Plan your trip
The practical side of a Costa Rica trip: when to go, which airport to fly into, how to get around, staying safe, and how each region fits into a route.
Guides
Monteverde trip planner: cloud forest, roads and how long to stay
Monteverde is Costa Rica's cloud forest, a cool, misty ridge about 4 hours by road from San José or 3 to 4 hours from Arenal by jeep-boat-jeep. Two…
Manuel Antonio trip planner: the park, Quepos and the Central Pacific
Manuel Antonio is the easiest rainforest-and-beach combination in Costa Rica: about 157 km from San José, with monkeys and sloths in a national park…
Guanacaste trip planner: beaches, volcanoes and the Liberia airport
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's dry, sunny northwest, and it's the easiest region to reach if you fly into Liberia. Plan 4 to 6 nights: base yourself in…
Caribbean coast trip planner: Tortuguero, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo
Costa Rica's Caribbean coast has two halves: Tortuguero in the north, reached only by boat or small plane and famous for nesting turtles, and the…
Is Costa Rica safe? Practical safety tips for travellers
Costa Rica is one of the easier countries in Latin America to travel, but 2 risks catch visitors out: rip currents on beaches without lifeguards, and…
Arenal and La Fortuna trip planner: volcano, hot springs and the lake
Arenal is Costa Rica's volcano country, and La Fortuna is the town that serves it. It's about 3.5 hours from San José by car, and 2 to 3 nights is…
San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR)? Choosing your Costa Rica airport
Fly into Liberia (LIR) if your trip is mostly Guanacaste and the northern Nicoya beaches; it's about 1¼ hours from Tamarindo. Fly into San José (SJO)…
Costa Rica weather: when to go, month by month and region by region
For most of Costa Rica, the best time to go is the dry season, December to April, when Guanacaste and the Pacific coast see almost no rain. September…
Getting around Costa Rica: cars, shuttles, buses, flights and ferries
Most visitors get around Costa Rica by rental car or shared shuttle, and both work well for the main route. Drive if you want flexibility and side…
