Central America

Costa Rica

A small country between two oceans, where cloud forests drift in mist, volcanoes smoulder and sloths doze above the beaches.

Photo: Christina Victoria Craft / Unsplash

Costa Rica covers only a small slice of Central America, yet it holds a remarkable amount of nature. In a few hours the road climbs from hot Pacific beaches to cool cloud forests, where trunks are wrapped in moss and bromeliads and the mornings are filled only with birdsong and dripping water.

This is a country where wildlife isn't a separate excursion — it's all around you. Capuchin and howler monkeys in the canopy, scarlet macaws above the Osa coast, turtles on the beaches of Tortuguero. A wealth of national parks and private reserves, experienced naturalist guides and lodges in the forest let you watch it all up close and unhurried.

Costa Rica suits families, couples and anyone who wants a holiday that's active without being exhausting. The key is not to try to see everything: choose two or three regions and stay longer in each, so there's time for both the trails and the hammock.

Why go

01
Cloud forests and Arenal volcano
In Monteverde, hanging bridges carry you through the forest canopy, and night walks reveal frogs, insects and roosting birds. Nearby rises the near-perfect cone of Arenal, with hot springs around La Fortuna and the calm waters of Lake Arenal.
02
The wild Osa Peninsula
Corcovado National Park is one of the country's wildest places, reached by boat or small plane. With a guide you may find tapir tracks, macaws and all four of Costa Rica's monkey species. On the way lie the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park and, in certain months, humpback whales offshore.
03
Nicoya and Guanacaste
In the north-west the climate is drier, with golden beaches and surf villages such as Nosara and Santa Teresa. The Nicoya Peninsula is known for its slow pace of life, while Guanacaste's dry forest and the slopes around Rincón de la Vieja volcano are made for hiking and horse riding.
04
The Caribbean coast and Tortuguero
Tortuguero can be reached only by boat or plane — gliding along its jungle canals you may spot caimans, herons and monkeys. Further south, around Puerto Viejo, the Afro-Caribbean culture shines through: coconut-milk cooking, reggae rhythms and beaches where sloths rest in the trees above.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Wildlife & nature
Early walks with a naturalist, night hikes in Monteverde, boat trips along Tortuguero's canals and the forests of Corcovado.
Family journeys
Short transfers, hanging bridges, hot springs and beaches — for children, Costa Rica feels like a living nature encyclopedia.
Adventure & active travel
Zip-lines above the canopy, kayaking and rafting, surf lessons on Nicoya and longer hikes on the Osa Peninsula.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Eco-lodges in the jungle, hotels facing Arenal and quiet villas above the Pacific.
Honeymoons & special journeys
Hot springs at the foot of a volcano, sunsets on the Nicoya Peninsula and nights surrounded only by the sounds of the forest.
Tailor-made journeys
Transfers, domestic flights and guides arranged so you travel comfortably without losing days on the road.

Costa Rica

Journey inspiration

Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.

0112–16 days
Volcanoes, cloud forest and the Pacific
Arenal and its hot springs, a few days in Monteverde's cloud forest, then slow days on the beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula.
Family journeys · Wildlife & nature
Plan something like this
0210–14 days
The wild south: Osa and Corcovado
A forest lodge near Drake Bay, guided hikes in Corcovado, a boat out to look for whales and time to unwind on the Marino Ballena coast.
Wildlife & nature · Adventure & active travel
Plan something like this
0314–18 days
From the Caribbean to the Pacific
Tortuguero's canals, the Afro-Caribbean feel of Puerto Viejo, Arenal volcano and the dry coast of Guanacaste — the whole country, coast to coast.
Wildlife & nature · Culture & discovery
Plan something like this

Planning your journey

When to go

On the Pacific side the dry season usually runs from around December to April. May to November is the 'green' season: afternoon rain is more common, but the landscape is lush and there are fewer travellers. The Caribbean coast follows its own pattern, with some autumn months often drier there. Turtle nesting and whale seasons vary somewhat from year to year.

How long to allow

Ten to twelve days suit two regions; for three or four, allow two weeks or more. Roads are winding, so distances take longer than the map suggests — domestic flights help save time.

Natural combinations

Costa Rica works beautifully on its own, but pairs well with the Maya heritage of Guatemala or the reefs of Belize. For a longer Latin American journey, Colombia is a natural continuation.

Areas to explore

Arenal and Monteverde
Volcano, hot springs and cool cloud forest.
The Osa Peninsula
Corcovado, Drake Bay and the wild southern shores.
Nicoya and Guanacaste
A drier climate, beaches and surf villages.
Caribbean coast and Tortuguero
Canals, turtle beaches and Afro-Caribbean culture.

General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

Sample journey