Costa Rica
Welcome
Motto: No official motto
Anthem: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (Spanish)
"National Anthem of Costa Rica"
Costa Rica is known for its volcanoes, cloud forests and sandy beaches. Located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is a small country bordered by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans on either side.
Capital: San José 9°56′N 84°5′W.
Population: 5,204 million inhabitants.
Gross Domestic Product - GDP (PPP): $128.134 billion.
Official languages: Spanish.
Recognized regional languages: Mekatelyu, Bribri & Patois.
Area: 51,100 km2.
Water (%): 1.05.
Currency: Costa Rican colón (CRC).
Safety rating: Ranked 38 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.73.
Food
Costa Rican cuisine is known for being fairly mild, with high reliance on fruits and vegetables. Rice and black beans are a staple of most traditional Costa Rican meals, often served three times a day. Costa Rican fare is nutritionally well rounded, and nearly always cooked from scratch from fresh ingredients.
Gallo Pinto
Although Gallo means chicken, this dish has nothing to do with roosters, though Gallo pinto means spotted rooster. It is made of rice and beans. If you ask for this dish using its full name, then that is a dead giveaway that you are not a local.
Casado
Typically served during lunchtime, Casado is a Costa Rica food that will fill your tummy for the latter part of the day until you get to your afternoon snack. The main ingredients are rice and beans, salad.
Arroz Con Something
If you know what paella means, then you will find this one very familiar. Arroz refers to rice and con means with. So, depending on the restaurant where you are dining, this dish is mainly rice served with something. First, the rice is steamed. Then, it is sautéed with different ingredients. Some are cooked in tomato sauce, without getting too saucy, while some are like fried rice mixed with chicken strips. This dish has evolved into too many variants, all of which are delicious and fulfilling.
Tamales
It is not the same as Mexican tamale. They share some similarities, but Costa Rican Tamale is a distant cousin of the Mexican version. This one is wrapped in banana leaves.
What you’ll find inside are rice, potatoes, bell pepper, beans, and vegetables. Some variants come with chicken meat. Although it can stand on its own as a meal, it is still best served as a snack in the afternoon, especially if you are on a boat and out fishing.
Ceviche Tico
Usually, Costa Ricans use sea bass and cut it into cubes. The head is not included. The cubes are mixed with diced onion, cilantro, peppers, and lemon juice. It is not heated, but the acidity of the citrus fruit kills off the bacteria.
Transportation
Bus
The best way to get around Costa Rica is by bus, which is reliable, navigable, inexpensive and frequently runs through San José, Costa Rica's capital. Driving on your own is not highly recommended as some roads are tricky (speckled with potholes and ambiguously marked intersections). The public bus system in Costa Rica is quite reliable, runs frequently throughout the day (even in remote places), and is very affordable. Taking the public bus also adds a cultural authenticity to your adventure. Make sure that you bring water and snacks with you if you are planning a long day of bus travel. You can find the bus schedule here: guide.
Air Travel
There are two small aircraft companies in Costa Rica that offer daily flights all around the country: Nature Air and Sansa. This is one of the most time-effective ways to travel around the country, if your travel itinerary takes you to multiple locations. Nature Air fly to 14 destinations and Sansa to 13.
Private Shuttle
Hiring a private shuttle is probably one of the best transportation options if you are in need of daily transportation to and from your adventure activities and sightseeing tours, and don’t want to be bothered with renting a car and navigating a new country. This is especially affordable if you are traveling with a group. Oftentimes, you can hire a driver who is also an experienced guide in Costa Rica.
Driving
With the exception of San Jose and some of the bigger cities such as Limon, Costa Rica is a relatively easy country to travel around. Most rental car companies, such as National or Avis, will also give you the option of renting a GPS. Costa Rica is infamous for its bad drivers. It is important that you are always alert and practice defensive driving. There are a number of unusual hazards that you might encounter, such as cow crossings, iguanas sunning in the road, stray dogs and cats popping out of nowhere, massive potholes, river crossings, fallen trees, cargo trucks, sudden fog, landslides, and curvy mountain passes. You are advised to avoid driving at night, if possible.
Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles are a cost-effective way to get from one place to another, such as to and from the airport or to a particular destination. For example, Grayline and Interbus offer shared shuttles from San Jose Airport to Tamarindo for around $50.
