I rented the car on the day after Christmas, which is peak season. You will probably be able to find a better deal at another time of the year. Someone recommended Vamos Car Rental for good deals: vamosrentacar.com/ If anyone has tips for renting cars, feel free to include them in comments below. Keep in mind that any cheap deals you might find online probably isn't the final price including tax and insurance.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos OK I got you. I can tell you priceline and kayak are the best places to get started and get an idea. Also for some reason on the phone they can never match online prices. I tried but they always told me to go on the website because that was an online only rate. So booking over the phone might cost you 10-20% more for sure...
I'm Costa Rican, it's not cheap, especially if you just came from Mexico and have been to other central American countries, the bus system is really good honestly, punctual, buses have AC, are comfortable, I have gone everywhere as a female by myself in buses and I've been fine, San Jose can be sketchy, especially at night, during the day it's OK, there's a lot of police so it's safe, outside of San Jose it's very safe, you just gotta watch out for people wanting to charge you more. It's best if you speak Spanish that way you can negotiate better.
I MISSSSSSE Costa Rica so much! The country is so beautiful! The AMAZING food and kind Ticos make me want to go back sooner than later. In fact, I've been thinking about retiring there, particularly in Monteverde! Thank you for this wonderful video in reminding me how magically special this country is!
Thanks for visiting my country ... If you want to see something different you must visit Monteverde and Manuel Antonio (Its a beach but you can find a lot of animals) ... Here in La fortuna , Catarata la fortuna and some hotsprings are the must visit places ... Merry christmas and happy new year ... PURA VIDA...
VIsited Manuel Antonio flew over the mountains in a small plane from San Jose hot as hell on the beach Christmas 1995...up the hill it got cooler. Learned never to stay on the beach itself again....saw coatmundis, capuchin monkeys....wonderful wildlife.
Been following your videos for a long time. Almost never comment but just wanted to give you respect and props for your work. I know it's not much but I always do watch your ads. Love everything about this video. Like how you always include the prices and include a more in-depth look at how you get from point A to B. Music is always fitting. As a person that's in the process of trying to break free from the rat race. Looking forward to the life of a frugal Perpetual Traveler. Someday will be today.....great job. Best of luck in 2021.
If you're tired of beaches, I would recommend the cloud forests of Monte Verde. Like Arenal, it's very lush and beautiful. Monte Verde also has an amazing back story of how the area was founded and developed.
Went to Costa in 2019 for a week. At the end had to drag myself back to the airport. What an awesome country. They have something like 99% literacy and 99% electrification rate (even in rural areas). There's internet connection in rural areas as well. Clean water and environment. Strong unions. No standing army. Equal rights. The indigenous people have a say in how their lands are managed. Very affordable healthcare (but the lines in the hospitals are quite long). Very affordable to free education.
CR is beautiful, especially this time of year when things are still green. Since you are in the neighborhood, I would highly recommend a trip to Nicaragua. Granada, and Leone are really great towns, and super cheap!
Thanks for go to my country, I love when I see people visiting my beautiful country, I have been in Virginia for more than 10 years using my knowledge about construction in this country a poor guy from the Costa Rican mountains who feels proud of all this thinks, thanks a lot and my subscription an views is my support to you.
Gabe cool personal story: back when I found your channel in 2015 with I think around 10k subs, I was so inspired by your channel that I decided to take up Spanish and I went to Costa Rica in 2015 to study Spanish and have since been back to CR 5x, now living in Spain and a fluent Spanish speaker. You inspired me so much over the years to keep going even when I have had to balance work/college/life with traveling I’ve never given up and I credit a lot of that perseverance to you and how you live your life. I’ve started making videos in Spain and hope to thoroughly cover all of Latin America using the Spanish I’ve learned when we can easily travel again. Thanks for inspiring us all Gabe! PURA VIDA MAE. 🤘🏻
Costa Rica is obviously an expensive place to visit, and a lot of areas very touristy, but definitely recommend everyone to go there at least once and experience the place because the national parks are truly special. Like you say the lush green is incredible to see everywhere you go. Oh and you're there at the beginning of the dry season ;)
It's still cheaper then visiting most places in the USA, definitely cheaper then Canada and Europe. We live here and have done and seen more then when we lived in Canada because it was to expensive to travel our own country
Especially now with Trudeau's carbon tax, killing us. Living in Alberta, Canada and have a house on the Nicoya Penninsula, you can say some things are more but alot is cheaper. Natural beauty and warm weather, all year round is worth something.
@@douglacoursiere2269 exactly, yes food and gas costs about the same as Canada but property tax and csr insurance is a lot cheaper, especially coming from B.C
@@TheDufresnes Yes, I agree. I don't know if we will ever move to CR full time. I farm for a living and will be able to winter there. I am not much of a wet weather person. I wouldn't be able to retire on the west coast. Our neighbors in CR live there 6 months a year and live the other 6 at Gibson's Landing. (The good old Beachcomers!)
@@douglacoursiere2269 yes 6 and 6 is good, I grew up in Terrace till I was 19 so I'm used to rain but at least it's warm here. Our friends, The Sundance family who also have a UA-cam channel usually take off through rainy season too
Hey Gabriel, doesn't the climate and landscape remind you of Thailand? One of the reasons we fell in love with Costa Rica plus it's the Spanish version of the land of smiles, you'll see how amazing and welcoming the people are
I was also blown away by just how much rain Costa Rica gets. I was there in October 2018 and it just poured rain the entire time. It was disappointing. The rainforest was awesome though. But then I caught a bus up to Nicaragua and it was sunny and hot for the entire time. Complete difference. Pretty wild.
