Costa Rica travel guide

Costa Rica occupies a narrow strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, linking North and South America through a landscape of volcanoes, cloud forests, tropical beaches and dense rainforest. Although small in size, the country contains an extraordinary concentration of biodiversity, with around 5% of the world's known species found within its borders. This richness, combined with long-standing political stability and an unusually strong conservation ethic, has made Costa Rica one of the most influential ecotourism destinations in the world.

The capital, San José, sits in the Central Valley at an altitude of around 1,170 metres (3,839 ft), surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. While many travellers pass through quickly on their way to the beaches or rainforest lodges, the city functions as the country's cultural, economic and transport hub. Museums dedicated to gold, jade and pre-Columbian history provide insight into Costa Rica's past, while neighbourhoods such as Escalante and Barrio Amón have developed lively café, restaurant and nightlife scenes that reflect a younger and increasingly cosmopolitan urban culture.

Costa Rica's international reputation rests largely on its natural landscapes and wildlife. National parks and protected areas cover more than a quarter of the country, safeguarding habitats ranging from mangrove swamps and dry tropical forests to high-altitude cloud forests and Caribbean lowland jungles. Monteverde is known for its mist-covered forest canopy and remarkable birdlife, including the resplendent quetzal, while Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast protects one of the most important nesting grounds for green sea turtles in the western hemisphere. Corcovado National Park, on the remote Osa Peninsula, is considered one of the most biologically intense places on earth.

The country's volcanic geography shapes much of the interior. Arenal Volcano, with its near-perfect cone rising above rainforest and hot springs, remains one of Costa Rica's defining sights. Elsewhere, Poás and Irazú volcanoes allow relatively easy access to active volcanic landscapes, crater lakes and panoramic viewpoints. Rivers descending from these highlands have also made Costa Rica one of the leading destinations in the Americas for white-water rafting, particularly on the Pacuare and Reventazón rivers.

The Pacific and Caribbean coasts offer markedly different experiences. The Pacific side contains long surfing beaches, resort towns and marine parks, ranging from the developed coast around Manuel Antonio and Tamarindo to quieter stretches of the Nicoya Peninsula and the wild southern Pacific. The Caribbean coast, centred around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita, has a distinct Afro-Caribbean cultural identity expressed through music, food and language. The atmosphere here is slower and less polished, but for many visitors, that is precisely the appeal.

Costa Rica differs from many countries in the region not only environmentally but also politically. It abolished its army in 1948 and has since invested heavily in education, healthcare and conservation. Combined with relatively reliable infrastructure, a well-developed tourism sector and a reputation for safety by regional standards, this has helped make the country particularly accessible to independent travellers. The phrase pura vida, literally "pure life", appears everywhere in Costa Rica, used as a greeting, farewell and expression of optimism, and although it has become something of a national slogan, it also captures the relaxed rhythm that many visitors quickly come to appreciate.