Where to stay in Costa Rica

If you're looking for a hotel in Costa Rica, Booking.com constantly offers the cheapest rates and has the largest selection of accommodation. The platform offers competitive prices and in many cases allows cancellations free of charge.

Costa Rica travel insurance

I recommend travel insurance at IATI or Heymondo 5% discount with this link. Do you already have travel insurance for your holiday in Costa Rica?

When to visit Costa Rica

The tropical climate divides the year into two seasons: a rainy season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. There aren't many differences in temperature, except those caused by variations in altitude.

The Caribbean coast has high humidity for most of the year, with temperatures hovering around 30°C during the day.

After Easter the crowds disappear and don't come back until June or July, so in the meantime you'll benefit from more affordable hotel prices.

The best times to visit Costa Rica tend to be in April (after Easter), May and November, when the rains are beginning or ending, and the country is green and empty of tourists.

In the rainy season, the mornings are (usually) sunny and the afternoons rainy. The rains are heaviest in September and October, but they will only prevent you from travelling to the most remote parts of the country - especially the Nicoya Peninsula - where the dirt roads are impassable for all but off-road vehicles.

Running out of time in Costa Rica?

Book in advance to avoid unforeseen problems, the best tours, activities and transfers with GetYourGuide. Don't forget to check out the passes and monument tickets, which offer easy access to various attractions. often at a discount.

Flight to Costa Rica

Skyscanner is a platform for finding cheap flights quickly and easily. With a simple interface and price comparisons from various companies, this is an essential tool for planning your trip.

Renting a car in Costa Rica

A DiscoverCars is a car hire comparison and booking platform that lets you find the best deals in 8,000 destinations. With a simple interface and transparent pricing options, it's a great choice for anyone looking to hire a car.

Money in Costa Rica

I use Wise and Revolut cards to avoid bank fees and commissions. Wise and Revolut are great for travelling, as they both offer prepaid travel cards that allow you to make purchases and withdrawals in different currencies, without fees and without complications. I always travel with both.

Internet and Wifi in Costa Rica

The most affordable method of accessing the internet is to use this eSIM (with 15% discount). Discover the world without worrying about roaming and access high-speed internet in over 190 countries.

Luggage in Costa Rica

Store your luggage safely and cheaply so you can explore Costa Rica without the weight of your suitcases. This storage service allows you to shop your belongings in shops, hotels and other partners. Booking can be done online in just a few seconds and the service is available 24 hours a day.

Despite being located in a remote area - in the north-east of the country - and only accessible by boat or aeroplane, Tortuguero National Park is one of the most visited in Costa Rica.

This is due not only to the fantastic biodiversity of flora and fauna, but in particular to the fact that this is one of the most important turtle sanctuaries in the Americas.

It is on the beaches of Tortuguero that thousands of sea turtles nest and lay their eggs between July and October each year and not even the fact that this is one of the places with the highest rainfall in Costa Rica hinders the efforts of this magnificent marine creature.

Guided tours are recommended to limit the disturbance caused by the growing number of tourists, and the guides know the area well and enrich the experience.

The park covers an area of over 120 square kilometres, protecting not only turtles, but also swamps, forests and one of Costa Rica's most delicate reefs.

Approximately 50% of Costa Rica's bird and reptile species are found in the park, along with an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, including some endangered mammals such as the jaguar, sloth, tapir and manatee.

On walks or boat trips along the canals, you may also spot monkeys, tapirs and quincaju - a nocturnal mammal with a rounded head, small ears and snout that feeds on fruit and insects.

The list of animals is immense and also includes caimans, crocodiles, freshwater turtles, lizards, snakes, frogs and other amphibians. Although there are many beaches in the region, the coastal area is not suitable for swimming because the currents are strong and dangerous and sharks can be seen in the waters.

Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Costa Rica's national park system, Corcovado National Park is a fantastic place to come into contact with precious wildlife.

The highlight in terms of wildlife is the jaguar, which can be spotted on Corcovado, especially on long-distance hikes.

Corcovado is one of the most complex freshwater and saltwater ecosystems on the planet and a refuge for more than 500 species of trees, 6000 species of insects, 140 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 115 species of amphibians and reptiles, 40 species of fish as well as sloths, crocodiles and butterflies.

It is also one of the few places in Costa Rica that is home to the squirrel monkey - an endangered species - and 10% of the mammals found in the Americas.

Located on the Osa Peninsula in south-west Costa Rica, Corcovado is home to various ecosystems including mangroves and rainforest. There are various routes, especially long-distance ones, which include crossing forests and rivers, even those inhabited by crocodiles.

Some of the best coastal rainforest trails in Central America can be found on the Osa Peninsula, which is part of this protected area that includes the Corcovado National Park.

In addition to surfing, which is one of the main highlights, other popular activities in the region are diving, snorkelling and fishing. Puerto Jiménez is the largest town in the region, and several guesthouses can be found in the Drake Bay area. The best time to visit is when it rains less - from January to April.

Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest park in Costa Rica, but it is the most visited because it is easily accessible from the Costa Rican capital, San José.

Located on the Pacific coast, near the laid-back town of Quepos, Manuel Antonio comprises a diversity of ecosystems, including lush tropical forests, white sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs.

Wildlife, beaches and a diversity of wildlife are what attract visitors to Manuel António National Park. In contrast to this tranquillity is the small town of Manuel António, known for its liveliness.

Guided walks through the park make it easy to spot wildlife, but even those who venture into the park on their own will have no trouble finding monkeys, sloths and various types of birds.

Picnic areas and viewpoints along the coastal paths are perfect for taking a break, recharging your batteries and enjoying your picnic and the beautiful coastal scenery.

Until recent years, Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica, and the frequent lava explosions provided incredible spectacles. However, in 2010, Arenal's cycle entered a resting phase, putting an indefinite pause on the eruptions.

The Arena Volcano National Parkis located in the rugged Tilarán mountain range and the park's main attraction is the Arenal volcano, which rises to 1633 metres. Arenal had been dormant since the 1500s until a violent eruption in 1968 killed 82 people and destroyed two villages.

The park is also known for its biodiversity, with approximately half of all Costa Rica's birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals represented in its neighbouring area.

The lush green mountains and tropical jungle, shrouded in clouds, amplify the concert of exotic birds, animals and insects. Located in the centre of Costa Rica, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the country's most visited tourist destinations.

This is due to its astonishing natural beauty, extraordinary biodiversity and abundance of activities, including zip-lining and walks above the treetops.

The Monteverde and Santa Elena forests have become popular ecotourism destinations. The clouds that cover these forests provide the necessary humidity to sustain unique habitats for mammals, amphibians and reptiles, from jaguars and pumas to frogs and monkeys.

Monteverde is a small community scattered along several kilometres of road leading to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The village of Santa Elena is the closest town to the reserve and has its own forest, although it is much less visited.

Monteverde has a number of other attractions, such as the Butterfly Garden, the Serpentarium, a cheese factory and art galleries. Various routes allow visitors to wander between coffee and banana plantations or up to the top of the hills for views of the forest and, on a clear day, the Arenal Volcano.

The area is known for its tasty Monteverde coffee, so make sure you try some good coffee and buy beans or ground coffee to savour at home later.