Republic of Costa Rica
Capital: San José
Create a trip called “Trip to Costa Rica” and plan it from there.
Visa, plugs, customs and when to go
Choose your passport to see whether you need a visa.
Most visitors get up to 180 days on entry (the officer decides the exact stay). A return or onward ticket is required. Check the Dirección General de Migración list for your passport.
Reviewed on September 17, 2026. Always confirm with the official source before travelling. Official source
The national phrase. Literally «pure life»: hello, goodbye, thanks, no problem and «how are you» all at once.
Social punctuality is loose; buses and tours, less so. Plan buffers and enjoy the pace.
Abolished in 1948; the budget went to education and health. Ticos are proud of it and of their stable democracy.
Costa Rica is small, green and famously relaxed. «Pura vida» is a greeting, a thank-you and a philosophy: take it easy, be kind, don't sweat the small stuff. The country abolished its army in 1948 and invests in schools, health and national parks — a quarter of its territory is protected. Ticos (the locals' own nickname) are polite, indirect and proud of their peace and their nature.
Greet before asking anything — in shops, buses, offices. Skipping the greeting is rude.
essentialBeachwear stays at the beach. In San José and churches dress normally; a light rain jacket is always useful.
nice to-knowEspecially in indigenous territories and small towns.
recommendedWhen invited home: pastries, fruit or something from your country.
nice to-knowRating 5/5 Crowds: peak Prices: peak
Dry season on the Pacific and the Central Valley: sunny days, green-to-golden Guanacaste, high prices around Christmas and Easter.
Events: Fiestas de Zapote (San José, late Dec–Jan) · Palmares festival (Jan) · Envision (Uvita, Feb–Mar)
Rating 4/5 Crowds: high Prices: expensive
Still dry until late April, then the first rains bring the green back. Quetzal nesting season in Monteverde and Los Quetzales.
Events: Semana Santa (everything closes; beaches fill up) · Día de Juan Santamaría (11 Apr)
Rating 3/5 Crowds: moderate Prices: moderate
Green season: sunny mornings, afternoon downpours, lower prices and fewer people. The Caribbean coast is drier now. Whales arrive in the south Pacific.
Events: Veranillo de San Juan (short dry spell, late June–July) · Turtles at Tortuguero (Jul–Oct) · Humpback whales in Marino Ballena (Jul–Oct)
Rating 3/5 Crowds: low Prices: budget
Wettest months on the Pacific (Sept–Oct), but the driest on the Caribbean: Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero shine. November dries out everywhere.
Events: Independence Day (15 Sept, lantern parades) · Limón Carnival (Oct)
Climate: Temperature depends on altitude more than season: San José ~24 °C, the coasts 30 °C+, Monteverde and Chirripó cool and misty. The Caribbean has no real dry season and is driest in Sept–Oct.
Our editorial guide, reviewed September 17, 2026. Checked against: visitcostarica.com · sinac.go.cr · migracion.go.cr · ict.go.cr
Currency and tipping
Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Symbol: ₡
10% included
By law a 10% service charge and 13% VAT are added to the bill. Extra tip only for exceptional service.
₡1,000–2,000 per bag
Housekeeping ₡1,000–2,000 per day is appreciated.
Round up
Not expected. Guides and drivers on tours: 10–15% is customary.
US dollars are accepted almost everywhere for tips; small bills only.
Our editorial guide, reviewed September 17, 2026. Checked against: visitcostarica.com · sinac.go.cr · migracion.go.cr · ict.go.cr
Airports, buses, driving and apps
National parks have entry caps, timed slots and online-only tickets. Wildlife is the point of the trip: go early and go slow.
Directions are given from landmarks: «200 m south of the church, 50 m east». One block ≈ 100 m.
Distances are short but roads are slow and winding. Most travellers rent a car (4×4 for Monteverde and rural roads) or use shared shuttles between the main hubs. Public buses are cheap, safe and reach almost everywhere, just slowly. Domestic flights save a day to the Osa Peninsula or Tortuguero.
Buy at the terminal the day before; most companies have no online sales. Shared shuttles (Interbus, Gray Line, ≈ US$50-60 per leg) run door to door between the same hubs.
30-60 minute hops (US$80-150) that save a full day of driving to the Osa or the Caribbean.