@@eifltwrgrl I know, but I have traveled to other places such as Cancun during the peak of the rainy season and it was sunny every single day with a brief intense afternoon downpour. But in Costa Rica it just rained, and rained, and rained. I guess they don’t call it a rainforest for nothing though. lol
@@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath its also hurricane season. It also depends on where you are. I've been there in rainy season and have had blasts of rain then driving a mile and its dry. Kinda cool.
@@dreamthedream8929 the regions are so different. Elevation and the geography is so varied that its mind blowing. Its cold in San Jose and 100 miles away its 90 degrees.
Many years ago (late 1980s) I took a train trip from San Jose to Limon. Then, it was quite a lush ride, up close and personnel with the jungle. You went through coffee plantations, saw monkeys and wild plants that sometimes would smack you in the face when you leaned too far out of the windows. I think the total cost was $3-4. With landslides, earthquakes, up-keep of tracks in the tropics, co-vid 19 with probable town and road closures train service probably doesn't exist these days, I don't know. I'm glad I did it when I could!
the train service is only available within the GAM zone (Gran Area Metropolitana which involves 4 provinces: San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago). The train service to the coasts (Puntarenas and Limon) was remove at the beginning of the 90's. So, there have not been train service to those areas during more than 25 years
Gabe, get yourself a credit card like the Chase Saphire Preferred, which includes primary rental car insurance. It's $95 annual fee, but well worth it. Has a nice sign up bonus and also includes some great travel insurance benefits. Also, look online to book your cars rather than calling. That way, you can also use cashback sites when booking.
Also, when you need to book a return ticket like that, book a REFUNDABLE flight on expedia. That way, you can cancel it w/in 24 hours of booking for FREE. This gives you more flexibility, as you wouldn't need to return to CDM if you didn't want to.
Here's a free tip, do not miss any of these places: -Monteverde: my favourite place -Bajos del Toro: hundreds of beautiful waterfalls -San Gerardo de Dota: small village where you can spot the Quetzal
@@WanderlustAweSyndrome do you live in Costa Rica? I’m moving there and have been researching locations for months now trying to figure out the best place for me.
@@manda.watching.UA-cam I don't live there, but I've thinking about retiring out there. I fell in LOVE with Monteverde that I'm considering retiring out there. I could stare at the moving clouds all day and night long. The clouds out there are crazy beautiful to watch as they move quickly through the sky and forest! What are you looking specifically?
I live near Playa Samara in Guanacaste province. Come visit the pacific coast, very beautiful beaches and National Parks with lots of wildlife. Everything's crowded right now because of the holidays, but next week everything will be back to normal. Some reccommendations: Playa Virador, Playa Quesera(and the Curu Reserve), Playa Santa Teresa and Malpais, Santa Rosa National Park, etc. You will not be disappointed :)
Compared to other Central American countries it's safer. But just like with every other countries, there's crime, etc., just make smart choices. Don't go to weird places at night (mainly the Central Valley zone, I would never go somwhere past 10pm in San Jose downtown for example) but coasts are ok, like I say, it's just about enjoying while being cautious. It's very rare to hear something happened to tourists tbh
Merry Christmas Gabe. Thanks for traveling for us! Those Ticos call that rice and beans dish "Gallo Pinto". I'm a new proud Patreon supporter! Pura Vida!
Merry Christmas ☃️🌲 Gabe , Im watching you from Spain where Im on holidays( to change my mind from crazy Paris lockdown and job + cold windy weather...) and I m happy to see you in shape ,visiting C.R., a real Natural Parks + volcanos, sooo much green..and so much to.visit ..a real dream for us ! Wishing you all the best, many more adventures and health of course.. and let s hope that The New coming Year 2021 will be better and milder for you.and all of us... Thank you for all your excellent vlogs you share with us and for your hard work ! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎩 HAPPY NEW YEAR GABRIEL 🍀🍾🥂🖐✈🙏 🌲😊🌷 waiting for your next vlogs...
Diane Rourke I do not understand as I would think that Gabriel is paid in USD. I was in USA and a cheap hotel was 150 USD per night and about 125 for Airbnb.
@BSR - 45 usd isn't cheap in CR. I would imagine that one can get a room/ hostel bed for 10 - 20 usd. And 45 usd isn't cheap for the locals. Yes, Gabe gets paid in usd, but he has to make his $$ last and he usually goes to cheaper countries.
I love your vids!! Very relaxed and chill exploring nature and cities. I was very inspired by the Lviv, Ukraine videos. I plan to go there this summer for my first time. Such a beautiful city.
Maaan, what a dream to visit Costa Rica!!! Very beautiful and adventurous. Hopefully I can film such an entertaining video too, after the lockdown. Happy holidays, Gabriel! 🤩
that's where I went La Fortuna that's for the rivers that run through there that are hot springs that from underneath the ground people in the river and it's incredible there is lots of things to do things grow so fast there you wouldn't believe it... especially coconuts...
Hi Gabriel, can’t go wrong in Costa Rica, I’d like to visit there myself one day, I looked on your videos and noticed that you have not visited El Salvador; I’m a Salvadoran living in Los Angeles and all of Central American is truly beautiful, so hopefully you can go visit that little paradise of El Salvador...love your travels....
Leaf Cutter Ants! Like some others have commented, get to the coast. LOVED Tamarindo. Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Ecatarata Oreopendola and Rio Negro Hot Springs were highlights for me. Nicaragua is so close by and so VERY worth a visit if you can swing it - a day trip or more. Enjoy every minute! Pura Vida!!!
@@davenelson9505 I hate countries where you are harassed. Some are worse than others! Even in Berlin we met a scam artist and we fell for it. There were 3 of us we gave him 5 euro each! Not much could have been a lot worse.
