25 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Costa Rica
In this travel guide, we share everything you need to know before visiting Costa Rica in Central America. We've put together essential information on traveling around Costa Rica, accommodation, budget, getting around, ecotourism, facts, tours, or places to visit. Planning your Costa Rica trip has never been easier.
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and we absolutely loved the time we spent in this Central American country.
With jungles, cloud forests, volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, and abundant wildlife, Costa Rica is a paradise for adventures, explorations, and laidback vacations. It's often regarded as one of the most biodiverse countries worldwide, making it a perfect place for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Before you start planning your ideal Costa Rica itinerary, there are a few things you should know.
Traveling to Central America has its own specifics, and it's always useful to learn as much as possible about the destination you want to visit.
Gathering as much information in your spare time can be quite challenging, and as Costa Rica is so diverse and segmented, the travel advice you can find might be overwhelming.
We visited Costa Rica on our journey across the continent, and all the superlatives we heard about this country turned out to be entirely accurate. It really is a travel destination on its own.
As we know how important it is to be well-prepared for any trip to a new destination, we've decided to put together a Costa Rica travel guide on things you need to know before you go.
After all, this country is very different from its neighbors.
So without further ado, here are essential things to know about Costa Rica for all first-time travelers.
THINGS TO KNOW
Although Costa Rica is a tourist-friendly destination, it's better to come prepared. In the text below, we tried to round up plenty of information we learned to help you plan the Costa Rica trip.
At first, we did not know what to expect, and as budget travelers, we were worried this place is too expensive, but it was one of the myths we can dispel.
We believe Costa Rica is a destination for all types of travelers.
Of course, you'll find here super-expensive lodges deep in the jungle, but it is good to know, it is not the only option you have, and even travelers on a shoestring can enjoy here holiday to the fullest.
So book your flight tickets, invest in a good camera, and you're ready to go!
CURRENCY
Named after Christopher Columbus, Costa Rica's official currency is the colon. Although the situation is not like in Ecuador in South America (where the U.S. dollar is an official currency), you can use U.S. dollars in many places around the country.
So this all leads to an inevitable question of whether you should pay in U.S. dollars or colones. And the answer might be easier than you would think.
Plenty of travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, or even restaurants price their services in U.S. dollars, saving you the concerns of dealing with exchange rates.
Being said that, before you pay for things in Costa Rica in U.S. dollars, always make sure the exchange rate is fair, as sometimes it can be unfavorable.
ATMs are pretty much everywhere in Costa Rica's tourist areas (except for remote locations, of course), and you can quite often withdraw money in both currencies, colones or U.S. dollars.
So if you are coming from the U.S. or just happen to have plenty of American dollars, Costa Rica is a perfect place to use them.
Unfortunately, Euros are not widely accepted in Costa Rica, though you can find some places where you can pay with this currency.
FACTS
Located in Central America, Costa Rica is nestled between Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the east.
The Pacific Ocean washes its shores in the west and the Caribbean Sea in the east.
The population of Costa Rica is almost 5 million, and the country covers an area of 51 thousand square kilometers.
With more than three hundred thousand inhabitants, the capital city of Costa Rica is San Jose. However, the whole metro area is home to more than 2 million people (almost half of the entire Costa Rican population).
The official language in Costa Rica is Spanish, and even though English is widely used in tourist destinations, you might want to consider packing this Spanish Phrase Book just in case.
Costa Rica has a stable democracy and no army (since 1949), and avoided many conflicts that other countries in this region went through.
Despite its size, Costa Rica is home to more than 5% of the world's biodiversity. As a result, Costa Rica is often regarded as the best country to visit in Central America.
NATIONAL PARKS
Costa Rica has 30 national parks and many reserves or other protected areas covering more than one-fourth of the entire country.
Visitors can see smoking calderas filled with water in Poas National Park, Amazonian-like canals in Tortuguero National Park, blue river and waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja National Park, abundant wildlife in Corcovado National Park, dry forests in Guanacaste National Park, or golden beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park.
