There are a number of causes to make Costa Rica your subsequent journey vacation spot, each for work and for pleasure. Beyond the magnificence of the pure magnificence, the friendliness of the Ticos, the superb meals and the extraordinary climate, Costa Rica is a small nation characterised by its easygoingness and relative peace.
A rustic with out a military since 1948, Costa Rica is a paradise on Earth, operating virtually fully on inexperienced power and internet hosting roughly 5% of the biodiversity of the complete world.
My first go to to Costa Rica was only a glimpse into this variety. With the cloud forest and tropical seashores, with the indigenous archeological websites and the quite a few volcanoes, you’d want a lifetime to find all of the sides of this small nation.
While touring from the capital San José to the Pacific takes you solely two hours, and it’s simply three hours from the Capital to the Caribbean, Costa Rica has an excessive amount of to supply and also you’ll positively battle with any short-term itinerary. All the extra purpose to go to once more. And once more.
This introduction to Costa Rica is an invite to get misplaced within the nature and the city atmosphere, providing you vital customs and a neighborhood’s perception, in addition to warning you concerning the risks that you just may face.
After all, touring to Costa Rica is an journey and there’s no journey with out danger. So, pack your umbrella and your rain jacket, seize your sandals and your swimsuit and observe me into the unique and thrilling Tiquicia (the identify Costa Ricans use for his or her homeland).
Costa Rica Travel Tips
One of a very powerful suggestions for visiting Costa Rica for the primary time is to plan prematurely. Take a few hours earlier than leaving your nation and arrange your journey, considering the nation’s geography and permitting time for adjustments.
If you actually plan to remain within the seashore for simply two days, you may discover it laborious to go away. You can discover the capital San José, the rainforest, a volcano and a few seashores on the identical journey. However, the farther you go, the extra time you want. Costa Rica’s treasures are hidden all over the place.
While locals are in a position to communicate English, studying a couple of phrases in Spanish is useful. Costa Ricans have their very own dialect and generally they communicate in phrases with a number of meanings and hilarious puns.
Don’t neglect to hold some money while you’re shifting round, however do not forget that even when Costa Rica is among the most secure international locations in Latin America, carrying more cash than you want just isn’t actually sensible.
Same goes for leaving your luggage unattended or your digital camera sitting within the passenger’s seat, however that’s actually frequent sense all over the place, proper?
When to Visit
Costa Rica is a superb vacation spot year-round. With solely two seasons—dry and wet—the nation doesn’t have to fret about too-hot summers, or too-cold winters.
Year-round, you’ll get virtually twelve hours of solar on daily basis, and twelve hours of evening. The wet season begins in May and goes till mid-November, and the dry season goes from mid-November to April.
However, the wet season doesn’t imply much less solar, however somewhat simply an virtually each day rain beginning early every afternoon. No matter while you determine to go to, Costa Rica is well-known for its microclimates and strange adjustments in climate situations, so that you higher be ready for warm and humid environments, for sunburns and chilly nights.
What to Wear
Your finest wager is to deliver garments and equipment for each event, with out making your baggage a dwelling hell. You’ll want seashore necessities like sandals, towels, swimsuits and relying in your actions, all that you may want for sunbathing, snorkeling, browsing or walks across the tropical forests.
For most volcanoes and rainforests, together with the extraordinary cloud forest in Monteverde, I like to recommend bringing the alternative: waterproof footwear, denims, scarves, gloves and winter hats. Don’t neglect that Costa Rica additionally has an attention-grabbing city life and it’s possible you’ll want nicer garments for some eating places or theaters in San José, in addition to brief informal clothes for salsa dancing and nights out clubbing.
If you neglect one thing, native shops supply low-cost choices to purchase the necessities, whereas markets promote native crafts and clothes souvenirs (t-shirts).
Getting Around
Costa Rica has a extremely difficult geography. That’s partly why you’ve all these pure lovely landscapes and breathtaking panoramas. However, shifting round just isn’t essentially horrible, however it may be. For these touring on a price range, you need to depend on native buses for each brief and lengthy distances, whereas taxis are an excellent choice just for brief journeys or for late-night adventures.
Buses are a typical mode of transport by the provinces of Costa Rica–Cartago, Heredia and Alajuela–with some regularity. For journeys to the seashores and the rainforests, some buses can be found on daily basis, relying on the vacation spot.
The two well-known volcanoes, Irazú and Poás, have their very own direct bus from San José. A small prepare additionally strikes you round San José downtown and it connects with a number of the neighboring provinces, however frequent small accidents make the prepare unreliable.
Renting a automotive is a superb and low-cost choice for exploring the nation. While it’s dearer than taking a bus, it presents you the likelihood to cease alongside the manner for roadside meals (search for a neighborhood soda—that’s the phrase for small eating places).
