Costa Rica
N. America · not on the board yet
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Votes for Costa RicaThe short answer
December to April is the dry season. May to November is green, wetter, close to half the price and far emptier.
It is not a cheap Central American country. It costs roughly what southern Europe costs, and the wildlife is what you are paying for.
When to go
Best months: Dec to Mar
What a day costs
Per person, not counting flights.
- Hostel bed$25
- Sodas and markets$15
- Buses$15
- Hotel or lodge$75
- Eating out$30
- Hire car$25
- Eco lodge$190
- Restaurants$60
- Car and guides$50
What your whole trip would cost
1 vote = $1 US Dollar, charged by Stripe. No prizes, no refunds.
Votes for Costa RicaHow far it is
- New York to San Jose5h 15m
- Mexico City to San Jose2h 55m
- Madrid to San Jose11h
- Getting aroundA hire car with clearance, the distances are short but the roads are slow
- When to avoidSeptember and October on the Caribbean side, the wettest weeks of the year
Nonstop times from a few big hubs, to give you a sense of the distance. We have no idea which airport you are actually leaving from. Fares move weekly, so we leave those out.
When you land
- Airport to townUse the official orange airport taxis or a prebooked shuttle. Most people collect a hire car here instead.
- Cash or cardDollars are accepted everywhere but your change comes in colones at a poor rate. Pay in colones.
- Getting onlineKolbi has the best coverage and a SIM costs a few dollars at the airport.
- What catches people outHire car insurance is compulsory here and is not what the booking site quoted. Budget for it or the desk will surprise you.
What not to miss in Costa Rica
- Manuel Antonio or Corcovado at dawnCorcovado is the wild one and needs a guide. Both are quiet before eight.
- Arenal and the hot springs under itThe free river springs downstream beat the resort ones and cost nothing.
- Monteverde cloud forestWalk it early in the mist. The night tour is the one people talk about afterwards.
- Turtle nesting on the CaribbeanTortuguero, roughly July to October, arriving by boat because there is no road.
Still deciding?
🧳 Plan your trip to Costa Rica
Good to know
Curated with 
Nemo
Written and checked by hand. Nothing here about visas or entry rules: those change often and depend on your passport, so check an official source.