Good to see you in Costa Rica Gabe, the weather is lovely and beautiful with lots of greenaries around. After many issues you described, among them yeah, it's expensive as it's the peak season for Christmas holidays but I hope you'll definitely go well by covering the places you want. Keep going on👍
I am a Foodie. I love seeing what Folks eat! Oh, and how much it costs, as well. Cheese is fried for breakfast, in many parts of Latin America. Nom, nom, nom! 😋😋😋
I flew into Liberia & booked a car at Dollar rentals in the airport $45 a day. You agree on a deal and then a van drives you a couple of min a away where you pay & pick up your car. They were honest & up front. They even told me I didn’t need the navigation which was an add on feature. They said everyone uses Waze out there. Forgot to mention it was a Suzuki 4X4 (recommended) mini suv.
you will hear that same story all over Costa Rica whatever time of the year go. they're going to say holiday season and there ain't many cars about to rent and as for the insurance which is the biggest scam ever. but after all of that I would go back and do it all over again beautiful country Beautiful People Happy New Year to you and I hope you have a really good time in Costa Rica
You've got to get down to the Osa peninsula, goto Drake Bay and find Sierra Goodman, she runs dolphin and whale excursions from there. You can also ride boats down the coast to the National Park, full of wildlife :)
Do go to Puntarenas, a place that, besides having a beach, has great food and quite some remaining historic heritage. Walk along the Paseo de los Turistas promenade, where you can eat Vigorón for lunch (a typical dish) from the ladies who sell it in their stands along the promenade (don't worry, they are certified by the Ministry of Health). Also try (as a dessert) Churchill, a typical and icy dish of the city. Fish dishes are also great and I understand that there is a café near Parque Victoria which is quite good, the city has also a quite important Chinese community since the early XX century, so there are many Chinese restaurants. You can go walking to the city center, where there are some sights: the Cultural Center (former barracks), the Cathedral, the Victoria Park, which has the Casa Fait old house and the ruiny Echandi house, the Market is a little decrepit, but interesting. The Mora and Cañas park has an Art Déco aqueduct tower from the 1930s. Puntarenas is located at the end of a strip of sand, at which end there is a Lighthouse (recently built, though) and a nice area to watch the sunset, recently upgraded. Back on Paseo de los Turistas there are some Art Deco buildings, the old Customs office, the cruise pier and the former Capitanía de Puerto, there is also an Aquarium, recently upgraded. You can see some pictures from a trip I made to Puntarenas , here: www.flickr.com/photos/vantcj1/albums/72157712559648231 In Puntarenas, outside Paseo de los Turistas, you've got to be a little more wary, to take care of your personal posessions, but is not as unsafe as years ago, just practice common sense. The city is also the start point of trips to the recently declared San Lucas national park (former prison), Tortuga island and to the beaches on Nicoya Peninsula (of which I recommend you more than anything Quesera beach, at Curú wildlife refuge). Minute 2:26, you were passing the central catholic church of the city of San Ramón, built after 1924 under designs of architect and artist Teodorico Quirós. Minute 22:55. Arenal volcano to the right, dormant Chato volcano to the left (this one is good for adventure hikers, has a lagoon on its top)
We're actually on summer! There's dry season from late November to the of mid may. There are some places, like La Fortuna, where keeps raining like the whole year 😂😂 Places like the beaches on the Pacific Ocean, are completely summer-rish temperatures!
It's been close to ten years since I last was in downtown San Ramón (2:06), and nineteen years since I last was in the Arenal Volcano area. Guess I should go there more often...
I suffered my last bout of double vision while on a trip there in 2009 and was forced to wear an eye patch in order to drive. Plus the driving there is a little tricky.
I recognise San Ramon as you drove through, complete with the Iglesia and the guy in the wheelchair selling pencils at the traffic light by the hospital. He has been in that same spot for years.
That was a Bahunia (Hong Kong Orchid tree) ..I just had to cut one down at my home in Thailand because it was always swarming with ants who used it to climb onto the house and in the windows. Beautiful tree and sweet smelling flowers but too many ants !
I rented a car on the island of Langkawi Malaysia, it reminded me of Hawaii, great roads and national parks and beaches. It was around $30 a day to rent a small car, great value as is food and accommodation
I get the impression from your many videos that you're not one to start your travel days at the break of dawn (unless you need to catch a bus etc.)? Can definitely relate, I barely ever get up in time for hotel breakfasts.
Be careful in the rain forest areas. Their are many critters that can kill you. Tiny snakes you can hardly see. If they bite you. You can die in hours. Plus spiders, frogs , etc. That can really harm you. Don’t lean on trees , etc
Hi man, as a Costa Rican let me tell you, there are tons of scammers at San José and other urban areas, so is better to trust no one outside the hotel, not only for tourists but for ticos is also dangerous. Thank you for your visit during this season considering a pandemic going on, if you get close to Heredia having some spare time, let me know and my GF and I can tour you around.
We are planning to come to Costa Rica next (currently in Nicaragua) and it does seem like they are more set up for cars than for buses, especially compared to other Central American countries. Car rental prices are so high! I'll have to keep in mind 506 car rental if we decide to hire a car.
My neighbors that abutte to our backyard have a tree that's visible over the wall and I was wondering what it was but thanks to you Gabe I now know its a papaya.
All the rental car places do this "pay extra to cover the insurance excess thing"! I use rental cars quite a bit, so I get 'car insurance excess' insurance which costs the same for the year as about 3 days of what the rental places charge!
I saw one way tickets from LAX to Liberia for around $125 on skyscanner, so $250 round trip. Sounds like a great price for the car. Avoid the holidays and things will be cheaper.
Beans and rice and eggs and toast is amazing. Do you eat at 7-11? Except for Mexico Central America food is nothing special. Give me Asian food any day and I'm happy.
