So you’ve decided to visit Costa Rica! Like everyone else who has visited this special country, you’ll soon find that there is so much to love. Now it’s time to move onto the most daunting part of traveling—the planning. This detailed guide will go over all of the most important things to know to plan your perfect trip to Costa Rica.
We will touch on the three most important questions to answer when planning a trip Costa Rica:
1️⃣ When should you go to Costa Rica?
2️⃣ Where should you go?
3️⃣ How should you get around Costa Rica?
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has two seasons, the rainy (or sometimes called the green season) and the dry season. While the temperature in Costa Rica is pleasant all year around, most experts suggest visiting during the dry season, from December to April. This is when Costa Rica does not receive any rainfall; you can expect sunny days and beautiful afternoons.
That said, if you are planning to come between May and November, you can still have a wonderful trip. In fact, there are some destinations that are even better to see during these months! The Caribbean, for example, has their dry season during September and October! You’ll just need to do some more careful planning.
In summary, the best months to visit Costa Rica are December to April, but there are still places that can be enjoyed during the rainy season due to Costa Rica’s microclimates. Check out this post, for where to go in Costa Rica based on when you can go, or to determine when you should go based on which destinations you’d like to see!
Where to Go in Costa Rica
I often say that Costa Rica is a natural wonderland, because this tiny country is full of incredible destinations! From volcanoes and turquoise waterfalls, to pristine beaches and rainforests, there is so much to explore. Picking where you go can be the hardest part of traveling to Costa Rica!
While there are seemingly endless destinations, here are 6 must-sees you should consider visiting in Costa Rica:
La Fortuna 🌋
Home to Volcano Arenal, La Fortuna is one of the most visited destinations in Costa Rica. It’s known for its lush rainforests, where you can spot sloths, toucans, colorful frogs, and much more! It is also the best destination for soaking in natural hot springs and getting a volcanic mud facial. 🧖♀️ Check out this post to learn more about this incredible destination.
Monteverde 🦋
Monteverde is one of the only cloud forests in the world! Due to this area’s high humidity and dense tree coverage, hiking in the national parks of Monteverde feels almost magical, as if you are walking through clouds. In addition to experiencing the cloud forest, Monteverde is home to some of the best adventure zip lining in Costa Rica. It’s also a great place to see exotic wildlife and sip homegrown coffee.
Manuel Antonio 🏝️
Some of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica can be found in the Manuel Antonio National Park. This is another great place to go on a guided tour and spot sloths, macaws, pizotes, and other animals.
Guanacaste 🐚
If you’re going to Costa Rica for a beach getaway, this is your destination. Guanacaste is known for its pristine beaches and unbelievably gorgeous sunsets! There are a ton of things to do here including catamaran tours, snorkeling, surfing, seeing sea turtles, and so much more. You can see the full list of activities here.
The Caribbean (Puerto Viejo/Manzanillo/Cahuita) 🥥
The Caribbean is home to powdery, white-sand beaches and calm, crystal-clear waters. It also has unique, savory cuisine, which is not found in the rest of Costa Rica. There are a few national parks in this area which boast secluded beaches and tropical wildlife.
Rio Celeste 🩵
Rio Celeste is an breathtakingly beautiful waterfall that is known for it’s turquoise color. You’ll be thrilled to have visited this natural wonder and have seen this amazing blue water in person!
These destinations are THE places to see for first-time travelers. However, if you want to know more about the Nicoya Peninsula, San Jose, or the Central Valley, you can find more information here.
How many places should you visit in Costa Rica?
This is one of the most difficult decisions to make when planning a trip to Costa Rica. However, it really depends on how long you are coming, and how much time you are willing to spend traveling between destinations.
Although Costa Rica is a relatively small country, traveling in this country can take a very long time. An 80 mile trip (129 km) that may take only an hour and 20 minutes in the United States will likely take about 3 hours. In addition to this, many roads are quite windy and have potholes, which requires you to drive slower than you would in your home country.
Even though Google Maps is my tried and true navigation app in Costa Rica, the times represented are not accurate. If you are traveling between major destinations like Liberia and San José, you will most likely hit traffic or get stuck behind truckers.
This chart shows about how many places you should visit based on the length of your trip:
I always suggest spending at least 2 nights in each destination. Any less than that and your trip will feel rushed, and you lose appreciation for each place you are visiting.
Where to go needs to be based on your interests, but a typical vacation to Costa Rica will include at least one beach and one mountain (volcano or cloud forest) destination.
Ideally, the destinations you pick will cross off the following checklist:
✅ A National Park to see animals
✅ A Volcano or Cloud Forest
✅ A pristine Beach
✅ A Coffee/Sugar Cane/Chocolate tour
✅ Adventure Activities (Like zip lining, hanging bridges, or horseback riding/quad tours)
✅ Hot Springs (Like those in La Fortuna or Rincon de la Vieja)
✅ A Waterfall (Like Rio Celeste, Nauyaca, La Fortuna, La Leona, Los Coyotes, or Bajos del Toro)
How should you get around Costa Rica?
Renting a Car 🚙
There’s a lot of options for traveling within Costa Rica, but there’s a reason most travelers opt for renting a car. Costa Rica is best explored by car. Driving enables you to see the country at your own pace, with complete flexibility and autonomy! Go where you like, when you like, and stop whenever you like! If you see something that catches your eye, or a local suggests a stop along the way, you have the ability to change your plans.
If you look into renting a car, you’ll see that there’s a ton of different rental companies, each claiming to have the lowest price. There’s one company that, coming from a frequent renter, stands out above the rest. Adobe Rent-a-Car is a reliable and local, Costa Rican company.
The price they show when you rent on their website is exactly what you pay. This is the exact opposite of almost every other company. Unfortunately, what most other companies show you when you reserve online is just a part of the bill you end up paying. If you decide to rent a car, check out this post for 10% off your rental car through Adobe.
Private and Shared Shuttles 🚎
If renting a car doesn’t strike your fancy, the next best option is shuttles. Shuttles will be faster and more comfortable than going by bus.
There are two kinds of shuttles in Costa Rica: private and shared. Private shuttles are great for group travel. Shared shuttles have a set schedule, generally morning or afternoon trips, and cost about $60-80 per seat.
Public Buses 🚍
If you are into slow travel, or coming to Costa Rica for an extended time, public buses make for an authentic and memorable experience. The prices are very accessible, but the tradeoff is time and schedule constraints. You will essentially need to leave from San Jose to travel to just about any other destination in Costa Rica, as San Jose is the only true bus hub.
Domestic Flights ✈️
Domestic flights are the fastest way to travel in Costa Rica, but also the most expensive. A one-way flight can be anywhere from $50-$300. Although they exist, a convenient flight, with the right price, is kind of like a unicorn in Costa Rica.
Taxis 🚗
For quick trips, like picking up money from the bank, running to the store, etc., taxis are a great way to travel! Costa Rica’s taxis are red with yellow triangles on the side of the car.
Check out this post, for a comprehensive look at all the ways to travel within Costa Rica.
Final Thoughts on Planning Your Perfect Trip to Costa Rica 🌴
There are a lot of questions to answer when traveling internationally, but determining when to go, where you’ll go, and how you’ll get around is a perfect start! What makes the decision easier is that when you can travel to Costa Rica can help determine where you should go to have the best weather!
Traveling to another country requires a lot of planning time, money, and energy, so the final product should be exactly what you want it to be! If you’d like any support in making your dream trip to Costa Rica become a reality, please reach out!
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