About & Contact
About Me
Hola y bienvenido to my website! My name is Erwin. Back in 2009, I lived in Costa Rica—specifically in Santa Lucía de Paraíso in the Cartago province—with an amazing Costa Rican host family. During my time there, I worked as a research assistant at Jardín Botánico Lankester, widely known as one of the most important orchid research centers in Central America and the Caribbean, managed by the UCR (Universidad de Costa Rica).
Living and working there allowed me to experience the authentic side of Costa Rica, and this wonderful country has never stopped amazing me. Even though I am based in the Netherlands, I have always kept a deep connection to the country and have returned many times since to travel and explore. My most recent trip to Costa Rica was in 2026.
About the Website
I have always loved sharing my personal experiences and practical tips with friends and family planning their own trips. In 2022, I started this website as a small Google Sites project to channel my passion and provide accessible information.
Over the years, that project grew into what costaricamae.nl is today: a comprehensive starting point for anyone looking to travel to and around Costa Rica. No extensive blogs but informative and to-the-point. Think of it as your practical, Dutch perspective on exploring Costa Rica!
Contact
I'm happy to answer questions and help others with their trip, but note that I'm not a travel planner or travel agent. If you have any questions, suggestions, or remarks regarding the website, please contact me by e-mail at:
Disclaimer
The information on this website is from personal experience or acquired knowledge. Although this has been done with great care, there is always a chance that certain information is a personal perspective, incorrect, incomplete, or outdated. No rights can be derived from the information on this website. All text, images, visualizations, and photos on this website are intellectual property, and it is unlawful to copy them for your own use.
Affiliate Links
Please note that this website uses affiliate links. By clicking on these links, you will be directed to an affiliate partner's site. Should you choose to make a purchase through an affiliate link, I receive a small commission. This commission is paid by the affiliate program and does not result in any additional cost to you. The revenue generated helps fund the operational costs and development of this website.
For transparency, pages that contain affiliate links have a statement at the top of the page. I only recommend products or services that I have researched or used to help plan a Costa Rica trip.
The following affiliate programs are advertised on this website:
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TripAdvisor: A website with information, tips, things to do, hotels, restaurants, tours, and where travelers share their experiences.
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Booking.com: A hotel search and booking website.
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Hostelworld: A hostel search and booking website.
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Airalo, Saily, and Yesim: Are eSIM brands that enable you to easily arrange your connectivity around the world.
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Discover Cars: An international online car rental platform where you can compare various rental companies and make a reservation.