Best things to do
The Arenal Volcano (my personal favorite)
In the central/northern area of Costa Rica, you'll find the Arenal Volcano, one of the most well-known natural landmarks in the country. Arenal Volcano is active and stands at 1,633 meters tall, but it hasn't erupted since 2010. La Fortuna is one of the most popular towns to visit in the area, and it has a charming little church, central park, and plenty of food and accommodation options for travelers. A popular day trip from here is visiting the powerful La Fortuna Waterfall. Other tourist attractions in the Arenal Volcano area are the Venado Caves, which have limestone rock formations and tunnels that are close to 20 million years old, and the Cano Negro National Wildlife Preserve, which has lots of marshes and rivers. You can fish, kayak & swim at Lake Arenal, Costa Rica's largest lake.
Zip line through the forest
With so much greenery and different elevations, Costa Rica is an ideal destination for zip lining. Imagine zooming high over the jungle, strapped in safely of course, and feeling like you can fly. There are plenty of amazing locations for zip lining in Costa Rica, most of them being inland near the Cloud Forests.
Beaches
One the Caribbean coast, there are two beaches that stand out: Punta Uva Beach and Manzanillo Beach. Both of these are located on the southern Caribbean coast, and they both have calm water and are great for snorkeling or kayaking. The majority of Costa Rica's noteworthy beaches are on the Pacific coast. In the Guanacaste Region of the north, definitely visit Conchal Beach, which has lots of beautiful little shells, & Flamingo Beach, which has sand that appears almost pink. One of the best beaches here is Uvita Beach, which is shaped like a whale's tail because of a sandbar that cuts into the ocean.
Learn how to make coffee
Costa Rica makes some of the world's best coffee. Just outside San José, you can visit the small town of Naranjo and take a tour of the Hacienda Espíritu Santo. Here you can explore their 600-acre plantation and learn about the harvesting and roasting process of the coffee beans. Don Juan's Coffee Farm and Café de Monteverde both offer informational coffee tours, and you can usually get a discount on their products after taking a tour.
San José
The list of things to do in San José, Costa Rica continues with the National Theater, the Museum of Contemporary Art & Design, the San José Central Market, the Gold Museum, and the National Museum. In all of these places, you can uncover knowledge about the local culture. From learning about the nation’s history, artifacts, art and architecture at the museums, to tasting local food at the Central Market, you won't be bored for a second while sightseeing in San José.
White water rafting
The Pacuare River near the Caribbean coast is one of the best river rafting destinations in Costa Rica, and Río Naranjo near the central Pacific coast is also a highly recommended spot. In the Guanacaste region, you can go rafting in the Tenorio River. If you're spending more time inland, there are amazing whitewater rafting places near the Arenal Volcano. The Toro River, the Balsa River, and the Sarapiquí River are perfect locations for rafting in the rapids.
Best time to visit
Costa Rica has a tropical climate. This means there is a rainy season and a dry season, but the temperature is relatively warm all year round. Only at higher altitudes in the mountains do the temperatures get a bit cool.
The rainy season is roughly from May to November. During this time, it rains almost every day. Sometimes it only rains for a short time, sometimes it pours all day long. Just be prepared during the rainy season and pack appropriate waterproof clothing.
The upside to visiting Costa Rica during the rainy season is the lack of crowds and the cheaper prices of tourist attractions. You can also find cheaper flights to Costa Rica during the rainy season.
October is the wettest month, so if you really want to avoid the bad weather maybe skip visiting in October.
The dry season is December through April. This means the rains stop, except for a few occasional showers here and there. The sun shines, the humidity decreases a bit, and the weather is perfect for beach days and outdoor activities. The dry season is also peak tourist season, so you'll find Costa Rica to be more crowded and more expensive during this time.
Quick tips
The local currency is Colones (₡). $1 USD equals about ₡570.75 Colones. In touristy areas, you can pay with a credit card at hotels and restaurants, but it is helpful to have cash on you as well. ATMs are pretty commonly found around.
In touristy areas, English is quite common. But do your best to use Spanish whenever possible because it will show the locals you respect their culture. The Costa Rican locals refer to themselves as "Ticos."
Don’t wear flashy items – Petty theft is common here, so remove any jewelry or watches before you go out and don’t wave your phone or camera around. Do your best to blend in, so you don’t become a target for pickpockets.
Always take an authorized taxi – Crimes against cab riders are infrequent here but it’s best you use a licensed taxi. Also, pay close attention to the meter and make sure it’s running properly. Cab drivers can turn the meter off and claim it’s broken (a common scam) and quotes you a price that is outrageously high.
The tap water in Costa Rica is safe to drink, however, it’s recommended that you avoid drinking the tap water in most beach destinations.
