James Kaiser

2024 Costa Rica Vacation Travel Guide

Costa Rica Vacation Guide

Costa Rica is a travel paradise. Pristine beaches, lush mountains, cool cloud forests, active volcanoes, world-class coffee plantations & stunning wildlife. There’s no shortage of things to do on vacation.

But travel to Costa Rica can also be overwhelming.

There’s the language barrier, the cultural differences —even just figuring out the best places to go.

Fortunately, Costa Rica travel planning can be easy. You just need the right advice!

I’ve spent over a decade exploring this incredible country, and I love showing visitors the best that Costa Rica has to offer.

Use the information below for initial trip planning. For comprehensive travel info, check out my full-color, photo-filled guidebook Costa Rica: The Complete Guide .

Costa Rica Travel Guide

Best Times to Visit Costa Rica

Best Times to Visit Costa Rica

Discover the best times to visit Costa Rica. Avoid the rainy season, escape the crowds, and find your personal slice of paradise.

What to Pack for Costa Rica vacation

What to Pack for a Costa Rica Vacation

Whether you’re visiting the beaches, the rainforests or the mountains, don’t leave home without these essential items.

Costa Rica's Best National Parks

Costa Rica’s Best National Parks

There are 26 national parks in Costa Rica. Discover the very best, including national parks with stunning beaches, mountains, rainforest, cloud forest and more.

Costa Rica's Best Beaches

Costa Rica’s Best Beaches

From Caribbean beaches with fabulous sunrises to Pacific beaches with terrific sunsets, Costa Rica is famous for sun, surf and sand.

Costa Rica's Best Waterfalls

Costa Rica’s Best Waterfalls

Costa Rica’s lush mountains are filled with waterfalls. Visit any of these tropical oases and you might never want to go back home.

Costa Rica's Best Volcanoes

Best Volcanoes to Visit

Find out why Costa Rica is called the “Land of Volcanoes.” Drive to the rim of an active volcano and peer inside the crater!

Costa Rica Hotels

Costa Rica Hotels

From luxurious ecolodges to beachside B&Bs, discover the best hotels and places to stay in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Vacation Weather Guide

Costa Rica Weather

Understanding Costa Rica’s annual weather patterns is essential for travel planning. Don’t get caught in the rain!

Hiking Chirripó Costa Rica

Hiking Chirripó

One of the tallest peaks in Central America, 12,533-foot Chirripó offers the best hiking in Costa Rica. You can even spend the night near the summit.

Costa Rica Vacation Photo Gallery

Costa Rica Photo Gallery

From the islands to the highlands – gorgeous shots from one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

Baby Animals Costa Rica

Photos of Baby Animals

What’s more incredible than Costa Rica animal photos? Costa Rica baby animal photos!

Costa Rica food

Costa Rican Food

Discover authentic local specialities — from Afro-Caribbean dishes to indigenous cuisine. Contrary to popular opinion, Costa Rica has lots of delicious food. You just need to know where to find it.

Costa Rica Culture

Costa Rica Culture

Understand the basics of Costa Rican culture and you’ll discover the best of Costa Rica. A few simple things can really set your trip apart.

Costa Rica Overview

Costa Rica is a tiny country with big attributes: the most peaceful country in Central America, the most democratic country in Latin America and one of the most biodiverse places on earth .

The country’s name, “Rich Coast,” was given by early Spanish explorers who assumed Costa Rica was filled with gold. In reality there was little gold to be found, but the country is home to something even more precious: stunning natural beauty.

Located just north of Panama and just south of Nicaragua, Costa Rica occupies one of nature’s most incredible pieces of real estate. Like the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is sandwiched between two continents and two oceans, attracting an amazing diversity of plants and animals from each ecosystem.

Biodiversity

Even within Central America, Costa Rica’s biodiversity is impressive. Its Pacific Coast is the transition zone between the tropical dry forests of the north and the tropical rainforests of the south. A string of mountains runs through the center of the country, sheltering cool cloud forests and freezing páramos.

This varied geography supports an astonishing range of flora and fauna. All told, Costa Rica is home to roughly 5% of the world’s biodiversity, including nearly 8% of the world’s bird species , 10% of the world’s butterfly species, 10% of the world’s bat species and 20% of the world’s hummingbird species.

