is about 75 minutes from Tamarindo by road; San José is 4.5 to 5 hours. Shuttle, private driver, bus or a 50-minute flight: ask us which fits.
Things to Do in Montezuma: Book the Boat and the Night Paddle, Walk to Everything Else
Waterfall, Cabo Blanco, Isla Tortuga, ATV and the glowing night paddle: what each takes and costs in Montezuma, and the three to book before you arriv
Where to Stay in Tambor: the Resort, Los Delfines, the Village, or Montezuma
Tambor is a resort, a gated golf community, a quiet village and Montezuma down the road. Which base fits your week, and when you need a car. Ask us.
Where to Stay in Puntarenas: the Ferry Tip, the Paseo, or El Roble
Puntarenas is a port on a sandbar, and the province is half the coast. Which base fits a 4 a.m. ferry, a cruise or a family resort night. Ask us.
Things to Do in Drake Bay: What to Book, and in What Order
Corcovado, Caño Island, whales and a glowing night paddle: which Drake Bay tours to book first, how long each takes, and what fits in four nights.
Getting to Jaco: Easy From SJO, a Long Day From Liberia
Jaco is about two hours from SJO by road. From Liberia it is a long day with no Interbus shuttle. Every way in, compared, plus the boat. Ask us.
Things to Do in Tortuguero: Book the Paddle and the Turtles, Then Leave Room
Six Tortuguero tours compared by time, cost and season, plus the SINAC park rules that decide what to book ahead. Two nights, done right. Ask us.
Getting to Liberia: Land at LIR, or Spend a Day Getting There From San José
Fly into LIR or SJO? Shuttle, private driver, bus or rental car? Every way into Liberia and on to Tamarindo, Papagayo and Arenal, with real drive time
Things to Do in Nosara: Book the Surf Morning and the Turtle Night, Leave the Rest Loose
Nosara runs on two clocks: the morning surf at Guiones and the dark-moon turtle nights at Ostional. What to book ahead and what to walk into. Ask us.
Things to Do in Uvita: Let the Tide and the Morning Boats Set Your Days
The Whale's Tail only shows at low tide and the Caño Island boat leaves at 7. What to book in Uvita, what it costs, and which day suits each. Ask us.
Where to Stay in Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste: On the Sand, Up the Hill, or Next Door in Coco
Beachfront row, hillside condo, or Coco next door? How each Playa Hermosa base works for couples, families and groups, and the one mix-up to avoid. As
Where to Stay in Puerto Jiménez: Town, the Gulf, Dos Brazos, Matapalo or Carate
Town, the gulf, Dos Brazos, Matapalo or Carate: each Puerto Jiménez base reaches a different Corcovado entrance. Pick the gate, then the bed. Ask us.
Where to Stay in Alajuela: the Airport Ring, the Town, or the Coffee Slopes
Juan Santamaría airport is in Alajuela, not San Jose. Four bases compared by how early your alarm is, and whether you need the night at all. Ask us.
Getting to Sierpe: Every Way In, and the Boat You Are Racing
Sierpe is a river dock with a timetable. The drive from San Jose, the Tracopa bus, the flight to Drake Bay, and which one catches the 11:30 boat.
Where to Stay in Papagayo: There Is No All-Inclusive Inside the Gate
The Papagayo Peninsula has three hotels and not one of them is all-inclusive. Where the real all-inclusives sit, and which base fits your week. Ask us
Getting to Santa Teresa: the Ferry Sails Eight Times a Day
The Puntarenas ferry to Paquera sails eight times a day, and the last hour into Santa Teresa is the slow one. Which arrival to book. Ask us.
Off the Ship in Puerto Limón: How Far You Can Actually Get
The Limón cruise pier sits in town, but the good stuff is 30 to 90 minutes out. What fits your all-aboard time, and what does not. Ask us first.
The Papagayo Peninsula Has No All-Inclusive Resort. Here Is Where They Actually Are.
Four Seasons, Andaz and Nekajui are a la carte. The real all-inclusives sit around the gulf at Arenilla and Playa Manzanillo. Which one to book, and w