Biodervisity in Costa Rica is one of the highest in the world, and even though Costa Rica is a relatively small country in terms of total size, the density of different animal species is out of the roof.
You can find more than five hundred thousand species in Costa Rica, a number that's hard to comprehend.
Despite the conservation efforts, Costa Rica is not resistant to deforestation, development, or industrial agriculture, threatening the fragile ecosystems, wildlife, and unique biodiversity.
WILDLIFE
With so many forests, jungles, and national parks, it's not so surprising that Costa Rica is home to an incredible variety of animals.
From colorful macaws, howling monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, poisonous dart frogs, jumping spiders, nesting sea turtles, singing Humpback whales, majestic quetzales, to scary American crocodiles, constricting snakes, or stealthy wild cats, Costa Rica has it all.
We were fortunate to see some animals we had never seen before, some of them surprisingly closer than we would expect.
However, if you are a little bit serious about photography, you should really consider bringing a proper telephoto lens. The photo opportunities are that good.
A lens such as Canon RF 100-500mm mounted on Canon EOS R6 should do the trick.
If you think that you still would need that extra reach, take a telephoto extender with you as well.
Those who are not into photography, make sure to bring at least travel binoculars (especially if you don't take guided tours).
All local guides bring their trusty telescope for wildlife spotting, but it's good to realize that you have to share it with the rest of the group (often not that small as you wished).
GUIDED TOURS
Costa Rica is all about guided tours. For an untrained eye, spotting animals in the dense jungle is often an impossible task, so you might want to consider hiring a local guide who has tons of experience and is able to find animals in places you wouldn't even expect.
Sometimes, it's even mandatory to be accompanied by a certified guide in order to enter certain parks.
Luckily, every travel agency, hostel, or lodge offers tours into the forest to see its diverse fauna and flora. The variety of nature tours in Costa Rica is mindblowing, and you can select from family-friendly short tours lasting an hour or two to several days long epic jungle adventures.
From our experience, the local naturalist guides were knowledgeable and spoke English well, though the tours were more expensive than in other countries.
One more travel tip. If you want to enjoy one of the hiking trails through the forest without a guide, get there as early as possible to increase your chances of spotting the wildlife.
Although morning walks in places such as Carara National Park are amazing, we believe that guided night tours are sometimes even better.
If you have a chance to book a jungle night walk in Costa Rica, don't hesitate a second, it's worth every penny. Wandering around the jungle at night alone can be dangerous, so always go with a naturalist guide.
TAP WATER
So the general consensus is that drinking water in Costa Rica is safe and very clean. But the problem that arises is that it might not be safe to drink in every area due to various reasons (mostly water systems).
When it comes to tap water in Costa Rica, we would practice caution. Getting sick from dirty water can ruin your vacation.
The thing is that we met quite a few expats along the way (you will meet them too as there is a strong community of expats in Costa Rica, mostly from the United States) who asserted that they've been drinking the local tap water for ten or twenty years and never got sick.
No matter how this information might prove true or useful, it would help if you filtered it a bit.
It doesn't reflect the fact that you might travel to places they've never visited, plus as this probably will be your vacation, you don't want increase your chances of getting sick.
In general, use common sense, and if you don't like the source, it's better to stay safe than sorry.
For some reason, we didn't trust the water in Quepos. It might have to do something with Quepos being a coastal town, or the area we stayed in was not particularly clean and nice.
Either way, make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to lower your plastic consumption in Costa Rica.
You can always buy big water canisters or refill bottles at the hotel, but nowadays, there are even more elegant solutions.
SteriPen or water bottle with a filter help to keep Costa Rica plastic-free, plus these awesome tools treat the water in very efficient ways almost instantly.
DIGITAL NOMADS AND EXPATS
We briefly mentioned the subject of foreigners you meet in Costa Rica on the road, which brings us to another interesting thing to know about Costa Rica.
Due to its higher standard of living, Costa Rica has been increasingly popular with digital nomads, expats, freelancers, or remote workers.
Working in Costa Rica from a beach, cloud forest, or highlands is tempting for many people (especially North Americans), and the community gains new members each year as this online sector is growing faster than ever.
Costa Rica also puts a lot of effort into attracting digital nomads by making their stay easy as possible, which is always a huge advantage.
So is Costa Rica the best place for digital nomads in Central America? The cost of living in Costa Rica is quite high, so it really depends on your income.
The accommodation and location play a crucial part and takes the most significant chunk of your monthly budget.
A month of comfortable living in Costa Rica costs more than 2000 dollars, though you can always cut the expenses and live more frugally (1000-1500 dollars per month should suffice depending on the location).
As a result, staying in Costa Rica for longer periods can cost a lot of money, so plenty of digital nomads choose this country only for shorter periods before heading to one of the cheaper countries in Central America.
Also, remember, the internet in Costa Rica is not the fastest in many areas, although this might change in the future.
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
Costa Rica is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts and thrill seekers, which is not that surprising as it has an incredibly diverse landscape and perfect conditions creating an ideal playground.
Among the best adventurous activities in Costa Rica are canyoning, rappelling, quad-biking, ziplining, surfing, scuba diving, white-water rafting, volcano climbing, canopy tours, and the list could go on and on.
Lying on the beach never gets old, but we knew Costa Rica offers more fun activities. So once we arrived in Jaco, we decided it was time to do some adrenaline-rush activities.
We opted for an adventure tour in Jaco that combined hiking, ziplining, canyoning, rappelling, and rock jumping.
Although it was not as wild as volcano boarding in Nicaragua, we did a few weeks later, it was pretty thrilling, and we were glad that we got out of our comfort zone and tried something new.
If the budget allows, trying one of Costa Rica's fun activities can spice up your travels.
PACIFIC OR CARIBBEAN COAST
You should not ask yourself which of Costa Rica's coast is better, whether it is the Pacific or the Caribbean, but what kind of experience you are looking for in this country.
Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is less developed and offers a more rugged and adventurous experience.
Parque Nacional Tortuguero and Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo are two of the most shining stars on this coast, but you should really know what to expect from these two places to avoid disappointment.
On the other hand, the Pacific Coast in Costa Rica is always a safe bet.
Unless you are specifically looking for some off-the-beaten places in Costa Rica, we would suggest exploring the Pacific coast on your first trip and making a two or three-day trip to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean side.
The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is far more developed, and it has excellent beaches where you can sometimes even swim, nightlife, yoga retreats, or resorts.
At the same time, it offers unspoiled places such as Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula as well. First-time visitors usually prefer the west coast due to its accessibility and services, but some might argue it's touristy and often crowded.
We also need to add that this question is a bit short-sighted, as it entirely skips Costa Rica's breathtaking inland areas such as Rio Celeste in Tenorio National Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, or San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica.
However, focusing on one area or side of the country is a perfect strategy if you plan on returning someday in the future or when short on time to save travel time.
SAFETY
Inevitably, the question of whether Costa Rica is safe for traveling pops up when planning your holiday. Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America; therefore, it's a perfect travel destination for first-time visitors to this region and even families with kids.
It's always good to remember, though, that even Costa Rica has its problems, especially with drug trafficking and immigration, and you as a tourist will always stand out.
Therefore, we always advise using your common sense. Fortunately (if you can say that), most of the crime in Costa Rica against tourists is non-violent, but it still happens from time to time.
The most dangerous places in Costa Rica are in San Jose, and you should really avoid some of its neighborhoods.
Don't flash valuables when walking on the streets, and keep your phone or camera in your backpack when not using it. We believe it's better to leave your jewelry at home; you won't need it there.
Avoid isolated places and always know where you are going, and this is not only in San Jose but other towns as well.
Park your rental car in guarded areas (ask at the accommodation if they have onsite parking available) and keep the doors locked. If not, then leave your vehicle only in well-lit streets and safe neighborhoods (ask at the hotel), and never leave any valuables inside.
On beaches, never leave your backpacks unattended.
Not only thieves might come out of the jungle and snatch your bags, but also your belongings often tempt monkeys which are often not afraid of humans (a quite common problem in Manuel Antonio National Park).
When we were recollecting our memories from our Costa Rican trip back home, we both agreed that we were more scared of accidentally stepping on a venomous snake in the jungle or stray dogs on the streets in the rural areas than people.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
EXOTIC FRUITS OF COSTA RICA
If you are a fruit lover who eats it every day by tons, then Costa Rica is a perfect place to go for you. Eating fruit is healthy, which is not something we can say about traveling in general as it is often hard to maintain healthy habits when on the road.
So why not try some new kinds of fruit to keep our minds and bodies fit. Among the main benefits of fruit is that it contains plenty of vitamins, strengthens our immune system, or boosts our energy.
Even the common tropical fruits you can find in almost every store now, such as bananas, pineapples, or mangos, are delightful and tasty, but you should try a few more types of fruits.
Guanabana, starfruit, rambutan, chayote or my all-time favories jocotes. Although the local fruit is really sweet and tasty, try to eat only reasonable amounts of it as your body might not be prepared for so many vitamins or fiber.
Not only is fruit delicious in Costa Rica, but you should try local vegetables as well.
Yuca, plantains, or camote are all well-known in Costa Rica, but keep in mind that these veggies need to be cooked before eating if you want to try them by yourself and not in restaurant.
DRIVING IN COSTA RICA
Even though renting a car in Central America is getting increasingly popular each year, some countries still don't have the best safety reputation. However, Costa Rica is arguably the best place to rent a car in Central America, especially for first-time visitors to this continent.
Renting a car in Costa Rica is very easy; you might want to book early to avoid paying more for vehicles in peak season.
Really, if you are wondering if Costa Rica is a good place to rent a car, then we would say that it is.
The roads are safer than in neighboring countries, and traffic is also not that bad once you leave the capital city.
Keep in mind that the driving situation is still far from perfect. The roads in Costa Rica can be narrow, winding, have speed bumps, potholes, and local drivers may interpret road rules in different ways.
It's better to have some experience with driving a car in a foreign country.
Renting a bigger SUV might be a great idea if you ever end up driving along a bumpy road or muddy backroad. However, a 4WD car is not needed in Costa Rica for the majority of travelers.
The biggest downside is the final price you pay for the rental car, especially if you get insurance, which is often really expensive (but worth it).
To lower the total price for a rental car, you should consider traveling in a group.
Sure, if you want to travel with your family, then the problem is solved. If you are a solo traveler or even a couple, you might want to find some travel friends to split the cost of travel.
If you are still not really sure whether renting a car in Costa Rica is a good idea or not, then consider renting it just for a few days and only for certain areas (Arenal area comes to our mind) and use tourist shuttles or public transport for Tortuguero or beach towns on the west coast.
GETTING AROUND BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Be prepared that it takes time to get around Costa Rica regardless of the means of transport.
We traveled around Costa Rica mostly by public transport and found it completely fine. Sure sometimes it's much easier and less time-consuming to take a shuttle bus, but public transportation in Costa Rica works just fine.
Public buses are the most common way of getting around Costa Rica for travelers without rental cars or those who don't want to use expensive tourist shuttles.
Buses in Costa Rica are quite reliable and inexpensive.
The main problem with public transport is that it doesn't run between more remote places, and as a result, if you don't have a rental car, you might end up spending more money on shuttles, tours or taxis.
They also frequently stop in villages and towns along the way to pick up and drop off passengers, so it can be pretty time-consuming, which is a disadvantage if you are on a strict schedule.
