Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Costa Rica travel guide: what to see, when to go and how much it costs

Volcanoes, cloud forests, sloths and Pacific beaches: what to see in Costa Rica and our 9-day tours with flights from Lisbon.

From Arenal Volcano to the Monteverde forest and the beaches of Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste: everything you need to know for your trip to Costa Rica.

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Trips

Trips to Costa Rica

Climate and seasons

When to go to Costa Rica

Pick the month of your trip and see what to expect from the weather and nature.

When do you want to go?

Dry seasonGreen seasonRain on the Pacific, sun on the Caribbean

Palmares festival and northern whales

In mid-January, the Fiestas de Palmares bring music, horse parades and Costa Rican-style bullfights. Humpback whales from the northern hemisphere arrive in the South Pacific.

What you will see

  • Beach
  • Arenal
  • Whales

Little rain and plenty of sun, especially on the Pacific and in Guanacaste. It is high season: book ahead. From December to March humpback whales can still be seen in the South Pacific.

Tour dates open throughout the year: choose the date that suits you and we will confirm the price.

Before you go

What to know before your trip to Costa Rica

Where to stay in Costa Rica

Planned hotels or similar, with breakfast: 1 night in San José, 2 in La Fortuna (Arenal), 2 in Monteverde and 2 on the beach. On the Guanacaste tour you choose the hotel and board basis for the 2 beach nights.

Flights and transfers in Costa Rica

Scheduled flight from Lisbon in economy class, with a stopover. Within the country, travel between regions is by shared transfers with other travellers. Mountain roads are slow: allow half a day for each change of region.

What level of fitness you need

The walks are easy or moderate hikes on forest trails, which can be muddy in the green season. No special preparation is needed: you just need to enjoy walking.

What to eat in Costa Rica

The typical breakfast is gallo pinto (rice and beans). At lunch, order a casado, the dish of the day with rice, beans, salad and meat or fish. There is tropical fruit everywhere and the coffee is excellent.

Documents for travelling to Costa Rica

EU and UK citizens do not need a visa for tourism. Bring a passport valid for at least 6 months and your return ticket. The airport departure tax is usually included in the plane ticket.

Vaccinations and health in Costa Rica

No vaccinations are required for travellers arriving from Europe. Yellow fever is only required if you come from a country at risk. See a travel health clinic and bring mosquito repellent.

Money and tipping in Costa Rica

The currency is the colón (CRC), but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and cards work well. In restaurants the bill already includes a 10% service charge.

A trip to Costa Rica is for people who want real nature: active volcanoes, cloud forests with hanging bridges, beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean, and sloths, toucans and monkeys by the roadside. In this guide we explain what to see in Costa Rica, when to go, how to get there from Europe, how many days you need and how much it costs, and we show our two 9-day tours with flights.

Why visit Costa Rica

Costa Rica is small, safe to travel and has some of the richest nature on the planet. On a single tour you go from volcano to forest and from forest to beach.

  • VolcanoesArenal, a perfect cone with hot springs at its foot.
  • Cloud forestsMonteverde and its hanging bridges above the treetops.
  • Wildlifesloths, monkeys, toucans and colourful frogs, often in sight without searching.
  • Two oceansthe Pacific of Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste and the Caribbean of Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo.
  • Pura vidathe Costa Rican expression that means hello, thank you and a way of life.

Our Costa Rica tours

Costa Rica at a glance

  • CapitalSan José.
  • LanguageSpanish. English is spoken in tourist areas.
  • CurrencyCosta Rican colón (CRC). US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
  • Time zone6 hours behind the UK in winter and 7 hours behind in summer.
  • Flightsthere are direct flights from Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt and London of about 11 hours. Our tours fly from Lisbon with a stopover, about 15 hours in total.
  • Plugstype A and B, 120 V. Bring an adapter.

What to see in Costa Rica: 10 places

  • 01

    Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

    The country's most famous volcano rises above the town of La Fortuna. There are trails in Arenal Volcano National Park, hot springs and Lake Arenal. Both of our Costa Rica tours spend 2 nights here.
  • 02

    La Fortuna Waterfall

    A waterfall of about 70 metres in the middle of the forest, a few minutes from La Fortuna. You walk down a long staircase and can swim in the pool if the flow allows.
  • 03

    Monteverde

    The cloud forest, almost always wrapped in mist, with hanging bridges, ziplines between the trees and night walks to see frogs and insects. It is also where people look for the quetzal.
  • 04

    Manuel Antonio National Park

    White-sand beaches inside the forest on the Central Pacific, with monkeys, sloths and iguanas. It is small, but one of the most beautiful parks in the country. Closed on Tuesdays. See the Costa Rica tour with Manuel Antonio.
  • 05

    Guanacaste and the Pacific beaches

    The dry, sunny north-west, with the most popular beaches for relaxing, surfing and sunsets over the Pacific. It is the beach finale of the Costa Rica tour with Guanacaste.
  • 06

    Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano

    A turquoise-blue river that looks painted, with a waterfall in the middle of the forest. It is done as an excursion from Guanacaste or Arenal, on a morning hike.
  • 07

    Tortuguero

    Jungle canals reachable only by boat and a beach where sea turtles come to nest. It is on the Caribbean side and not on our tours, but we can add it in a tailor-made quote.
  • 08

    Puerto Viejo and the Caribbean

    Afro-Caribbean Costa Rica: reggae, coconut-milk cooking and palm-fringed beaches. A great end to a trip for anyone who wants a beach away from the crowds.
  • 09

    Cahuita National Park

    A flat trail by the sea, between the forest and the coral reef, where it is easy to see toucans, sloths and howler monkeys.
  • 10

    San José

    The capital is the gateway to the trip. If you have a few hours, see the National Theatre, the Central Market and the Pre-Columbian Gold and Jade museums.

Wildlife and national parks

About a quarter of Costa Rica is protected in national parks and reserves. In the forests and on the beaches you will find:

  • Slothstwo-toed and three-toed, hanging in the trees of Manuel Antonio, Cahuita or Arenal.
  • Monkeyscapuchins, howlers and the squirrel monkey, which only lives on the Central and South Pacific.
  • Birdstoucans, macaws and the quetzal, sacred bird of the Maya, in Monteverde.
  • Turtles and whalesturtles nesting in Tortuguero and humpback whales in the South Pacific.

A tip: in the parks, a naturalist guide with a telescope makes all the difference. You will see ten times more animals.

When to go to Costa Rica

The dry season runs from December to April and is the most popular, especially on the Pacific. May to November is the green season: sunny mornings, afternoon rain, very green landscapes and lower prices. September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific and, by contrast, among the driest on the Caribbean. See below what to expect at each time of year.

How to get there from Europe

There are direct flights to San José from Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt and London, of about 11 hours. From Portugal there is no direct flight: the usual route is via Madrid. Our tours include the economy flight from Lisbon with taxes, and we can also quote departures from Porto, Faro and several European cities.

How many days and which itinerary

  • 9 days (7 nights)San José, Arenal, Monteverde and a Pacific beach, Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste. This is the itinerary of our tours.
  • 12 daysadd Tortuguero or the Caribbean of Puerto Viejo and Cahuita.
  • 15 days or moreadd the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado, the wildest part of the country.

How much a trip to Costa Rica costs

A 9-day trip to Costa Rica with flights from Lisbon, 7 hotel nights with breakfast, transfers, insurance and taxes costs from €1,335 per person. The final price depends on the date and on flight and hotel availability: choose your date and we will confirm the price. Not included are meals other than breakfast, national park entrance fees and the excursions you choose on the free days.

TripDaysFromNext departure
Costa Rica Tour with Manuel Antonio: 9 Days with Flights from Lisbon9€1,335Dates on request
Costa Rica Tour with Guanacaste: 9 Days with Flights and Beach9€1,395Dates on request

Choose your tour

Where to stay

On our tours you stay at the planned hotels or similar, with breakfast: 1 night in San José, 2 in La Fortuna by Arenal Volcano, 2 in Monteverde and 2 on the beach, in Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste. In Guanacaste you choose the hotel and board basis for the 2 beach nights.

Practical information

  • DocumentsEU and UK citizens do not need a visa for tourism. Bring a passport valid for at least 6 months and your return ticket.
  • Healthno vaccinations are required for travellers coming from Europe. Bring insect repellent and see a travel health clinic before you go.
  • Moneycards are accepted almost everywhere. Bring some US dollars in small notes.
  • Clothinglight clothes, a rain jacket, trail shoes and a jacket for Monteverde, where nights are cool.

Frequently asked questions about travelling to Costa Rica

Do I need a visa for Costa Rica?

EU and UK citizens do not need a visa for tourism. The length of stay is granted on arrival by the immigration authorities. Bring a valid passport and your return ticket.

How long is the flight to Costa Rica?

Direct flights from Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt or London take about 11 hours. From Lisbon, with a stopover in Madrid, allow about 15 hours.

When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?

The dry season, from December to April, is the safest bet for sunshine. In the green season, from May to November, it rains in the afternoon but there are fewer people and prices drop.

Is Costa Rica safe?

It is one of the calmest countries in Central America. Take the usual care with valuables, especially in San José and on the beaches, and never leave anything visible in a car.

What currency is used in Costa Rica?

The Costa Rican colón (CRC). US dollars are accepted in hotels, restaurants and on excursions, and cards work almost everywhere.

How many days do you need in Costa Rica?

At least 9 days to see Arenal Volcano, Monteverde and a Pacific beach. With 12 to 15 days you can add the Caribbean or Corcovado.

What to see in Costa Rica on a first trip?

Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna, the Monteverde cloud forest and a Pacific beach: Manuel Antonio for nature and wildlife, or Guanacaste for sun and sand.

Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste?

Manuel Antonio is rainforest running down to the sea, full of animals. Guanacaste is drier, with long beaches, resorts and sunsets. We have a tour for each.