Costa Rica is a favourite destination for travellers looking for an exceptional travel experience that suits every type of budget. Whether you are an adrenalin junkie or a beach lover, it is a must to pay a visit to this amazing Central American country with Caribbean and Pacific coastlines.
Best known for its immense biodiversity, impressive volcanoes, and fantastic beaches – the palm-fringed coast is just perfect for sunning and surfing. No wonder it has become one of the top favourite countries in the world among tourists and travellers.
Get ready for the gorgeous beaches and never-ending activities. Enjoy a plethora of wildlife, food, and friendly people. Make your trip even more memorable by arranging for the most comfortable stay.
Read: Top 5 Places to Celebrate Your Honeymoon
Costa Rica Guide Table of Contents
Food and Accommodation in Costa Rica
The local food in Costa Rica uses spices, flavours and fresh ingredients that are sure to excite your mouth. You can expect to pay 535-1,600 CRC for meals. You can get delicious snacks and light food at roadside street vendors that can cost as low as 265 CRC. Check out local favourites regarding meals and lodging, plus take advantage of savings and exceptional service.
Read: Nine Dishes in Nine Cities as Recommended by Nine Food Writers
Accommodations in Costa Rica are more affordable than you think. You can quickly get a place to stay between 4,000 and 10,000 CRC per day. Other hotels start at around 20,000 CRC per night.
What to do and see in Costa Rica
The amazing country of Costa Rica feels like paradise as there is so much to do and see here. You can enjoy surfing, diving and swimming. Yoga fans may wish to seek out yoga and wellness retreats, or you can find a quiet spot to get away from the crowds. Visit Tortuguero National Park, one of the most significant breeding grounds for the endangered green turtle. Spot different species of monkeys and sloths here. San José, the capital, is an excellent hub for socializing and enjoying fun activities. Another of the top tourist attractions in Costa Rica is the fantastic volcanoes, and there are several places where one can combine a tour of the volcanos with rafting, kayaking, or hiking. Costa Rican coffee is world-famous, so do not miss the chance to go to one of the many Coffee plantations where you can see every step of the refining process. La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a favourite stop for tourists, where they can visit the hummingbird garden, aviary, reptiles, big cats and more.
Unusual Tours in Costa Rica
Leafcutter Ant Tour
The dense Costa Rican rainforest houses thousands of species of wildlife, including many insects, that play an essential role in the ecosystem. With all this incredible wildlife, it’s too easy to overlook the tiniest creatures, the leafcutter ant. In the river area of Heredia Province, within the Sarapiquí region, guided tours provide visitors with an up-close and personal look at active leafcutter colonies. Travellers will learn about colony caste divisions as they watch the ants cut and transport leaves. If you are lucky, you may even spot the queen ant!
Rainy Day Fungi Tour
Guided hiking tours to see the fungi of Costa Rica’s rainforests, known to have the highest fungal biodiversity on Earth, are aimed at nature enthusiasts and travellers eager to find, identify, photograph, and sometimes taste some of the world’s rarest fungi. Tours run throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the nation’s rainy season. Explore areas that scientists are actively investigating while aiding in rainforest conservation efforts.
Cacao Tour for the Chocolate Lover
Cacao grows throughout the Caribbean and South America but is particularly important in Costa Rica. A sacred crop among the indigenous Chorotega and Bribri communities, cacao was highly prized and used as currency until the 1930s. Visitors to cacao plantations in Guanacaste, Alajuela, Limón, Cartago, and Puntarenas can personally roast and grind cacao beans and create chocolate treats. On a cacao tour, learn the culture, history, traditions and hidden secrets of bean fermentation and sun-drying of chocolate and cacao.
Traditional Medicinal Plant Tour
Naturally, beautiful plants growing in Costa Rica have also been sources of traditional remedies for the Indigenous populations across the country. Medicinal Plant tours are interactive experiences where you can feel and smell the plants to identify their textures and scent. Travellers can visit the foothills of the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, La Fortuna, and the Southern Zone, where local experts offer hikes and nature walks through forests and fields where they identify the healing powers provided by trees, herbs, roots, and vines. Learn about the medicinal properties of plants like ginger, moringa, or chaya leaves and hear stories of the locals who cultivate them. At the same time, guides will explain how plants can prevent diseases such as cancer, diabetes, allergies, and stress.
Corcovado National Park Tour
A Corcovado National Park tour offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Located on the Osa Peninsula, this park is home to rare wildlife, including jaguars, scarlet macaws, and tapirs. Tours typically include guided hikes through lush rainforests, wildlife watching, and boat trips to nearby secluded beaches. Whether you choose a day tour or a multi-day adventure, a visit to Corcovado provides an unforgettable experience in one of Costa Rica’s most pristine natural environments.
Educational Bat Tours
In the Monteverde cloud forest in the Sarapiquí region, visitors will learn about the diversity and abundance of bats (there are more than 116 species) in Costa Rica. Learn about the bat’s natural history, classification, adaptations, reproduction, threats, and more. Travellers will leave the tour with a greater understanding of bat conservation’s importance and ecological benefits through interactive and educational tours led by highly trained and experienced guides.
Read the article: A Daring Date with the Bats of Austin Texas
Enjoy Costa Rica on a Budget
If you travel off-season, from late April through November, everything is much less expensive and less crowded. Avoid the winter months when the tourists and prices double. Enjoy your meals at “Sodas,” small family-run restaurants that specialize in good, inexpensive food at just around 1,065 CRC. Rent a tent and enjoy camping at many places near the resorts and hostels. Camping is an ideal way to keep food and lodging costs down.
A trip to Costa Rica, with its surfing, diving and fantastic beaches, is like a trip to paradise!
Check out these tours:
