Visiting Costa Rica
Costa Rica should be on everyone’s vacation bucket list. From monkeys to volcanoes, the country has so much to offer. If you are an outdoor enthusiast or just enjoy relaxing in the warmth, this is the country for you. Check out our guide below to some of the best areas to explore wildlife or activities in Costa Rica.
When should you visit?
Costa Rica gets a whole lotta rain. From roughly May to early December, the rain is heavy and daily, while September to November has the heaviest rains. From late December through April is considered dry season, which receives far less rain than the rest of the year. There is still a chance that rains will occur during that time however.
Holidays and weekends can be very busy in Costa Rica, so if you are going during Christmas or Easter, plan to see a lot of people.
Getting to and around Costa Rica
There are two main airports to get to Costa Rica. One is in San Jose in the center of the county and the other is Liberia, on the northwestern side of the country.
San Jose is a more functional area to fly into if you are spending more than a few days. You can access all parts of the country from San Jose easily. If you are only going for a few days, and are limited on what you can do, Liberia is closer to the Monteverde, Arenal Volcano, or some beaches.
Once you are in Costa Rica, a rental car is almost a necessity. Driving in the country is legal as long as you have a valid drivers license. The roads are mostly paved and with the exception of some of the more secluded areas and the Monteverde area. Driving in the country tends to be slow, so it takes longer to get around than you might expect.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
The most popular or most visited area of Costa Rica is probably the Monteverde cloud forests. Just a little over 3 hours from San Jose or 2 hours from Liberia, Monteverde is a must.
The cloud forest is home to over 400 types of birds and over 100 mammals. There are also thousands of plants and insects, including hundreds of orchids. There are a few places to stay in the Monteverde area, and we recommend you get a rental car with 4×4 options in case you drive yourself around the area. Some of the roads are not paved, so take them slow and watch for animals. We had a large coral snake squirm across the road right in front of us. It was pretty amazing to see.
The Monte Verde Cloud Forest Reserve will take you at least a day to tour. There are a number of trails to hike, none of them being very difficult. There are a number of stairs though throughout the forest, so make sure to bring a good pair of non-slippery hiking shoes.
Tickets are $22 for entrance for foreigners. You can also book a tours in the forest. There are other things in the area including a butterfly garden, bat jungle, zip lining and other activities for families.
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna
The Arenal volcano is one of six active volcanoes in Costa Rica. The area is also home to a large number of hot springs, mostly around the city of La Fortuna. The Arenal volcano is located across a large lake, the Lake Arenal, from the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
There are a number of activities in the area, including zip lining, fishing, the lake, and hikes around the volcano. If you plan to spend some time in the area, check out the Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa as a good place to stay. They offer tours, activities, and have a number of hiking trails around the lodge.
The Arenal volcano area is about 3 hours from San Jose and about 2.5 hours from Liberia. You do not need a 4×4 vehicle for this area as all roads are paved and easy to manuever.
Keep an eye out for birds too, we saw a number of colorful birds at the volcano, including a few toucans eating berries.
Manuel Antonio
On the western coast of Costa Rica lies Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the best national parks in the country. The park is full of wildlife, including the sloth, an assortment of monkeys, iguanas, and a number of birds. The monkeys are constantly moving through the park, and you will hear them constantly. Other wildlife may be harder to spot, especially the sloth since it moves so slowly. Entrance to the park is $16 dollars for adults.
There are guides that offer tours of the park, and they will bring a scope to view animals up close. While a guide is not necessary, they do increase your chances of seeing wildlife and provide a lot of additional information. We did not hire a guide, and we saw about 4 sloths, a ton of monkeys, and a few other mammals in addition to tons of lizards, crabs, and insects.
The small town outside of Manuel Antonio National Park is also has a number of operators that provide things like river rafting, whale watching tours, zip lining, and other activities. Both during the day and at night the town comes to life, but in different areas respectively.
For a recommendation of housing, we recommend the Hotel La Mariposa for the views, great service, and good prices. Monkeys and lizards will be all over the city, so keep an eye out as your walking around. We woke up one morning to a huge lizard in our window basking in the sun.
Manuel Antonio is located about 3.5 hours from Liberia and just over 3 hours from San Jose. Tip – on your way to Manuel Antonio, stop at the Crocodile Bridge just before Tarcoles. There will be a small store and lots of venders selling items. The bridge is home to a large population of crocodiles. It is a great place to take a break, see some wildlife, and stretch your legs.
Other Activities
There are a number of other places to see in Costa Rica, but we just wanted to highlight the ones we highly recommend. Depending on which city you fly into, there is a volcano near both San Jose or Liberia. Seeing the volcanoes is a great day trip from either city, just make sure you arrive early as most of the volcano visitors areas do close in the early afternoon.
There are also a number of beaches on almost every part of Costa Rica. Hit the beaches close to where ever you are staying and you should be fine. Just be aware that monkeys will try and steal your food when you are not looking.
Hopefully our guide helps you plan your next vacation to Costa Rica, but always feel free to comment below or send us a question!
