Overview
Sights and Activities
Planning Your Trip
Accommodations
Basics
Outdoor Recreation
Beyond Tourism
The Spanish explorers who first arrived at this “rich coast” in 1502 named the region for the decorative gold bands worn by its native inhabitants and for the fortunes they hoped to attain there. Despite this optimistic viewpoint, later explorers found themselves unable to discover gold—or material riches of any sort—anywhere along the coast. Indeed, the country’s only riches seemed to be its endless armies of mosquitoes and its unforgiving jungles, neither of which colonial settlers found in short supply. These days, however, most visitors to Costa Rica would probably attest that its initial name was not such a misnomer after all. Its well-oiled tourist industry is only too happy to recount the country’s impressive statistics: though it covers only 0.03% of the world’s territory, Costa Rica is home to 6% of its plant and animal species. Much of this 6% is out in full pageantry, and Costa Rica’s native sons will show you the marvels of natural selection proving and amusing itself—from camouflaged vine snakes to Jesucristo lizards that “walk on water” in fantastic 50 yd. dashes. Many Costa Rican creatures come off as performers, and there is something decidedly exhibitionist about their homeland as well. The terrain seems to include all possible landforms: volcanoes, jungles, beaches, coral reefs, hidden caves, and deserted islands all lie within a day’s (or even an hour’s) travel of one another.
Sometimes it feels like the only thing this country can’t offer is a corner that travelers haven’t already found and conquered—leaving fusion bistros and high-tech canopy tours in their wake. Fortunately, rustic spots never lie too far from range, and Costa Rica’s national character has remained surprisingly visible beneath the trappings of its tourist infrastructure. Though you’ll find plenty of gringos lounging on the beaches of the Pacific, you’ll find vacationing tico families enjoying them as well. Their tico friendliness only adds to the charm of the country. While Costa Rica might entice you with the convenience and flashy superlatives of its tourism industry, its more informal moments—a sudden jungle rainstorm or an unexpected roadside chat—are those that will probably end up capturing your heart.
Dry or rainy? That’s the most important thing to ask when planning a trip to Costa Rica. The rainy season is winter, which generally falls between May and November. The rest of the year, from ...more
No country in the world better embodies the adage “good things come in small packages” like Costa Rica does. Though the entire country could be placed squarely inside the US state of Maine ...more
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For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.