For us, this wasn't a massive issue at the time, as we traveled long-term and could afford to wait for another bus or change one on the way, but when on a strict itinerary, this might be a deal-breaker for you.
LODGES IN COSTA RICA
For many, one of the best ways to spend time in Costa Rica is to stay in a lodge nestled in a tropical rainforest.
Lodges in Costa Rica come in various types ranging from basic accommodations to luxury retreats, the quality of services often depending on the location.
By looking at the map while searching for accommodation, you quickly realize that the selection is wide, and it's not easy to decide which lodge is worth visiting and which is better to skip.
Later, you might also start wondering how long you should stay in a lodge in Costa Rica?
That's another tricky question, but we would argue that staying in one lodge for more than two or three nights is a bit overkill, and we would rather stay in different places throughout our trip or lodges in different areas (had we had the money for it).
Oh, we almost forgot, there is one more thing we should mention. Lodges in Costa Rica are not cheap.
Unless you specifically book the whole package, including accommodation, tours, drinks, and food, you will pay extra for those things.
These prices are not technically hidden, as you can see them on their website, but you should always check what they charge for dinner, breakfast, tours, activities when not purchasing the whole package, as you might be unpleasantly surprised after seeing your final bill.
For instance, the most basic 2-hour bird-watching tour can cost 30 USD per person; longer day trips range from 50 to 100 USD (again per person).
Even though that some lodges are affordable, some are really expensive and totally out of our budget range, as these luxury retreats cost hundreds of dollars per night.
And what are the best lodes in Costa Rica?
Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa - No list shouldn't be missing the Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa. Located on private land within Arenal Conservation Area and surrounded by tropical rainforest, Arenal Lodge is a popular choice among travelers who want to get closer to nature without losing the comfort. This lodge is quite affordable and offers excellent value for money.
Monteverde Lodge and Gardens - Immerse in the greenery of the area around Monteverde Cloud Forest and enjoy a tranquil location of Monteverde Lodge and Gardens.
Trogon Lodge - At 2200 meters, Trogon Lodge is surrounded by mountains, river, and lush forests. It has an excellent location in the Sevegre Valley, roughly two and half hours from San Jose by car. This accommodation offers a wide range of activities such as bird watching or hiking in highlands.
Some of the lodges are not available on online search engines, such as Lapa Rios, so you need to head to their website and book directly through them.
ALTITUDE
With an altitude of 3820 meters above sea level, Chirripo is the highest peak in Costa Rica. The majority of visitors spend their time in much lower elevations, but if you decide to hike Chirripo, it's better to have some previous experience with hiking at altitude.
In fact, the Chirripo hike is one of the best ways to explore Costa Rica's unique ecosystems, but the activity is quite challenging, as you climb more than 2000 meters while carrying food for two or three days and some of the camping gear such as a sleeping bag or ultralight cooking stove.
Altitude sickness occurs from 2500 meters above sea level, and you won't have much time to acclimate your body when arriving from Costa Rica's beach destinations.
Admittedly, Chirripo is a bit in its own league, but it's not the only place where you can feel the effects of thinner air on your body.
At 3432 meters, Irazu Volcano is another popular high altitude place to visit in Costa Rica, but this time, you can drive almost to the summit (or take a tour to get there) and enjoy a short one-kilometer loop trail at the top without any difficulties except for the altitude.
There are plenty of other high-altitude places in Costa Rica worth exploring, but the message is clear, try to acclimate your body and stay safe.
Here are a few basic altitude tips to make your trip safer. Stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water throughout the day, cover your head, walk slowly, avoid alcohol.
VOLCANOES
Volcanoes have been shaping Costa Rica's landscape for millions of years, and it would be a shame not to visit at least one of them.
There are dozens (or hundreds) of them, but there are only six active volcanoes currently in Costa Rica.
