Costa Rica travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 8 min read

Costa Rica is smaller than Ireland and holds an outsized share of the world's wildlife. In one trip you can watch a volcano from a hot spring, walk a cloud forest, spot sloths and monkeys from a beach path and surf in the Pacific the same week. The country has no army, protects a large part of its land as parks and reserves, and has built an easy tourism industry on top.

The roads are slow and the weather is moody, so distances in kilometres tell you little. This guide covers when to go, where, a ten-day route, and how to plan it with a group.

Capital: San José
Currency: Costa Rican colón (₡)
Languages: Spanish, with English common in tourism
Plugs: Type A and B, 120 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC−6, no daylight saving
Best time to go: December to April
Daily budget: About US$110–200 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Costa Rica has two seasons, and the difference is rain, not temperature. It is tropical all year, and the Caribbean side follows its own pattern.

The dry season (December to April) is the high season on the Pacific side and in the central valley: sunny mornings, clear volcano views and the best beach weather. It is also when prices peak, especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter. Book rooms and rental cars well ahead for those weeks.

The green season (May to November) brings rain, usually in the afternoon after a bright morning. The landscape is lush, waterfalls are full, crowds are thin and prices fall. It is a good time for wildlife and for travellers who plan their days around the showers. September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side, and some roads, rivers and remote lodges become hard to reach. Check conditions if you are going to the Osa Peninsula.

The Caribbean coast has a different rhythm. It can be rainy at any time, with the driest, calmest weather often in September and October and again in February and March. Check forecasts before you commit to a Caribbean week.

Wildlife seasons add reasons to choose a month. Turtles nest at Tortuguero in the second half of the year, and whales visit the Pacific coast in two seasons, with humpbacks from the north and south. Ask a local operator for the current pattern.

Costa Rica's heat is steady at the coast and mild in the mountains, where nights in Monteverde and the central valley can be cool. Pack for both.

Where to go

San José and the central valley

The capital is a hub more than a destination, but the highlands around it have coffee farms, the Poás volcano and green mountain towns. One or two days is enough to reach the highlights, and a coffee tour is a good first or last day.

Arenal and La Fortuna

A near-perfect cone of a volcano above a lake, with hot springs, waterfalls, hanging bridges and rafting. La Fortuna is the base. Go for three nights, take a morning at a waterfall, an afternoon in the hot springs, and save an evening for the volcano view if the clouds allow.

Monteverde

A mountain town in a cloud forest, with misty trails, hanging bridges, zip lines and chances to see quetzals, hummingbirds and sloths. It is cool and often wet. Two nights is ideal, and a night walk with a guide is excellent.

Manuel Antonio

A small national park on the central Pacific coast with beaches, monkeys, sloths and iguanas. It is busy but beautiful, and very easy to enjoy. Two or three nights, and book park tickets and guides ahead in the dry season.

Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

The dry north-west, with long beaches, sunsets and surf towns such as Tamarindo and Santa Teresa. It gets the least rain and the most sun, and it is the place for beach time. Three to five days. Liberia airport makes it easy to fly in and out.

The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado

The wildest corner of Costa Rica, with primary rainforest, scarlet macaws, tapirs and a coastline where few people live. Getting there takes time, by small plane or a long drive, and lodges are remote. Go for four nights or more, and with a guide.

Tortuguero

A national park on the Caribbean coast reached only by boat or plane, with canals through the rainforest and nesting sea turtles at the right time of year. Two nights, and a good mix with the rest of the country if you cross the mountains.

Puerto Viejo and the south Caribbean

A relaxed coast with Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous roots, reggae, spicy food, jungle beaches and wildlife reserves. Three nights. Rip currents can be strong, so swim at beaches with signs or lifeguards.

A 10-day itinerary

Day 1: San José. Arrive and sleep near the airport, or go straight on if your flight lands early.

Days 2–4: La Fortuna. About three hours by road from San José. Spend a day on waterfalls and hanging bridges, another in the hot springs, and a third kayaking or rafting.

Days 5–6: Monteverde. About three hours from La Fortuna, by road around Lake Arenal or by a jeep-boat-jeep transfer. Walk in the cloud forest, take a night walk and try a zip line.

