Costa Rica Travel Guide
Plan your unforgettable adventure to Costa Rica with our collection of travel guide resources. Here you'll find loads of useful information on the top attractions from biologically diverse national parks to volcanoes and beaches, plus an overview of when to go for the best weather conditions. There's also a section dedicated to visas so you won't be caught out and you can also learn more about the style of travel of our group tours in Costa Rica and the rest of Central America with details on transport and accommodation.
Best Places to Visit
Places on our must-see list for any visit to Costa Rica with national parks and beaches
Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit with the best beach weather or with the rains for lush landscapes
Top Travel Tips
Perfect for those wanting to know about the currency, food, voltage, duty free and more
Costa Rica's Best Beaches
Our choice of top beaches in Costa Rica, when best to visit and recommended hotels
Costa Rica Wildlife Guide
A guide to the country's favourite species & where to find them from big cats to birds
Plan your trip to similar destinations!
Recommended Reading
- The Ticos: Culture and Social Change
by Richard Biesanz - Mamita Yunai
by Carlos Luis Fallas - Tropical Nature
by Adrian Forsyth
Facts about Costa Rica
- Costa Rica is host to more than 5% of the world's biodiversity with 20,000 different kinds of spider alone!
- The country claims a 96% literacy rate with classes taught over national radio for poorer communities.
- Costa Ricans have at least a dozen terms for rain - from drizzly pelo de gato (cat hair) to a baldazo or aguacero (downpour).
Costa Rica Travel Advice for South African Travellers
The safety of our travellers is paramount and we keep informed of current travel guidance on Costa Rica. We recommend that you check the latest travel advice from the consular in South Africa when planning your trip.
Flying to Costa Rica from South Africa:
Costa Rica is between a 25-30 hour flight from South Africa depending on which city you depart from and which day of the week you fly as transit connections vary from day to day. If flying from Johannesburg one of the fastest options is with Delta via Atlanta. A number of other airlines such as British Airways and United Airlines also operate the route with two transit stops made en route. If flying from Cape Town the majority of airlines stop in Johannesburg as well as their usual transit point. Check out Travelstart for flight deals from South Africa to Costa Rica.
Useful Online Resources:
The official Costa Rica Tourist Organisation site and the latest Costa Rica Weather Updates from the BBC.