Poas Volcano in the Central Highlands of Costa Rica is one of the most active volcanoes in the country. Due to its perfect location near the capital city of Costa Rica, 2708 meters high Poas Volcano is best visited on a day tour from San Jose.
Of all volcanoes in the country, Arenal is the most famous one. Since the 1960s, Arenal was very active, but all the eruptions ceased in 2010, and it remains silent since then.
Thanks to its conical shape, Arenal is probably the most iconic volcano in Costa Rica, often seen on social media or promotional materials.
We've already talked about Irazu Volcano in the previous section. The volcano has several active craters, and it's easy to get there with a tour or rental car. Due to its ease of access, Volcano Irazu is one of the most popular places in Costa Rica.
Among the rest of the active volcanoes are Turrialba Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, or Tenorio Volcano (it might be considered dormant, but some areas at foothills are active).
BORDER CROSSING
As we already know, Costa Rica has two neighboring countries, Panama in the east and Nicaragua in the north.
For backpackers on their long-term trips, the process of crossing borders via land is almost their daily bread.
In our case (and we hope it will be the same for you), entering and leaving Costa Rica was a smooth and rather quick process. Especially the borders between Panama and Costa Rica were calm and without any lines.
Remember that you should have onward proof of travel (a flight ticket always works, a bus ticket might also be enough), and you might be denied access to the country if you fail to provide it.
The best strategy is to book a refundable flight and cancel it after you successfully cross the borders. Sometimes, the local immigration authorities ask for it, and sometimes they don't; nevertheless, we would not risk it.
When arriving from Panama, you have two options. Being said that, we believe that most travelers decide to cross the borders from Costa Rica to Panama via Paso Canoas in the southwest of the country (from David to Uvita or Puerto Jimenez).
However, if you visit Boquete and then Bocas del Toro's islands and plan on exploring Tortuguero National Park, you might want to consider crossing the borders in Sixaola in the northwest.
The issue with this way of travel is that you skip almost the entire Pacific coast and have to drive back to visit places such as Corcovado National Park, Uvita, or Quepos.
If your itinerary includes only Panama and Costa Rica, you can create a nice loop when using both border exits to save travel time.
When it comes to Nicaragua, the situation is even less complicated. Although there are two border towns where you can exit the country, almost everyone crosses the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua in Penas Blancas.
This northwestern town is close to Guanacaste and Santa Rosa National Park and two of Nicaragua's shining stars.
The famous beach and surfer town of San Juan del Sur is a perfect place to chill and relax; on the other hand, Ometepe Island is known for strenuous Volcano Concepcion hike and hard-to-beat views.
WHEN TO GO
For most travelers, the best time to visit Costa Rica is from December to April. During this time of the year, you have the best chance for nice weather and little rainfall.
As you've probably guessed, the prices are highest during this time, and you need to make early bookings for accommodation and rental cars.
This time of the year is popular with both Americans and Europeans escaping the cold weather in their countries.
October to December is the low season in Costa Rica that brings the most severe weather and heavy rains. Some places might be prone to flooding (therefore inaccessible).
November, April, and May are often popular among visitors seeking a more peaceful experience and fewer crowds.
Nowadays, many travelers consider both July and August to be one of the best times to visit Costa Rica, so it's not as quiet during those months as it used to be.
One important thing to consider is that Costa Rica has many microclimates, and the weather situation is often locations dependent.
We also need to add that wildlife watching is affected by the time of the year. Sea turtles are among the most popular wild animals to spot in Costa Rica.
For example, if you want to see green turtles nesting in Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, you should arrive there between July to October. On the Caribbean coast, leatherbacks nest from March to July, but you can also see them on the Pacific side from September to March.
There are four sea turtle species in Costa Rica, so you can clearly see, it's not exactly easy to say which is the best month to arrive in Costa Rica.
And that's just turtles.
Then there are the humpback whales (we'll talk about them in the next section) and plenty of other species worth seeing, so you might need to make some compromises to create your perfect travel itinerary.