Book with Sansa AirlinesCommuter service at peak hours only; handy to reach Cartago and the Orosi valley.
Traffic drives on the right
Your home licence is valid for the length of your legal stay.
Mandatory insurance is added by rental companies (budget US$15-25/day on top of the headline price). A 4×4 is worth it for Monteverde, Nosara, Drake Bay and the rainy season. Do not drive at night: potholes, no lights, wildlife.
Our editorial guide, reviewed September 17, 2026. Checked against: visitcostarica.com · sinac.go.cr · migracion.go.cr · ict.go.cr
Emergencies, official advice and health
Dengue circulates year-round in lowlands. Use repellent, especially at dawn and dusk. No malaria in tourist areas.
UV is intense at this latitude. Many Pacific beaches have strong rip currents and no lifeguards: ask locals where it is safe to swim.
Required only if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk (parts of South America and Africa).
Safe by regional standards; the main risks are petty theft and car break-ins. Violent crime concentrates in areas tourists rarely visit. Tap water is drinkable in most of the country.
Our editorial guide, reviewed September 17, 2026. Checked against: visitcostarica.com · sinac.go.cr · migracion.go.cr · ict.go.cr
What to eat and how to eat out
Tico food is simple, fresh and built on rice and beans: gallo pinto for breakfast, a casado for lunch, ceviche and patacones on the coast. Coffee is excellent and everywhere. Portions are generous and sodas (family diners) are the best value in the country.
Rice and beans fried together with onion, pepper and Lizano sauce. The national breakfast, with eggs and tortillas.
budgetThe set lunch: rice, beans, fried plantain, salad, a tortilla and your choice of chicken, fish, beef or eggs.
budgetWhite fish cured in lime with cilantro, onion and pepper; served with crackers or patacones.
moderateSlow beef and root-vegetable stew (yuca, chayote, plantain). Weekend comfort food.
budgetBar snack: rice, beans, chicharrón, pico de gallo and tortilla chips in one bowl.
budgetRice and beans cooked in coconut milk with Panamanian pepper, often with chicken in Caribbean sauce.
moderateA «soda» is a family diner. Order the casado (rice, beans, plantain, salad, protein). Tip is usually included as a 10% service charge.
Our editorial guide, reviewed September 17, 2026. Checked against: visitcostarica.com · sinac.go.cr · migracion.go.cr · ict.go.cr
How people talk, and words worth knowing
Ticos avoid a blunt «no». «Maybe» or «we will see» often means no; read the tone, not the words.
Essential words and phrases in Spanish
Pura vida
/POO-rah VEE-dah/
Hello / thanks / all good
Any time
Buenos días
/BWEH-nos DEE-ahs/
Good morning
Until noon; always greet first
Con permiso
/kon per-MEE-so/
Excuse me (passing by)
Buses, crowds
Un casado, por favor
/oon ka-SAH-do por fa-VOR/
A casado (set lunch), please
Sodas
¿Cuánto cuesta?
/KWAN-to KWES-ta/
How much is it?
Shops, taxis
Mae
/MAH-eh/
Dude / mate
Very informal, among friends
Tuanis
/twa-NEES/
Cool, nice
Slang
¿Dónde está la parada?
/DON-deh es-TA la pa-RA-da/
Where is the bus stop?
Getting around
La cuenta, por favor
/la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR/
The bill, please
Restaurants
Con mucho gusto
/kon MOO-cho GOOS-to/
You are welcome
The Tico reply to «gracias»
Our editorial guide, reviewed September 17, 2026. Checked against: visitcostarica.com · sinac.go.cr · migracion.go.cr · ict.go.cr
Must-see attractions and experiences
La Fortuna
The perfect cone above La Fortuna: lava-flow trails, hot springs and hanging bridges around it.
Monteverde
The most famous cloud forest in the Americas: quetzals, hanging bridges and mist.
Quepos
Monkeys, sloths and postcard beaches in a forest by the sea. Timed online tickets only.
Tortuguero
Jungle canals reached by boat; green turtles nest on the beach Jul–Oct.
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Afro-Caribbean town of reggae, rice and beans and bicycles; Punta Uva and Cahuita nearby.
San José
The 1897 neoclassical theatre at the heart of San José, next to the Gold Museum.
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