Travelogues Costa Rica
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Vacation in Costa Rica : Highlights & Travel Tips
Costa Rica is a standout destination for travelers thanks to its remarkable mix of biodiversity, adventure, and easygoing "pura vida" culture. In a relatively small country, you can move from cloud forests and volcanoes to Pacific surf towns and Caribbean beaches in just a few hours, making it ideal for travelers who want variety without complicated logistics. Nature is the main draw: national parks, wildlife refuges, and private reserves offer frequent sightings of sloths, monkeys, toucans, sea turtles, and colorful frogs, while the country’s strong commitment to conservation makes it especially appealing for eco-conscious visitors.
Key highlights include zip-lining through Monteverde’s misty canopy, hiking around Arenal Volcano, soaking in natural hot springs, rafting jungle rivers, and relaxing on beaches in Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa, Tamarindo, or Puerto Viejo. Travelers can also enjoy snorkeling, surfing, waterfall hikes, and coffee or cacao tours, with excellent opportunities for both luxury stays and budget-friendly eco-lodges. For practical planning, expect a mix of microclimates and pack for both heat and rain, especially if visiting the rainforest or cloud forest regions. Renting a car offers flexibility, but road conditions can be rough in rural areas, so shuttle services are often easier; booking popular parks, lodges, and activities in advance is wise during peak season.
Best time to travel Costa Rica
The best time to visit Costa Rica is from February through March, when travel popularity peaks and conditions are typically ideal for exploring beaches, rainforests, and national parks. January is also a strong option, while April can still be pleasant with slightly fewer crowds before the wetter, quieter months begin.
All travel reports from Costa Rica
3rd Day in La Fortuna
After it gets dark in Costa Rica within half an hour and the night starts around 5:15 PM, we went to bed relatively early after a long drive. Early means - dinner at half past...
11.01.2018 - Drive from Ocean to Ocean to Puerto Viejo
The longest single stage of this journey was from the Pacific to the Caribbean, about 360 km. It took just under 8 hours on roads that were sometimes challenging, as the passes...
Fazit Costa Rica - Pura Vida
As we leave Costa Rica, I would like to conclude and write a few warm words about the country. The people are so nice, friendly, open-minded and helpful. We could always rely on...
Arrived safely in San Jose
One night at the Hilton Garden Inn, San José La Sabana.
On the way
Today (06.03.24) is finally the day, we left home at 3:30 a.m. to Sulz am Neckar to Paul's parents. They were so kind to drive us to Zurich, as we have a lot of luggage 😅 The...
Uvita
Drum roll... our first day in Costa Rica with sunshine and no rain! Although it was a long day of travel, we enjoyed the beautiful view from the car window. After exchanging the...
80. San Jose (Costa Rica)
19.03.22-22.03.22 From the Osa Peninsula, we take the bus to San Jose at 5 am (!!). The ride is very relaxed and this time we don't have to change buses! In San Jose, we...
La Fortuna - Volcanoes and Blue Water
3 nights in La Fortuna - almost always with a view of the Arenal Volcano, which last erupted in 2010, so not too long ago. On the first day, we went hiking in a park near the...
Curubandé, provincia de Guanacaste
Fuimos de camping y la pasamos genial. Por supuesto, este es un lugar principalmente visitado por costarricenses y disfruto tener mi guía personal de Costa Rica 😊
The adventure is about to begin
After a nearly 12-hour flight, an overnight in Heredia and a 5-hour bus ride, I have now arrived in Samara - fortunately without incident. Two girls and a boy from Switzerland...
Day 10: Back to Civilization
We walked back to Carate at 7:15. Wolfgang insisted on walking instead of riding with the luggage. It was already very hot at that time. After 1.75 hours, we reached the car....
Tortuguero
On the way to Tortuguero, I finally got to see a sloth up close. From the bus stop, we were taken to our boat by two police officers. In general, I didn't find Tortuguero...
Manuel Antoino
Manuel Antonio is a small town next to the eponymous national park. Since the park was closed on Mondays, I spent my first day in the town of Quepos and reading in the hammock. ...
Tamarindo Beach
Back to the Pacific coast to Tamarindo through the highlands. Nice entertaining place at Tamarindo Beach. Time to chill 😎
Day 8 and 9, Sarapiqui
After about 2.5 hours, we arrived at our accommodation, the Tirimbina Lodge. Here we were greeted by a hotel that feels like it's in the middle of the rainforest. The lodge is...
... a long day 1 ...
After getting to know Matias, we were taken to a Costa Rican restaurant with folklore dances high above the city. Breathtaking view over an impressive city - after the fog had...
The first day
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Jacó & Playa Hermosa (19.5.22)
One last time to the sea....
73. Alajuela (Costa Rica)
02/23/22-02/25/22 The onward journey to Costa Rica is tough - due to poor and expensive flight connections, we have to fly via Switzerland! So we fly 11 hours to Zurich and...
Alajuela - Zoo Ave (21.5.22)
Our last day in Costa Rica is here...
Eco Chontales Waterfall and Uvita (again)
Another camping trip. The pictures show the greatness of this country in many respects 😊
Puerto Viejo
By afternoon, I reached Puerto Viejo, and in the evening, I met up with Fabienne and Pascal again to cook a delicious dinner together. Otherwise, there is not much to...
Santa Teresa 🌸
So it's been a while and we are reminiscing about our last trip to Costa Rica. Santa Teresa is a small surfer town on the Atlantic coast and has delicious restaurants. 🏝🏄♂️...
Relaxed Uvita
Uvita is great for hanging out at the beach or surfing. Since we had limited time, we decided to do the former. We discovered some good sodas (cheap local restaurants) and just...
A beautiful conclusion
... just a quick visit to the Basilica de los Ángeles in Cartago, now a coffee with Alfred and part of the family with delicious cake & quiche. ... then take the...
Costa Rica - Liberia
Let's go to Costa Rica. Since we didn't really have a plan of where we wanted to go, we set Liberia as our first destination. After that, we will take our time and make a plan...
Tenorio Volcano National Park/ Rio Celeste
about 7km loop in the national park🤗
Costa Rica_Zip Lining
Einmal über oder durch die Bäume schweben...
Reserva Natural Absoluta Case Blanco,
The oldest protected area in Costa Rica. During our 12km hike through the reserve, we mainly saw monkeys and experienced the howling of howler monkeys up close. The beach was...
Cólon City
Next, I was able to visit friends of the family who took me in for a week. That was great. I was able to enjoy my own room again, wash my clothes properly, and feel a little bit...