Costa Rica Travel Podcast with Nikki Solano
Credible and concise Costa Rica trip-planning help that prioritizes your needs so you can get the travel experience you want.
Listen to the episode Welcome to the Costa Rica Travel Podcast! (Episodes are nonsequential; Start with this episode, then let your wanderlust lead the way!)
Episode length: 2 minutes, 57 seconds
Episode description: The podcast’s inaugural episode, which discusses references that you’ll hear Nikki make from time to time, the podcast’s atypical arrangement of episodes, and other important introductory details.
Costa Rica Travel Podcast Episode List
(scroll to the bottom for episode notes or to submit a question)
Which regions in Costa Rica are suitable for tourists?
Episode length: 12 minutes, 35 seconds
Episode description: Nikki explains which regions among Costa Rica’s various travel regions are suitable for tourists and why. Costa Rican travel regions covered in this episode include: the Northern Pacific / Guanacaste travel region; the Nicoya Peninsula travel region; the Central Pacific travel region; the Osa Peninsula and Southern Pacific travel region; the Caribbean travel region; the Central Valley and Highlands travel region; and the Northern Inlands travel region.
When are Costa Rica’s 4 travel seasons and what are the must-know characteristics of each?
Episode length: 10 minutes, 59 seconds
Episode description: Nikki outlines what you need to know about Costa Rica’s travel seasons. Costa Rican travel seasons covered in this episode include: the high season; the low season; the peak season; and the shoulder season.
What should I pack for Costa Rica and what isn’t necessary to bring?
Episode length: 17 minutes, 21 seconds
Episode description: Nikki details a comprehensive Costa Rica packing list that covers essential, must-have items and nonessential but beneficial items, plus unnecessary items that should be left at home. Types of items covered in this episode include: luggage and backpacks; apparel; footwear; toiletries; sunscreen and insect repellent; medical supplies; electronics; safety devices; and other practicalities specific to Costa Rica travel.
Should cash, credit cards, or travelers’ cheques be used to pay for purchases in Costa Rica?
Episode length: 6 minutes, 29 seconds
Episode description: Nikki discusses why cash is best (and how much cash to take to Costa Rica) but also explores must-know info about the use of credit cards and provides a stern warning about the use of travelers’ cheques.
Should cash payments be made in USD or Costa Rican colones? What about CAD, Euros, and other currencies?
Episode length: 6 minutes, 17 seconds
Episode description: Nikki outlines when payment in US dollars is (and is not) accepted, which denominations of bills are best to use, and what to expect when visiting a bank in Costa Rica.
Is tipping customary in Costa Rica, and if it is, who and how much should I tip?
Episode length: 9 minutes, 14 seconds
Episode description: Nikki describes when tipping is and isn’t customary in Costa Rica, which types of workers she tips (and doesn’t tip), and how much she tips each. Worker types covered in this episode include: tour guides; tour drivers; shared shuttle service drivers; private transfer service drivers; boat or water taxi captains; taxi drivers; parking lot attendants; restaurant waitstaff; hotel cleaning staff; hotel bellhops; hotel concierge workers; public bus drivers; restaurant kitchen staff; hotel kitchen staff; hotel reception workers; car rental agency employees; business owners and managers; and souvenir store employees.
How do the 13 hot springs in La Fortuna compare to one another?
Episode length: 16 minutes, 10 seconds
Episode description: Nikki details La Fortuna’s public hot spring properties to help you familiarize yourself with—and compare—each. Properties covered in this episode include: the Baldi Hot Springs; the EcoTermales Hot Springs; the Tabacón Hot Springs; the Springs Resort Hot Springs (i.e., the Cascadas Calientes, the Los Perdidos Hot Springs, and the Club RÃo Hot Springs); the Paradise Hot Springs; the Titokú Hot Springs; the Los Lagos Hot Springs; the Los Laureles Hot Springs; the Kalambú Hot Springs; the Termalitas del Arenal Hot Springs; the Relax Termalitas Hot Springs; the Termales del Arenal Hot Springs (formerly known as the Termo Arenal Hot Springs); and the Rio ChoyÃn Hot Springs (a.k.a., mini Tabacon, Tabaconcito, and La Fortuna’s free hot springs; sometimes styled as the Rio Chollin Hot Springs).
Which hot springs are the best in La Fortuna?
Episode length: 14 minutes, 53 seconds
Episode description: Nikki makes it easy to decide which hot springs in La Fortuna is the best to visit by ranking the various properties according to a variety of criteria, including property size, hot spring quantity and variety, cost and value, design and atmosphere, meals served, location, and visitor demographics (child travelers, adult travelers, and local Costa Ricans). Properties covered in this episode include: the Baldi Hot Springs; the EcoTermales Hot Springs; the Tabacón Hot Springs; the Springs Resort Hot Springs (i.e., the Cascadas Calientes, the Los Perdidos Hot Springs, and the Club RÃo Hot Springs); the Paradise Hot Springs; the Titokú Hot Springs; the Los Lagos Hot Springs; the Los Laureles Hot Springs; the Kalambú Hot Springs; the Termalitas del Arenal Hot Springs; the Relax Termalitas Hot Springs; the Termales del Arenal Hot Springs (formerly known as the Termo Arenal Hot Springs); and the Rio ChoyÃn Hot Springs (a.k.a., mini Tabacon, Tabaconcito, and La Fortuna’s free hot springs; sometimes styled as the Rio Chollin Hot Springs).