With your personal rental automotive, you’ll discover Costa Rica’s pure magnificence extra simply accessible. Roadside eating places, sodas, generally have incredible views, or you may entry much less easily-reachable seashores. While some roads are problematic resulting from neglect and upkeep, the nation’s main highways are in nice situation.
Just be warned that—principally through the wet season—floods and landslides are an actual drawback, inflicting delays and generally even blocking complete roads. Make positive you’ve knowledge in your cellphone or entry to a GPS when renting a automotive.
Where to Visit in Costa Rica for the First Time: San José and the GAM
San José is the capital of Costa Rica and the GAM (the Great Metropolitan Area) which incorporates Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia. It’s the middle of Costa Rica’s city life.
There are a number of issues to do within the heart of the nation and you’ll spend some days questioning round these small cities, discovering the each day lifetime of Ticos.
Things To Do in San José
Mercado Central – The central market in San José is a cultural establishment. Locals go to for lunch or to purchase groceries and flowers. It’s additionally an excellent place for memento searching (that is the place you may get your Costa Rican espresso or different bric-a-brac). Make positive to strive the sorbet ice cream at Helados De Sorbetera. Costa Ricans have a candy tooth and it is a native favourite for a lot of.
Teatro Nacional – As a visionary mission began by Costa Rican President José Joaquín Rodríguez, the National Theater was inaugurated in 1897 and is a jewel in the course of the capital, providing theater, dance and different performances. A sculpture backyard and low store are open to the general public on daily basis.
Museum Nacional – With an unique indigenous sphere positioned within the entrance of the constructing, the National Museum tells the story of Costa Rica by its’ archeological artwork, crafts and excavations. The constructing was a navy fortress and now features a butterfly sanctuary—a pleasant attraction for kids.
TEOR/Ética – This small artwork gallery positioned in Barrio Amón has turn out to be a celebrated artwork establishment in Central America. With its’ goal to spotlight political and social messages, the gallery presents nice up to date artwork on daily basis—at no cost! TEOR/Ética is a should for lovers of recent and up to date artwork. They usually showcase new and rising artists alongside established up to date ones.
Parque Morazán – A small park positioned a few blocks from the National Theater, it’s the house to the Templo de la Música, a preferred pavilion incessantly visited by road musicians, jugglers and different buskers. The park can also be the venue of a number of inventive festivals all year long and it’s a preferred hangout for locals.
La Sabana – Considered “el pulmón de San José,” (the lung of San José), the Sabana park is a large open house within the heart of the town with inexperienced areas, lakes and sport venues. Inside the park, the not too long ago renovated National Stadium hosts each soccer matches and worldwide live shows.
Day Trip to Poás Volcano – One of the extra simply accessible volcanos in Costa Rica is only a brief 2-hour drive from San José. Many tour operators run each day excursions (both half-day or full-day) from the town heart to the volcano, together with stops to the La Paz waterfall and close by nature parks. It’s additionally to get to with a rental automotive, however be sure to set out early—by 10 a.m., usually the volcano crater is tough to see resulting from fog.
Things To Do in Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia
The different three provinces of the GAM supply nice choices for day journeys—simply visited by leaping on a bus from San José downtown. Cartago is known due to its cathedral: the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, devoted to the Virgen de Los Angeles.
Locals imagine that the virgin appeared in a stone and the temple was erected on the exact same web site. Another attraction is the temple regionally often known as Las Ruinas (The Ruins), a church that was destroyed in a serious earthquake in 1910.
Alajuela, the province closest to the San José worldwide airport, hosts the story of Costa Rica’s struggle heroe Juan Santamaría (whom the airport is called after). The metropolis features a sculpture and museum devoted to this chapter of Costa Rican historical past: Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría.
Heredia, regionally often known as the “city of flowers,” is a small city with numerous cultural sights, together with the well-known Barva with its volcano and the custom of mascaradas (road events with reside music and large dancing dolls).
Where to Visit: Central Pacific Coast
This first time customer’s information to Costa Rica explores the perfect locations within the Central Pacific Coast. From the gay-friendly Manuel Antonio to the port city of Quepos and the touristic hotspot Jacó, the Central Pacific Coast is a superb introduction to Costa Rica’s pure magnificence.
Things To Do within the Central Pacific Coast
Tarcoles River – Located within the Costanera Sur, this small bridge is an compulsory cease for each locals and foreigners. Take care whereas strolling this tiny sidewalk alongside the bridge and look down to find the attractive but horrific view of dozens of crocodiles ready peacefully within the waters of the Tarcoles River. You can get actually nice photos together with your digital camera from above and the roadside cafés promote contemporary juices and smoothies (even when overpriced). It’s a kind of good stops throughout a highway journey.
