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Costa Rica is F*cking Beautiful [PHOTO ESSAY]

30 Comments By
Rio Celeste Waterfall Costa Rica

Rio Celeste Waterfall

Costa Rica

Most people who travel to Costa Rica come back singing it’s praises to anyone who will listen. It’s a lush and astonishing country full of incredible natural beauty.

Costa Rica has seduced me with her charms. I secretly want to keep her all to myself, but that would be selfish! So I’ve decided to share her with you. Below you’ll find a series of images from my month-long journey there last year.

After viewing them, you’ll know why I fell in love with this fascinating Central American country.

From pristine cloud forests, remote beaches, exotic wildlife and giant volcanoes — Cost Rica has a bit of everything for the adventurous traveler.

So sit back and enjoy a photo tour of Costa Rica. Pura Vida! :D

Coati Corcovado Costa Rica

Coati Eating a Halloween Crab

Bridge Monteverde Costa Rica

300 Ft. Canopy Bridge

Volcano Irazu Costa Rica

Volcano Irazu Crater Lake

Crocodiles Rio Tarcoles Costa Rica

Crocodiles in the Tarcoles River

Coastline Corcovado Costa Rica

Corcovado Coastline

Mushroom Monteverde Costa Rica

Bright Red Mushroom

Beach Seed Corcovado Costa Rica

No Idea What This Is…

Hammock Camping Costa Rica

Hammock Camping in the Jungle

Pink Bug Costa Rica

Bright & Colorful Pink Bug

Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Tiger Heron Costa Rica

Tiger Heron

Bairds Tapir Corcovado Costa Rica

Funny Looking Bairds Tapir

Rafting Pacuare River Costa Rica

Rafting the Pacuare River

Poison Dart Frog Costa Rica

Strawberry Poison Dart Frog

More from Costa Rica

Discover the stories behind these photos & read a few articles about my experience in Costa Rica:

What About You?

Have you ever been to Costa Rica? Which photo above is your favorite & why?

Posted in Costa Rica & Photo Essays

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30 Comments - Add Yours!

Cat -

I’ve always been drawn to Costa Rica but seeing these amazingly gorgeous photos has renewed my desire to go!
White – #FriFotos Theme

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kimolsonphoto -

I’m partial to the coati, but in truth all of your images paint a gorgeous picture of Costa Rica. You captured CR very well and saw so much more than I did many years ago that it makes me want to go back! :)
A Week of Firsts & Other News

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Kiersten -

Titled appropriately I must say! Incredible photos! Stunning stunning stunning
The World Cup for Kiteboarding

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    Matthew Karsten -

    I was working too hard on finding the right headline. Decided to simplify it. :D

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Dani -

Great photos! The tapir is my favorite, I am dying to see one! Where did you see that one – on the Osa peninsula? We had such a great time here in 2011 that we returned for a housesit that was offered to us – the wildlife is just spectacular … haven’t been anywhere else where there is so much wildlife like in Costa Rica.
Polaroid of the week: Street Art in San Jose, Costa Rica

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    Matthew Karsten -

    Hi Dani! Yeah, I found him at Corcovado. Came crashing through the trees as the sun was going down. He began munching on leaves at the edge of the beach. Scared the crap out of me at first. They are huge!

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Ava Apollo -

I love Costa Rica, especially the Arenal area I’m recognizing in your photos. So freaking beautiful.

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Garrett -

Awesome pics. I love the red bridge one. I’m planning a trip to CR in January on as tight a budget as possible. Do you have any tips on saving money or know of any good articles on the subject? Any help would be much appreciated.
P.S. I don’t mind camping/roughin’ it.

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    Matthew Karsten -

    Hi Garrett. For general advice, just use the bus system to get around, stay at little family guest houses, and eat street food. Remember that you don’t always need to pay for guides/tours, walking around on your own works great.
    Camping helps too. I averaged about $32 a day for the month I was there.
    Maybe my trip-report will help you out: http://expertvagabond.com/costa-rica-travel-report/

    Reply »
Bama -

I have never considered Costa Rica as one of the main destinations that I have to visit when I set foot on Central America. But it has changed now. Thanks to your pictures, I am aching to go!
Blue Skies Over Bromo

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    Matthew Karsten -

    Great Bama, there is a ton to do there. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or touristy.

    Reply »
Rob -

I love those poison dart frogs and saw some myself. Great shots and recognize a few of the places.

How long did you camp in the jungle? That’s pretty bada$$.
Sunrise Timelapse from Le Meridien Dead Sea, Israel

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    Matthew Karsten -

    Hi Rob! I camped a few times in Costa Rica, but each time was just 2 to 4 nights.

    Reply »
Ayngelina -

Those are some beautiful photos, I just cannot get past the expense of Costa Rica compared to Southern Nicaragua or Northern Panama.
The scariest but most beautiful thing I have ever done

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Adam at GettingStamped -

I was looking through your post to try and find some ideas for our Costa Rica leg of our RTW trip. The picture of the Rio Celeste Waterfall looks amazing, is there a decent bus route to get over to the park to hike to the falls?

You are braver than me camping in the jungle, I would worry I would wake up 10 of those purple bug and a frog or two.

keep up the great stories!
Sun Rise Hike to Mount Batur

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Ellen Keith -

I love these photos — stunning! Maybe I need to move Costa Rica up a few notches on my to-visit list. As for the “Don’t even know what this is” image, I saw the same flower growing on a tree in Rio de Janeiro. Could it be that?
Where Will I be a Year From Now? — Notes on Remembrance and Moving Forward

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Becky Padmore -

Love these photos, especially the animal shots!
Cold waters, cheerful moods: cruising around Scandinavia

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Kaleena's Kaleidoscope -

Stunning photos! I went to Costa Rica earlier this year and only stayed for a few days, but I was seduced by her beauty as well. Love the shot of that volcano crater lake! It reminds me of the lake at the base of the towers at Torres del Paine in Chile, have you ever been? It’s got that same eerily beautiful quality.
Guns: And That Time I Got One For Christmas

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Claudia -

Such beautiful images, thank you for sharing them. I plan to go to Costa Rica soon and from what I have seen until now it seems to offer beautiful places whererver you go.
Identity Matters

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    Matthew Karsten -

    It sure seemed that way to me as well Claudia. Costa Rica is full of beauty.

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calvin -

When you camped in your hammock, how did you fend off the mosquitoes from biting through the bottom? That always happens to me :(

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    Matthew Karsten -

    You can soak the hammock in Permethrin (or spray it on). Stays on for like 6 weeks. I’ve also used organic bug spray on the bottom. DEET can melt nylon though, so don’t use that.
    Usually I’ll sleep on a cotton sheet or with a light sleeping bag, which provides extra protection.

    Reply »
      calvin -

      That’s a very good tip, I didn’t know about permethrin. Thanks, I’m going to do that for sure. The mosquito thing has been my only hammock annoyance.
      Happy Travels:)
      -calvin

      Reply »
Emily of Roads Less Traveled -

I’ve never been to Costa RIca, but it is high on my bucket list. My husband and I have been traveling full-time for the past 6 years, and 3 of those years have been spent sailing the cost of Mexico in our boat. Costa Rica is so close — but there are some treacherous waters between here and there!!!
Paraiso – An Unexpected Tropical Oasis!

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    Matthew Karsten -

    Now that’s an adventure I’ve never tried yet, a long-term sailing journey. Some day!

    Reply »

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