5 Costa Rica Podcasts You Won’t Want to Skip
Today’s media landscape is littered with podcasts.
Some specialize in the art of high-quality storytelling, such as historical deepdives and true crime dramas. Others make listeners laugh out loud or even cry occasionally. Sports, movies, politics, art, finance, celebrity gossip — it’s all out there for anyone willing to consume it.
For this YouGetHere blog installment, we’re going to feature five podcasts with a Costa Rica slant. So, as you prepare for your big summer vacation in Central America — and if you don’t have a vacation villa locked down yet, we have some incredible luxury rental properties still available — you’ll have a few different options to download before your travels begin.
Now, get ready to load up the luggage at the international airport in San Jose, point that rental vehicle southwest and head down to beautiful Dominical. And with these podcasts at your disposal, you and your passengers can learn a lot about Costa Rica along the way.
1) The Rest Is History, Episode #258
Across the pond in jolly old England, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook have been producing The Rest Is History podcasts since the Covid years. And make no mistake, this is consistently one of the finest historical podcasts on the planet.
In episode #258, Holland and Sandbrook discuss the Costa Rica Civil War, which took place during the first half of 1948. It’s a fascinating, David vs Goliath tale, made ever so sweet by the soothing sounds of their velvety English dialects. You can listen here on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here on YouTube.
This particular episode only clocks in at a half hour, meaning you’ll have plenty of time to listen to the next podcasts on our list ….
2) Costa Rica Travel Podcast with Nikki Solano
This is a 10-part podcast series that’s broken up into tiny chunks, with each episode lasting between 10 and 20 minutes. You might as well download them all and allow the playlist to run its course.
Host Nikki Solano runs the gambit here, touching on topics from “Is tipping customary in Costa Rica and, if it is, who and how much should I tip?” to “What should I pack for in Costa Rica and what isn’t necessary to bring?”
Basically, it’s commonsense advice for folks that might be visiting for the first time. Our suggestion: if you’re going to listen to a podcast before getting on the plane, Solano’s is a great call because it’ll help answer a lot of questions that are likely to pop up during your travels. Check it out here on Spotify.
3) Costa Rica Investments, Real Estate & Relocation
Ready to relocate to the jungle? Who isn’t at this point? If so, the Costa Rica Investments, Real Estate & Relocation podcast is a must-listen.
We’re talking about hours and hours of expert advice regarding all the ins and outs of moving to paradise, brought to you by host Richard Bexon and his vast collection of plugged-in local sources. With nearly 300 episodes in the queue, almost no topic slips through.
Listeners can learn all about obtaining citizenship, opening bank accounts, purchasing property and starting a business. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Honestly, if financial dealings are your cup of Joe, the Costa Rica Investments, Real Estate & Relocation podcast provides more quality content than anything else out there.
Use this link to give it a listen on your preferred platform. There’s only one issue, though. The kids might get a bit fidgety in the car after an hour and a half of Costa Rica escrow speak. In that situation, have some Taylor Swift at the ready!
4) 100 Facts About Costa Rica
This is a really fun listen. It’s episode after episode, broken into tiny bits (3 to 15 minutes long) that discuss a potpourri of random, Tico-themed subjects.
A few things we’ve learned from this podcast: Costa Rica’s national literacy rate is higher than 97 percent; the country generates 99 percent of its electricity from renewable sources; and there are more than 900 species of birds here.
You’ll learn about Costa Rican coffee, protected marine areas, tradition and culture, plus butterflies. It’s cool that these episodes are short and to the point, allowing for an easy listening experience with a high volume of interesting facts mixed in.
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Simplecast.
5) Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Enough sunshine, let’s take a trip to the dark side.
This true crime podcast wades into the unbelievable story of John and Ann Bender, wealthy expats from the United States that set this nation ablaze with their actions way up in the hills.
The story is too gnarly to freelance about here, so we’ll just post the podcast description and let you decide if it’s worth the time (hint, it is!). You can find it on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
“A young Wall Street genius lands in the Costa Rican jungle with a vast fortune and visions of paradise — but ends up in hell. He and his wife build a spectacular circular mansion deep in the rainforest — a sanctuary for themselves and for endangered wildlife. But sinister forces soon have the couple fearing for their lives. As paranoia takes root and shadows close in, the troubled pair steadily lose their grip on reality. They transform their paradise home into a fortress surrounded by armed guards. The story reaches its bloody climax in an open air bedroom lit by 400 Tiffany lamps. A single gunshot leaves one of them dead, igniting three explosive murder trials — and a baffling mystery.”
There you have it. A bit of history, general travel information, money talk, fun facts and an intense crime drama — do we have your attention yet? Hopefully so. Now enjoy these exciting Costa Rica-themed podcasts. We can discuss the details when you get into town.
And, as always, thanks for reading and safe travels down to Dominical!
