Costa Rica: Pura Vida Isn't Just a Phrase, It's the Entire Point
Volcanoes, rainforests, sloths, and surf. Here's how to do it properly.
Why Costa Rica, Why Now
Costa Rica punches way above its weight. It's roughly the size of West Virginia, but it contains 6 percent of the world's biodiversity. Six percent. In one tiny country. You've got active volcanoes you can hike in the morning, cloud forests thick with quetzals in the afternoon, and two completely different coastlines, Pacific and Caribbean, yes, both, to choose from. The cities are just a means to an end here. The point is the jungle. The wildlife. The moment a sloth locks eyes with you from three metres up and then takes 45 minutes to do absolutely nothing.
Most first trips centre on the Arenal volcano region, a cloud forest like Monteverde, and one or two coastal spots, Manuel Antonio on the Pacific or Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean. Add the Osa Peninsula if you've got more time, it's genuinely one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. This guide covers all of it: the wildlife, the costs, the roads that need a 4WD, and how to plan around it without missing the point entirely.
Best Time To Visit
Costa Rica has a tropical climate, so you can genuinely visit any time of year. Each season just feels a bit different.
Shoulder Months (Nov & Apr-May)
Balanced, lighter crowdsLate November to early December and April into May offer a nice balance of decent weather, lighter crowds, and more reasonable prices than the true peak.
Dry Season (Dec to Apr)
Peak, sunny, busyPeak time with lots of sunshine, minimal rain, and ideal beach and outdoor weather. Expect higher prices and noticeably busier coastal towns.
Green Season (May to Nov)
Afternoon showers, lushAfternoon showers bring lush, vibrant rainforests, fewer crowds, and genuinely better deals. Some trails get muddier, and September to October are the rainiest months, especially on the Caribbean side.
Caribbean Side
Runs its own patternThe Caribbean coast runs on a different weather pattern to the Pacific side, often dry when the Pacific is wet and vice versa. Check the specific region you're visiting before you plan around a single season.
Doing multiple regions? Because the Pacific, Caribbean and central mountains all run slightly different patterns, pack for all conditions regardless of month. For a full climate breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit Costa Rica guide.
See Costa Rica in 60 Seconds
A minute of cloud forest canopy, Arenal's volcano and a sloth doing absolutely nothing. Then read on for the full story.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Costa Rica is a country where lush rainforests, active volcanoes, incredible wildlife, and pristine beaches come together to create one of the world’s greatest adventure destinations. In just 60 seconds, we’ll explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, the beaches of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the towering Arenal Volcano, and national parks filled with sloths, monkeys, toucans, and sea turtles. Whether you’re travelling for wildlife, surfing, hiking, or simply to embrace the laid-back Pura Vida lifestyle, Costa Rica is a destination that never fails to amaze.
Book The Essentials
The exact booking sites we use ourselves. Nothing here we wouldn't personally recommend.
What To Expect
The practical stuff, minus the waffle.
Capital
San Jose is the capital, and honestly, it's a means to an end here rather than a destination in itself. Most visitors pass through on the way to the volcanoes, cloud forests and coast.
Language
Spanish is the official language, and only around 10 percent of the country speaks English, less than you might expect for such a tourism-heavy destination. Brush up on your Spanish before you visit, especially outside the main tourist towns.
Currency
The official currency is the Colon (CRC), but the US dollar is widely accepted too, many hotels, restaurants and tour agencies list prices in dollars directly. Rough guide: $1 is about 454 CRC, £1 is about 613 CRC, and €1 is about 527 CRC. Check XE before you go.
Cards & ATMs
Credit cards are widely accepted across the country. Costa Rica has a modern and widespread network of ATMs too, you should find one in all the large tourist destinations. Contactless via Apple Pay or Google Pay is increasingly common as well.
Plugs
Type A, the same as the US, running at 120V and 60Hz. Grab a universal adapter if you're coming from anywhere with a different plug shape or voltage.
Safety
Costa Rica is generally a safe country to visit, one of the safer ones in Central America. Like most destinations, use common sense and take extra precautions as a solo traveller, like not walking alone at night. Petty theft is the main concern, especially in San Jose and on crowded beaches.
Random Useful Tip
Pura Vida is more than a greeting here, it's a whole approach to travel. Build slack into your itinerary, don't over-plan, and let things move at their own pace. Costa Rica rewards patience.
Never Ever
Never leave valuables visible in a rental car, even for five minutes, break-ins at trailheads and viewpoint car parks are a genuine and well-known risk. Take everything with you, or leave it at your accommodation instead.
Live Weather in San Jose
Straight from the source, updated as you read this.
24°C
- Temperature
Explore Costa Rica
Volcanoes, wildlife, surf, and jungle. The essential six to start with, and everything new lands below as we publish it.
Best Time to Visit Costa Rica: A Climate Guide
Dry season, green season, and the Caribbean coast running its own pattern. The full breakdown.
Read the guideBest Time to Visit San Jose, Costa Rica: A Seasonal Guide
The capital runs on its own weather pattern. Here's when to land for the best of it.
Read the guideCosta Rica Travel Tips For First-Timers
Everything we wish we'd known before our first trip. Roads, wildlife, etiquette, and the practical stuff.