Even more impressive, all this natural wonder is packed into a country just 300 km (186 miles) long by 120 km (75 miles) wide, about half the size of Ohio. No other area of comparable size in the Western Hemisphere contains so much biodiversity.

Costa Rican People

The people of Costa Rica, who call themselves “Ticos,” are the proud stewards of this natural heritage. In contrast to the rest of Central America, which suffered a series of ruthless dictators and bloody civil wars throughout the 20th century, Costa Rica is a stable democracy that abolished its army in 1949 and invested in its people. Today its citizens are among the most educated and prosperous in Latin America.

Costa Ricans also take environmentalism seriously . They have set aside over 25% of Costa Rica as national parks or preserves, and ecotourism is a major part of the economy .

As such, Costa Rica has become a powerful role model for other developing countries, demonstrating that environmentalism and economic growth can go hand in hand.

Costa Rica Travel

Not surprisingly, Costa Rica’s unique combination of peace, stability, natural beauty and environmentalism lures travelers from around the world. Costa Rica vacationers are treated to gorgeous beaches, lush rainforests, active volcanoes and world-class wildlife.

And because foreigners have been visiting for decades, Costa Rica is incredibly user-friendly. English is widely spoken, hotels and restaurants are up to international standards and getting around is easy.

You don’t have to be Tarzan to enjoy a Costa Rica vacation, which is what makes it one of the world’s most popular eco-destinations.

Plan the Perfect Trip to Costa Rica

Order costa rica: the complete guide.

costa rica trip guide

The #1 Costa Rica guidebook. Full-color and filled with insider tips. Plan the ultimate Costa Rica adventure!

costa rica trip guide

My name is James Kaiser , and I believe travel should be fun, affordable and enlightening—especially in national parks, where there's so much to experience.

costa rica trip guide

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MytanFeet

Costa Rica Travel Information

Costa Rica Travel Guide

January 1, 2023 By Sammi 18 Comments

Costa rica travel guide

Discover pura vida , or pure life, as they say in Costa Rica. Trek through lush rainforests, explore empty beaches and have an epic adventure filled vacation. Our Mytanfeet Costa Rica travel guide will help you plan your dream vacation.

First, Where is Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a country in Central America, 8 – 12 degrees above the equator. Nicaragua borders the north and Panama borders the south. Costa Rica is not an island.

Important Costa Rica Travel Information

COVID-19 entry requirements: None. Please read our Costa Rica COVID-19 travel post and Costa Rica COVID-19 information for more details.

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. Many locals in touristic destinations and San Jose, the capital city, speak intermediate to fluent English. Many indigenous languages are also spoken throughout the country.

Costa Rica uses 110 V (same as United States and Canada) and uses the metric system. Driving is on the right side of the road (like US and Canada).

Being 8-12 degrees above the equator, Costa Rica experiences tropical climate meaning it has two seasons: dry and rainy. Dry season is typically end of December – end of April. Rainy season is typically May – November. Average day time and night time temperatures don’t change much throughout the year but there are over 25 micro climates.

It is important to note that the Caribbean coast doesn’t strictly follow the tropical seasons. October is the “summer” month on the Caribbean coast while it is the rainiest month for the rest of the country.

Read more about Costa Rica weather, micro-climates and forecasts and what to pack for Costa Rica here.

International Airports

The two main international airports are SJO ( Juan Santamaria International Airport or San Jose International Airport ) and LIR ( Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport or Guanacaste Airport ). There are direct flights from USA, Canada, Mexico and European countries like Germany, Spain, UK and Netherlands. A direct flight from Newark and LAX to San Jose is 5.5 hours.

Find out how to book cheap airefare to Costa Rica in this post here and read more about going through customs and immigration in Costa Rica here.

Transportation Infrastructure

Costa Rica’s network of shared shuttles, domestic airports and public transportation offers travelers many options to get around the country. However, due to limited schedules, ever developing infrastructure and pricey routes, renting a car is the best way to explore with freedom and flexibility. Public buses are very affordable but with limited routes. Costa Rica drives on the right hand side of the road, same as United States and Canada.

Read more about getting around Costa Rica , get our Costa Rica car rental discount here and read our renting a car in Costa Rica tips.

When is the Best Time to Visit?

The best time to visit Costa Rica is during dry season for the best weather. These are generally the months of December through April for the whole country except the Caribbean coast which has its summer in October.

