THE ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK GUIDE | Costa Rica Travel Guide #1

45 Comments

1. Sound advice Michael!! Prior to my trip to Costa Rica last fall, I watched many of your videos and used your agency to book my activities. Your support staff is second to none! I highly recommend those of you first timers going to Costa Rica to use your agency and to watch your videos! You earn every penny of the donations you generate 🙂

2. Need a phone Waze is essential if your driving.Also driving at night warning is huge. One of the issues are car, motorcycle lights, to dim or not on at all.

3. 👍

4. found your channel a month ago doing costa rica research, gotta say lovin your channel and your brutal honesty in some of your videos. Great job

5. Have a (probably stupid) question. Why do you suggest to leave the phone behind? (Theaft?) We use it to communicate when needed. We are a family of 3 and our adult son (21yrs) likes to do things without his "parental units" always tagging along. We have used the cell on several occasions to check in with eachother. Is there something else I’m unaware of?
   As always, I appreciate and enjoy your informative videos.

6. after 6pm its pitch black

7. Ask for all the money you want M. Great video!!!

8. Great info ! Even if you fly local flights still eats up a day. If your in a rush in CR you will quickly find that your the only one ! Pura Vida

9. Always have with you an ink pen in your bag on the plane that way you can fill out the customs processing paperwork before you get to the terminal. I didn’t have a pen and was too stubborn to ask to borrow one on the plane from a fellow passenger. I got to the terminal and had 7 hells trying to understand the locals and customs agents cuz I didn’t know a lick of Spanish. It’s where I learned Nombre is not Number…..But NAME. I felt like such a fool, by myself, first time in a foreign country ….a fish out of water for sure. Bring a pen.

10. Spot on, Mike. Costa Rica is a beautiful place. Follow these tips, and you are sure to have a great vacation.

11. BITE ME ! I love you man.

12. My wife and I just listened and cracking up. We have been to La Fortuna at least 10 times. How do I donate? I would love to donate after watching your videos for years….SCREW that other follower that questioned you

13. Stop begging 😂😂😂

14. Great advice Mike, it takes a long time to travel in Coasta Rica because of the roads and one lane bridges. You make excellent video’s people should want to donate to help support the channel.

15. Thanks for sharing valuable info 👍

16. Love your videos even though Im already living in Costa Rica. Thing that I initially had to get used to was the 12 hour of daylight and 12 hours of dark year round. I admit I sort of missed the long summer days back in the States but, have now adjusted and love, love, love Costa Rica.

17. Grown man begging for money pitiful. Do you beg in the park also.
    I watch many YouTube channels , none beg like you.
    Learn spanish

18. 😊☕👍

19. I am in your town right now, I keep looking around, trying to find you but I guess is not gonna happen.

20. Edited (removed first paragraph) because I hate being negative whether wrong or right.

    One option on asking for money, that you might consider, is adding a "Thanks" button (where you can contribute) on the thumbs up thumbs down row of each video. I have seen this on other Youtube vids and it seems like a less intrusive way to ask than doing so in the vid itself.

    Been watching your vids for many years and I am glad to see you are finally able to monetize your investment…..keep up the good work and if I am ever in your barrio I will buy you and DiAngelo dinner and drinks.

    PS Your vid was spot on, one thing I would add on the deception on a rental is saying its X miles from town, knowing that the average N American equates 7 miles to a 10 minute drive when in CR it is often more like an hour. The same applies to those who schedule a bunch of various activities on their itinerary…thinking a 50-65 mile trip to go tubing is no problem only to find that its 3-4 hrs each way…..this is not Pura Vida 😉

21. Make more videos when you are drunk like the recent one. Begging for beer 🤑

22. very good sound advice….keeping it real and basic

23. Travel tip:. Don’t just take pictures of your documents, email them to yourself. Then if your phone gets stolen you can still access them on a public computer.

24. Those are definitely great tips for visiting Costa Rica. Great job Michael

25. I fell asleep on the beach in Puerto Viejo. I was in the shade at first but wasn’t when I woke up. Painful crocodile skin on my face. Thankfully I was wearing a shirt which limited the damage. That tropical sun is no joke.