When deciding when to visit Costa Rica, you need to take into account all these factors, but we believe that you will eventually figure out which month is the best for you.
WHALE WATCHING
Traditionally, Ballena National Marine Park in Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to spot Humpback Whales. If you are not familiar with these singing marine mammals with distinctive white pectoral fins, know that they can grow to 16 meters and weigh up to 30 tonnes.
You might think that we exaggerate the singing part, but scientists say that a group of males can produce songs up to 30 minutes long and repeat them for hours.
Unfortunately, the purpose of this behavior is still not clear. As you already know, Costa Rica has two oceans, the Pacific and Atlantic.
The waters along the western shore of this incredible country are home to California Humpback Whales and Antarctic Humpback Whales.
If you want to see North Atlantic Humpback Whales, you need to go to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
Needles to say, the Pacific coast is by far the most popular place for whale watching. You can search for tours in towns such as Jaco, Quepos, Uvita or even San Jose.
The best time for whale watching in Costa Rica is usually from August to October.
We traveled around Costa Rica in March, which is not the ideal time for this activity, plus we didn't have enough money for it.
So, unfortunately, we skipped it that time, but we made it up later on and took a whale watching tour in Iceland, and we absolutely loved it.
Seeing Humpback Whales in their natural habitat is a unique experience, and you have a great chance to spot them in Costa Rica.
If you plan your vacation carefully (and if the budget allows), we couldn't recommend it enough to you.
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL
If you are a regular reader of our blog, you already know that we promote independent travel whenever we can. And if you are deciding whether it's a good idea to travel around Costa Rica independently, then our answer is yes.
Planning your personal travel itinerary and arranging your accommodation, tours, or transport is immensely rewarding, and it can save you a lot of money in the end.
Sure, booking a Costa Rica package through a travel agency back home is always a viable alternative if short on time or if you want your trip to go without any hiccups, but it's not needed for this country.
We try to rely on ourselves as much as possible when traveling, and it was really easy to arrange everything in Costa Rica.
Furthermore, Costa Rica is much safer than Guatemala or Nicaragua, meaning there is one less thing to worry about (or not worry that hard, to be precise).
If not sure whether independent travel is for you, most hostels or hotels can help you with everything once you get there.
They can help you with bus timetables, arrange shuttles for you, offer tours so that you can combine the best of the two worlds.
You can visit plenty of places in Costa Rica without a tour or private guide, but we definitely recommend hiring one for jungle walks or rainforests exploration
For some places, such as Corcovado National Park, a certified guide is mandatory, and it's not allowed to enter the park without one.
ECOTOURISM
Ecotourism plays a vital role in Costa Rica's travel segment, and it's often rated as one of the best destinations in the world to visit for responsible travelers. Tourism has a significant impact on our planet Earth, and sustainable travel is the way to enjoy natural areas' beauty without damaging it.
Sometimes referred to as green travel, ecotourism is one of the best ways to explore Costa Rica.
Costa Rican government embraced this philosophy years ago, and the country offers an incredible range of eco-friendly activities, things to do, and accommodation.
The terms such as eco-friendly accommodation, organic tours, green lodges are used in Costa Rica frequently, and it's only up to you whether you want to support these travel ideas or not.
We believe it's worth the extra money you pay for these services, as it keeps the negative impact of tourism in the bay. But again, ecotourism is not the cheapest way to travel.
Fortunately, being a responsible traveler is not always a question of money, and everyone can contribute to reducing the footprint.
Before you book the tour or hotel, it's always good to double-check whether the company's green intentions are honest or they use it just as marketing labels to increase their sales.
Don’t forget to read our Eco-Friendly Travel Packing List.
SUNSETS
This blog post wouldn't be for sure complete if we wouldn't mention the famous Costa Rica sunsets. The Pacific coast hosts every evening on a nice day a spectacular show, and we never missed a chance to hit the beach during this time of the day.
