Pura Vida World travel guides

Costa Rica Travel Guides from Our Mountain Home

Practical, first-hand advice for planning a trip to San José and Costa Rica's Central Valley, from the family behind Pura Vida World.

12 Best Day Trips from San José, with Drive Times

Poás, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Irazú, Cartago, Jacó and more, with real distances from our mountain home.

When the green season really starts, what a typical rainy day is like, and where to go in September and October.

A packing list for mountains, rainforest and beaches, with tips by season.

Tickets, drive time, the best time to go and what to see nearby in Cartago and Orosi.

Downtown, Escazú, the airport area or the mountains: an honest comparison.

Visiting Sevegre in San Gerardo de Dota from our mountain home: trout fishing, horseback riding, waterfall trails and cloud-forest views.