🇨🇷 Uvita, Costa Rica

Explore
Costa Rica
with Ed.

Ed from Costa Rica Story

Tours, my Uvita Day Adventure, rental cars, airport pickup — and hands-on help if you're thinking about moving here.

Book my Uvita Day Adventure Message me
5.0
11 Google reviews
600+
videos about Costa Rica
2021
living in Uvita since
Uvita Day AdventureTours & adventuresRental carsMoving to Costa Rica?Airport pickup

Start here

What are you here for?

Everything I offer fits in two boxes. Pick yours and tap what you need.

I'm visiting Costa Rica

A great day out, a car that won't let you down, a ride from the airport.

I'm moving to Costa Rica

I did it in 2021. I'll help you skip the expensive mistakes.

Not sure yet? Just ask.

I answer personally. Tell me when you're coming and what you have in mind.

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My signature tour

The Uvita Day Adventure

A full day with me, 7am to 3pm: the Whale Tail at low tide, the sea caves of Playa Ventanas, waterfalls great and small, the farmers market and the places only locals know. Easy walks or rock hopping — I build the day around you.

  • Includes a 30-minute video planning call
  • Customised itinerary — tourist spots or off the beaten path
  • Moving here? Use it as a scouting trip: rentals, lawyer, real-estate agent
  • Returning clients get 15% off
Pick a date & book Ask me
The Uvita Day Adventure on YouTube
Watch a real Uvita Day Adventure

Choose your day

  • ●Whale Tail at low tide (Marino Ballena, $7 entry)
  • ●Playa Ventanas sea caves
  • ●Hidden waterfalls & swimming holes
  • ●Uvita Waterfall ($4 entry)
  • ●El Mercado farmers market (Wed & Sat)
  • ●Playa Hermosa, Dominical, Dominicalito
  • ●Bike ride in Bahía
  • ●Add-ons: whale watching, kayak, river wildlife, coffee tour

Prices

8 hours
  • 1 person$199
  • 2 people$249
  • 3 people$299
  • 4 people$399
  • 5 people$499
  • 6 people$599
  • 7 people$699
  • 8 people$849
  • Tour bus · 8–12 people$1,200

Park entrance fees, attractions and meals not included. Additional days $225. No smoking or vaping during the tour.

Book now

Tours & experiences

18 ways to see the southern zone

Two tours you book directly with me. The rest I arrange with local operators I've vetted myself — booking through me costs you nothing extra and supports the channel.

The Uvita Day AdventureBook directly with mefrom $199

The Uvita Day Adventure

My signature full-day tour · 7am–3pm

A full day with me: the Whale Tail at low tide, the sea caves of Playa Ventanas, waterfalls great and small, the farmers market and the places only locals know. I build the day around you — tourist spots or off the beaten path, easy walks or rock hopping — and we start with a 30-minute video planning call.

  • Whale Tail at low tide
  • Playa Ventanas sea caves
  • Hidden waterfalls & swimming holes
  • El Mercado farmers market (Wed & Sat)
  • Free beaches: Hermosa, Dominical, Dominicalito
Book · 8 hours Ask a question
ATV Jungle TourBook directly with mefrom $150

ATV Jungle Tour

Jungle ATV Uvita · from $150 per vehicle

Jungle ATV takes you from the centre of Uvita up to 4,000 feet across streams and coffee and banana plantations, with a stop at a family coffee farm for a tasting and a swim at a small waterfall on the way back. Bilingual guides, a quick safety lesson and a test ride first. I ride with them myself and book it for you directly.