26. Since you drink coffee often, which brand name do you use or recommend? I had the 1869? but it’s kinda blahh..

27. Are the roads really bad right now that is raining season?

28. OMG! I related to your comments about driving . My experience is from 20 plus years ago when I drove from Manuel Antonio to Cahuita in one day. By the time I was halfway through the trip it was dark and with heavy rain. If there were lines on the road, I could not see them. I could not see the road. Trucks would tailgate you making it worse. How perilous it was was made obvious on the trip back. I couldn’t believe how many wrecks were off to the side of the road. Some cars were actually pancaked flat. If I had it to do over again, I would have split that trip into two days.

29. I would add, be prepared for high cost of anything related to tourism. Even a little fruit stand on the road was going to charge us $2 for one mango!!! The big mango tree was right behind the kiosk!!! RTV ride, about 90 min, cheapest was $95 per person!!!
    Be prepared to get scammed at the restaurant with the bill. I only had 2 beers, the guy had 3 beers on the receipt and was arguing with me! It was their own Imperial beer and only about $2. I just threw the bill and money on the table and left, not worth my time.

    Watch out for Covid, as much as you can. I was tested positive and had to be quarantined. Glad I bought travel ins.
    US got away from testing 24 hr before flight, but still.

30. Haha! Thank you

31. Had me until Leave your Phone at home, travel tip #1 is to have your phone with you and with a good charge. You will need it for emergency.

32. Michael you are the best and your videos are invaluable. We discovered you AFTER moving to Costa Rica and learn things from so many of your videos. Trial by fire can be expensive and you are helping to keep us out of the fire! The next time we’re in Fortuna dinner and beers are on us!

33. Great tips to avoid running your vacation… I would add ‘do not leave ANYTHING in your car at the beaches.’

34. I love the bite me statement!

35. Great informative video. 👍 I live here permanently and agree 100 percent on everything you mentioned. I can’t wait for my best friend to get here from the states in December and we booked 5 nights in LA Fortuna. I’ve lived here a little over a year now and it will finally be my first time to your area !! I hate driving at night and sometimes in the daytime 😆🤣😂. The motorcycle here scares me to death. ( WTF? LOL ) I would not ride here . Thanks again and you both have a bless day 🙏😊 Pura Vida.

36. Don’t drink and drive in CR, it is zero tolerance! and don’t drive without shoes, police will get you if they stop you and you are driving with your sandals. Driving at nigh bad decision, roads have no signs!

37. That grass trimmer guy always seems to know when you want to talk. 🤪

38. Mike as usual great advice.I think i got in at 11pm.We are doing 70mph, heading from sjo. I worked air side.To jaco. 3 or 4 bikes passed us lights off.Don’t have to pay the tolls.Lol
    I love costa rica.You lock. Your doors do not leave anything outside.San jose is like philadephia or ny.Miami the same.
    Sergio the honest thief.The ha house is across the street.They beat the fuck out of him.3 people got robbed.Gun involved.
    They really hurt one of my friends.I have not
    been there for 3 years.

39. I love the bite me statement!

40. Most YouTubers ask for money…it’s how they keep going…some do it by selling things as an affiliate, others even Dr.s do it by asking you to join Patreon. You are just more direct ☺️ But yes F them ..they need to get a life… Another great video! 📷 Here’s a tip: it you start taking PABA (a b vitamin that is often in sunscreen) about 2 weeks before vacation, it will really cut down your chances of burning 🥵 You know I’ll be using your services in the future (getting closer) I especially want to stay at Comfort Arenal Thanks again! Love you 😘 🌺💞🌺

41. Missed seeing you while we were there in La Fortuna week before last. We got to go to Baldi, frigging awsome. All of your info is 100% spot on. We were on a quad coming off the top of a mountain at night with fog…. OMG!!!!!!

42. Hey Michael! Thanks for this information. I booked my vacation for February! (can’t wait!!!) You mentioned cameras. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to bring my camera on the tours (zip lining, caving, cloud forest, etc.). You think it’s OK to bring my camera for everything that isn’t obviously wet (e.g., river rafting)? I’d hate to ruin it, and I have a waterproof fanny pack for my phone – my camera won’t fit in it. Thanks for all you do!

43. Hey brother, love your videos! Love you don’t let the haters get you down. Oh and yes I think you’re the OG of Costa Rica videos. Thanks for all that you do. 🙏🙏

44. thanks mike !!! great info!!!

45. Love the “bite me” comment. That rudeness will not work in a Pura Vida country. Love this video. You were spot on for everything! Anyone reading this – Michael’company TravelCostaRicanow made my car rentals )before buying one) was the only service I have used without problems and super email. Hugs Michael!