I live in Florida and plan to go in July for my 65th birthday. For $59.00 a night, breakfast included, I think that price is high. I believe this is considered the high season, so, I would expect prices highers.
Love all your videos in fact I have got hook to them all. Your presentation is very precise and very well made . Your commentary is well research and you got a great voice . You made my days everyday - Yes everyday I find something to see very informative keep up the good work in this pandemic time you have kept me entertain and I do hope that not in the near future I can go to where you went and follow the Gabriel Way. Ho ha.
I just saw United Flights ✈️ to San Jose CR out of San Francisco are about $320 with stopover in Houston. Already have been to Mexico 🇲🇽, Turkey 🇹🇷 and Serbia 🇷🇸 and even Ukiah. Pools in Bay Area are now restricted 🚫 so it would be great to get lots of water activity in Costa Rica 🇨🇷. Claudia Poll, the only Gold medalist, manages to stay in the pool and is a great inspiration when I see her at FINA Masters Championships. Maybe Viktor from Sweden 🇸🇪 could get to Costa Rica for Pura Vida yoga 🧘.
Gabriel - you really need to get an annual car renter excess.deductible policy. I have one from the UK - it costs me about $150 for 12 months. I can decline any insurance. I think you can get the same in America through American Express Platinum card.
Gabriel, while you're in the neighborhood, you should check out Antigua, Panahachel, and Tikal/Flores in Guatemala. Lake Atitlan and the Pacaya volcano also. Guatemala, once you get out of Guat City, is interesting and beautiful. And probably cheaper than CR.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos I was there in 2009. How did you feel about safety when hiking around there? Do you think the safety situation has gotten better or worse since then? I'm thinking of going back to visit with my son....
@@roberterdman7268 I felt perfectly safe the whole time I was there but have no idea how things might have changed in the past six years. Probably pretty much the same.
I rented the car on the day after Christmas, which is peak season. You will probably be able to find a better deal at another time of the year. Someone recommended Vamos Car Rental for good deals: vamosrentacar.com/ If anyone has tips for renting cars, feel free to include them in comments below. Keep in mind that any cheap deals you might find online probably isn't the final price including tax and insurance.
Vamos is the best you're going to find here at this time
I checked and there was nothing available for next week. That's the problem right now, high demand around the holidays.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos yes super busy now, we definitely notice a difference once December comes. Low season you can get cars for so cheap
@@GabrielTravelerVideos OK I got you. I can tell you priceline and kayak are the best places to get started and get an idea. Also for some reason on the phone they can never match online prices. I tried but they always told me to go on the website because that was an online only rate. So booking over the phone might cost you 10-20% more for sure...
I actually did the research and consummated the rental at significantly lower price and then cancelled. The prices I found were actually accurate.
I'm Costa Rican, it's not cheap, especially if you just came from Mexico and have been to other central American countries, the bus system is really good honestly, punctual, buses have AC, are comfortable, I have gone everywhere as a female by myself in buses and I've been fine, San Jose can be sketchy, especially at night, during the day it's OK, there's a lot of police so it's safe, outside of San Jose it's very safe, you just gotta watch out for people wanting to charge you more. It's best if you speak Spanish that way you can negotiate better.
Thanks for the info. :)
What do you do for a living??
@@HeartistMurali What’s your credit card details? 😂
@@johnmc3862 Credit card details deserve confidentiality but not the details of one's occupation.
@@HeartistMurali Nosey somewhere else!!
The best channel for getting a real feel for what travelling to a new country is like! Thanks for all the effort over the years, Gabriel! :)
What i love about you videos is that you show the whole deal, not just 3 mins of the one beautiful spot on the beach.
I MISSSSSSE Costa Rica so much! The country is so beautiful! The AMAZING food and kind Ticos make me want to go back sooner than later. In fact, I've been thinking about retiring there, particularly in Monteverde! Thank you for this wonderful video in reminding me how magically special this country is!
Thanks for visiting my country ... If you want to see something different you must visit Monteverde and Manuel Antonio (Its a beach but you can find a lot of animals) ... Here in La fortuna , Catarata la fortuna and some hotsprings are the must visit places ... Merry christmas and happy new year ... PURA VIDA...
We loved Manuel Antonio. The park was incredible
How do Costa Ricans marry??
VIsited Manuel Antonio flew over the mountains in a small plane from San Jose hot as hell on the beach Christmas 1995...up the hill it got cooler. Learned never to stay on the beach itself again....saw coatmundis, capuchin monkeys....wonderful wildlife.
@@latinaalma1947 My god. That was twenty five years back....
@@HeartistMurali they don't
Been following your videos for a long time. Almost never comment but just wanted to give you respect and props for your work. I know it's not much but I always do watch your ads. Love everything about this video. Like how you always include the prices and include a more in-depth look at how you get from point A to B. Music is always fitting.
As a person that's in the process of trying to break free from the rat race.
Looking forward to the life of a frugal Perpetual Traveler. Someday will be today.....great job. Best of luck in 2021.
If you're tired of beaches, I would recommend the cloud forests of Monte Verde. Like Arenal, it's very lush and beautiful. Monte Verde also has an amazing back story of how the area was founded and developed.
We stayed at a great ranch while there and had an incredible horseback riding experience.
Went to Costa in 2019 for a week. At the end had to drag myself back to the airport. What an awesome country.
They have something like 99% literacy and 99% electrification rate (even in rural areas). There's internet connection in rural areas as well.
Clean water and environment. Strong unions. No standing army. Equal rights. The indigenous people have a say in how their lands are managed. Very affordable healthcare (but the lines in the hospitals are quite long). Very affordable to free education.