However, rainy season has much to offer, particularly to budget and off the beaten path travelers as prices drop and crowds thin out. Our personal favorite months are May, June, Sptember and November for those exact reasons. The trade off is that there is tropical rain and may be storms.

Read more about the best time to visit Costa Rica .

Where are the Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica?

The main tourist destinations in Costa Rica are La Fortuna , Monteverde , Jaco , Manuel Antonio , Tamarindo , Papagayo Peninsula , Puerto Viejo de Talamanca , Tortuguero , Osa Peninsula and San Jose . All these destinations are excellent places to experience the numerous natural attractions such as waterfalls, rivers, volcanoes and beaches in Costa Rica.

Read more about the best places to visit in Costa Rica here.

The official currency of Costa Rica is called the Colón . The exchange rate is around 540 CRC to USD but the exchange rate fluctuates often (it can change day by day, even hour by hour). USD and credit/debit cards are readily accepted in touristic destinations.

Read more about handle money in Costa Rica here.

Itineraries

Ready to start booking your trip? Check out our sample Costa Rica itineraries ! We have written itineraries ranging from 5 days to 1 month that you can follow exactly or base your trip off of. There are itineraries for families, couples, solo travelers, backpackers, chock full of information.

Best of Costa Rica

Costa Rica has placed itself as a world leader in sustainable tourism and with nearly 25% of its land protected, it’s a dream destination for wildlife, nature and adventure lovers.

50 things to do in Costa Rica featured

Costa Rica’s abundant nature and open spaces create the perfect playground for kids and adults alike. Experience the tropical jungle on exciting outdoor adventures such as rafting and ziplining. Find out our favorite 50 things to do in Costa Rica!

best beaches in costa rica

Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean coastlines offer thousands of miles of beautiful beaches of all types, from white sand, volcanic black sand and more. Surf, swim, snorkel, sunbathe and walk on these beaches for the ultimate beach vacation. Find out what our favorite beaches in Costa Rica are!

costa rica wildlife watching guide - when and where to see monkeys, sloths, toucans and other animals

Thanks to the many national parks, private reserves and wildlife refuges, it’s one of the best places in the world to see exotic tropical animals such as monkeys, sloths, snakes, frogs, turtles and whales. Find out where are the best places and times of year to see wildlife in Costa Rica in this post!

Want even more information about Costa Rica? Join the Mytanfeet mailing list to get our travel tips eBook and receive emails from us once a week to help you plan your trip! We send out all the goodies to our email subscribers first so don’t miss out.

Common Questions About Costa Rica

Is Costa Rica safe? Yes, it is a safe country to visit, even for solo travelers and solo female travelers. Costa Rica doesn’t have an army but they do have a police force and a tourism police. Petty theft is the most common crime.

Can you get around Costa Rica without knowing Spanish? Yes, although it doesn’t hurt to know a little bit. However, as tourism is one of the major economic backbones of the country, many locals speak fluent English, particularly those who work in tourism or live in San Jose.

Do I need a 4×4 in Costa Rica? That depends. First, if you’re going to popular destinations such as San Jose, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo and Jaco, no. But if you plan to stay in more remote places or if your hotel is up in the mountains, then probably yes, or at least a high clearance car with a strong engine during dry season. These are places like Monteverde, San Vito, Osa Peninsula, Uvita, Dominical, Nicoya Peninsula, Bajos del Toro and Golfito. Always check with your host if a 4×4 is required to get to your lodging.

Which international airport in Costa Rica should I fly into? Depends. It’s always been a bit cheaper to fly into San Jose International Airport (SJO) than Guanacaste Airport (LIR) so compare prices of both first. Then, it will depend on your itinerary. Fly into SJO if you plan to visit the Caribbean coast, South Pacific Coast or Osa Peninsula. Fly into Liberia if you plan to go to Guanacaste or Nicoya Peninsula. You can fly into either to go to La Fortuna and Monteverde.

Is Costa Rica expensive? Yes. Just because it’s in Central America, don’t expect dirt cheap prices like Southeast Asia or Nicaragua. Average prices for standard hotels are around $80-100 USD a night and tours can range from $40-$280 USD per person. Nearly every attraction has an entrance fee. However, it is totally possible to travel on a budget but it does require more planning.

