Oh Costa Rica… a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. I have rarely travelled to a country where the locals feel as connected to their homeland and nature as they do here! The people’s top priority is to preserve Costa Rica’s unique landscapes and wildlife. This makes Costa Rica a very special destination for me, which at the same time has an incredible wealth of different activities and sights to offer. In this article, I will tell you the best places to visit in Costa Rica & travel tips, including the most beautiful sights you should not miss during your Costa Rica vacation!
When is the best time to travel to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has a tropical climate with a dry season, which is generally warm & sunny, and a rainy season with more humid days. However, the climate varies greatly depending on the location in the country. The highlands are significantly cooler, while both coastal regions can get very hot, especially during the dry season.
The dry season from November to April is particularly suitable for beach vacations and has the advantage that it hardly rains and there are almost no insects.
The rainy season from April to November also has its charms. Due to the rainfall, the waterfalls are particularly intense, the leaves are lush green and there are flowers everywhere. Even in the rainy season, it doesn’t usually rain all day, but there are mostly some downpours which subside after a while. Only between August and October you may experience complete rainy days, which is why I would avoid these months.
How many days are ideal for your Costa Rica vacation?
In order to explore the diversity of the country and the best places in Costa Rica, I recommend you 10-14 days for your trip – this way your Costa Rica vacation won’t be hectic, and you won’t miss any of the must-see places! Further down in the article you will find a travel duration recommendation for each destination.
Is it safe to drive your own rental car in Costa Rica?
A rental car is essential for your Costa Rica trip, as there are hardly any train or bus connections across the country. However, you should definitely rent a sturdy SUV with four-wheel drive, as the roads in some remote regions are covered with deep potholes. You should therefore always allow enough time for longer journeys and avoid driving in the dark. But don’t worry, most of the roads are in good condition and safe to drive on. With a rental car, you are more flexible during your Costa Rica trip and can explore much more of the country than without your own car.
Some Packing Essentials for your Costa Rica vacation:
At least one reusable water bottle – in many national parks, you are only allowed to bring this type of bottle to avoid plastic waste.
→ By the way, you can drink the tap water in Costa Rica in all inhabited areas! I usually have a very sensitive stomach, but had no problems in Costa Rica and drank tap water throughout the trip.a thin rain jacket & sweater – even though Costa Rica is a tropical warm destination, it can get chilly and wet in some places due to the altitude
coral-friendly sunscreen – sunscreen is essential, especially at all beach destinations, but make sure it’s not harmful to corals!
eco-friendly insect repellent – if you are traveling in the dry season, you will hardly need it, but for jungle tours it can prevent insect bites. Harmful chemical repellents are not allowed in the national parks and before swimming in waterfalls.
Screenshots of your reservation confirmations – recently you have to reserve the entrance to almost all parks online in advance and show the confirmation email on site. Unfortunately, you often have no reception, which is why it saves a lot of time to save screenshots on your cell phone beforehand.
If you book any guided tours the entrance is usually already taken care off, so you don’t have to worry about it. Always check in the tour description if the admission is included before booking a tour online.
The best places to visit & must-see destinations in Costa Rica
The best way to explore Costa Rica is on a round trip through the country by car! You should definitely not miss these places & sights in Costa Rica:
My map with the best places to visit in Costa Rica:
San José – the capital of Costa Rica
Accommodation:
Grand Hotel Costa Rica by Hilton → Book your stay here!
Let’s start with San José – the capital of the country – which is usually the start and end point of a Costa Rica vacation due to the location of the international airport. However, San José is unfortunately not very beautiful and offers very few sights. But since we had our return flight to Germany in the morning and as it is the capital, we spent the last night in the → Grand Hotel Costa Rica. It is the best hotel in Costa Rica and is located on the main square with the National Theater – the only beautiful sight in the city. So, are you missing out if you don’t include San José in your Costa Rica itinerary? In my opinion: No.
Corcovado National Park – The impressive wildlife of Costa Rica
Accommodation:
Corcovado Private Villas → Book your stay here!
Duration: two nights
After landing in the capital San José and entering Costa Rica, we booked a short onward flight directly from the domestic terminal of Juan Santamaria Airport to Puerto Jiménez. The terminal is just a few steps outside the international airport building. From here, we took a domestic flight in a tiny plane to the south-west of Costa Rica to the Osa Peninsula. It consists almost entirely of dense rainforest and beaches on the Pacific coast.
The peninsula is popular thanks to one of Costa Rica’s best places to visit: Corcovado National Park, which covers almost the entire peninsula. Here you will find the highest density of wildlife in Central America: 375 bird and 125 mammal species have their home here! This makes up 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. It’s the perfect place for nature and animal lovers.
Access to the national park in Sirena is only possible by boat from Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay and is strictly limited. It is therefore not possible to explore it on your own, but you must book a tour in advance. As these book up quickly, you should organize them at least 2 months before your travel date in order to get a place for your preferred day. Every guest is registered by name and checked. No food or plastic bottles may be brought into the Corcovado National Park. Only water in reusable bottles is permitted. This regulation was introduced to avoid waste and to prevent visitors from feeding the animals. But don’t worry, there is a restaurant for lunch in the park itself, which is usually included in all tours.
→ Here you can book the same Corcovado National Park tour from Puerto Jimenez!
→ Here you can find Corcovado National Park tours from Drake Bay!
After the inspection, we head into the rainforest on foot to look for animals. And it didn’t take long before we spotted families of monkeys, sloths, anteaters, colorful birds and even tapirs, crocodiles and much more. Our guide not only had a trained eye, but also a spotting scope for observing the animals – without him we would probably only have spotted a third of them! A guided tour definitely pays off in Corcovado National Park!
Read More Costa Rica Must See’s – The best places to visit