CR is beautiful, especially this time of year when things are still green. Since you are in the neighborhood, I would highly recommend a trip to Nicaragua. Granada, and Leone are really great towns, and super cheap!
Thanks for go to my country, I love when I see people visiting my beautiful country, I have been in Virginia for more than 10 years using my knowledge about construction in this country a poor guy from the Costa Rican mountains who feels proud of all this thinks, thanks a lot and my subscription an views is my support to you.
Gabe cool personal story: back when I found your channel in 2015 with I think around 10k subs, I was so inspired by your channel that I decided to take up Spanish and I went to Costa Rica in 2015 to study Spanish and have since been back to CR 5x, now living in Spain and a fluent Spanish speaker. You inspired me so much over the years to keep going even when I have had to balance work/college/life with traveling I’ve never given up and I credit a lot of that perseverance to you and how you live your life. I’ve started making videos in Spain and hope to thoroughly cover all of Latin America using the Spanish I’ve learned when we can easily travel again. Thanks for inspiring us all Gabe! PURA VIDA MAE. 🤘🏻
That's great to hear Elliot, safe travels and good luck with the videos, buen viaje!
Costa Rica is obviously an expensive place to visit, and a lot of areas very touristy, but definitely recommend everyone to go there at least once and experience the place because the national parks are truly special. Like you say the lush green is incredible to see everywhere you go. Oh and you're there at the beginning of the dry season ;)
It's still cheaper then visiting most places in the USA, definitely cheaper then Canada and Europe. We live here and have done and seen more then when we lived in Canada because it was to expensive to travel our own country
Especially now with Trudeau's carbon tax, killing us. Living in Alberta, Canada and have a house on the Nicoya Penninsula, you can say some things are more but alot is cheaper. Natural beauty and warm weather, all year round is worth something.
@@douglacoursiere2269 exactly, yes food and gas costs about the same as Canada but property tax and csr insurance is a lot cheaper, especially coming from B.C
@@TheDufresnes Yes, I agree. I don't know if we will ever move to CR full time. I farm for a living and will be able to winter there. I am not much of a wet weather person. I wouldn't be able to retire on the west coast. Our neighbors in CR live there 6 months a year and live the other 6 at Gibson's Landing. (The good old Beachcomers!)
@@douglacoursiere2269 yes 6 and 6 is good, I grew up in Terrace till I was 19 so I'm used to rain but at least it's warm here. Our friends, The Sundance family who also have a UA-cam channel usually take off through rainy season too
So glad to see you happy and healthy, Gabe!
Hey Gabriel, doesn't the climate and landscape remind you of Thailand? One of the reasons we fell in love with Costa Rica plus it's the Spanish version of the land of smiles, you'll see how amazing and welcoming the people are
I was also blown away by just how much rain Costa Rica gets. I was there in October 2018 and it just poured rain the entire time. It was disappointing. The rainforest was awesome though. But then I caught a bus up to Nicaragua and it was sunny and hot for the entire time. Complete difference. Pretty wild.
That's rainy season.
@@eifltwrgrl I know, but I have traveled to other places such as Cancun during the peak of the rainy season and it was sunny every single day with a brief intense afternoon downpour. But in Costa Rica it just rained, and rained, and rained. I guess they don’t call it a rainforest for nothing though. lol
@@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath its also hurricane season. It also depends on where you are. I've been there in rainy season and have had blasts of rain then driving a mile and its dry. Kinda cool.
@@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath arent there rainforests in Nicaragua and mexico? Do costa rican rainforests need more rain than others to live?
@@dreamthedream8929 the regions are so different. Elevation and the geography is so varied that its mind blowing. Its cold in San Jose and 100 miles away its 90 degrees.
its one of the most beautiful places ive been the place that totally chilled me out i love it
We cannot wait to go there, so far we've stuck to the west coast and central valley when needed to go
Many years ago (late 1980s) I took a train trip from San Jose to Limon. Then, it was quite a lush ride, up close and personnel with the jungle. You went through coffee plantations, saw monkeys and wild plants that sometimes would smack you in the face when you leaned too far out of the windows. I think the total cost was $3-4. With landslides, earthquakes, up-keep of tracks in the tropics, co-vid 19 with probable town and road closures train service probably doesn't exist these days, I don't know. I'm glad I did it when I could!
the train service is only available within the GAM zone (Gran Area Metropolitana which involves 4 provinces: San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago). The train service to the coasts (Puntarenas and Limon) was remove at the beginning of the 90's. So, there have not been train service to those areas during more than 25 years
Nice video and very informative.Thank you My wife and I have been thinking of going there and looking at moving there
Absolutely the greatest travel videos man. All I can say is thank you!
Gabe, get yourself a credit card like the Chase Saphire Preferred, which includes primary rental car insurance. It's $95 annual fee, but well worth it. Has a nice sign up bonus and also includes some great travel insurance benefits. Also, look online to book your cars rather than calling. That way, you can also use cashback sites when booking.
Also, when you need to book a return ticket like that, book a REFUNDABLE flight on expedia. That way, you can cancel it w/in 24 hours of booking for FREE. This gives you more flexibility, as you wouldn't need to return to CDM if you didn't want to.
So Tropical 🌴 Love it 🥰
Here's a free tip, do not miss any of these places:
-Monteverde: my favourite place
-Bajos del Toro: hundreds of beautiful waterfalls
-San Gerardo de Dota: small village where you can spot the Quetzal
100% agree on Monteverde! The place is an absolute must if it's your first time visiting Costa Rica.
Isn’t Monteverde where the cloud forests are too?
@@manda.watching.UA-cam Yes, Monteverde has cloud forest. Trust me when I tell you this, they are MAGICAL beyond belief!
@@WanderlustAweSyndrome do you live in Costa Rica? I’m moving there and have been researching locations for months now trying to figure out the best place for me.