Days 7–8: Manuel Antonio. About four hours by road, a longer day than it looks. Spend the mornings in the park, when animals are active, and the afternoons on the beach.

Days 9–10: The central valley. Drive back toward San José via the coffee hills, visit Poás volcano early before the clouds roll in, and fly home from San José.

With more time, swap Manuel Antonio for Guanacaste's beaches, or add Tortuguero or the Osa Peninsula for a wilder second week.

Getting around

Shared shuttles are the simplest option. Door-to-door minibuses link the main tourist towns and cost far less than a private transfer. Book them a day or two ahead.

Public buses are cheap and run almost everywhere, but they are slow and often need a change in San José. They suit travellers with time and light bags.

Driving gives freedom, particularly in Guanacaste and the south. Roads are narrow and winding, with potholes, one-lane bridges and heavy rain in the wet season. A 4x4 is wise for the Monteverde road and the Osa Peninsula, and rivers can rise quickly. Do not drive at night in the countryside. See renting a car abroad, and note that rental insurance is a big part of the cost.

Small planes link San José with Tortuguero, the Osa Peninsula, Guanacaste and other places, and save hours of driving. They have strict baggage limits.

Navigation apps work well, and ride-hailing is available in San José, though taxis are usual in smaller towns. If you are planning a longer trip, the Mexico travel guide covers the country further north.

Money and costs

The local currency is the colón, but US dollars are widely accepted by tourist businesses, often at an unfavourable rate, so pay in colones where you can. Cards work in hotels, restaurants and shops, though small places prefer cash. ATMs are common in towns and rare in remote areas. Carry small notes for parking attendants and little shops.

Restaurant bills usually add tax and a service charge automatically, so extra tipping is a bonus rather than an expectation; leave a little for a guide, driver or good service. See tipping around the world.

Costa Rica is more expensive than most of Central America. Park tours, guided activities, rental cars with insurance and beach hotels add up, while local food in sodas, small family restaurants, is cheap and good.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$55–95, with hostels, sodas and public buses or shuttles.
Mid-range: about US$110–200, with comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, tours and a shared car.
Comfortable: US$300 and up, with lodges, private transfers and guided wildlife experiences.

Planning Costa Rica as a group

Costa Rica's stops are small and the country is spread across mountains, so a group has some decisions.

Stays. Villas and houses for six to eight are common near beaches and in Arenal, and often cost less per person than hotel rooms. Lodges in Monteverde and the Osa Peninsula have fewer rooms, so book them first.

Transport. A group of four to six can take one rental van or SUV, or a private transfer between stops, which often costs the same per person as a shuttle and is faster. Decide who drives and how the cost, including insurance, fuel and tolls, is split.

Activities. Zip lines, rafting, night walks and wildlife tours need a booking, and many have group rates or size limits. Choose the one or two activities each group member cares about most, and let people opt out of the rest.

Costs. Dollars and colones are both used, so keep track of what you paid in which currency. Log costs as they come, and settle once at the end.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Costa Rica and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs and activities such as zip lining and rafting. See travel insurance explained.
Connectivity: an eSIM or local SIM works in towns and on main roads, with patchy signal in the mountains and the Osa. Wifi is common at lodges.
A plug adapter for Type A and B if you come from outside North America, and check your devices handle 120 V.
Health: ask a travel clinic about vaccines and about protection against mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue. Tap water is drinkable in many towns; ask your hotel.
Customs: the phrase pura vida, used for hello, thanks and everything is fine, is part of daily life. Never feed or touch wildlife, stay on the trails and keep a respectful distance from animals.

What to pack

Pack light, quick-drying clothes, since laundry and clothes dry slowly in humid air. Bring a proper rain jacket, which you will use even in the dry season in the cloud forest, and a warm layer for the mountains.

Add sturdy shoes with grip for muddy trails, sandals, a swimsuit, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and insect repellent. A dry bag protects phones and cameras in boats and rain, and binoculars make the wildlife much easier. Leave the heavy bag at home: shuttle vans and small planes have little space.