My story, my Costa Rica

I'm Scheyla, born and raised in Costa Rica. My family has worked these lands for generations — farms tucked into the green hills of Guanacaste where my abuelos taught me to recognize a sloth's slow shuffle in the canopy, the call of a toucan, and the smell of rain coming in from the Pacific.

How Tica Rica Tours was born

Travelers kept telling me the same thing — they wanted to feel Costa Rica, not just see it. They were tired of packaged tours, crowded buses, and the same tourist traps everyone visits. They craved something real: a personable experience where they could connect with locals, taste home-cooked food, and discover hidden spots no brochure mentions.

That is exactly why Tica Rica Tours was born. Founded by me, Sheyla, with one simple mission — to give visitors the Costa Rica I grew up in. The real one. Farms where my family still works, beaches the tour buses skip, waterfalls you reach by foot, and meals cooked by people who have been doing it for decades.

No cookie-cutter itineraries. No rush. Just you, this beautiful country, and a local friend showing you why Pura Vida is more than a saying — it is a way of life.

Why I started guiding

Years ago I noticed something painful — travelers were paying a lot of money to see my country, but only ever seeing the tourist version of it. The packaged buses. The same three beaches. The same overpriced restaurants. I knew there was so much more, and I knew the local guides, drivers, farmers and cooks who could share it.

So I started bringing visitors to my family. Real farms, real food, real Pura Vida.

What you'll experience

Ziplining over our family land. Sitting on the porch with my tía, eating fresh gallo pinto with eggs from her own hens. Hiking down forest paths where monkeys swing overhead and wild birds call back to us. Stopping at a roadside soda the gringos never find. Knowing exactly when to swim, when to climb, and when to just sit and listen.

More than a guide

I'm also your translator, your concierge, your local best friend. I'll help you find honest property if you're dreaming of owning a piece of this paradise, negotiate fair prices, and make sure you go home loving Costa Rica the way I do.

Pura Vida — Scheyla 🌴