Costa Rica Travel Guide
Costa Rica is a Central American country with a diverse geography which includes tropical forest and Caribbean and Ocean Pacific coasts. The most famous Costa Rican phrase is: “PURA VIDA” (simple life or pure life) which defines what Costa Rica is. You will learn more about it when travelling around Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Costa Rica is home of more than 50,000 species in land and ocean. Also, an amazing flora with more than 1400 orchid types, ficus and figs trees. Costa Rica offers impressive volcanoes, cloudy forests, verdant valleys and beautiful beaches, as well as delicious traditional food, good weather and the friendliest people.
How to get to Costa Rica?
The best way to travel
to Costa Rica is by plane. There are plenty of international Airlines that
offer daily flights. Like: Avianca, Delta Airlines, Jet Blue, United Airlines and
British Airways.
There are two main
airports:
- Juan Santa María International Airport (SJO) is the main airport, it is in Alajuela city, 10.5 miles (17 km.) from San José.
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport also known as Liberia Airport or Guanacaste Airport. 5 miles (8 km) from Liberia.
When to visit Costa Rica?
Like more places in
the tropics, Costa Rica experiences 2 well-defined seasons. Rainy season between
May and November mostly cloudy and humid; and Dry season from December to
April, partially cloudy. You can say, it is usually warm all year long. Weather
can vary depending on the region. So, when to come? I would say all around the year is a good time!!!
Where to go?
What to do in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a
popular destination choice for nature lovers and adventure seekers. It offers a
wide range of outdoors activities surrounded by incredible natural landscapes. Visitors’
favorites are rafting, hanging bridges, canopy, sky tram, hiking trails,
birdwatching among others.
Best things to do in Costa
Rica
- La Fortuna Waterfall excursion (Arenal)
- Hot springs (Arenal)
- Hanging Bridges (Arenal and Manuel
Antonio)
- Canopy (Arenal y Monteverde)
- Manuel Antonio National Park (Manuel Antonio)
- Birdwatching (Monteverde)
-Sky Tram / Sky trek / Sky walk
(Arenal and Monteverde)
- Extreme Rafting (Arenal and Manuel
Antonio)
Where to stay in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica offers
beautiful luxury hotels with Spa and Hot Springs to relax. As well as other
hotels for all types of budgets and travelers.
Best Hotels in Costa Rica
- Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa
(Arenal)
- The Springs Resort and Spa (Arenal)
- El Silencio Lodge & Spa (Arenal)
- Baldi Hot Springs Resort Hotel &
Spa (Arenal)
- Nayara Gardens (Arenal)
- Hotel Arenal Springs Resort &
Spa (Arenal)
- Barceló San José (San José)
- Los Altos Resort (Manuel Antonio)
- La Mariposa Hotel (Manuel Antonio)
- Fondavela Boutique Hotel (Monteverde)
What to eat in Costa Rica?
Forget about the diet
in Costa Rica. Here you can try the best traditional food and its varied
mixture of flavors influenced by indigenous cultures from the coasts and
forests as well as the immigrant’s influence.
Main Costa Rican
ingredients are chicken, rice, and beans but there is plenty of sea food and
tropical fruits. Just take a walk by the local markets to see the colorful
products they have.
We recommend:
- Gallo Pinto (beans and rice mix)
- Gallo or puntalito (chicken, beef or picadillos on a
corn tortilla, similar to a taco)
- Casado (meat, rice, fried plantains, salad)
- Patacones (fried plantains snacks)
- Sopa Negra (Black beans soup)
- Rice pudding (dessert made with
rice, milk, sugar and lemon)
Where to eat in Costa Rica?
- Don Rufino (Arenal): For over 10 years,
Don Rufino has forged its outstanding reputation as a preferred dining spot in
the Arenal area, by beautifully mixing the best local flavors with those of the
world cuisine.
- Grano De Oro Restaurant (San José). It is
considered one of the finest restaurant in San Jose. It offers a fusión bewteen
French Mediterranean Cuisine with Costa Rican tropical ingredients.
- Tin Jo - Asian Restaurant (San José): It offers you different types of
Asian food: Thailand, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian and vegetarian, and
also gluten free food.
- Morphos Restaurant (Monteverde): Great spot for lunch and the views of the área. Make sure you
go in time for sunset!. It offers local cuisine, American, Central American,
Costa Rican and International too.
- Marlin Restaurant (Manuel Antonio). It
offers Latin food, seafood. It is vegtarian friendly and has vegan and gluten
free options.
- Chimera (Monteverde): Considered as one the
best rerstaurants in Costa Rica. It offers Latin and local cuisine. Perfect for
sharing among a group of friends and especially for a romantic tasting dinner,
each dish is an inspired fusion.
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