Some of the top activities to do in Costa Rica are zip-lining in Monteverde, walking on hanging bridges in Monteverde/La Fortuna, relaxing in hot springs in La Fortuna, taking a canal tour in Tortuguero, white water rafting in Pacuare River, visiting breathtaking waterfalls, and snorkeling in Cano Island. Although this activity takes place when there is no moon, experiencing bioluminescence at one of the islands that give tours is a good option too! Whale watching in Uvita and turtle nesting in Tortuguero takes place every year from July to October. So if you are visiting at this time of the year, you can book a tour.

Although the perception of a “good beach” is subjective, we really like Puerto Viejo for the vibes and deep blue color of the ocean. Our other favorites are - Playa Conchal - For its sand that seems to be made of broken shells. Tamarindo - For the surfing culture and sunsets. Jaco - For the party vibes. Manuel Antonio - For the white sand beach access from its national park.

Though you can spot wildlife in almost every part of Costa Rica, there are some places where you are guaranteed to see animals in the wild. Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Tortuguero, Cahuita, and Puerto Viejo are some of the popular beach towns. Corcovado National Park, Palo Verde National Park, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, and Gandoca Manzanillo are some of the protected areas where you can spot wildlife. Other places like Osa Peninsula, Monteverde, and La Fortuna are great too! Although the animals are not in the wild here, La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is a great place to see Costa Rica’s wildlife in one place (including sloths). It’s an animal sanctuary, and all animals here were rescued and for various reasons could not be released into the wild.

Is your spirit animal the sloth? 😉 Well, who doesn’t like watching sloths? They are so cute that it will melt your heart! Well, the good news is that Costa Rica is full of them. You just need to know the right places to look. Both, 2-toed & 3-toed sloths are commonly found in popular tourist destinations like Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero, Osa Peninsula, Bijagua, and La Fortuna. As mentioned above, La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park, an animal sanctuary, is also a great place to see sloths up close.

The most popular volcano is Arenal Volcano. La Fortuna town offers majestic views of the Arenal volcano from almost every part of the town. La Fortuna is also home to some of the best hot springs in Costa Rica. This combination makes La Fortuna one of the most sought-after destinations in Costa Rica. The other popular volcanoes are Poas Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja, Irazu Volcano, and Turrialba Volcano. Except for Arenal Volcano, the other 4 volcanoes are active.

It depends on which part of Costa Rica you are going to. Costa Rica has two international airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR). SJO is in Alajuela, in the central part of Costa Rica. This airport is convenient if you are planning to head to the Caribbean region, South & Central Pacific, Osa Peninsula, and GAM area. It is more popular, has good connectivity, and has a higher frequency of international flights. Moreover, flights are cheaper for SJO airport. There is no dearth of hotels near the airport. LIR airport is 15 minutes from Liberia. This airport is convenient if you are planning to head to the beaches and popular destinations in Guanacaste. But this is a comparatively smaller airport, and the frequency of flights is low. The flights will cost you more. Also, there aren’t many hotels near this airport.

Costa Rica has two distinctive seasons, wet and dry, also known as winter and summer. The winter/wet season generally lasts from May to November, and the summer/dry season lasts from December to April. Summer is the peak tourist season here. This is also when countries like the US, Canada, and most European countries are experiencing harsh winters. So naturally, Costa Rica is sought after for its pleasant, tropical climate at this time of the year. But no time is a bad time to travel to Costa Rica. Both seasons have their charm. Yes, it rains a lot in the wet season but this is also the time for turtle nesting and whale watching season in Costa Rica i.e. July-October. The wet season also brings out the greenery and makes everything colorful and vibrant around you.

Since the weather of Costa Rica is unpredictable and there are many micro-climates, it can rain anytime here, even in the dry season. And even if it’s rainy season, you may get to experience bright, sunny days. So when deciding what to pack, don’t get fooled by checking the weather updates. Be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions. Therefore, the things that you should pack are - a waterproof jacket/poncho, an umbrella, a light jacket, waterproof hiking boots, a mosquito repellant, sunscreen, a hat/cap, sunglasses, a swimsuit, and a waterproof backpack. If you are on medication, please don’t forget to bring that. We also recommend carrying a water bottle!

Unlike many other developed nations where there is a full-fledged metro, train, and bus system, Costa Rica has a public bus system only. You can find public buses from San Jose to all major destinations in Costa Rica. The condition, facilities, and amenities of the buses are just fine and are a good option for those traveling on a budget and looking to live like a local. While it takes some research to find out all the details about the public transportation here, it is completely doable! For more information, read our detailed blog on public transportation in Costa Rica.