Do I need travel insurance? YES! You should purchase travel insurance whenever you go abroad, not just to Costa Rica. As we all now know, anything from a car accident to a world wide pandemic can happen so be prepared. Travel delays, lost luggage and cancellations are not uncommon nowadays. Click here to purchase travel insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Travel Videos

Watch below our videos of some of our favorite places and things to do in Costa Rica! You can watch all our videos on our Youtube channel

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca : The main town and tourism hub of the South Caribbean. See what the town and the surrounding beaches are like.

Rio Celeste Waterfall : The waterfall of the sky blue river, Rio Celeste, inside Tenorio Volcano National Park.

Tortuga Island : A day trip cruising through the Gulf of Nicoya to the white sand beach of Tortuga Island

Pacuare white water rafting Class 3 & 4 : An exciting white water rafting day excursion down the Pacuare River

If you’re interested in booking tours such as the Tortuga Island day cruise and Pacuare white water rafting, please check out our Costa Rica deals and discounts page . We have additional deals for tours in La Fortuna, Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio! There are affiliate links in this post.

Reader Interactions

March 10, 2023

Thank you for all the info you publish on this website. Extremely useful! I will be visiting Heredia end of March 2023. My adult daughter will join me on March 31,2023. For a week. We want to visit some good spots that week like La Fortuna and/or Manuel Antonio. I know it’s semana santa. Can you suggest some tours that might still have availability that we could use especially in the first half of that week, April 1 – April 5? Thank you!

March 14, 2023

Hello Happi, you can check out our Costa Rica discounts page to see the tours we have in La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio and once you fill out the booking forms, we will check availability

Marjorie says

February 5, 2023

Can you recommend a private shuttle service between SJO and Uvita?

February 18, 2023

Hello, we sent you an email a few weeks ago with more information, please check your spam folder if you don’t see one from Mytanfeet

October 2, 2022

Hi, we are a party of 5 traveling to Liberia airport in February. Is there a private mode of transportation from the airport to our hotel, Riu Palace? We have a tight connection in Miami so if we prebook a limo and miss our flight what happens to our limo reservation? Thank you

October 3, 2022

Hello Pam, we work with a private transportation provider (shuttle vans only, no limos), we sent you an email with more information

Ilsa Billings says

September 3, 2022

We have booked air travel for our trip arriving in Liberia on the 25 of January 2023 around 2pm and will be flying out of San Jose on the 6th. Our goal is to do Monteverde/La Fortuna/Coffee tour on the first half, and then take a shared shuttle to Puerto Viejo for some relaxed beach time. We are looking for advice for tours/transportation/lodging for the first part. We would prefer not to rent a car since the idea of utilizing the water taxi across Lake Arenal appeals to us. We are open to any suggestions though. This will be our visit to Costa Rica

August 29, 2022

Thank you for the info! What would be the best means of transportation from Liberia to Tamarindo for a family of four?

August 30, 2022

Hello Sarah, we sent you an email with more information

Michelle Decker says

June 19, 2022

Hi, What a super website.

Myself and 2 friends would like to go, all of us first timers, in the first week of November 2022. We would like to know where you would recommend with least likelihood of daily rain.

Michelle Decker

June 23, 2022

Hello, please check the following posts

Best places in Costa Rica Costa Rica weather

April 1, 2022

Is there a private airport shuttle company you would recommend from Liberia airport to our hotel in Playa Conchal?

April 4, 2022

Hi Holly, we sent you an email with quotes and information yesterday

james comerford says

March 14, 2022

I inquired thru email about rental cars at Liberia airport from 3/15-3/29 and I did not receive any notification from you.

How can I best communicate with you? I am on Whatsapp.

Thanks, Jim Comerford 1+708-436-7883

Hi James, we haven’t received any communication from this email, the form may have had some problems. Please email us at web @ mytanfeet . com (we do not communicate via Whatsaspp, only email) and we will be happy to help

ViaTravelers says

June 25, 2021

Thank you for including necessary travel in Costa Rica information from the language, weather, currency, and concerns in this blog. Love how the best spots in the country are also presented.

June 3, 2021

Hi, do you know if the border crossing near Los Chiles going into Nicaragua is open?

I’m not 100% but it should be as all land borders opened back mid April

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