Costa Rica Through Local Eyes

Discover the regions, wildlife, and authentic experiences that define this extraordinary country—guided by Yampu's insider perspective.

An Insider's View of Costa Rica

Yampu's HR Manager Marianne recently returned from Costa Rica with more than souvenirs—she brought back the kind of travel wisdom that only comes from moving slowly through a place. Over the following pages, you'll find her photographs, her experiences at properties like Grano De Oro and Laguna Lodge, and the practical insights she gathered exploring Tortuguero, Arenal, and Monteverde. These are the details that matter to travelers seeking genuine connection: where to find the best coffee, how to spot wildlife at dawn, what to pack for a boat ride in the sun, and why thermal pools taste better after a long hike. This is Costa Rica as a guest who stayed, observed, and returned home changed.

The Journey

Four Destinations, Infinite Discoveries
From San Jose's hidden gardens to cloud forest canopies, each region reveals its own character.

Grano De Oro, San Jose

An old-style house with rooms that feel like home, garden areas at every turn, and a rooftop Jacuzzi surrounded by plants.

Tortuguero's Turtle Season

August through October, three species of sea turtle nest on Laguna Lodge's beach, transforming the shoreline into a natural wonder.

Jungle Waterways

Boat tours through Tortuguero's conservation park reveal howler monkeys, armadillos, leaf bats, and the raw pulse of the rainforest.

Arenal's Thermal Pools

After hiking volcanic trails, sink into naturally heated waters ranging from 99°F to 106°F, with Arenal volcano rising beyond the steam.

Monteverde's Hanging Bridges

Walk suspended through the cloud forest canopy on sky walks and hanging bridges, where wildlife appears at eye level through the mist.

Farm to Table in the Mountains

At Finca Rosa Blanca, pick fresh ingredients with the chef from nearby towns, then watch them transform into your dinner.

Taste Costa Rica at the Table

Start your mornings with Gallo Pinto at Laguna Lodge—rice and beans, eggs and sausage, a simple breakfast that tastes like home the moment you arrive. At Finca Rosa Blanca, the experience goes deeper. The hotel grows its own coffee, raises its own chickens, and tends organic fruits and vegetables on the property. Join the chef on a trip to a nearby town to pick fresh ingredients, then return to watch them transform into your dinner. This is how Costa Rica eats: from the soil to your plate, without the distance in between.