Your Ultimate Guide to Costa Rica: A Destination for Nature, Culture, and Relaxation

Published on October 8, 2025

Costa Rica is a small yet incredibly diverse country in Central America. It is a country rich in biodiversity. Within a small area, a visitor can marvel at a rainforest, a cloud forest, and a beach. Whether you are a thrill seeker, an animal lover, or a beach enthusiast, Costa Rica is a country with something to offer to everyone. You can access adventure-filled activities or soak in the beautiful volcanic landscapes as you escape in the exciting getaways Costa Rica has to offer.

The country is home to stunning sights filled with wildlife like monkeys, sloths, toucans, and even jaguars. Costa Rica is home to some of the richest and most diverse wildlife on the planet. You can witness all of its beauty in Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, and Monteverde national parks. The breathtaking protected rainforests, cloud forests, and beautiful beaches are perfect for an eco-tourist destination.

In Costa Rica, the entertaining, active volcanoes Arenal and Poas let travellers walk the perimeter, swim in the steamy public hot springs, and follow certified, skilled guides over the volcanic craters. Ample, breathtaking, and refreshing swims in Costa Rica’s La Fortuna Falls, Rio Celeste Falls, and Llanos de Cortes Falls offer TreSve, Tarkus, and Fibrous Toscanelli massive, insane noodles, including an entertaining, sustaining swims system in the rainforest.

The other Costa Rica coast is the best area for dark, cool scuba diving and active, happy, thrilling surfing. The favourite surfing delights are at Jacó, Puerto Viejo, and Tamarindo beaches, while Cahuita National Park and Isla del Caño offer scuba diving in light. The waters there are totally clear for incredible otherworld peeks!

The coolest ways to get around Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, getting around can be as easy or as challenging as you make it, depending on your interests and the areas you want to visit. As a tourist, these are the most popular ways of getting around the country:

Driving:

The best way to sightsee and travel at your own pace is to rent a car. Costa Rica offers a lot of remote attractions, and a car is the best mode of transportation to access them all. Travel agencies and rental car services are present at the major airports of San Jose and Liberia; as such, you can call and book a car to avoid waiting in long queues. Do keep in mind, the most expensive rental cars that you can book are 2WD cars which are good for most of the paved roads. If Instagrammable and remote locations are more of your vibe, booking an AWD car is a better option.

Renting a car offers the most freedom; however, it is true that it is one of the most expensive ways of getting around the country. Renting a car usually comes with an insurance fee; such an insurance fee is often mandatory. If you intend to drive or rent a car, it is advisable that you make yourself aware of the Costa Rican roads, as well as the local traffic laws and regulations.

Shuttles:

Some people do not like to drive, and are especially people who do not want to drive while they are in Costa Rica. These people appreciate the convenience offered by shuttles to and from the hotels and tourist locations. Shared shuttles have limited seating and are shared by 15 people. Private shuttles are more expensive, but offer more comfort and privacy to families and groups.

Shuttle services in Costa Rica are especially helpful to tourists who go to Manuel Antonio, Arenal, and Monteverde because they offer more direct routes. The direct routes offered by the shuttle services save money and time more than paying for public transportation.

Buses:

Buses are the best budget option for getting around in Costa Rica. The most affordable option to go from one town to the other is using public transportation. The bus system connects almost every town and destination, making it the best option for budget travellers. Bus travel is very time-consuming, especially with remote locations which are hard to get to.

Public transportation is more efficient in popular locations like San Jose. But, they are not the best option for people who want to visit remote locations, national parks or other attractions that require many transfers.

Domestic Flights:

For business people who are short on time, there are domestic flights between the main points of interest in the country, which can save time. Sansa Airlines is one of the local carriers that provides frequent service on domestic flights to Liberia, Tamarindo, and Quepos. While taking a domestic flight is more expensive than taking a bus, the time saved on long journeys offers visitors convenient access to far-flung destinations like Guanacaste and the Osa Peninsula.

Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

Costa Rica can be visited throughout the year, but when you choose to come depends on your wish list. When the country is dry, between December and April, the beaches and wildlife viewing are the activities engaged in the most. The period between May and November is the low season, which is more peaceful due to the increase of greenery and fewer people. Hotels during this period are more affordable and it offer less-travelled visiting locations, so the low season works best for those who wish for tranquil and low-cost accommodation.

Eco Tourism In Costa Rica

Eco-tourism in Costa Rica is among the top places which excel in the field of ecotourism and is aimed at immaculately for flora and fauna lovers. Travelling can cause some harm to the environment. The Costa Rica program provides information on environmentally positive travelling. Costa Rica is known for practising eco-positive technology, and it has a lot of nature. Thus, the country boasts a lot of 86 protected areas for nature. It provides a lot of eco-hotels and green sleeping solutions. These places aim to reduce the carbon footprint of their visitors and nature nature-friendly travelling.