@@manda.watching.UA-cam I don't live there, but I've thinking about retiring out there. I fell in LOVE with Monteverde that I'm considering retiring out there. I could stare at the moving clouds all day and night long. The clouds out there are crazy beautiful to watch as they move quickly through the sky and forest! What are you looking specifically?
I live near Playa Samara in Guanacaste province. Come visit the pacific coast, very beautiful beaches and National Parks with lots of wildlife. Everything's crowded right now because of the holidays, but next week everything will be back to normal. Some reccommendations: Playa Virador, Playa Quesera(and the Curu Reserve), Playa Santa Teresa and Malpais, Santa Rosa National Park, etc. You will not be disappointed :)
Yes I've contacted him about coming to Samara, we've offered him a couple nights stay and would show him some things around here
Happy Playboy and Travels Gabe!!! You're a good man thank you for sharing all your good times with us see you soon and Happy days Dennis
I was an expat for ten years living in Heredia. Enjoyed my time there.
I’m happy you come to Costa Rica 🇨🇷 I do like your content . Blesses bro
If the world is a movie, you are a main character, Gabriel. ⭐
Costa Rica is an absolute travel dream for me! I’m not sure how safe the country is but thanks for showing it off to us 👍
Compared to other Central American countries it's safer. But just like with every other countries, there's crime, etc., just make smart choices. Don't go to weird places at night (mainly the Central Valley zone, I would never go somwhere past 10pm in San Jose downtown for example) but coasts are ok, like I say, it's just about enjoying while being cautious. It's very rare to hear something happened to tourists tbh
Puntarenas???? Why??? 😨 Go to Samara, Santa Teresa, Nosara and Puerto Viejo
Thanks for the tips.
the drinks are good in Puntarenas lol but your right Pura Vida ....I spent 17 days inCosta Rica in 2016...i will be back with my son love love
@@GabrielTravelerVideos Please visit Puerto Viejo, Limon and Manzanillo Limon, youll love it! im local Costa Rican
Merry Christmas Gabe. Thanks for traveling for us!
Those Ticos call that rice and beans dish "Gallo Pinto".
I'm a new proud Patreon supporter!
Pura Vida!
Merry Christmas
☃️🌲 Gabe , Im watching you from Spain where Im on holidays( to change my mind from crazy Paris lockdown and job + cold windy weather...) and I m happy to see you in shape ,visiting C.R., a real Natural Parks + volcanos, sooo much green..and so much to.visit ..a real dream for us !
Wishing you all the best, many more adventures and health of course..
and let s hope that The New coming Year 2021 will be better and milder for you.and all of us...
Thank you for all your excellent vlogs you share with us and for your hard work ! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎩
HAPPY NEW YEAR GABRIEL 🍀🍾🥂🖐✈🙏 🌲😊🌷
waiting for your next vlogs...
another great video :)) well done Gabriel
I remember you starting out and staying in cheap places. Lol you've come a long way baby lol
45 USD is still cheap compared to actually a hotel or apartment in USA.
@@bsr6823 only if you get paid in us dollars and this is costa Rica thats not cheap
Diane Rourke I do not understand as I would think that Gabriel is paid in USD. I was in USA and a cheap hotel was 150 USD per night and about 125 for Airbnb.
@BSR - 45 usd isn't cheap in CR. I would imagine that one can get a room/ hostel bed for 10 - 20 usd. And 45 usd isn't cheap for the locals. Yes, Gabe gets paid in usd, but he has to make his $$ last and he usually goes to cheaper countries.
Kitty S I guess I will not understand how a beautiful flat for so cheap is expensive anywhere on earth.
I love your vids!! Very relaxed and chill exploring nature and cities. I was very inspired by the Lviv, Ukraine videos. I plan to go there this summer for my first time. Such a beautiful city.
Maaan, what a dream to visit Costa Rica!!! Very beautiful and adventurous. Hopefully I can film such an entertaining video too, after the lockdown. Happy holidays, Gabriel! 🤩
COSTARICA MY FRIEND BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND YUMMY BREAKFAST
that's where I went La Fortuna that's for the rivers that run through there that are hot springs that from underneath the ground people in the river and it's incredible there is lots of things to do things grow so fast there you wouldn't believe it... especially coconuts...
Ants are amazing creatures. Thanks for sharing the beauty of Costa Rica as I hope to travel there one day.
Hi Gabriel, can’t go wrong in Costa Rica, I’d like to visit there myself one day, I looked on your videos and noticed that you have not visited El Salvador; I’m a Salvadoran living in Los Angeles and all of Central American is truly beautiful, so hopefully you can go visit that little paradise of El Salvador...love your travels....
The Costa Rican countryside looks and reminds me of Puerto Rico.
Mi cuñado es de Costa Rica y creeme son bien parecidos!!
I really appreciate this video.
congratulations gabe for your new country, feliz año nuevo!!
Leaf Cutter Ants! Like some others have commented, get to the coast. LOVED Tamarindo. Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Ecatarata Oreopendola and Rio Negro Hot Springs were highlights for me. Nicaragua is so close by and so VERY worth a visit if you can swing it - a day trip or more. Enjoy every minute! Pura Vida!!!
Thanks for the tips, we'll see where I end up going. Hot springs are always nice.
@@GabrielTravelerVideos Looking forward to living vicariously through your adventures in Central America!
This is the vlog we all have been waiting for😁😁
Thanks, they're going to get better.
Sometimes if you engage with scammers you cannot get rid of them. People around do not care!!
I had locals shoo away a scammer from me in Jaipur, India. I could have handled it myself anyways.
