Costa Rica Travel Guide

Planning a Costa Rica vacation? Boasting over a million visitors each year, this tiny nation is a vacationer’s paradise, and has become the most visited country in Central America. Surrounded by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica provides travelers unique opportunities offered nowhere else. In the same trip, you can visit an active volcano, ride a zip line through a cloud forest, or enjoy the waves off a white, sandy beach. Just like the people of Costa Rica, you’ll say Pura Vida – this is living!

When to Go

Although a Costa Rica vacation is ideal year round, the most popular time to visit is November – April. This Dry Season offers plenty of sun and warm weather to tourists. If you’re looking for cheaper rates or want the best time to see wildlife, consider visiting during the Green (wet) Season. Between May and mid-November, afternoon rain showers are expected, but mornings and early evenings are usually clear and sunny. If surfing is your main goal, the Pacific offers the best swells in September and October, while the Caribbean’s best waves come between November and May. Temperatures in Costa Rica differ depending on the altitude of your location. The coasts are sultry all year round, while the highlands can be cold. In San Jose and the Central Valley, average temperatures hit a high of 79 degrees, with an average low of 60 degrees. 

Flights and Transportation

Travelers can opt to fly into Costa Rica using either Juan Santamaria International (SJO) near San Jose, or Daniel Oduber International (LIR) in Liberia. Cost and location will factor into which airport you choose for your Costa Rica vacation. Flying into Liberia is popular in the busy season as it is nearest the beaches of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula. Cheap flights to Costa Rica (via LIR) are as low as $741 from LAX, $743 from SFO, $691 from ORD, and $700 from JFK. Direct flights to Costa Rica can be found (via Juan Santamaria International) for as low as $679 from LAX and $419 from JFK. Connecting flights can be even cheaper and run as low as $393 from LAX, $384 from JFK, $380 from ORD, and $674 from SFO. 

Costa Rica has good public transportation, and you’ll find buses are inexpensive. Taxis can be used for longer rides, while rental cars are available for those desiring more freedom. You may want to invest in renting a four-wheel drive during the rainy season. 

Hotels and Lodging

Costa Rica offers a variety of accommodations for every type of visitor. For those looking to combine their love of golf with a tropical locale near the sea, look no further than the La Posada Hotel at the Hacienda Panilla in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. You may like it so much you might opt to purchase a home or villa in this community. If views of a volcano are more to your liking, consider staying at the Hotel Silencio del Campo at La Fortuna Central Park in San Carlos. These private villas, each with a private porch, are located on beautifully manicured grounds and are equally perfect for the honeymooning couple or the family getaway.

Costa Rica Attractions

Nature related activities are the most popular, and Costa Rica doesn’t fail to impress travelers looking for adventure. If near San Jose, let Pacuare River Tours guide you on a memorable whitewater rafting experience through some of the most beautiful rainforest in the country. For those looking to catch a wave, Costa Rica has been called the Hawaii of Latin-American surfing. The warm water and consistent waves send surfers back year after year. If new to surfing, or looking to improve, check out Green Iguana Surf Camp at Playa Dominical. Visit the Café Britt coffee plantation in Heredia. Don’t miss the tour and delicious lunch!