Sure, sunset over the rainforest is breathtaking as well, but for us, the beaches were the best places to watch sunsets in Costa Rica.
Seeing the fading orb slowly diving under the horizon never ceases to amaze us, and when the sky turns amber, scarlet, and eventually indigo, it leaves us speechless.
Watching the last rays of the sun while listening to the calming sounds of the waves is always a great way to make your troubles and stress accumulated throughout the year wash away.
If the early bird gets the worm is your personal motto, then head out to the east coast to catch equally beautiful sunrises over the Caribbean Sea.
BEACHES
When searching for the best beaches in Costa Rica, you will soon enough realize that the west coast is winning the race with the eastern coast by a huge margin.
We consider the fine sand beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park to be one of the most beautiful ones in the entire country, though some of them were quite crowded.
But even the town beaches in places such as Jaco have their charm and shouldn't be missed.
Although some Costa Rican beaches are among the most beautiful in the world, not all of them are safe for swimming.
Dangerous riptides or treacherous undertows are common in Costa Rica, and you should always check whether the waters along the beach are safe or not.
If you feel a pull-out when standing in the sea, see many surfers or huge crashing waves, you might want to stay on the shore as these beaches are not usually suitable for swimming.
The fact that sometimes only small parts of the beach are safe or that the safety conditions can change after storms, makes the situation even more complicated.
Never underestimate this natural force. A good practice is to ask locals before you jump into the sea, also observe whether others are swimming there or not.
Some of the nice beaches in Costa Rica with calm waters are Playa Tamarindo, Playa Samara on the Pacific side, and Punta Uva on the Caribbean side.
BUDGET
The statement that Costa Rica is not exactly a budget-friendly destination is not far from the truth. And how much you should budget for Costa Rica is one of those tough questions to answer.
Each trip to Costa Rica is highly individual, and it depends on your travel style, type of accommodation, preferred transportation, or whether you will be hiring local tour guides.
Remember that Costa Rica is not cheap, rather the opposite (at least for Central American standards). Sure, it's possible not to spend a fortune in Costa Rica by avoiding expensive lodges, getting around by public transport, or hiking independently in the national parks.
So this might come as a bit controversial, especially coming from us, as we love to travel frugally, but we really believe that it's better to budget a bit more for Costa Rica to get the most of this extraordinary country and its unique environment.
Our point of view is that with a bigger budget, you can spend more on guides, tours, lodges, activities, and eco-friendly services, and believe us, that's what Costa Rica is all about.
Moreover, you can plan your time more efficiently, and if you have only a week or two for Costa Rica, that might play a crucial part in your success.
Rental cars or tourist shuttles are more expensive than public transport, but they can save a lot of your precious holiday time.
When long-term traveling, we usually travel on a budget to save as much money as possible, but Costa Rica was one of those places we wished we could spend a bit more.
Hopefully, this wasn't our last trip to this beautiful country, and we plan on coming back someday in the future.
HOW MANY DAYS
In our opinion, two weeks in Costa Rica are the perfect amount of time to spend in the country on your first visit. Sure, it's often said that the more time you spend in a given country, the more rewarding it is, but not everyone has unlimited time for their trip.
Fourteen days in Costa Rica allow you to see the best of the country in a relaxed manner.
You can visit several national parks, hike in the cloud forest, take a guided jungle or night tour, chill on the beach, watch sea turtles or humpback whales, and seek some new adventures.
We believe that one week in Costa Rica is not enough unless you want to spend the entire time at one, two, or three places or love those packed itineraries that plan every second of your day (hardcore versions include traveling at night to save time).
A vacation in Costa Rica should be more relaxed and enjoyable, not just jumping from one place to another and ticking off places.
Many travelers return to Costa Rica repeatedly, and that's a very satisfying approach, as you can leave some hard-to-get places for someday in the future.
There is a reason why the term Pura Vida (pure or simple life) is so prevalent in Costa Rica.
Happy planning!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