@@davenelson9505 I hate countries where you are harassed. Some are worse than others! Even in Berlin we met a scam artist and we fell for it. There were 3 of us we gave him 5 euro each! Not much could have been a lot worse.
@@maryrosed8475 Yeah it sucks Mary! I'm a guy so I can probably handle it better. The best is to ignore and keep walking avoiding eye contact.
@@davenelson9505 do you mean that as a guy you would fight them? Or what do you mean that you as a guy probably can handle it better?
@@maryrosed8475 so if you cannot get rid of them what are your options? What is the solution in that case?
Good to see you in Costa Rica Gabe, the weather is lovely and beautiful with lots of greenaries around. After many issues you described, among them yeah, it's expensive as it's the peak season for Christmas holidays but I hope you'll definitely go well by covering the places you want. Keep going on👍
I am a Foodie. I love seeing what Folks eat! Oh, and how much it costs, as well.
Cheese is fried for breakfast, in many parts of Latin America. Nom, nom, nom! 😋😋😋
I love the music you are listening to and the food you are eating in the video 💃🏻❤️💃🏻 Bailar ❤️💃🏻❤️
so glad you're traveling again. stay safe my friend
Happy to c u r still travelling. Im with u all the way
Gabe be safe and I want to wish you a Happy New Year 2021
Thanks and same to you Effie, have a great 2021.
Hey Gabe...nice video. Always enjoy your informative stories. Keep it up and stay safe!!
I stayed in San Jose for a week grading papers by day, and going out at night. Strongly recom staying near the gastropub district on Calle 33.
I flew into Liberia & booked a car at Dollar rentals in the airport $45 a day. You agree on a deal and then a van drives you a couple of min a away where you pay & pick up your car. They were honest & up front. They even told me I didn’t need the navigation which was an add on feature. They said everyone uses Waze out there. Forgot to mention it was a Suzuki 4X4 (recommended) mini suv.
I wish I knew that about Waze, I thought I could just buy a sat nav there... but they don’t sell them!
@@fancybobbybob we got lucky our rental place gave us lots of helpful tips!
you will hear that same story all over Costa Rica whatever time of the year go. they're going to say holiday season and there ain't many cars about to rent and as for the insurance which is the biggest scam ever. but after all of that I would go back and do it all over again beautiful country Beautiful People Happy New Year to you and I hope you have a really good time in Costa Rica
Your intros are the best for sure ! Every time so classy and quality in them each time , great music each time too . 💯
Great stuff Gabriel to see your still going strong. I'm off to Columbia hopefully next year. Your an inspiration keep it comming............
You've got to get down to the Osa peninsula, goto Drake Bay and find Sierra Goodman, she runs dolphin and whale excursions from there. You can also ride boats down the coast to the National Park, full of wildlife :)
Do go to Puntarenas, a place that, besides having a beach, has great food and quite some remaining historic heritage. Walk along the Paseo de los Turistas promenade, where you can eat Vigorón for lunch (a typical dish) from the ladies who sell it in their stands along the promenade (don't worry, they are certified by the Ministry of Health). Also try (as a dessert) Churchill, a typical and icy dish of the city. Fish dishes are also great and I understand that there is a café near Parque Victoria which is quite good, the city has also a quite important Chinese community since the early XX century, so there are many Chinese restaurants.
You can go walking to the city center, where there are some sights: the Cultural Center (former barracks), the Cathedral, the Victoria Park, which has the Casa Fait old house and the ruiny Echandi house, the Market is a little decrepit, but interesting. The Mora and Cañas park has an Art Déco aqueduct tower from the 1930s. Puntarenas is located at the end of a strip of sand, at which end there is a Lighthouse (recently built, though) and a nice area to watch the sunset, recently upgraded. Back on Paseo de los Turistas there are some Art Deco buildings, the old Customs office, the cruise pier and the former Capitanía de Puerto, there is also an Aquarium, recently upgraded. You can see some pictures from a trip I made to Puntarenas , here: www.flickr.com/photos/vantcj1/albums/72157712559648231 In Puntarenas, outside Paseo de los Turistas, you've got to be a little more wary, to take care of your personal posessions, but is not as unsafe as years ago, just practice common sense. The city is also the start point of trips to the recently declared San Lucas national park (former prison), Tortuga island and to the beaches on Nicoya Peninsula (of which I recommend you more than anything Quesera beach, at Curú wildlife refuge).
Minute 2:26, you were passing the central catholic church of the city of San Ramón, built after 1924 under designs of architect and artist Teodorico Quirós.
Minute 22:55. Arenal volcano to the right, dormant Chato volcano to the left (this one is good for adventure hikers, has a lagoon on its top)
Cool, thanks for the info.
Great post!
We're actually on summer! There's dry season from late November to the of mid may. There are some places, like La Fortuna, where keeps raining like the whole year 😂😂
Places like the beaches on the Pacific Ocean, are completely summer-rish temperatures!
It's been close to ten years since I last was in downtown San Ramón (2:06), and nineteen years since I last was in the Arenal Volcano area. Guess I should go there more often...
I suffered my last bout of double vision while on a trip there in 2009 and was forced to wear an eye patch in order to drive. Plus the driving there is a little tricky.
We zip lined off the Mt Arenal volcano. There's a few reptile zoo's there you can get a close look at the venomous snake that roam those jungles.
Looking forward to next vids in a country that is in so many bucket lists! One day ...
I recognise San Ramon as you drove through, complete with the Iglesia and the guy in the wheelchair selling pencils at the traffic light by the hospital. He has been in that same spot for years.
The ant highway is pretty incredible
They are leaf cutter ants. Incredible nature.
That was a Bahunia (Hong Kong Orchid tree) ..I just had to cut one down at my home in Thailand because it was always swarming with ants who used it to climb onto the house and in the windows. Beautiful tree and sweet smelling flowers but too many ants !
