Travel and Adventure
Costa Rica Country Overview by Rustic Pathways
Learn about the country’s culture and history, local language and foods.
A to Z: Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to Costa Rica
From the land of Pura Vida, good vibes, and Gallo Pinto, this A to Z list will give you some insight and fun facts on what to expect when you visit Costa Rica.
Capture: Costa Rica
Favorite photographs from a summer in Costa Rica.
Arenal, Costa Rica
Explore Arenal, one of the youngest, yet most active volcanoes in Central America. Arenal is surrounded by a tropical paradise full of incredible biodiversity and unspoiled landscape.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles
Hundreds of thousands of olive Ridley sea turtles flock to Ostional, Costa Rica, each year—but development and tourism may threaten their future.
Capture: A Gap Year in Costa Rica
Get a glimpse into life on a spring Gap semester in Latin America.
Q&A: Going to Costa Rica With Rustic Pathways
Our Costa Rica Country Manager answers the most frequently asked questions about travel to Costa Rica.
History
Costa Rica’s 44-Day War, Demilitarization History, and Avoidance of Cold War Violence
Costa Rica hasn’t had a national military since 1948 and is often known as one of Latin America’s most peaceful countries. However, Costa Rica endured a violent 44-day civil war that concluded with the development of the country’s constitution and long-term political stability.
“We Are a Seed”
The Bribri are one of the two largest indigenous populations in Costa Rica. Bribri culture emphasizes sustainable living, and additional supporting income often is earned from selling crops or facilitating local tourism. Hear from Tonnia Fernandez Solis, a member of the Bribri Talamanca indeigenous community.
Rustic in Costa Rica
Photos from Rustic travelers
Eat
Costa Rican Gallo Pinto
Almost every Latin American country has a version of rice and beans, and this is Costa Rica’s take. The name gallo pinto literally translates to spotted hen, taken from the speckled colors of the dish. You’ll find this dish in every home in Costa Rica.
10 Most Popular Costa Rican Dishes
From salty-sweet fried plantains, or patacones, to hearty olla de carne, dive into Costa Rica’s most popular dishes and get ready for a trip to your local international grocery.
Listen
Costa Rica Top 50
A playlist of the most played tracks in Costa Rica right now, updated daily.
Watch
ESPN: Costa Rica National Team Schedule
Though Costa Rica’s population is only 1% of that of the US, Costa Rica has nearly the same amount of professional soccer teams! Follow the men’s national team’s upcoming games here.
Try it Out
Learn Spanish
Try an immersive language learning experience and one-on-one conversational practice with native Spanish speakers.
How to Speak Tico
Things are not always as they seem! Learn the “Costa Rican meaning” for a handful of Spanish words and phrases. Speak like a local in no time.
Salsa Dancing for Beginners
Learn how to salsa dance in this video.