Jacó Beach – Notorious for medicine and crime, Jacó Beach is an attention-grabbing city on the Central Pacific coast. It’s small, however is house to a pleasant seashore, a few eating places and numerous memento shops.
Quepos – The port metropolis of Quepos is a small village with a couple of native sodas, bars and eating places. The metropolis not too long ago opened the La Marina Pez Vela, a membership and shopping center for native fishermen and boat homeowners. Open to the general public year-round, the marina has nice eating places, bars and ice cream cafés. It’s an excellent native spot for a sundowner versus the hillside bars on the highway to Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio – One of Costa Rica’s finest seashores and a favourite for LGBT guests, Manuel Antonio is positioned alongside a hill with unbelievable panoramic views out to sea. The brief 15-minute drive from Quepos to Manuel Antonio is dotted with various fashionable eating places and bars. In Manuel Antonio’s metropolis heart you’ll discover the doorway to Costa Rica’s hottest nationwide park—the place you’re assured to see monkeys and raccoons. The nationwide park has numerous sloths, however be aware that they’re generally tough to identify in the event that they’re hiding up within the bushes all day. The nationwide park additionally contains splendidly peaceable seashores and a panoramic viewpoint (mirador) out to the Pacific Ocean.- Puntarenas – This small city is known for the Churchill, a dessert manufactured from sugar and extra sugar and fully unhealthy, however cherished by everybody. The Malecón in Puntarenas is a small space for strolling alongside the seashore. While the city is commonly mocked by locals because the vacation spot of low-income Costa Ricans, the city has price range eating places, stands for road meals and native bars for a chilly beer.
Playa de Doña Ana – Located solely 10 kilometers away from Puntarenas, this small, hidden seashore with black sand and powerful waves is a superb cease for sunbathing and for swimming. The seashore has an entry charge (like most of Costa Rica’s nationwide parks) however some providers can be found, together with parking, a restaurant and grills to your personal use.
Important Things to Take into Account
While Costa Rica is a protected nation, you’ll must take some precautions to have an excellent vacation. The native emergency quantity for each medical emergencies and the police is 911.
Follow the indicators: There are a lot of indicators on the seashores and pure parks warning you of potential risks, so don’t be an fool. If the native authorities designated an space as a no swimming or crocodile zone, don’t take the danger. That video of you being eaten by some bizarre animal just isn’t definitely worth the likes.
Sunscreen and water: Yes, you want a lot of sunscreen—even when visiting San José downtown. Costa Rica is a tropical paradise however that doesn’t imply your pores and skin and your physique are invincible. You have to preserve your pores and skin protected and your physique hydrated. Enjoy the handfuls of choices for native juices and drinks, and use a hat to guard your neck. Seriously, you don’t need to appear to be a lobster after your vacation.
Keep the mosquitoes away: Protect your self from dengue fever and the latest addition of threats, the zika virus. Costa Rica has a powerful and energetic group who continually work on eradicating the locations the place mosquitoes reproduce, however repellent is your finest wager for security.
If you’re feeling signs of a extremely unhealthy flu, higher double examine together with your physician for as much as two weeks after your journey. Better be protected than sorry and simply use repellent.
Drive like a neighborhood: Traffic legal guidelines in Costa Rica, I’m positive exist, however one way or the other there’s nonetheless a specific amount of creativity utilized. Sometimes it’s possibly safer to observe the requirements set by the opposite drivers on the highway.
Stay alert when driving and conscious of your environment, and try to be fantastic. Many of the automotive rental firms in San José are less-than-reputable (even the worldwide rental automotive chains) and so they’ll usually argue even tiny scratches on the automotive upon return, so be vigilant to return your rental automotive in as finest situation you may.
Watch your belongings: Violent robberies and assaults have diminished in Costa Rica, however some individuals are affected by pickpocketing and different thefts.
San José downtown is protected through the day, however some streets are harmful at evening (similar to across the bus station) and even locals desire to depend on taxi drivers than taking their probability. Phone apps like EasyTaxi are standard amongst locals.
Carry money: While credit score and debit playing cards are universally accepted, some locations work within the old style manner. Street distributors and different small funds are incessantly executed in money.
Use a paper map: Internet entry and WiFi are straightforward to search out, however the service just isn’t obtainable all through your complete nation, contemplating each geographical and climate situations.
Before you discover your self fully misplaced in the course of nowhere, carry a paper map and preserve it helpful—particularly when visiting nationwide parks or coastal areas.
Read the native information: The Tico Times is Costa Rica’s most well-established English information supply. You’ll discover useful articles about current occasions and information from Costa Rica, together with particular options with helpful suggestions for guests.
Need extra assist planning your first journey to Costa Rica? Check out the official Costa Rica tourism web site at visitcostarica.com. Read extra Costa Rica journey tales right here on TravelsofAdam.com.