Nature has blessed Costa Rica with beautiful beaches, lush jungles teeming with exotic fauna, misty volcanoes, and roaring rivers. Here, you will find a different energy, and a different way of life that you won’t find in any other Latin American country. Life in Costa Rica is more relaxed. ‘Pura Vida’, they call it, or ‘pure life'.
And if you are on a quest for Pura Vida, our tours to Costa Rica will lead you there. In Costa Rica, you can choose to get lost in the cultural hub of San Jose, go spot toucans, jaguars, and many other bird and animal species in Monteverde, or zip-line the canopy of the cloud forest. Perhaps, you will enjoy La Fortuna’s natural hot springs, sunbathe on the pristine beaches of Santa Teresa, trek the steep slopes of Arenal Volcano, or surround yourselves with graceful butterflies at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Why not go spot sloths live their best lives in Manuel Antonia National Park and bathe in the emerald waters of Guanacaste instead, or ride in the back of a pickup truck to the small town of Brujo or Puerto Viejo and enjoy tasty traditional Tico cooking?
If you are looking for the best places to visit in Costa Rica or the top things to do, we have got you covered.
First-time vacationers and planning a trip to Costa Rica? Do not despair. We have addressed some of the most common and frequently asked queries about Costa Rica tours. Get started by learning how many days to spend in Costa Rica and the best time to visit Costa Rica. If you want to find out what is the best month to visit Costa Rica, we recommend that you visit Costa Rica in December. Traveling to Costa Rica in November is also not a bad idea, if you do not mind getting a little wet, that is.
Top Destinations in Costa Rica
Discover the highlights of Costa Rica.
What to do in Costa Rica
Top things to do in Costa Rica.
When to visit Costa Rica
Read the below travel guides to find the best time to visit Costa Rica.
- Jan Avg Daily: 26 ° C Avg Nightly: 17 ° C
- Feb Avg Daily: 29 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Mar Avg Daily: 30 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Apr Avg Daily: 30 ° C Avg Nightly: 19 ° C
- May Avg Daily: 29 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Jun Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Jul Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Aug Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Sep Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Oct Avg Daily: 15 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Nov Avg Daily: 26 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Dec Avg Daily: 26 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
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Costa Rica at a Glance
Quick facts about Costa Rica.
San Jose is the capital and the largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, the city serves as the focal point for all national political and economic activity. Founded in the first half of the 18th century, the city has multiple five-star hotels, world-class museums, theaters, and landmarks.
Costa Rica is the third-smallest country in Central America with a land area of 51,179 km2. One can traverse it with ease through the excellent and low-priced public bus system. Domestic flights are one of the quickest ways to travel around the country.
You can make international calls to Costa Rica using the country code 506 of that nation. An area code comes after the international calling prefix of 506.
The Costa Rican Colon (international code – CRC, symbol - ₡) is the official currency of Costa Rica. Major credit cards and US dollars are widely accepted at ATMs in the main towns. Though US dollars can be easily exchanged in banks and many hotels, exchanging other currencies might be quite difficult.
The Juan Santamaria International Airport is the primary international airport serving San Jose, Costa Rica. It is situated in the city of Alajuela, 20 kilometers west of downtown San Jose. COD: SJO. Closest City: San Jose.
US nationals and citizens of member countries of the European Union do not require an entry visa to Costa Rica and can stay for 90 days. However, they need to have a valid passport and an exit ticket. People from some other visa-exempt countries are only allowed to stay for 30 days. We recommend checking your country’s travel advisories before planning a trip to Costa Rica.
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish, which has a unique national accent and unusual usages. Other languages spoken here include English, some Indian languages, and Creole. Although English is frequently heard in tourist hotspots, official business and the majority of the media are only published in Spanish. To be able to get around comfortably, start by learning "Abrazo" before moving on to a few other words and expressions like "por favor."
Dial 911 for all types of emergencies, including medical situations, police, and fire. You can also dial 128 and 118 for ambulance service and fire department respectively.