I’m visiting hot springs in Costa Rica—what do I need to know before I do?
Episode length: 14 minutes, 47 seconds
Episode description: Nikki covers everything you need to know about visiting hot springs in Costa Rica, regardless of the specific hot spring property you choose. Topics addressed in this episode include: what you’ll do at the hot springs and what to expect at the hot springs; eligibility for visiting the hot springs and health-related concerns; hot spring reservations; hot spring operating hours; dining opportunities and meals at hot spring properties; items to pack for the hot springs; hot spring visits and the weather; wildlife-spotting opportunities at hot spring properties; and hot spring hotels.
Costa Rica Travel Podcast Episode Notes
Which regions in Costa Rica are suitable for tourists?
To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms and proper names cited during the episode include Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula, Osa Peninsula, Guanacaste Airport, Juan SantamarÃa International Airport, Manuel Antonio National Park, Isla del Coco, Corcovado National Park, Isla del Caño, Pacuare River, Tortuguero National Park, San José, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Ceiba, and Ficus.
When are Costa Rica’s 4 travel seasons and what are the must-know characteristics of each?
The episode’s cover photo—taken during the high season—is of Coco Loco, a beachfront restaurant on Playa Flamingo, the eponymous beach of the community of Playa Flamingo in Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific / Guanacaste travel region. To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms and proper names cited during the episode include Guanacaste and Nicoya Peninsula.
What should I pack for Costa Rica and what isn’t necessary to bring?
The episode’s cover photo is of Nikki’s hiking shoes, backpack, rain jackets, and safety alarm. To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms and proper names cited during the episode include Keen, micro-sized, non-nano, DEET, SIM card, Tylenol, Advil, Gravol, Imodium, Midol, Benadryl, Swiss Army knife, and pura vida (Costa Rica’s slogan, which translates to “pure life”).
Should cash, credit cards, or travelers’ cheques be used to pay for purchases in Costa Rica?
The episode’s cover photo is of Costa Rican colones in bill and coin forms. There are no other notes for this episode.
Should cash payments be made in USD or Costa Rican colones? What about CAD, Euros, and other currencies?
The episode’s cover photo is of US dollars and Costa Rican colones in bill form. To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms and proper names cited during the episode include CRC (Costa Rican currency; alphabetic code), colón (Costa Rican currency; singular), colones (Costa Rican currency; plural), and ficha (a numbered ticket, typically used at banks). “Dollar” references are American dollars (USD).
Is tipping customary in Costa Rica, and if it is, who and how much should I tip?
The episode’s cover photo is of a communal tip box. To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms and proper names cited during the episode include soda [restaurants], zip-line [tours], marÃa (“meter”), colones (Costa Rican currency; plural), and guáchimen (slang for “watchmen”; sometimes styled as wáchiman). “Dollar” references are American dollars (USD).
How do the 13 hot springs in La Fortuna compare to one another?
The episode’s cover photo is of (clockwise from top-left) the Baldi Hot Springs, the EcoTermales Hot Springs, the Springs Resort Hot Springs, and the Tabacon Hot Springs. To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms, Spanish terms, nicknames, and proper names cited during the episode include Volcan Arenal, Baldi Hot Springs, EcoTermales Hot Springs, Tabacón Hot Springs, Springs Resort Hot Springs, Cascadas Calientes, Los Perdidos Hot Springs, Club RÃo Hot Springs, Paradise Hot Springs, Titokú Hot Springs, Los Lagos Hot Springs, Los Laureles Hot Springs, KalambúHot Springs, Termalitas del Arenal Hot Springs, Relax Termalitas Hot Springs, Termales del Arenal Hot Springs, Termo Arenal Hot Springs, Rio ChoyÃn Hot Springs (sometimes styled as the Rio ChollÃn Hot Springs), mini Tabacon, and Tabaconcito. “Dollar” references are American dollars (USD).
Which hot springs are the best in La Fortuna?
The episode’s cover photo (left to right) is of the Springs Resort Hot Springs and the Tabacon Hot Springs. To assist with further research, possibly puzzling terms, Spanish terms, nicknames, and proper names cited during the episode include Baldi Hot Springs, EcoTermales Hot Springs, Tabacón Hot Springs, Springs Resort Hot Springs, Cascadas Calientes, Los Perdidos Hot Springs, Club RÃo Hot Springs, Paradise Hot Springs, Titokú Hot Springs, Los Lagos Hot Springs, Los Laureles Hot Springs, Kalambú Hot Springs, Termalitas del Arenal Hot Springs, Relax Termalitas Hot Springs, Termales del Arenal Hot Springs, Termo Arenal Hot Springs, Rio ChoyÃn Hot Springs (sometimes styled as the Rio ChollÃn Hot Springs), mini Tabacon, and Tabaconcito. “Dollar” references are American dollars (USD).
I’m visiting hot springs in Costa Rica—what do I need to know before I do?
TBD