Dreaming about Costa Rica’s unique biodiversity and rich nature activities?
- Looking for a compact-sized country offering beaches for relaxing or surfing, and mountains/volcanoes for exploring?
- Would you like to mingle with nature in a cloud forest, or a rainforest?
- Want to raft, zip-line or do a tree-top canopy walk?
You can experience all of this and more in Cost Rica, a country the size of West Virginia. This post features pictures from actual travel guests; they have enjoyed their own unique custom planned itineraries to Cost Rica. They experienced the natural wonders Costa Rica on their own terms with just as much action or relaxation as desired. Hotels range from small boutique hotels in the Cloud Forest of Monteverde to large US based chains in San Jose.
See more Costa Rica guest pictures
Problem, Costa Rica does not have super highways like the US. Not sure how to get around Costa Rica’s different regions, or how many regions you can explore within your time in Costa Rica? You just need a custom crafted itinerary.
Getting to the different regions takes advance planning. Let’s start with flights. Most flights from the US will go into the Capital, San Jose (airport code SJO), in the center of the country with some flights going into Liberia (airport code LIR) in the Northwest. If you’re wondering which airport to go to, here’s the inside information.
San Jose has the most flights and is a great starting/stopping point to tour multiple regions of Costa Rica. If you want to have a single home-base at an All-Inclusive resort or North American style hotel near the beach, then Liberia in Guanacaste Province is the right call. From Liberia airport you can transfer to most hotels in under an hour and have the option for day trips for rafting, volcanoes, zip-lines, etc. directly from your resort or hotel.
Three ways to get around:
- With a pre-planned multi-region tour, you may be met at airport by local representative/ground operator. Shared shuttles are economical way to get around the different regions of Costa Rica; shuttles leave 1-2 times per day (not including more frequent airport shuttles).
- Private transfers are also available for the convenience of 2-4 people. Private transfers are especially good if arriving in-country in the afternoon when scheduled shared transfers are not available.
- Rental cars are available but use a GPS. Note: roads may not be paved or clearly marked and renting a car to tour Cost Rica is not recommended.
Things to do and facts (just a taste, we’ll explore in more depth in a future issue):
- Rafting and canopy tours from SJO, Arenal, Guanacaste, Jaco, and Quepos
- Whale watching from Dominical Area and Manuel Antonio
- Zip Lining
- Thermal Springs
- May to November is green or rainy season which may be dry in the morning and rainy in afternoon
- December to April is the dry season