Get the tipsPura Vida: Embracing Slow Travel in Costa Rica
More than a greeting. Here's what the phrase actually means for how you should plan your trip.
Read the guideIs Costa Rica Safe? Tips for a Worry-Free Trip
The honest picture on petty theft, wildlife hazards and the areas worth extra caution.
Read the guideThe Great Outdoors Hub
Volcanoes, cloud forests, white-water rafting, zip-lining. Costa Rica is basically the poster child for this hub.
Explore the hubLatest Costa Rica Articles
Every Costa Rica guide we publish lands here automatically.
City Guides (coming soon)
Itineraries + Maps (coming soon)
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Costa Rica Cost?
Pricier than its Central American neighbours, but absolutely worth the budget. Here's a realistic breakdown, in pounds with dollars, euros and colones alongside.
Backpacker
- Hostel dorms from £12 a night
- Sodas, local diners, and supermarkets
- Local buses everywhere
- Free beaches, waterfalls, and wildlife
Mid-Range
- Private rooms and small eco-lodges
- Mix of local sodas and restaurants
- Shared shuttles and some rental car days
- National parks, tours, zip-lining
Upscale
- Boutique eco-resorts and jungle lodges
- Fine dining and private tours
- Private driver or 4WD rental
- Osa Peninsula, Nayara, Pacuare Lodge
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Real prices in pounds, with dollars, euros and colones alongside. Pick a category.
Budget
Mid to Luxury
City Travel
Long Distance
Eat Cheap
Eating Out
Budget Fun
Big Experiences
10 Ways to Save Money in Costa Rica
Costa Rica isn't the cheapest country in Central America, but there's real money to save if you know where to look.
Local casados run £4-7 / $5-9 / €4.60-8. Best food in the country, half the price of tourist restaurants.
San Jose to Manuel Antonio costs under £6 / $7 / €6.50. Slow, but genuinely how locals get around.
Costa Rica's coast is mostly free. You don't need to pay for a resort beach club to enjoy it.
Safe in most of the country. Bring a reusable bottle and skip the plastic, checking locally when in doubt.
December to April prices spike hard. Book three months out or more for the best rates.
Domestic flights have strict baggage limits. Carry-on only saves £30+ / $37+ / €34+ per flight.
Accommodation just outside national park entrances is typically 30 to 40 percent cheaper than inside them.
Same route, fraction of the cost. Genuinely the smart way to move between the popular spots.
Kolbi or Claro. Way cheaper than roaming, and the data is fast enough for maps and WhatsApp.
May to November brings lower prices, fewer crowds, and the jungle is genuinely lush in a way dry season can't match.
Getting Around Costa Rica
The roads are slower than they look on a map, and some places have no road at all. Here's how to navigate it without losing your mind, or your budget.
Domestic Flights
Best for saving time, especially getting to the Osa Peninsula or Tortuguero. Sansa and Green Airways cover the main routes.
- Cuts hours off overland journeys
- Worth it for Osa or Tortuguero, from about £55 / $67 / €62
- Strict baggage limits, and expensive relative to the distances flown
Car & Campervan
Best for flexibility and national parks. Essential if you're going off the beaten track, and quite a lot of Costa Rica is off the beaten track.
- Total freedom, go where you want, when you want
- Access to remote beaches and parks
- Some roads need 4WD, and fuel plus insurance adds up fast
Public Transport
Best for budget travellers with time on their hands. Slow but dirt cheap, and a genuine way to meet locals along the route.
- San Jose to Manuel Antonio under £6 / $7 / €6.50
- Authentic, and you'll meet locals on the way
- Slow, infrequent, and can get chaotic at busy terminals
Boat & Water Taxi
Best for Tortuguero, Montezuma, and the Osa Peninsula. There's genuinely no road alternative for some of these places.
- Only way in to some areas, Tortuguero especially
- Wildlife spotting en route, genuinely, not an exaggeration
- Weather-dependent, typical fares £12-30 / $15-40 / €14-37
Shared Shuttle
Best for getting between popular destinations without the stress of driving yourself over the mountain roads.
- Door-to-door, no navigation stress at all
- Much cheaper than private, typical routes £20-45 / $25-55 / €23-51
- Fixed departure times, so no real flexibility
Which Is Right For You?
Rental car or shuttle to get there, walk when you're there.
Shared shuttles between each one.
Domestic flight plus boat. No other real option.
Local bus all the way. Just accept it'll take longer.
Quick Tips
Seriously. Even if you think you won't need one, you'll almost certainly need one.
Roads take 2 to 3 times longer than Google Maps says. Always. Plan accordingly.
Mobile signal drops in jungle and mountain areas. Have offline maps ready before you set off.
Especially in rainy season. Roads flood and wash out fast in parts of Costa Rica.
Related Resources
Because good trips still hit bumps. Here's the backup plan.
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here's how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Read the GuidesTheft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won't see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Protect YourselfTravel Insurance
Don't skip this one, especially if you're doing anything adventurous. We compare policies and explain what you actually need.
Find the Right PolicyCosta Rica Travel FAQs
The questions we get asked most, answered honestly.
Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?
Is Costa Rica safe for tourists?
How long do I need in Costa Rica?
What's the best way to get around?
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
How much does Costa Rica cost per day?
Do I need travel insurance for Costa Rica?
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