#trip planning — Toorizta Articles

How to Get to Santa Teresa: Work Backwards From the 3 p.m. Ferry

Eight gulf crossings a day, and the 3 p.m. is the last with light to spare. How to pick your route to Santa Teresa from the hour you land. Ask us.

A van drives along a rural highway through lush green jungle in Costa Rica

Leaving SJO: Your Landing Hour Picks the Ride, Not the Price

Shared shuttles leave San Jose in the morning and some SJO rental desks close at 11 p.m. Here is how your landing hour picks your ride out of the airp

City lights spread across a valley at dusk with mountains and a crescent moon in a colorful sky, San Jose

Where to Stay in San Jose: Airport Side, Downtown or Escazu

Booking "San Jose" often puts you in Alajuela instead. Which side of the valley to sleep on, decided by your flight hour and tomorrow's route. Ask us.

Wooden trail sign for the Nuboso Trail with distance and elevation details, surrounded by cloud forest greenery

Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve: Which Circuit to Book, and When

The preserve sells one circuit and one shuttle departure, not a day pass. Here is how to choose your Monteverde walk, and the hour worth booking.

Breakfast table with fruit, juice and coffee overlooking Arenal Volcano and rainforest

Breakfast before an early Arenal tour: what actually works

Your Arenal tour leaves before the kitchens open. Here is how families handle breakfast the night before, plus the 8am park gate rule from SINAC.

Hiker in a red jacket walks a misty forest trail lined with moss-covered trees and ferns

One Day in Monteverde: Which Cloud Forest to Walk, and Whether You Need a Guide

Three cloud forests, one morning. What the Monteverde Preserve's time slots and shuttle mean for your plan, and when a naturalist is worth it. Ask us.

Surfer riding a wave near a jungle-covered island, with a weather forecast overlay for Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Is Puerto Viejo Dry in September and October? What the Forecast Actually Says

Everyone says Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is dry in September and October. This year IMN forecasts the opposite. Here is how to plan Puerto Viejo any

A red auto rickshaw drives down a wet road in the rain, lined with palm trees and a small roadside building

Why Puerto Viejo's Driest Months Still Have 15 Rainy Days

Everyone calls September and October the Caribbean dry season. IMN rainfall data says lull, not dry. What to expect in Puerto Viejo, and how to check.

Aerial view of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica with coastal town, beach, reef and coastline text overlay

September Dates Shouldn't Cost You a Costa Rica Trip

Locked into September or October dates? Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is usually drying out while the Pacific soaks. Here is how to reroute it.

Couple posing on volcanic rocks with Arenal Volcano rising behind them under cloudy skies

Why smart hikers stop asking which Arenal trail is best

You cannot climb Arenal Volcano. Here is how the national park trails, Arenal 1968 and El Silencio really differ, and how to pick one for your group.

Misty cloud forest valley with fog drifting between forested mountain ridges in Costa Rica

Costa Rica in Green Season: An Honest Local Guide (2026)

Will rain ruin your Costa Rica trip? No. A local guide to green season: clear mornings, the veranillo dry window, whales, turtles, and where to go whe