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InternationalTravel.ai > Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Coastal Beaches

Best Season to Visit: Winter

Best Off-Peak Month to Visit: September

Famous For: Rainforests and biodiversity, Volcanic landscapes, Caribbean and Pacific beaches, Coffee plantations

Train Access: Yes (instituto costarricense de ferrocarriles (incofer), relatively safe)

Bus Service: Yes (Autotransportes San José - San Ramón, Transportes Jacó, Tracopa, among others, relatively safe)

Tourist Visa: Most Western passport holders receive a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival at Costa Rican borders without advance application. Visitors must show a return ticket and proof of funds. No e-visa system exists; entry is granted at immigration upon arrival.

Costa Rica spans from Caribbean beaches to Pacific coastlines, with cloud forests in the Central Valley and volcanic landscapes across the Arenal and Monteverde regions. Travelers hike through Manuel Antonio National Park's rainforest canopy, spot sloths and poison dart frogs in the Osa Peninsula, and surf breaks at Tamarindo and Santa Teresa. The Central Valley around San José offers coffee plantation tours in the Tarrazú region. Visitors zip-line through canopies, white-water raft the Río Pacuare, and relax in natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano. Coastal towns like Puerto Viejo serve Caribbean cuisine with fresh seafood and rice and beans. Wildlife encounters include howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, and sea turtles nesting on Tortuguero's beaches.

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Podcasts

Episode 8: Jake Barber - The Expat Finance Expert Returns

Jake Barber, the Founder and CEO of SJB Global, is a life-long expat and an expert in expat finance. Over the course of Expat Exchange's nearly 30 years online, there are few people we have met with as much lived experience and professional acumen as Jake. We were thrilled to welcome him back to the show and look forward to having him on again!

Episode 6: Jake Barber - Expat Finance Expert and Lifelong Expat

Jake Barber is an expat finance expert and the founder and principal of SJB Global. A lifelong expat currently living in Marbella, Spain, Jake has vast experience helping expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries manage their finances while living abroad. Get a primer on what you need to know both before and after you move abroad!

Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica

Weather: Costa Rica has a tropical climate with two main seasons: the rainy season (May to November) and the dry season (December to April). The Caribbean coast receives rainfall year-round, while the Pacific side experiences more pronounced dry seasons. Temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year, typically ranging from 70-90°F (21-32°C) depending on elevation. Coastal and lowland areas are hot and humid, while highland regions offer cooler temperatures.

Festivals: Fiestas de Zapote, Envision Festival, Festival de la Luz

Best Destinations for Kids: Manuel Antonio National Park features monkey spotting and beach access suitable for families. Arenal Volcano region offers natural hot springs at Tabacón and zip-lining through canopy tours. Tortuguero National Park provides boat tours where children can observe sloths, caimans, and nesting sea turtles.

Hidden Gem: The Zona de los Santos in the southern Central Valley produces specialty coffee and offers mountain scenery without the tourist crowds of Monteverde. The region's small towns like San Isidro de El General provide authentic rural Costa Rican culture and access to hiking trails with minimal infrastructure tourism.

Budget-Friendly Advice: Budget accommodations range from $15–25 per night in hostels in San José and Puerto Viejo to $40–60 for mid-range hotels in beach towns. Meals at sodas (local restaurants) cost $5–8 for casado (plate lunch), while dinner at casual restaurants runs $12–18. Domestic buses between regions cost $3–15 depending on distance; rental cars average $35–50 daily. Entrance fees to national parks range from $10–15 per person.

Accessibility: San José and major beach towns have improving wheelchair accessibility in hotels and restaurants, though rural areas and national parks have limited infrastructure. Public buses lack wheelchair lifts; rental cars with hand controls are available through specialized agencies. Terrain in rainforest areas and volcanic regions presents significant mobility challenges.

For the Solo Traveler: Solo travel in Costa Rica is straightforward with well-established tourist infrastructure and English widely spoken in tourist areas. Safety is generally good in populated regions, though petty theft occurs in San José and crowded beaches. Puerto Viejo, Monteverde, and Arenal attract solo travelers with active hostel scenes and organized group tours. Women travelers report feeling safe in main tourist destinations, though standard urban precautions apply in San José.

Planning a 1 Week Stay: A seven-day itinerary covers the Central Valley's coffee region and Arenal Volcano (2 days), then moves to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast (3 days), with 2 days in the Monteverde cloud forest. This route captures volcanic landscapes, rainforest canopy, and Pacific beaches without excessive travel time.

Planning a 1 Month Stay: A 30-day trip can begin in the Central Valley and Tarrazú coffee region (4 days), move to Arenal and Monteverde (5 days), descend to the Caribbean coast via Puerto Viejo (5 days), then explore the Pacific side through Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula (10 days), finishing with lesser-known areas like Uvita or the Zona de los Santos (6 days). This pacing allows time for hiking, wildlife observation, and acclimatization to tropical heat.

Delving into the Culture

Movies Set: After Earth, Jurassic Park, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams

Popular Foods: Costa Rican cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients and includes dishes such as gallo pinto, a traditional breakfast dish made with rice and beans. Casado, a lunch plate that typically includes rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a choice of meat, is another staple. For dessert, tres leches cake, a sweet and moist cake made with three types of milk, is a popular choice.

Unusual Eats: Ceviche de erizos, or sea urchin ceviche, is a unique local delicacy that might seem strange to visitors. It is made with fresh sea urchin roe marinated in lime juice and spices.

Popular Sports: football (soccer), surfing, cycling

Popular Teams: Deportivo Saprissa (football), Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (football), Club Sport Herediano (football)

Cultural Faux Pas to Avoid: When greeting, it is common to give a light kiss on the cheek, and not doing so can be seen as unfriendly. It's also important to be punctual for business meetings, but social events often start later than the scheduled time, and arriving on time can be seen as too eager. Avoiding confrontation and maintaining a polite demeanor is valued, so raising one's voice or publicly criticizing someone can be considered rude.