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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.
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.
The previous journey through the USA, Mexico, and Belize offered us numerous experiences in different ways. We have become adept at spontaneous planning and organization while...
Good Morning! It is 9:30 AM, and our journey back to the capital of the country begins. We are now leaving the Leyenda Hotel. Viktor
A few days ago, Lana's cousin (2nd degree?) visited the lodge with her 10-year-old daughter. They were here for 7 nights, and Lana naturally took the time to spend with them. I...
We saw many animals in Manuel Antonio National Park.
Today we saw lots of hummingbirds and walked through the cloud forest of the Monteverde Reserve.
We walked across the abyss on hanging bridges and drove past coatis and an iguana to Monteverde
During the day and evening we saw Costa Rica's impressive wildlife
On Monday we looked at the waterfall in La Fortuna. The 500 steps down were definitely worth it as the view of the waterfall from below was breathtaking 😍 our timing was...
From San José we took the bus to the small town of Cariari in the morning, from where we took a second bus to the boat dock in La Pavona. Then we took a boat again for about an...
Together with Laura from Scotland, who coincidentally wanted to go to Drake Bay on the same day, we drove to Sierpe, where we parked the car and switched to a speedboat. Drake...
Santa Teresa
Fortunately, the return journey from Quetzal National Park was much easier than the way there. One reason is that I was awake, fresh, and rested, and it was also daytime with...
After almost 24 hours of extreme rain, thunderstorms and short power outages, this morning was a little break :) When the clouds cleared a bit and some sun was visible, we...
Our trip began on September 12th with our first flight to Switzerland. Andy surprised us at the airport and we had a lovely day in the sun on his terrace. To say goodbye, we had...
On the drive from our stopover over to the east coast we had another flat tire - now the second one, but no wonder given the Costa Rican roads. The tire was changed in no time,...
Von kleinen und großen Aha Erlebnissen …
The long way from coffee to the beach to the coconut...
We announced in the last post that we are currently on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Here lies the town of Tamarindo, which is supposedly the Mallorca of the US Americans. A...
This article is only for the hardcore. Spoiler: JungleCamp Edition 1.
Unser bester Reisebegleiter sorgt immer wieder dafür, dass für uns gesorgt ist. Ungeplant.
In the Curu Reserve we met many capuchin monkeys and later relaxed on the beach.
We didn't make it to the national park, but we explored the town of Golfito.
Review: Our plane takes off from Auckland airport at exactly 1:20 p.m. At this point there are 11,648 kilometers between us and our destination, but the landing is planned for...
On Friday, September 22nd we left Santa Teresa and drove to Manuel António National Park. The second big day of driving was approaching. The highlight of the trip was the almost...
Our plan to travel flexibly didn't quite work out. For Mexico, we already needed a return or onward flight ticket for entry. The same applied to Costa Rica. However, we didn't...
I'm in Costa Rica! 🙂 Most of you probably know how I ended up exploring the other side of the world. For everyone else: Because I can 😅 But seriously...when you get the chance...
Nach tollen drei Wochen in Mexiko hieß es für uns am 24.02. ‚Adiós México’ und ‚Hola Costa Rica‘. Noch am Flughafen in Cancun sollten uns erste Hindernisse erwarten. Nachdem wir...
Our Top 5 Places in a 3-week tour of Costa Rica
After nearly 2 weeks of relaxation at Playa Grande, we drove to Monteverde on April 15, 2021. With us: our new travel companion, whom we met through a German Facebook group...
You only need to look around here once to see leaves in hundreds of shades of green and different shapes. Huge leaves that make underlying branches bend when they fall. Small...