Find a Costa Rica that nurtures you inside-out
Your guides for off-the-beaten path travel in Costa Rica
5 essentials you need to consider before planning your Costa Rican trip
5 essentials you need to consider before planning your Costa Rican trip
Are you trying to plan a trip to Costa Rica but are getting completely lost in the process?
I recommend that before you start into the nitty gritty of planning your itinerary to Costa Rica, you consider five utmost important things. I’ve compiled these suggestions into a free series called: 5 essentials you need to consider before planning your Costa Rican trip. How to smartly design your Costa Rican itinerary.
In this (very) short video series, we will talk about essential topics such as:
Is the traditional first timer’s itinerary in Costa Rica also ideal for you? Or could you be making smarter decisions?
The absolute best time to visit Costa Rica. But, will it rain? ☔
Have you estimated the right amount of money for your Costa Rican trip? The key to making all the rest of your decisions.
How to wisely choose activities that you know you’ll love in Costa Rica. Landscapes, adventures, wildlife, culture, food. Which to choose and why?
Tell me who you travel with to Costa Rica, and I’ll tell you who you’ll become. I’ve got my little magic wand waiting to sort you out!
Traveling is not just about a much needed vacation
It’s about experiencing a different culture in it’s most authentic environment, it’s about learning a little bit more of the world, amplifying our perspective and in the process, learning a little bit more about ourselves and our life’s path.
Which is why we, as local slow travelers, journey through Costa Rica finding the most authentic, sustainable, local/rural experiences and travel entrepreneurs, and curate them so we can give you honest reviews and advice on where to go, what to see and who to visit!
We like and share your lifestyle
We prefer authentic vibes and non-touristy places
We rejoice in traveling the off-the-beaten path and finding hidden gems
We want to give back while we travel in the form of supporting local projects that favor sustainability, community & conservation
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HEALING & GROWING
Travel heals whatever needs healing. It pushes us out of our comfort zones and gives us daily lessons of living and savoring the present moment. It gives us confidence to pursue living an authentic and meaningful life.
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AUTHENTICITY (AKA: NON-TOURISTY)
All of us know that an authentic experience is never the most lavish. Rather, those journeys that stay in our memories forever are the ones where we felt the most genuine selfs and were surrounded by open minds and open hearts, those that leave us with a smile from ear to ear and a few questions for introspection.
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WELLNESS & SUSTAINABILITY
Feeling our best selves will always be our priority- because when we feel best is when we can serve best (to other people and for our planet). Be it in the form of nature (hello, Costa Rica!), spirituality and self-care, we’ll always be in the search of putting our & Mother Earth’s health first.
The CoolRides Experience
Because we’re not a travel agency, we have no interest in taking commissions from your bookings and this way we can be as honest as possible with our reviews and advice ;) In our guide you get the direct contact from all the businesses we curate and their rates (including the special CoolRides discounts).
Also, with every purchase of our guides you’re donating to our favorite causes that are making efforts to make our country better in every way. And to top it all off, you get special discounts to enjoy our favorite businesses and create a win-win situation for everyone involved.
NO.1: OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH
As locals, we only choose destinations that we know can provide a more authentic experience. We tend to avoid over-commercialized places, or those that you can easily find information elsewhere.
NO.2: CURATED EXPERIENCES
We visit the destination and experience it ourselves first, finding small-businesses and local operators that we can recommend to our travelers first-hand.
NO.3: YOU GET THE BENEFITS WHILE YOU’RE
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY!
For every destination we visit, we create a guide that you can purchase with all of our insights, as well as numerous discounts on hotels, bars & restaurants, shops and experiences that will save you hundreds of dollars.
Plan your CoolRide
Plan your CoolRide
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAN YOUR OWN AUTHENTIC COOLRIDE IN COSTA RICA?
We don’t commission. We believe your itinerary should be a unique edition.
Most travel agents give you tips for traveling in Costa Rica that are interest-based (aka: they receive a commission) so they might recommend the best option for them ($), but not necessarily for you.
Don’t risk your time and money on a Costa Rica itinerary that could result in a tourist trap or a disappointment because of lack of reliable information!
We’re driven on authenticity and transparency so you can have the real pura vida experience, while you’re supporting local travel entrepreneurs that are focused on the quality of the experience over the big bucks!
Our Costa Rica curated guides for off-the-beaten path travel
Make your journey in Costa Rica one that is unique to you: to your lifestyle, your needs. We’ve traveled the country finding authentic experiences so you can see a Costa Rica that has been curated by locals that like non-touristy adventures, just like you.
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Monteverde
The only information you’ll ever need to read to plan the best itinerary in Monteverde Costa Rica: how many days, where (and what!) to eat, where to go and what not to miss!
PURA VIDA!
My name is Pía, and I founded CoolRides because I want you to avoid falling in a tourist trap and find a Costa Rica that nourishes you inside-out through local, authentic (and mostly sustainable) off-the-beaten-path experiences.
I have traveled my country curating experiences, restaurants, lodgings…and even tourist guides! so that you can have the real opinion of both a local and a traveler such as myself, with no monetary interest to advertise a specific party (I’m not a travel agency nor do I take commissions). My opinions and audiovisual content (I take a lot of photos and videos) are made by myself, mostly with my phone, so that you can get an authentic grasp on what to expect and for whom every experience and destination I think is best suited for. Nothing is overproduced to make it look better than what it actually is.
The best part is that for those experiences that I really, really like, I ask the owners to provide a discount for our CoolGuide travelers (whom I like to call CoolRiders) to create a win-win for you as a traveler, and to incentivize you to help a business owner who’s doing something great, grow! Naturally, I like to highlight those that are (mostly) local, promoting sustainable practices and/or are small business owners.
