Costa Rica Trip Planner and Vacation Guide

Background Info On Costa Rica

Language

The main language is Spanish. Most people in tourism speak some English.

Currency

Costa Rican colones. US dollars are also widely accepted.

Outlets

110 volt (same as the US)

International Airports

  • Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose
  • Liberia International Airport (LIR) in Liberia.

Popular Places to Visit

Manuel Antonio | Tamarindo | Monteverde | La Fortuna

Must Do Activities

zip lining | exploring national parks | surfing | relax on beaches

How to Get to Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to two international airports with several international flights arriving and departing daily. Getting here is easier than you might think!

san jose costa rica airport view

Make Your Trip Happen

car rental liberia airport

How to Get around

We think the best way to get around is by rental car. However, there are also several other convenient options including shared shuttle, private shuttle, and public bus.

Have Some Questions? We’ve Answered Them Below

Is Costa Rica expensive?

Costa Rica is considered the most expensive country in Central America. That being said, it is possible to stick to a budget by traveling at off-peak times, staying at less fancy hotels, and by doing more budget-friendly activities such as exploring the beaches and national parks.

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What is the best time of year to visit Costa Rica?

The dry season in Costa Rica runs from mid-December through mid-April. This is the most popular time to plan a Costa Rica vacation. However, this is also the busiest and most expensive time to visit.

Check out our guide to weather and the climtae in Costa Rica for more info

Is it safe to visit Costa Rica?

In general, Costa Rica is safe. However, petty theft has been known to occur. It is best to keep an eye on your belongings and don’t bring overly expensive items that could make you a target or get stolen.

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Which towns do you recommend?

If you are traveling for one week I suggest one beach and one jungle town.

Popular beach towns are; Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Santa Teresa, Nosara, Samara, Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, and Puerto Viejo.

The most popular jungle towns are Monteverde and La Fortuna.

What is the best transportation method?

We like to have a rental car because it provides the most flexibility in exploring unique places. However, you might also opt for domestic flights, shared shuttles, private shuttles, or public buses.

Check Out our guide to transportation for more info

And don’t forget to book your rental car through our website for a 10% dicsount plus other great perks. Book your discounted car here.

Which airport is better to fly in and out of?

The Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose is best if you would like a central location to get anywhere in the country. However, the area around the airport is very hectic.

The Liberia International Airport (LIR) is located in the northwest corner of the country. This is a much more peaceful airport experience and is great for exploring the beach towns in the Guanacaste Province.

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Are there any entry requirements I need to know about?

You will need a valid passport and proof that you will be leaving the country within 90 days (unless you have a visa). You do not need any vaccines unless you are coming from a country that currently has a threat of Yellow Fever.

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What are some must do activities in the country?

There are so many amazing things to do in the country that this is difficult to narrow down.

For beach activities we suggest; go surfing, take a catamaran tour, go snorkeling, go fishing, and relax at a beach bar.

For jungle activities we suggest; white water rafting, zip lining, explore a national park, take an ATV tour, and visit a volcano.

Check out our guide to all activities in Costa Rica for more info

Is Costa Rica a good destination for families?

Yes, I think it is a great destination for families. There are plenty of things to do, there are several family-friendly resorts and hotels, and most families should feel safe here.

Check out our guide to traveling in Costa Rica with kids for more info.

Guided Vacation Packages

Take all the stress of vacation planning with these packaged tours

Costa Rica Quest
monteverde hanging bridge
  • Take a wildlife night walk through the Monteverde
  • Admire the impressive Arenal Volcano from a hot spring
  • Swim in turquoise waters and relax on white-sand beaches
Eco-Adventure in CR
Costa Rica Trip Planner and Vacation Guide
  • Take a snorkel day trip and see marine life off the coast of Samara
  • Visit wildlife-filled Tortuguero National Park
  • Go on a thrilling white water adventure through the lush jungle
Costa Rica Adventure
tortuguero costa rica beach
  • Explore the beautiful scenery at Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Swim under the majestic La Fortuna waterfall
  • Experience the captivating Monteverde cloud forest

A Few Costa Rica Vacation Must Know Tips

  • There are no street addresses in Costa Rica. You will need to depend on putting the name of places into your GPS.
  • Despite what some people seem to think, Costa Rica is not an island. It is sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama plus, there is a beautiful Pacific and Caribbean coast.
  • The name for Costa Rican people is ticos (for men) and tica (for women).
  • Pura Vida is the motto for life here. Directly translated it means “pure life.” Here it is used as a greeting and to say “all is good.”
  • The lifestyle here is extremely relaxed. Just note that most likely some of your Costa Rica vacation plans won’t go as planned. Try to roll with it and adapt this chilled-out outlook on life for a bit. You can read our guide to Costa Rican culture for more info
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Are you overwhelmed with planning the perfect vacation to Costa Rica?

Have no fear! We are here to help. Check out our FREE Ultimate Costa Rica Planning E-Book that is jam-packed with must know travel info

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6 Comments

  1. Hi,
    This website has been fantastic. My family is hoping to come to CR in Feb. After two weeks of site seeing my husband will have to return to the USA for work. I am thinking of staying another week with our 4 young children. Do you think this is a safe idea? I would have to navigate on my own to get groceries, drive to parks and get us to the airport..

    1. Hi Jessica. I’m so happy to hear our site has been helpful for you! I think you will be completely fine. Which area are you thinking of staying for the last week alone with the kids? I’m happy to give you tips for activities that you can do with them and easy grocery stores and stuff.

  2. Alison Orvosh says:

    Hello! Thanks for all the information! I have a question about alcohol…if we bring up to the 5 liters, does it really save us money? For example, are the vodka prices in the US cheaper than CR?

    1. Alcohol is definitely cheaper in the US because of the high import tax here, but they actually just opened a duty free shop after you go through Customs to enter at the San Jose airport. I didnt pay too much attention to the prices last time I went through there but if you dont want to lug stuff with you the prices at the duty free shop are probably pretty good. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions as you plan your trip. 🙂

  3. Hello!!!!!!!!!!!

    My name is Aubrey and I will be moving to Playa Samara in Costa Rica in May. I am a type 1 diabetic and I am worried about the insulin and the shipping of supplies. I love this blog and I have learned a lot to help myself prepare. Do you have any insights on meds?

    Thank you!
    Aubrey

    1. Hi Aubrey!
      You’ll love living in Samara!
      I think you might have a difficult time shipping things in. First off, it’s hard to know if things will actually come on a normal schedule. For example, we have had my family ship us things from the US and sometimes it takes two weeks, sometimes two months, sometimes it never comes at all. Plus, with medicine, even if you have a prescription, you never know if it will get stopped because sending medicine is technically not legal.
      Your best bet is probably to find a pharmacy here that can supply you. Pharmacies here are great and carry most medicine you would have in the states. Often you dont even need a prescription.
      If you rather get things from your home country because of insurance purposes, I’d say your best bet is to see if you can get an extended supply.
      Sorry I can’t be more helpful on this topic. I dont know a lot about it, but I will say avoid trying to ship anything into Costa Rica. It’ll just be way too much of a headache.
      Let me know if you have more questions as you plan your move!