Coming that way in about 3 weeks. One of few countries in South America that are open! :D
CR is definitely not South America
@@od3233 central america..
The terms non stop and direct are not the same. You seem to think that they are. Very good information.
I rented a car on the island of Langkawi Malaysia, it reminded me of Hawaii, great roads and national parks and beaches. It was around $30 a day to rent a small car, great value as is food and accommodation
I always wacth video love it so much 🙏🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇😇💜♥️💙💖❤️❤️❤️❤️keep safe and healthy
I get the impression from your many videos that you're not one to start your travel days at the break of dawn (unless you need to catch a bus etc.)? Can definitely relate, I barely ever get up in time for hotel breakfasts.
Be careful in the rain forest areas. Their are many critters that can kill you. Tiny snakes you can hardly see. If they bite you. You can die in hours. Plus spiders, frogs , etc. That can really harm you. Don’t lean on trees , etc
Central and South America is home to the Poison Dart Frog.
Hi gabe your living my dream day out sloths volcanos and briliant scenary .have fun looking forward to more videos stay safexx
arenal is nice but monteverde is my favorite. hiking in the cloud forests there is like being in a fairy tale.
100% agree! I LOVE Monteverde so much. A lot of times, I see myself retiring there!
December to April is supposed to be the dry season! Should be largely sunny, clear and warm right now!
Looking forward to seeing all that nature.
Monteverde is an amazing place to explore the rainforest jungle & wildlife. Like you said however, expect rain very often.
Hi man, as a Costa Rican let me tell you, there are tons of scammers at San José and other urban areas, so is better to trust no one outside the hotel, not only for tourists but for ticos is also dangerous.
Thank you for your visit during this season considering a pandemic going on, if you get close to Heredia having some spare time, let me know and my GF and I can tour you around.
We are planning to come to Costa Rica next (currently in Nicaragua) and it does seem like they are more set up for cars than for buses, especially compared to other Central American countries. Car rental prices are so high! I'll have to keep in mind 506 car rental if we decide to hire a car.
My neighbors that abutte to our backyard have a tree that's visible over the wall and I was wondering what it was but thanks to you Gabe I now know its a papaya.
All the rental car places do this "pay extra to cover the insurance excess thing"! I use rental cars quite a bit, so I get 'car insurance excess' insurance which costs the same for the year as about 3 days of what the rental places charge!
Internationally?
On Alaska Airlines, they quoted 340 roundtrip from LAX to Liberia. Rav4 thru Budget for 29 a day
I saw one way tickets from LAX to Liberia for around $125 on skyscanner, so $250 round trip. Sounds like a great price for the car. Avoid the holidays and things will be cheaper.
Enjoyed the video but even more, I loved your choice of music to go with it.
Cool, glad to hear it.
Man I miss Costa Rica so much! That food looks amazing!
Love Costa Rica but the food sucks
Beans and rice and eggs and toast is amazing. Do you eat at 7-11? Except for Mexico Central America food is nothing special. Give me Asian food any day and I'm happy.
I live in Florida and plan to go in July for my 65th birthday. For $59.00 a night, breakfast included, I think that price is high. I believe this is considered the high season, so, I would expect prices highers.
Love all your videos in fact I have got hook to them all. Your presentation is very precise and very well made . Your commentary is well research and you got a great voice . You made my days everyday - Yes everyday I find something to see very informative keep up the good work in this pandemic time you have kept me entertain and I do hope that not in the near future I can go to where you went and follow the Gabriel Way. Ho ha.
I did a fair amount of dancing in yet another one of your videos ✌🏽❤️
Ha, cool.
I just saw United Flights ✈️ to San Jose CR out of San Francisco are about $320 with stopover in Houston. Already have been to Mexico 🇲🇽, Turkey 🇹🇷 and Serbia 🇷🇸 and even Ukiah. Pools in Bay Area are now restricted 🚫 so it would be great to get lots of water activity in Costa Rica 🇨🇷. Claudia Poll, the only Gold medalist, manages to stay in the pool and is a great inspiration when I see her at FINA Masters Championships. Maybe Viktor from Sweden 🇸🇪 could get to Costa Rica for Pura Vida yoga 🧘.
Gabriel - you really need to get an annual car renter excess.deductible policy. I have one from the UK - it costs me about $150 for 12 months. I can decline any insurance. I think you can get the same in America through American Express Platinum card.
Good tip.
I would love to be there
My son is there now, haha. He told me he is having great time
Love your selection of thematic music!
Nice video TABACON Hot Springs there is AMAZING check it out. Watched and heard lava eruptions at night from my hotel room there.
Warm weather how awesome 😎
A relief watching Gabe travel when we've locked in our homes due to that cough superbug
Love all your videos.
Gabriel, while you're in the neighborhood, you should check out Antigua, Panahachel, and Tikal/Flores in Guatemala. Lake Atitlan and the Pacaya volcano also. Guatemala, once you get out of Guat City, is interesting and beautiful. And probably cheaper than CR.
I've been to most of those places. I spent a month in Guatemala six years ago:
ua-cam.com/users/gabejedmosearch?query=Guatemala
@@GabrielTravelerVideos I was there in 2009. How did you feel about safety when hiking around there? Do you think the safety situation has gotten better or worse since then? I'm thinking of going back to visit with my son....
@@roberterdman7268 I felt perfectly safe the whole time I was there but have no idea how things might have changed in the past six years. Probably pretty much the same.
Hi.. Gabriel.. Thanks for the video.. Amazing in Costa Rica... Stay safe and healthy 🍀
Maybe you should have tried using English on that one guy he didn’t understand your Spanish
Thanks `Gabriel for making and sharing. 👍