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Marisol Vega

Field writer, Central America and the Caribbean: islands, rainforest and ferries, based in San José, Costa Rica

Covers Costa Rica, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Belize

Last field trip Jun 202660 guides published
  • Central America
  • Caribbean
  • Islands

Languages: Spanish, English

About

Marisol has lived in San José since 2016 and spent the years before that island-hopping the Caribbean on ferry schedules that rarely matched the website. She covers Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Belize and the islands: hurricane season, park entry systems, departure taxes hidden in ticket prices and which crossings need cash.

Field trips

Months, not dates, for privacy.

  • Jun 2026Costa RicaArenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio, 10 nights
  • Feb 2026Guatemala and BelizeAntigua, Atitlán, Tikal and the cayes, 12 nights
  • Dec 2025Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic7 nights

Guides by Marisol Vega

brown concrete building near mountainRulesCA-4 agreement: how the shared 90 days work in Central AmericaUpdated Oct 12, 2026a very tall mountain towering over a lush green fieldRulesCosta Rica entry requirements: stay limit, onward ticket, feesUpdated Oct 12, 2026coconut palm trees by the sea during daytimeRulesDominican Republic e-ticket: the free entry and exit form, explainedUpdated Oct 12, 2026brown rock formation on sea shore during daytimeHow toCaribbean hurricane season: dates, forecasts and what insurance coversUpdated Oct 12, 2026A view of a city with a church steeple in the backgroundItineraryFort-de-France in 2 days: market, library and a ferry or BalataUpdated Oct 4, 2026An aerial view of a beach and oceanHow toPuerto Plata airport to Sosúa: transfers and entry stepsUpdated Oct 4, 2026brown wooden beach lounge chair on beach during daytimeRulesCan Americans go to Varadero? US rules and the September 2026 changesUpdated Oct 4, 2026A narrow alley way with a colorful building and a flag on the doorWhere to stayWhere to stay in Rincón: town, Sandy Beach, Domes, María'sUpdated Oct 4, 2026pink flamingo on brown sand during daytimeHead to headCulebra or Vieques: which Puerto Rico island should you pick?Updated Oct 4, 2026A view of a city with a church steeple in the backgroundRulesDo you need a visa for Martinique? Entry rules by passportUpdated Oct 4, 2026pink flamingo on brown sand during daytimeHow toHow to get to Culebra: Ceiba ferry or flight from San JuanUpdated Oct 4, 2026An aerial view of a beach and oceanItinerarySosúa in 3 days: beach, reef, Cabarete and Puerto PlataUpdated Oct 4, 2026A narrow alley way with a colorful building and a flag on the doorItineraryRincón in 3 days: beaches, lighthouse sunsets and AguadillaUpdated Oct 4, 2026brown wooden beach lounge chair on beach during daytimeHow toTourist visa and D'Viajeros form for Varadero: steps and limitsUpdated Oct 4, 2026A narrow alley way with a colorful building and a flag on the doorWhen to goBest time to visit Rincón: surf season, whales and stormsUpdated Oct 4, 2026aerial view of city buildings during night timeHow toIs Port of Spain safe for tourists? Areas, taxis and local lawsUpdated Oct 4, 2026aerial view of city buildings during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Fort-de-France: four bases from downtown to the bayUpdated Oct 4, 2026brown wooden beach lounge chair on beach during daytimeThings to doThings to do in Varadero in 2026: beach, diving and day tripsUpdated Oct 4, 2026aerial view of city buildings during night timeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Port of Spain: four bases and areas to checkUpdated Oct 4, 2026An aerial view of a beach and oceanWhere to stayWhere to stay in Sosúa: four bases from the beach strip to CabareteUpdated Oct 4, 2026aerial view of city buildings during night timeItineraryPort of Spain in 2 days: heritage houses, downtown and a beachUpdated Oct 4, 2026pink flamingo on brown sand during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay on Culebra: harbor, hillside or beach rentalsUpdated Oct 4, 2026green trees near body of water during daytimeHead to headJacó or Manuel Antonio: which Pacific base fits your trip?Updated Oct 3, 2026an aerial view of a sandy beach with palm treesWhere to stayWhere to stay in Puerto Viejo: village, Cocles, Punta Uva, ManzanilloUpdated Oct 3, 2026an aerial view of a sandy beach with palm treesWhen to goBest time to visit Puerto Viejo: the Caribbean rain pattern by monthUpdated Oct 3, 2026green grass field with trees under blue sky and white clouds during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Managua: four bases for a short stayUpdated Oct 3, 2026A restaurant on the beach with palm treesThings to doPlacencia snorkeling and day trips: reef, Cockscomb, fallsUpdated Oct 3, 2026green trees near body of water during daytimeWhere to stayWhere to stay in Jacó: town strip, Playa