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Lower Waste Travel

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear and services we personally use and love — thanks for supporting Nomadventure! Short answer: A few simple swaps can eliminate some travel waste — without making life harder. We spent 3 years traveling through Central America with three kids. These are some low-waste habits that actually held up in real life. 1. Reusable Water Bottle (Essential) This eliminates the majority of plastic waste. A filter bottle is ideal in areas with questionable water quality.  LifeStraw Filter Water Bottle 2. Stainless Steel Straws Durable, easy to clean, and actually useful — especially for fresh coconut water. Get one with a pouch and straw cleaner:  Stainless Steel Straws 3. Reusable Utensils Perfect for street food and markets where plastic utensils are common. Try light weight titanium:  Travel...

Skoolie For Sale

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BaseCamp — 2012 Chevy Express 3500 Camper Van / Bus Conversion $12,000 | Maine Registered Motor Home | Inspected through Oct 2026 BaseCamp is a proven family adventure rig — she’s carried us from Maine through the deserts and mountains of Mexico all the way to the Pacific Ocean on a camping, climbing, and surfing winter journey. Now she’s ready for her next crew as we relocate to Costa Rica. 🔧 The Rig • Chevy Express 3500 | 6.0L gas • 155K miles — strong runner • New transmission (2023) • Synthetic oil (Mobil 1) always ☀️ Power • Solar + AGM battery bank • High-output alternator (2025) • Inverter + USB outlets • MaxxFan ventilation 🛏️ Sleep / Seating • Sleeps 5 | Seats 7 • Loft bed (6’+ headroom) • Triple bunks (~5’7”) • Original bus seats — great for kids 🍳 Kitchen • Slide-out 2-burner propane stove • Fold-out table + 12V cooler 🌡️ Comfort • Rear heater • Backup camera 🎒 Extras • Huge gear storage (surf, climb, bikes) • Comes stocked with tools, spa...

The Ultimate 2-Week Costa Rica Family Itinerary (With Kids of All Ages)

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear and services we personally use and love — thanks for supporting Nomadventure! Planning a two-week Costa Rica trip with kids sounds overwhelming. We know — we've done it with our family of five, year after year. So we've distilled everything into this day-by-day itinerary that balances adventure, wildlife, surf, and downtime. Whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers, this route delivers. Why 2 Weeks Is the Sweet Spot for Costa Rica Families One week in Costa Rica is too rushed. Three weeks requires serious budgeting. Two weeks gives you time to cover the Pacific Coast, the cloud forest, and a volcano region without spending half your trip in a rental car. It's the itinerary we keep coming back to, before settling into our Caribbean digs. What to Pack Before You Go Before we dive in, here'...

Ultimate Costa Rica Packing List: Must-Have Gear for the Mountains & Beach

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission for purchases made via these links at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site up and running. Thank you for your support! When I started traveling to Costa Rica as a solo backpacker in 1997, I had done a ton of homework, and thought I was prepared for 6 months of travel through Costa Rica’s extraordinarily varied microclimates. During my adventures I struggled with being perpetually damp and often cold in the cloud forests of Monteverde and San Gerardo de Rivas . Unfortunately my tent had been devoured by a type of nylon chewing ant that turned waterproof fabric into confetti! It’s hard to be prepared for everything… Now I am part of a family of 5, so planning a yearly 6 month trip has taken on new challenges. Fortunately we have years of experience now. So here is what I have to share. Whether you’re exploring the lush mountains of Monteverde or soak...