  • Sea level to 4,000 ft
  • Coffee farm tasting stop
  • Swim at a small waterfall
  • Top-of-the-line ATVs or side-by-sides
Book · 4–5 hours Ask a question

Arranged through me with trusted local partners

Getting around

Rental cars & airport pickup

Rent the right car

My Car Rental Central — Alamo Costa Rica

Most rental horror stories in Costa Rica are about insurance surprises at the counter. Here is what I tell every guest before they book:

  • Alamo Costa Rica is the company I use and recommend. Tell them Ed sent you and you're a VIP.
  • Third-party liability (TPL) is mandatory by law — about $15–25/day. Your credit card won't cover it.
  • Your credit card may cover collision (CDW). Bring the issuer's letter as proof.
  • Get a 4x4 if you plan to explore. Many SUVs also come as 4x2 — check the title.
  • Driver 25+, passport with entry stamp, physical licence, credit card for the $500 deposit.
Check rates & book a car Ask me first

Airport pickup with me

I pick you up at San José airport myself and we use the 3.5-hour drive to talk through your plans — where to stay, what to see, what to avoid. You arrive in Uvita already oriented. If you only need a ride, ask me about a shared shuttle or a trusted driver instead.

  • ●SJO → Uvita, Dominical or Ojochal, door to door
  • ●The drive doubles as a 3.5-hour consultation
  • ●Shared shuttle or trusted driver available on request
$499Book pickup

Moving to Costa Rica

I moved here in 2021. I'll help you do it without the expensive mistakes.

This is hands-on, not a PDF. Start with a 30-minute call, meet me for coffee, or book a day — and if you're serious, a 2- to 7-day program with every referral you need: attorney, insurance, realtors, car rental, shipper.

$99

Online consultation

30 minutes · Zoom, WhatsApp or Messenger

A one-on-one video call with me about moving to or visiting Costa Rica: visas, cost of living, neighbourhoods, healthcare, cars, rentals — and the things YouTube doesn't tell you. Buy 2 for $149 or 3 for $189; the value is deducted from any multi-day package booked within 30 days.

Book
$99

Meet me in Uvita

90 minutes · coffee at the farmers market or pizza

An in-person meet-up to talk about your move or your trip, over coffee at El Mercado or a pizza. The best way to get a feel for the town and ask everything you want. Food not included.

Book
$299

Find a rental — 1 day

Rental hunting + area orientation

A full day with me looking at rentals and getting oriented: which neighbourhoods, what's realistic for your budget, what to check before you sign. I bring my network of landlords and partner properties.

Book
$325

Find a home to buy — 1 day

Properties, agents and a straight answer

A day visiting properties for sale with me and the real-estate agents I trust, with honest advice on what's worth it and what isn't. We can add a lawyer or a builder to the day if you need one.

Book
$499

Property photo & video recon

360°, drone and standard video of a property

Can't be here in person? I visit the property you're considering and send you 360° photos, drone footage and standard photo and video — plus my honest impression of the place and the neighbourhood.

Book

Partner properties

Rentals available now

  • 3-bed, 2-bath house in UvitaUtilities included · limited availability$400 / week · $1,500 / month
  • Tico home in BahíaUnfurnished$700 / month + utilities
  • Ocean-view 1-bed up Bejuco RoadWhale Tail views · 4x4 required$900 / month + electricity
Ask about a rental

Residency & the people I trust

Costa Rica residency — the basics and beyond

A free seminar I host in Uvita with immigration attorney Nicole Quesada (Law Xperts): residency categories, requirements and timelines, the common mistakes, live Q&A. The last one was in August 2026 — ask me about the next date.

  • ●Real-estate agents I've worked with for years (Bluezone Realty and independents)
  • ●Immigration attorney, insurance agent, international shipper
  • ●My written guides: residency, where to live, the holiday calendar
Read the residency guide real@costaricastory.com

Reviews

What guests say

5.011 reviews on Google
“Highly highly recommend booking the Uvita Day Adventure with Ed. I was hesitant to book at first because I thought I could do stuff on my own and save money. I AM SO GLAD I didn't go that route. I got the authentic pura vida experience I was looking for and we had a blast. He is well connected with the locals and knows all the best spots. The food we had was delicious! He gave me the run down on all the tourist traps and dos and don'ts of Costa Rica. After the Uvita Day Adventure, he helped me move down here and saved me a ton of money and hassle in the long run. Thanks Ed 🙏”
B

Brett Bond

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“Ed was a fantastic guide — knowledgeable, fun, and kind. He's very flexible and wants to make sure you as the guest are having a good time and doing whatever it is you want to do! He showed us the spots where the locals go… and here's a pro tip: he knows the best breakfast in town. Meet him there and start your day off right! Thanks Ed!”
S

