About John Rabenau

Looking for a different way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year? Why not spend it in Costa Rica? Spending Thanksgiving in Costa Rica puts a whole new twist on the traditional holiday and makes for unforgettable memories. While it might not be just like Mom’s, Thanksgiving in Costa Rica is a great chance to get friends […]

“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas. Just like the ones I used to know.” ~Bing Crosby, White Christmas. Bing Crosby must not have been in Costa Rica for Christmas, because the only white he’d have seen is the white sand beaches. In Costa Rica during Christmas, you will see green forests, orange, red, purple, and […]

New Year’s Eve is perhaps the most festive night of the entire year, and what better way to ring in the New Year than by celebrating on vacation in Costa Rica? Set the tone for a remarkable year with New Year’s in Costa Rica: a celebration you’ll never forget. We’ll help you plan your Costa […]

One of the most beautiful parts of travel is experiencing different cultures, and different cultures often include different languages. Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country, so of course, when you visit Costa Rica, you will be exposed to the language, the local slang, and the cultural bedrock that forms through the foundation of language. But […]

Life moves quickly. And getting the whole family together doesn’t happen as often as it should. It takes a lot to get everyone together in one place, but the memories made when the entire family does get together are beyond worth it. What’s better than a family reunion? A family reunion in Costa Rica! Rather […]

Costa Rica, or the rich coast, is a small country that packs a big punch. Mentioned in countless movies and TV shows as a dream destination that people reference as a vacation or retirement spot, Costa Rica may just be the height of wanderlust. So what makes this geographically small country so alluring? And why […]

Costa Rica is a great place to vacation with your kids. There is so much to see and do and the adventures and experiences in Costa Rica are some of the most memorable that any kid could dream of. From the amazing wildlife, like sloths, sea turtles, toucans, monkeys, and more, to active volcanoes, zip […]

A luxury vacation in Costa Rica is the perfect blend of relaxation and stimulation. The country has so much to choose from, and the luxury tourism industry does as well. From sustainable eco-lodges running on solar panels with farm-to-table dining to impressive all-inclusive resorts with private beaches, the luxury options in Costa Rica can take […]

Traveling as a child is the most wondrous thing in the world. For adults, we can often get burdened by delayed flights, long car rides, or hotel reservation mistakes. But children? They only see the joy and amazement of being somewhere new and exciting, and there is no place more exciting than Costa Rica. Costa […]

While there are many ways to travel frugally in Costa Rica, most travelers agree that Costa Rica is more expensive than the average tropical destination. Depending on your itinerary, a week-long vacation in Costa Rica can cost between $1,800 to $4,500 per person. The trip price will be affected primarily by the types of accommodation […]

When most people think of all-inclusive vacations, they imagine sprawling resorts with endless buffets, tropical cocktails, and plenty of amenities all within a single complex—often walled off from the local community and culture. These resort-style vacations can offer convenience and relaxation but frequently come at the cost of a truly immersive travel experience. In Costa […]

Costa Rica is not your typical tropical getaway. There is more to the country than just the palm tree-lined beaches and the warm Pacific and Caribbean waters. While Costa Rica is relatively small, it is home to roughly 5% of the world’s biodiversity, meaning the country is teaming with a wide array of flora and […]

When you think of Costa Rica, you probably imagine towering volcanoes, palm tree-lined beaches, and jungle canopies teeming with sloths, monkeys, and other exotic wildlife. If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, chances are you’re considering visiting one of Costa Rica’s famed cloud forests to view the nation’s exotic flora and fauna. Travelers pressed […]

If you plan your trip carefully, spring break can be an ideal time for your family to visit Costa Rica. The weather in March and April is as good as it gets and the tourism industry is especially robust during this time, ensuring that you will be able to make lots of memorable experiences. However, […]

There are so many great reasons to visit Costa Rica, and this blog has covered many of them, like the beaches, the volcanoes, the wildlife and biodiversity, and even the off-the-beaten-path gems. But Costa Rica is more than just a great location for a vacation. Costa Rica is more than just great beaches. A trip […]

Costa Rica’s sandy beach trails, gravel farm roads, and curvy mountain passes make it an ideal terrain for horseback riding tours and an opportunity to experience nature at a gentle pace. This article will share details about where to go horseback riding in Costa Rica, when to go, and how to make sure it is […]

Every time we board a flight to Costa Rica, we look around at the travelers joining us for their first or hundredth trip to Costa Rica, and there is so much variety! An excited family ready for the beach, a crew of ruddy-faced fishermen excited to get on the boat they’ve chartered, a quiet group […]

Travel agencies work with families, newlyweds, and groups of all sizes to plan unique, meaningful, and unforgettable trips to Costa Rica. This article will walk through some of the benefits of working with a travel agent to design your dream trip. Reasons to not hire a travel agent Before talking about the benefits of a […]

In a country with six active volcanoes and hundreds of dormant ones, it is no surprise that hot springs abound. Tabacon Hot Springs is one of the nicer hot springs resorts in Costa Rica and definitely worth a visit if you plan to be in the area around Arenal Volcano. Benefits of hot springs Medical […]

In the past few decades, Costa Rica has become synonymous with surfing. Mild air and sea temperatures, long point breaks, and wide beaches have even resulted in famous surfers relocating to Costa Rica and Costa Rica being chosen as the home for the 2016 World Surfing Games. As a result, there are lots of surf […]