If you don’t mind taking public buses, you can totally manage without a car. As mentioned above, there are buses for most of the popular tourist destinations. But if you want the convenience, flexibility, and luxury of a car, you should rent a car. It is, of course, a costlier option than a bus, but it is faster and saves you transit time.

Dollars are widely accepted in popular tourist destinations of Costa Rica. Most restaurants, tour operators, national parks, and hotels accept dollars. However, you may face difficulty paying in dollars with street vendors and small grocery shops. And, one can always swipe the credit card in the local currency i.e. colones, if dollars do not work. One piece of advice - Some businesses charge a high exchange rate for accepting payments in dollars. So if you are someone who likes to do the math, you may notice that paying in colones is more favorable to you.

As with dollars, locals mostly speak English in popular tourist areas. You will find at least one person who speaks English at restaurants and hotels. For private tours, you can request a guide that speaks English. However, don’t expect bus drivers, small shop owners, street vendors, and locals in the non-tourist destinations to speak English. In fact, even in the central and most populated part of Costa Rica, i.e. GAM area (where we live), we hardly find locals who speak English.

Yes! Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America for tourists. Whether you are a solo traveler, a couple, or a family with kids, you do not have to worry much about your safety in Costa Rica. However, you need to exercise caution at all times as you would do when visiting any other part of the world.

Unlike some countries in Central & South America where tap water is not potable, you can drink tap water in most parts of Costa Rica. But, you should always check with your hotel first. At some popular beaches in Costa Rica, like Santa Teresa, and rural areas, it is not recommended to drink tap water. If you have had instances of stomach infections and diarrhea, or have a sensitive stomach, it is better to take precautions and drink only filtered water. If you want to be eco-friendly, you can carry a water filter with you. I carry my own water bottle everywhere I go and request restaurants to fill it up for me. I have never been denied drinking water so far 🙂

The people of Costa Rica are very warm, welcoming and friendly. Even if you don’t know Spanish, they will be kind to you. Cab drivers would often try to strike up a conversation with you (but not in a threatening way). And because the spirit of “Pura Vida” is imbibed in the people here, they are generally very relaxed and not in a rush. Therefore, they are generally polite and cheerful!

That depends on where you are planning to go. The capital city, San Jose, has a lot of pubs and bars that boast an active nightlife. Popular destinations like Tamarindo, Jaco, Coco, and La Fortuna are bustling with activity on weekend nights. They may seem quiet during the day, but come alive after 9 pm. Rural places and hilly regions like Monteverde do not have much nightlife. It gets dark after 6 pm and businesses start to close down. Even you would want to retire to bed early in such areas!

Like the US and Canada, driving is on the right side of the road in Costa Rica.

In Costa Rica, rice is eaten with almost every meal. If you go to a typical Costa Rican restaurant, you will find Gallo Pinto for breakfast and Casado for lunch & dinner. Other popular dishes are Chifrijo, Ceviche, Caldosas, Chicharron, etc. Gallo Pinto is rice and beans with an addition of a tasty salsa called Lizano. You get to choose from sides of eggs, a tortilla/bread slice, fried plantains, and white cheese. Casado will have white rice, black beans, tortilla/chips, plantain, salad, and animal protein (chicken, fish, beef, pork, etc).

Not really! We are vegetarians and we have had quite a difficulty in ordering food at restaurants. There are no vegetarian restaurants as such in Costa Rica. But you can find one or two vegan restaurants in popular destinations. Some places like Puerto Viejo have a good number of vegan restaurants. As for eating vegetarian food at regular restaurants, you need to know some Spanish in order to explain your requirements to the server. Mexican (rice & beans, tacos, quesadilla), Italian food (pizza, pasta), and Indian restaurants are your best bet. The staple dishes of Costa Rica, Gallo Pinto & Casado, can easily be modified to vegetarian dishes.

There is no compulsion to tip in Costa Rica. Lately, dine-in restaurants and bars in popular tourist places have started adding a 10% service charge to the bill, which is equivalent to a tip. This is separate from an "IVA", which is synonymous with tax. Of course, you are free to additionally tip as per your choice.

Yes, Costa Rica is one of the most expensive countries in Central America. However, it's not more expensive than the US or Canada, and you can find cheap restaurants and hotels that suit your budget.