Sherwood Day

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“Ed at Uvita Day Adventure is great. Highly recommended. My wife, daughter, and I had a memorable day in Uvita with his planning and guidance, and we had a blast. We had an unforgettable experience, and it gave us the confidence to venture out more on our own over the following days of our trip.”
N

Nathan Toups

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“Had a great day in Uvita with Ed. A bit hesitant only meeting him off his YouTube channel, but everything was great and he was a great tour guide. We visited a few great spots that we never would have found on our own, especially the local coffee shop.”
K

Kevlar Kimbarfly

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“We highly recommend The Uvita Day Adventure with Ed (Costa Rica Story) — his knowledge of Uvita, Costa Rica is unsurpassed! His willingness to customize your time with him is based on what your day should be according to you!”
C

Cynthia Nygren

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“I took a consecutive 2-day tour with Ed, as a single 69 year old male. He made recommendations on local lodging as well as secured transportation to my following destination. I saw so much of what I'd never see as a tourist.”
M

Mark Gardner

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“I did two days on the Uvita Day Adventure. We went from breakfast to dinner. Just decide what you want to do and Ed can plan out your day. Enjoy watching Costa Rica Story.”
J

James Atkinson

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

“I had such a great time on the Uvita Day Adventure with Ed and the Costa Rica Story! I had been following Ed on YouTube for a while as I was planning a trip to Costa Rica to explore the country.”
R

Robin Dandridge

Google review · Uvita Day Adventure

Ed by a river near Uvita
Costa Rica Story

Your guide

Hey there, my name is Ed.

I moved to Uvita, Costa Rica in 2021 and never looked back. On my YouTube channel Costa Rica Story (6,500+ subscribers, 600+ videos) I show the real, unfiltered experience of living on the southern Pacific coast — from drone flights over the Whale Tail to my series "Costa Ricans in Cars Getting Coffee". In person, I run the Uvita Day Adventure, arrange tours with the local partners I trust, help visitors with rental cars and airport pickup, and walk newcomers through every step of moving to Costa Rica.

Watch my videos on Costa Rica Story Message me

Good to know

Questions I get every week

What exactly do you offer?+

Rental car booking with the company I trust, tours with vetted local operators, my own Uvita Day Adventure, airport pickup, and everything around moving here: consultations, finding a rental, buying property, agents, an immigration attorney, an insurance agent and an international shipper. And 600+ videos on YouTube, which is how most people find me.

Can you help me find a house to buy or rent?+

Yes — that's most of what I do these days. A rental search day is $299, a home-buying day is $325, and the multi-day programs start at $499. I work with real-estate agents I've known for years and a lawyer who answers the hard questions. Email real@costaricastory.com or book a day below.

Do I really need a 4x4?+

If you plan to explore, yes. Many roads to the good stuff are gravel, steep or cross a stream in the rainy season, and some tours (the coffee tour, for example) require one. Many SUVs are offered in both 4x4 and 4x2 — check the title when you book.

What's included in the Uvita Day Adventure price?+

My time from 7am to 3pm, the planning call before your trip and a day built around you. Not included: park entrance fees ($7 for Marino Ballena, $4 for the Uvita Waterfall), add-on tours like whale watching or kayaking, and meals. Returning clients get 15% off.

How do I pay?+

Online by card when you book, or reserve now and pay once I've confirmed the date — your choice. Partner tours are quoted by me and paid to the operator; booking through me costs you nothing extra and supports the channel.

I'm not really a tour person. Can I just talk to you?+

Of course. Book a 30-minute online consultation ($99) or, if you're in town, meet me for coffee at the farmers market or a pizza ($99 for 90 minutes). Buy two consultations for $149 or three for $189.

Any house rules?+

Three. No smoking or vaping while we're together, no politics (that includes vaccine opinions), and in nature you're responsible for knowing your own limits — I'll never push you past your comfort level, but slippery rocks and rip currents don't care who you are.

Ready when you are.

Tell me when you're coming and what you'd like to do. I reply personally — usually the same day. Gift cards from $100 if you'd rather let someone else choose.

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