From Nicaragua I travelled into Costa Rica by bus, the country is ecologically unspoiled, making it an ideal place to enjoy nature. Costa Rica has a population of 4.9 million and is the perfect destination for the wild and adventurous. My trip in Costa Rica took me to remote jungles, I bathed in thermal waters. And zip line across the cloud forest in the middle of the afternoon. My journey also included the volcanic central valley with its beautiful waterfalls and hot springs. I hope this short summary of Costa Rica will help you plan your trip.
Best Time to Visit
The pacific coast of Costa Rica is hot and dry between December and April, while the Caribbean side is mostly dry between March and September. May to June or in November the national parks are quieter and ideal to travel.
Things to do and see
- Arenal Volcano National Park is very popular for tourist wanting to hike through Cerro Chato experience the stunning landscapes and hike the Arenal Volcano. The Volcano hike takes about 10hrs.
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is full of exotic birds, orchids and floating mists. Its one of Costa Rica’s most popular destination. The mountain forest offers many activities, from walking trails, zip lining and horse riding.
- Tabacon hot spring is a great place to relax and unwind in a variety of geothermal pools.
- Central Valley Plantations is a great place to educate yourself on the country’s Arabica Coffee plantations. Many of the Coffee blends include berry, citrus and roasted chocolate flavours.
Food
In the Cities there are a wide range of cuisine from all over the world from French to Chinese and local dishes. Seafood is a Costa Rican specialty so are spicy tortillas with beef, chicken or ham. Other Costa Rican specialties are Jamaican style Jerk- Chicken with rice and beans. Ceviche is also very popular. The National Dish is Gallo pinto which Consist of rice and beans.
Transportation
Air: There are no direct flights from London to Costa Rica. SANSA is a domestic airline that connects some towns and resorts. Nature Air is another airline which travels the same routes but is more reliable.
Roads: The quality of the roads to all the major cities are well maintained. The rural areas tend to have gravel roads with potholes. Drivers drive on the right-hand side of the roads many of the roads are unpaved.
Rail: Train lines only connect San Jose to Pavas, Belen and Heredia.
Taxi: The official taxis are red and orange, but few drivers use the meter so make sure you agree a price before taking a ride. When using a metered Taxi make sure the meter is reset before taking the ride. Uber is running in the capital San Jose area; however Uber is not officially legal.
Ferry: There is a ferry service connecting the coast of Costa Rica.
Bus: The cheapest way to travel long distances in Costa Rica is by bus. There is a choice between comfortable air-conditioned buses and little over packed shuttle buses which are even cheaper.
Visa
Visas are not required by all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays up to 90days.
Language
The official language is Spanish, although English is widely spoken in the tourist industry.
Money
The official currency in Costa Rica is the Colon (CRC) Almost all hotels and tour operators will except foreign credit cards, but in some case only Visa Cards. ATMs will be difficult to find in rural areas, so bring enough cash.
Tipping
A 10% service charge and 13% sales tax are always included in restaurant bills.
Social etiquette/ Culture
Ask permission before taking photographs. Costa Rica’s people, also known as Ticos, are welcoming and friendly to tourists. They have a rich culture and many traditions from the native Indians Spanish and Africans that have lived there over time.
Adaptor
There are two plugs associated with Costa Rica.
Wifi
Free wifi is available from most hotels and some restaurants. High speed connection is only available in big cities.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 