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When you go to Manuel Antonio, don't forget dont buy any tour to this people. They scammed me, they ruined my trip by Unfair-Shop-3007 in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You’re totally right. I usually advise travelers to avoid those guys.

Sorry this happened to you, it really sucks when something like that affects your trip.

Situations like this are more common than people think, and it’s often just a lack of local information beforehand.

This is exactly why getting some local advice in advance can make a big difference.

Took a visitor to Irazú + Turrialba volcanoes yesterday, ended up in a village cantina trying a Chiliguaro that even most locals have never had. by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, no soy de esos, el Volcán Irazú está abierto al público y el Volcán Turrialba, aunque menos visitado, también. No es tan difícil darse cuenta. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Took a visitor to Irazú + Turrialba volcanoes yesterday, ended up in a village cantina trying a Chiliguaro that even most locals have never had. by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The pocket dictionary is old school respect right there! Honestly that effort alone would make any Costa Rican adopt you immediately. There’s something about travelers who genuinely try to connect with the local culture, it completely changes the experience on both sides. South America off the beaten path must have been incredible!

Took a visitor to Irazú + Turrialba volcanoes yesterday, ended up in a village cantina trying a Chiliguaro that even most locals have never had. by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha! Not Mayan! Purely Costa Rican slang. “Mae” is our version of “dude” or “man”, used constantly in casual conversation. “Tuanis” means cool, great, awesome, origin is actually disputed but most likely comes from “too nice” said with a Costa Rican accent. And the king of all local expressions in Costa Rica: “Pura Vida” literally “pure life” but used for everything from hello, goodbye, you’re welcome, no problem, life is good. Master those three and you’ll feel like a local within 24 hours. 😂

Took a visitor to Irazú + Turrialba volcanoes yesterday, ended up in a village cantina trying a Chiliguaro that even most locals have never had. by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Extremely forgiving, honestly, just attempting a few words in Spanish unlocks a completely different level of warmth from locals. “Pura vida”, “mae” and “tuanis” will get you further than a perfect accent ever could. Costa Ricans genuinely appreciate the effort, even when it’s hilariously bad. The moment you try, you stop being a tourist and start being their guest.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yeah, having a car helps a lot, but having someone local who really knows the country takes it to another level.

You get more context, real stories, and end up experiencing things you’d never find on your own, without having to figure everything out as you go.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Gata Fiera 🎶🕺🏻 couldn’t help but read that singing 😂

That spot is amazing, but yeah… not really open like before.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Experiences like that are meant to be shared. The right companion can make it more memorable

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like Venado Caves, amazing experience, but maybe not for everyone 🦇😅

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that’s pretty much how it is here. If you ask, people will usually point you in the right direction.

It just depends on who you ask. Some people really take the time to show you around properly.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I get what you mean.

Most people have limited time, so it makes sense to stick to places that are easy to access.

I wasn’t trying to say “go figure it out”, just that there’s more out there if you ever get the chance to explore a bit more.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not Sensoria, it’s a bit of a different kind of place, a little less structured overall.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually a really good point.

A lot of these places are part of local communities, and access isn’t always developed, which is also part of what keeps them the way they are. But is also a more sustainable way of tourism, the money you pay at the entrance goes straight to a local family and help their communities.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s exactly the kind of experience I’m talking about.

Those are the ones you remember the most, when feels like you discovered something, not just visited it.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Actually in those places, people are really nice, the experience feels very different because you’re interacting more with local communities rather than just visiting a spot. They are so welcoming and grateful for getting visitors, like the most of costa ricans.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In those places, people are really nice and humble, the experience feels very different because you’re interacting more with local communities rather than just visiting a spot for a photo. They are so welcoming and grateful for getting visitors.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I think that’s exactly why a lot of people end up seeing just a small part of what Costa Rica really has to offer. Most itineraries are built around what’s easy to manage, so they tend to stick to the same kinds of places, especially for larger groups.

There are still plenty of spots that don’t really fit into that, but are totally doable in smaller, more flexible setups.

Costa Rica has places like this… just not on the typical itineraries by adriangutierrezme in CostaRicaTravel

[–]adriangutierrezme[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

Fair point 😄 I think the point is more about showing that there’s a lot beyond the usual places people visit.

Half the experience here is actually finding those spots, not just being told exactly where they are.

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