Costa Rica has been proudly claiming that it has no military since 1948, when it was disbanded after winning the civil war. Nicoya, on Costa Rica's western coast, is also one of the top 5 Blue Zones in the world. Here, people live active lives on average past the age of 100.
How long to stay in Costa Rica
Read about the ideal duration to stay in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Tour and Holiday Packages
Select the tour type that you are looking for.
FAQs for Costa Rica
Read the most frequently asked questions and answer about traveling to Costa Rica below.
- How many days should I spend in Costa Rica?
- Are credit cards accepted in Costa Rica?
- Do I need to visa to travel to Costa Rica?
- Do people in Costa Rica speak English?
- What is the best month to visit Costa Rica?
Sustainable Travel – How to Travel Through Costa Rica Responsibly
In line with Bookmundi’s vision, we wish to provide our travelers with a sustainable travel experience through Costa Rica. As part of this effort, we carbon offset any Costa Rica tour that you purchase through us. You can read more details about our carbon offsetting efforts here.
Here is what you can do to travel to Costa Rica more responsibly:
- Carbon-offset your transport to Costa Rica by traveling in the state-run electric buses or by choosing to fly via NatureAir Airlines or Costa Rica Green Airways. The moment your tour starts in Costa Rica and if you have purchased your tour through Bookmundi, we will carbon-offset your tour from its starting point to its ending point.
- While you are in Costa Rica, you can make a small donation to the Tropical Science Center, the Monteverde Conservationist Association, or other NGOs working for environmental conservation and promotion of sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.
- Travelers can choose eco-destinations and stay in green hotels to minimize pollution. You can also reduce your carbon footprint in Costa Rica by avoiding single-use plastics and eating locally-grown organic produce.
- When hunting for souvenirs, avoid buying anything made of leather, shell, fur, or feathers because they might have come from an endangered species.
Costa Rica Travel Tips and Insights
- In Costa Rica, you will not have trouble finding natives who speak excellent English but learning a little Spanish can go a long way. Not only will you be welcomed by locals, you can also use your Spanish when haggling for souvenirs.
- The people of Costa Rica, often known as "Ticos," are very hospitable and always delighted to welcome you to their lovely nation, assist you as needed, converse with you, and show you about their slice of paradise.
- Costa Rica has a variety of microclimates, and some places experience extremely cold temperatures due to the high elevation. Places like Monteverde, Vara Blanca, Poas, Chirripo, San Isidro de Pérez Zeledón, and San Gerardo de Dota, for instance, can encounter extremely strong winds and chilly nights.
- Pickpockets and minor theft are problems in Costa Rica. When on the beach and in crowded areas like bus terminals and markets, always keep an eye on your valuables. Never leave anything visible inside a parked car, and avoid venturing into isolated, dark areas.
- No matter how blue the skies appear at dawn, always be sure to have waterproof gear and dry bags for valuables on any excursions into the rainforest. And if the rain is bringing you down, you can always turn west to the sun-kissed grasslands of the Pacific side.
- Numerous bumpy and pothole-riddled roads are common in Costa Rica. So, a driving experience in Costa Rica can be difficult. Traffic in Costa Rica is also chaotic due to the poor quality of the country’s infrastructure. So, drive carefully, especially in urban areas.
Ready to customize your Costa Rica Vacation
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- Verónica Medina Travel Expert in Costa Rica
- Randall Jiménez Moreno Travel Expert in Costa Rica
- Ellen Zoe Golden Travel Expert in Costa Rica

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Popular Destinations
Popular Activities
- Wildlife
- Beaches
- Active and outdoor
- Safari
- National parks
- Rainforest and jungle visits
- Natural landmarks sightseeing
- Volcanoes
- Adventure
- Cultural, religious and historic sites
- Explorer
- Trekking and Hiking
- Zip lining
- Rafting
- Waterfalls
- Family
- Hot springs
- Self-drive or vehicle rental
- Local boat rides
- City sightseeing
- Nature and bush walks
- Getaways and short breaks