About Costa Rica Travel Life

And the travel-obsessed couple behind the blog.

Hey! We’re Dan & Bailey

We’re the writers and adventurers behind Costa Rica Travel Life.

We started this blog because, well, we love Costa Rica! We know that planning a trip to Costa Rica can be challenging, so we wanted to make it easier with our detailed guides, tips, and personal recommendations here on this blog. 

Our mission is simple:
To make your trip to Costa Rica as easy and enjoyable as possible

Dolphin seen in Marino Ballena National Park near Uvita Costa Rica

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Bailey and Daniel pose for a photo while horseback riding in La Fortuna

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Daniel and Bailey with a chocolate mask at Rancho Raices de Osa

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A toucan seen near Uvita Costa Rica

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Whether you’re looking for the best hot springs in La Fortuna, a wildlife-packed national park, or the perfect hotel with ocean views – we’ve been there, tried it, and written about it. Every recommendation comes from our own experience.

You’ll find honest travel guides, itinerary suggestions, hotel and tour reviews, and insider tips that only someone who’s actually traveled Costa Rica extensively can offer. We don’t just write about Costa Rica – we live it.

So, if you’re dreaming of ziplining through the jungle, relaxing on a Pacific beach, or spotting sloths in the wild, you’re in the right place. Let us take the stress out of planning so you can focus on what matters – experiencing the magic of Costa Rica!

Ready to start planning?

Our Story

We first visited Costa Rica in 2016 on a backpacking trip. It was our first time in Central America, and we loved it! Since then, we’ve visited more times than we can count, and in 2021, we moved to La Fortuna so we could explore more of the country in depth.

That led to us starting this blog—not just as a travel diary of our adventures, but as a way to share everything we’ve learned along the way. While we’ve since left Costa Rica to continue exploring the world, we still visit often, and our love for this place hasn’t faded one bit.

We write all our guides from personal experience, so expect some honest opinions, quirky stories, and plenty of helpful tips—whether we absolutely loved something… or didn’t.

Our travel style has evolved over the years, and this blog reflects that. When we first came to Costa Rica, we were budget backpackers living off cheap eats and free activities. However, since our first trip, our travel style has changed a bit (we traded in backpacker hostels for beautiful hotels and villas), so whether you’re traveling on a shoestring or splurging a little, you’ll find something here for you.

Although our travel style has changed, our love for traveling Costa Rica hasn’t. Costa Rica keeps bringing us back at different stages of our lives. And we love writing about it!

About Bailey

One half of Costa Rica Travel Life!

Hi, I’m Bailey

I grew up in Edmonton, Canada, and met Daniel on a holiday to Europe back in 2013. A year later, I moved to Australia—we reconnected… and well, the rest is history (he even put a ring on it!).

Since then, our shared love of travel has taken us around the world, living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Costa Rica, with plenty of adventures in between. Of all the places we’ve been, Costa Rica is still my favorite country in the world (though New Zealand is a close second).

I’m definitely the planner in our relationship. When I’m not traveling, I’m probably researching travel—for fun! Lucky for me, that obsession turned out to be perfect for blogging. I know exactly the kind of content you need!

I love sloths and avoid monkeys, but turtles are my favorite. I’m also a big fan of doing things that scare me—which makes Costa Rica my perfect match. One night walk here, and you’ll understand exactly what I mean!

One day, I dream of opening an eco-resort in Costa Rica and living more sustainably. But for now, I’m loving this chapter: writing about my experiences and helping travelers like you. It’s honestly so rewarding.

Thanks for being here—I hope to see you out there exploring Costa Rica!

Curious what my absolute favorite activity in all of Costa Rica is?

About Daniel

The other half of Costa Rica Travel Life.

Hi, I’m Daniel

I still can’t believe I’m writing an “about me”—I’m a long way from the gas fields of Western Australia, where I worked before meeting Bailey.

I grew up in Perth, Australia, but never really pictured myself settling there. I’ve always had the travel bug, and I had no idea that chasing it would eventually lead me to Bailey (lucky me!).

Fast travel was never my thing. I need time to explore, soak it all in, and connect with a place—eight weeks was my minimum. That meant quitting my job a lot… until Bailey and I made travel a lifestyle and started moving around the world together.

I’m into surfing, photography, getting off the beaten path, and living naturally—so yeah, Costa Rica has always felt like a perfect fit for me.

If you ask me about a place, I’ll talk your ear off with every little detail. That’s probably why I love travel blogging so much—the keyboard doesn’t mind my rambling!

Anyway, before I get too carried away, enjoy Costa Rica and Pura Vida!

Want to know my favorite thing to do in Costa Rica?