Fishbonz Paradise Lodge

20/06/2026

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A Most Cautionary Guide for the Bewildered First-Time Visitor to Costa Rica

There are people who arrive in Costa Rica brimming with confidence and sunscreen, certain a foreign country will behave itself reasonably. These people, bless their cotton socks, are in for a magnificent education.

🌙Driving at Night
Do not do it. Do not do it. The roads are dark in a way that can only be described as personally hostile, unmarked, unlit, and twisting like a mischievous snake with somewhere better to be. Nothing prepares you for driving these roads at night, except, rather cruelly, the act of driving them at night.

🐜The Bug Spray Situation
There are creatures in the jungle waiting patiently, with tremendous enthusiasm, specifically for you. They can smell fresh foreign blood. Pack the bug spray. Consider bathing in it.

📱WhatsApp: A Ghost Story
If you have not downloaded WhatsApp, your tour guide does not know you exist. Your hotel cannot reach you. You are, for all practical purposes, a ghost. Download it immediately.

🗺️The Grand Delusion of the Ambitious Itinerary
Every year, bright-eyed visitors spread a map across the table and say, “We’ll pop over here Monday, zip across Tuesday…” and this is where Costa Rica feels the need to reign you in. Do less. Enjoy it more. It is not a place to be rushed.

🧭Your GPS is a Pathological Liar
It will send you down roads that are less “road” and more “hiking trail.” Use Waze. It is not perfect, nothing in this life is, but it is considerably less delusional.

😊The Kindness of Strangers
The people here are extraordinarily warm. A mangled “buenos días” or hopeful “gracias” and something wonderful happens. They smile, they help, they meet you more than halfway. Trying, however imperfectly, is its own kind of magic. As the Ticos say… pura vida! 🌺

You will need a car. If you don’t mind renting an older one, message us with your dates for a quote that is satisfying to both mind and heart, as you’ll be supporting the Wet Nose Project, rescuing and rehoming dogs and cats in need. 🐾

18/06/2026

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30/05/2026

30/05/2026

In Costa Rica, everything feels close, from the city to the beach, mountains, and volcanoes, all just a few hours away! ⛰️🌊🏡

21/05/2026

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🚔 Getting Pulled Over in Costa Rica: Who’s Who (and What to Do)

First things first, not all police are there for the same reason.

🚓 Traffic Police (Policía de Tránsito)

These are the ones in navy blue vehicles, and they’re all about the road.

They’re the ones who will:

👮Pull you over for speeding, stop signs, or right-of-way mistakes
👮Check your licence, passport, and vehicle documents
👮Make sure you’ve got your emergency kit (yes, including that dusty fire extinguisher)
👮Occasionally direct traffic at chaotic intersections (basically human traffic lights)

They’re doing their job, keeping the roads from turning into a real-life video game. Sort of..

👉 If fines are involved, it’ll be these guys.

🚨 Regular Police (Fuerza Pública)

These are the ones in white vehicles, and they’re focused on actual crime.

If they stop you, it’s usually because:

🚔There’s been a reported robbery or incident nearby
🚔They’re looking for a person or stolen vehicle
🚔There’s an active checkpoint for security reasons

👉They’ll typically ask for ID, not obsess over your driving paperwork.

Sometimes they may search the vehicle, but that’s usually because they’re looking for something specific.

⚠️ Special Note: GAO Units

If you see a white police vehicle marked GAO (Grupo de Apoyo Operacional)…
That’s serious business.

They’re often heavily armed
They’re responding to higher-risk situations

👉 Keep it simple: follow instructions, stay calm, don’t get creative.

💸 About Fines (and “Creative Alternatives”)

Let’s clear this up

💰Fines are NOT paid on the side of the road. Ever.
💰You’ll get a printed ticket (boleta)
💰You pay it later through official channels

If someone hints at a “faster solution”… yeah, that’s a bribe.

And here’s the reality:

🚩It does happen sometimes
🚩It happens way less than people think
🚩Paying it only keeps the cycle alive

👉 If you’ve done nothing wrong:

🚫Don’t pay anything
🚫Don’t follow anyone to a station
✅Stay calm and stand your ground

You can always dispute a fine later. You can’t un-pay a bribe.

📞 Feeling Uncomfortable?

If things start feeling off:

Call 911 (works on any phone)
They know you have that option and that alone changes the tone quickly

Also worth knowing:

They’re not going to keep you roadside for hours. If it drags on they will just send you on your way.

Bottom Line
🔵Blue cars = traffic rules
⚪️White cars = crime-related
😧GAO = serious situation
🧾Paper ticket = legit fine
💵Cash on the roadside = absolutely not

Drive properly, stay polite, and don’t panic. Most stops are routine… and over faster than you can find your registration in the glove box 😅

Got this? Ready to take on the Costa Rican roads? Send us your dates here or on WhatsApp for a fully inclusive quote and you’ll not only be your own chauffeur on your Costa Rica adventure, you will also be helping us to fund animal rescue through The Wet Nose Project

13/04/2026

Let’s talk about one of the crispiest, loudest, most addictive snacks you’ll ever throw down in your kitchen: Caribbean patacones. Read more 👉 https://amcostarica.com/Costa%20Rica%20News%20Costa%20Rica%20Caribbean%20Style%20Crispy%20Patacones%20041126.html

06/04/2026

Costa Rica’s ocean conditions are still dangerous on both coasts, with rough surf, strong currents and wind-driven seas raising the risk for swimmers, surfers and boaters during one of the busiest beach travel periods of the year.

Authorities are urging people to watch beach flags, stay in supervised areas and avoid entering the water when conditions are unsafe.

Read more: https://ticotimes.net/2026/04/04/dangerous-ocean-conditions-persist-across-costa-rica