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. That is why, we bring to you this comprehensive Costa Rica guide with all the details about where to fly into, when to visit, what to pack and which places to visit.
On this one-stop place for all our Costa Rica content, you may navigate to not just itinerary planners and elaborate travel guides about destinations, attractions and activities in Costa Rica, but also to exclusive stories about living in this beautiful country where the approach to life is encapsulated in a simple phrase, “Pura Vida”, translating to “pure life” in English.
Check out our YouTube video below to get a glimpse of the elements that define Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Travel during COVID-19: Starting April 1, 2022, Costa Rica has lifted all COVID-19 related entry requirements. So, you no longer need to fill out the online health pass (Pase de Salud) before arriving in Costa Rica. Neither do unvaccinated travelers need to purchase additional medical insurance covering the cost of treatment and quarantine in the undesired event of testing positive during vacation. Proof of vaccination is also not required for entering Costa Rica. Check the official website for latest announcements.
General Information
Quick facts about Costa Rica:
- Location: Central America
- Population: 5 Million
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Costa Rican Colones
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.
Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
Costa Rica has 2 main seasons, dry season and rainy season. The dry season has sunny days and warmer temperatures, so is also referred to as Costa Rica’s summer. The rainy season is when, well, it rains! The temperatures are cooler during this period. This is winter in Costa Rica.
Although Costa Rica is a small country, it has several micro climates. So the weather from one place can vary significantly from another nearby one. But in general, dry season (summer) in Costa Rica is from December to April. Rainy season (winter) in Costa Rica runs from May to November.
Dry season is the peak tourist season when the prices are also higher. Rainy season sees lesser crowds, lower prices and higher rainfall, but it is also the period when the greenery of Costa Rica is at its lushest best.
Despite the long rainy season, any time of the year can be a good time to visit Costa Rica. However, you need to choose the places and the activities smartly. Example, September and October are the rainiest months on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, but the Caribbean side sees the most sunny days in October. Some activities like whale watching in Uvita and turtle nesting tours in Tortuguero are best experienced during the rainy season.
Even during rainy season, you can expect bright and sunny mornings as it mostly rains in the afternoons. But if you are specifically looking for sun, sea and sand, it is best to stick to the dry season months.
Read this detailed guide about Best Time to Visit Costa Rica, along with weather patterns by each season and the best activities by month. We also created some infographics for your quick reference!
Costa Rica Packing List
In Costa Rica, you will be doing a lot of outdoor activities across different climate zones. So you will need to pack comfortable clothes and activity-appropriate footwear. The three most essential items that you cannot miss are raincoat for rainy days, insect repellent for walking in the jungle and sunscreen for protection against harsh tropical sun.
Check out this post for our complete Costa Rica packing list and start preparing for the trip. In that post, you will also find a checklist that you can download for FREE and keep it handy when you are actually packing your bags.
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.
Things to Do in Costa Rica
From hiking in the tropical forests to surfing the big waves, from tasting chocolate to watching birds, there are plenty of things to do in Costa Rica. Check out this article about all the activities that you can pursue in this beautiful country in Central America.
Costa Rica Destinations: Browse by Type
What are you visiting Costa Rica for? The beautiful beaches or the mesmerizing tropical forests? The wonderful waterfalls or the incredible wildlife? Whichever destinations you are planning to visit in Costa Rica, it is likely we have written (or are going to write) full-fledged travel guides about them, and also have dedicated articles about the best attractions and activities in those places. Click on the images below to browse all articles by destination type.
Costa Rica Destinations: Browse by Region
You can also browse all posts and articles by different regions.
- Monteverde
- La Fortuna
- Guanacaste
- Papagayo Peninsula
- Nicoya Peninsula
- Osa Peninsula
- South Pacific
- Caribbean
- Central Valley and around
Travel Planning Resources
Flight Booking
Check for the best flight deals on:
Car Rental
The commonly used car rental providers in Costa Rica are:
Accommodation Booking
- You can book hotels, resorts, guesthouses and various other types of accommodation on Booking.com. You may also use this search box below to look for accommodation options in your chosen destinations for your travel dates.
- You can also look for vacation rentals on Airbnb.
Tours
For collection of different tours in Costa Rica, check out Viator and Get Your Guide.
Your Costa Rica Handbook
Itineraries
Itineraries collection.
- By vacation type
- By traveler type
- By duration
Travel
Travel planning tools.
- Destination guides
- Attraction guides
- Restaurant guides
Living
Pursuing Pura Vida.
- Things to know
- Experiences
- Challenges
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