Costa Rica travel guide
Costa Rica packs rainforest, volcano and two coastlines into a small country, and wildlife is part of nearly every day. You can cross hanging bridges in misty cloud forest at Monteverde, soak in hot springs beneath Arenal Volcano, surf the Pacific breaks of Guanacaste and watch green turtles nest on the Caribbean coast at Tortuguero. Each region has its own flavour. La Fortuna and Monteverde in the north make an easy adventure circuit, Tamarindo and the Guanacaste coast deliver sun and surf, and the Caribbean side, from Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, is wetter, greener and more Afro-Caribbean in culture. Distances are short, so combining two or three bases is straightforward. The dry season, roughly December to April, is the most popular time, while the green season brings afternoon showers, lush scenery and fewer visitors. Costa Rica suits families, nature lovers and active travellers, and you can plan the itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: San José.
Before you go to Costa Rica
- Currency
- CRC ₡
- Emergency number
- 911
- Plug type
- Type A, B
- Tap water
- Tap water: mostly safe
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express (limited)
- ATM fees
- Roughly USD 3-6 equivalent per withdrawal plus your home-bank fee
Cities in Costa Rica
- Manuel Antonio Pacific-coast resort area (Puntarenas) wrapped around Manuel Antonio National Park, famed for white-sand beaches backed by rainforest full…
- Tamarindo Guanacaste's most popular Pacific surf-and-beach town — a lively strip of restaurants, surf schools and bars fronting a golden-sand bay…
- San José Costa Rica's capital in the Central Valley (~1,170 m), a cultural hub of museums, theatres and markets and the main gateway for Central…
- La Fortuna Small adventure town at the foot of Arenal Volcano (Alajuela), the hub for hot springs, waterfalls, hanging bridges and rainforest…
- Monteverde Misty cloud-forest mountain town in the Cordillera de Tilarán (Puntarenas), world-famous for canopy zip-lines, hanging bridges and…
- Tortuguero Car-free Caribbean sandbar village between the Tortuguero canals and the sea, one of the western hemisphere's most important green-turtle…
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca Laid-back Afro-Caribbean surf-and-jungle town (Limón) famed for the Salsa Brava reef break, reggae nightlife, cacao farms and palm-fringed…
Frequently asked questions about Costa Rica
- What currency is used in Costa Rica?
- The currency in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican Colón (₡). ₹1 is about 5 ₡.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Costa Rica?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard, American Express (limited). Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Costa Rica?
- Tipping in Costa Rica: optional.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Costa Rica?
- Tap water: mostly safe. Tap water is potable and generally safe to drink in most of the country; use bottled water in some remote and Caribbean-coast areas.
- What plug type does Costa Rica use?
- Costa Rica uses Type A, B plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Costa Rica?
- Emergency: 911. Police: 911. Ambulance: 911.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Costa Rica?
- SIM and eSIM available in Costa Rica.
- What is the capital of Costa Rica?
- The capital of Costa Rica is San José. Time there: IST - 11 h 30 min.