Accounting for only 0.03% of our planet’s landmass, Costa Rica is home to around 6% of the world biodiversity. Whether you visit Costa Rica on a short trip or a long vacation, with prior planning and right preparation, you can create an amazing holiday out of it, one that you will remember for years to come.
Quick Facts:
- Location: Central America
- Population: 5 Million
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Costa Rican Colones
Costa Rica Travel Planning Tools
Costa Rica Itineraries
Costa Rica Top Destinations
La Fortuna and Arenal | Monteverde | Playa del Coco | Rincon de la Vieja | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca | Tortuguero | Uvita & Dominical | Drake Bay | Montezuma | Santa Teresa | Malpais
Which international airport to fly into? Liberia or San Jose?
There are 2 main international airports in Costa Rica – Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), commonly known as San Jose airport, and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), commonly known as Liberia airport.
San Jose airport is bigger than Liberia airport. Both airports are conveniently located and have good flight connections. Which airport you should fly into depends on which parts of Costa Rica you intend to visit.
For exploring national parks and beaches of Guanacaste province, fly in to Liberia airport. If you are visiting places along the Central Pacific or South Pacific, and the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, choose San Jose airport. For places like Monteverde and La Fortuna, you can fly in to either of the two airports.
If you plan to travel to several different parts of Costa Rica, you may check for options to fly into one airport for arriving in Costa Rica, and fly out of the other for departing.
How is the ground transportation in Costa Rica?
The public transport system is not great in Costa Rica. That is why it is best to rent a car for a self-drive holiday. In addition to allowing flexibility in schedule, driving can also help you discover remote parts of the country that are not part of the public transport network. Before you rent a car, acquaint yourself what to expect while driving in Costa Rica. If you do not feel comfortable driving in a foreign country, you can coordinate with your hotel for arranging transport. Broadly, these are the main options for ground transportation in Costa Rica:
- Self-drive car rental: Convenient. Not too expensive. Private.
- Shuttle bus: Hassle-free. Cheaper than private transfer. Shared.
- Private taxi: Hassle-free. Expensive. Private.
- Public bus: Cheap. Connections among main towns only. May need changing buses.
