Costa Rica travel guide




Costa Rica is...
Costa Rica isn't...
Our Costa Rica Vacations
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
Costa Rica highlights vacation & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
Costa Rica highlights vacation
Two weeks exploring the highlights of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica wildlife vacation, Coastal Secrets
Wildlife rich waterways of Tortuguero to the dense jungle
Costa Rica tour
Explore the Caribbean coast to the Pacific
Costa Rica vacation, off the beaten track
Off the usual tourist trail in 3 weeks.
Family volunteering with turtles in Costa Rica
Family turtle conservation volunteering in Costa Rica
Self drive vacation in Costa Rica, Pacific Coast
Self-drive Costa Rica's Pacific coast, away from the crowds
Costa Rica 13 day family vacation
Spend your summer vacation in the land of Pura Vida!
Costa Rica wildlife tour
Experience Costa Rica's incredible wildlife and wilderness
Costa Rica Wildlife tour, small group
Visit one of most biologically intense places on earth
Natural highlights tour of Costa Rica
A tropical paradise bursting with wildlife
Wildlife rescue volunteering in Costa Rica
Assist caring for rescued animals in Costa Rica
Costa Rica vacation, tailor made
Great value vacation through stunning Costa Rica
Costa Rica family tour, 11 days
Head into nature and explore Costa Rica's highlights
Central America cycling vacation
Colonial cities, cloud forests and tropical island paradise
Costa Rica and Nicaragua self drive vacation
Self drive vacation through the best of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Costa Rica turtle conservation experience
Help protect turtles by volunteering in Costa Rica!
Coast to coast cycling vacation in Costa Rica
Take in the variety of Costa Rica by bike
Costa Rica tailor made adventure
Off the beaten track tailor made adventure in Costa Rica
Costa Rica and Panama vacation
The classic Costa Rica and little known treasures of Panama
Costa Rica family vacation
Discover Costa Rica's famous national parks
Costa Rica and Galapagos wildlife vacation
Galapagos wildlife cruise plus Costa Rica nature/beach week
Turtle conservation in Costa Rica
Join a conservation team protecting sea turtle populations
Costa Rica wildlife vacation, private depature
Explore the wildlife of this extraordinarily diverse country
Costa Rica vegan adventure vacation
Multi-activity vegan adventure vacation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica activity vacation, including volunteering
Cultural integration, nature conservation & community work
Costa Rica nature adventure tour
Immerse yourself in the scenary of Costa Rica.
Central America small group tour
Epic Central American journey from Mexico to Costa Rica.
What we rate & what we don't
Turtle conservation
Pacuare
Tico culture
Caribbean coast
Tortuguero
Wonderful wildlife
Arenal Volcano
Family travel
Manuel Antonio
Tamarindo
Active Arenal
Self defence
Our top Costa Rica Vacation
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
2021: 10 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 30 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 18 Nov, 23 Nov, 27 Nov, 18 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
2022: 1 Jan, 6 Jan, 8 Jan, 13 Jan, 15 Jan, 22 Jan, 27 Jan, 29 Jan, 3 Feb, 5 Feb, 19 Feb, 24 Feb, 26 Feb, 3 Mar, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 17 Mar, 19 Mar, 24 Mar, 26 Mar, 30 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 9 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep ...
Food, shopping & people
Eating & drinking in Costa Rica
The national dish is gallo pinto, the staple of black beans and rice.The humble plantain multitasks like few other fruits. Thinly sliced and deep fried, it makes a tasty, salty-sweet snack called chifles. Mashed, refried plantains, called patacones are filling and delicious.
Casado refers to a set lunch in local restaurants, usually consisting of gallo pinto, plantains and salad – plus beef, fish or pork.
The tropical climate makes this paradise for fruit lovers. Fresh juices are ubiquitous and cheap; we recommend creamy guanábana, also known as soursop.


People & language
Gifts & shopping
You’re sure to sample Salsa Lizano, a savoury condiment present on every Tico table. It’s slightly sweet, slightly spicy – and tastes great with everything. Be sure to pick up a bottle before you leave.An hour away from San José, the little town of Sarchi is an artisan-filled shopper’s paradise. You can pick up wood and leather rocking chairs that fold down into a box, traditional ceramics from the region of Guanacaste, and colourful masks and jewellery.
Oxcarts – known as carretas – were used to carry coffee across the mountains. These were brightly painted, reflecting the region their owner came from – and have now been recognised by UNESCO as heritage symbols. Miniature painted oxcarts are a truly Tico souvenir.


How much does it cost?
Drop-in yoga session: £6.60
Casado (set lunch) at a soda cafe: £2.45
Bottle of Imperial beer in a bar: £1.60
Coffee tour in Alajuela: £10.50
Entry to San José National Museum:
£8.70; half price for students; free for under 12s