Hermosa, Herradura or EsterillosUpdated Oct 3, 2026a group of people standing outside of a large buildingWhere to stayWhere to stay in Quetzaltenango (Xela): three bases comparedUpdated Oct 3, 2026green grass field with trees under blue sky and white clouds during daytimeItineraryManagua in 2 days, plus a layover versionUpdated Oct 3, 2026waterfalls in the middle of green treesWhere to stayWhere to stay in La Fortuna: town, volcano road or lake shoreUpdated Oct 3, 2026a boat in the waterHead to headRoatán ferry or flight from La Ceiba: schedule, fares, which to pickUpdated Oct 3, 2026a view of a city with mountains in the backgroundItineraryGuatemala City in 2 days, plus a layover versionUpdated Oct 3, 2026a boat in the waterItineraryRoatán in 3 days: reef, West Bay and an island dayUpdated Oct 3, 2026a view of a city with mountains in the backgroundWhere to stayWhere to stay in Guatemala City: four zones comparedUpdated Oct 3, 2026a group of people standing outside of a large buildingItineraryXela in 3 days: city, hot springs and one volcano or lagoon dayUpdated Oct 3, 2026A restaurant on the beach with palm treesHead to headPlacencia or Hopkins: which southern Belize base fits you?Updated Oct 3, 2026a view of a city with mountains in the backgroundHow toGuatemala City airport to Antigua: transfer options comparedUpdated Oct 3, 2026green grass field with trees under blue sky and white clouds during daytimeHead to headManagua to Granada or León: which first, and how to get thereUpdated Oct 3, 2026a group of people standing outside of a large buildingHead to headXela to Lake Atitlán or Antigua: which way, and how to travelUpdated Oct 3, 2026body of water under cloudy sky during sunsetHead to headTamarindo or Playa Sámara: which Guanacaste beach town?Updated Oct 3, 2026waterfalls in the middle of green treesHead to headLa Fortuna hot springs: resort day pass, hotel pool or river spring?Updated Oct 3, 2026an aerial view of a sandy beach with palm treesItineraryPuerto Viejo in 3 days: beaches, the refuge and a cocoa dayUpdated Oct 3, 2026brown brick building under blue sky during daytimeThings to doThings to do in Belize City: museums, waterfront and a safe planUpdated Oct 3, 2026a boat in the waterWhere to stayWhere to stay in Roatán: West End vs West Bay and two other basesUpdated Oct 3, 2026green trees near body of water during daytimeItineraryJacó in 3 days: Tárcoles crocodiles, Carara forest and a surf lessonUpdated Oct 3, 2026dock near water with cone mountainField reportLake Atitlán by boat: which village, which lanchaMarisol Vega · Updated Oct 3, 2026body of water under cloudy sky during sunsetWhere to stayWhere to stay in Tamarindo: four bases from town to AvellanasUpdated Oct 3, 2026body of water under cloudy sky during sunsetItineraryTamarindo in 3 days: surf, the estuary and a beach day tripUpdated Oct 3, 2026brown brick building under blue sky during daytimeHow toBelize City airport to the water taxi and domestic flightsUpdated Oct 3, 2026waterfalls in the middle of green treesItineraryLa Fortuna in 3 days: waterfall, Arenal park, springs and the lakeUpdated Oct 3, 2026brown brick building under blue sky during daytimeHead to headOvernight in Belize City or go straight on to the cayes?Updated Oct 3, 2026A restaurant on the beach with palm treesWhere to stayWhere to stay in Placencia: village, Seine Bight or Maya BeachUpdated Oct 3, 2026a wall covered in lots of different colored tilesHow toHow the Panama Canal works: locks, Gatún Lake and what you seeUpdated Oct 2, 2026a very tall mountain with a cloud in the skyWhen to goThe best time to visit Costa Rica: dry season or green seasonUpdated Oct 2, 2026a wall covered in lots of different colored tilesHow toMiraflores Locks visit: hours, tickets, IMAX film and timingUpdated Oct 2, 2026a wall covered in lots of different colored tilesHead to headMiraflores or Agua Clara: which Panama Canal visit fits you?Updated Oct 2, 2026person standing on green grass covered hill under white clouds and blue sky during daytimeThings to doThings to do in Boquete: coffee, rafting, hot springs, hikesUpdated Oct 2, 2026person standing on green grass covered hill under white clouds and blue sky during daytimeHow toVolcán Barú hike: Los Llanos, Boquete route or 4x4 to the topUpdated Oct 2, 2026a narrow city street lined with buildings and palm treesHead to headBoquete or El Valle de Antón: which mountain town to pickUpdated Oct 2, 2026
DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

Asia

KansaiTokyoBangkokOsakaSiem ReapMt FujiOkinawaKōbeManilaKyotoAll Asia

Caribbean

Fort-de-FranceNassauPort of SpainNegrilSan JuanOcho RiosHavanaEleutheraEl Yunque National ForestSosúaAll Caribbean

Africa

MarrakechRabatToubkal National ParkMaasai MaraCape WinelandsDiani BeachMombasaNairobiAswanSharm El SheikhAll Africa

Events

Sapporo Snow FestivalCherry blossomGion MatsuriDía de MuertosOktoberfestKandy Esala PeraheraEvents calendar

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