Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers tropical rainforest, volcanic mountains and extraordinary wildlife habitats, with the best regions to explore including Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero and the Pacific Coast.

Arenal Volcano: Arenal’s volcanic landscapes combine rainforest trails, waterfalls and views of one of Costa Rica’s most iconic volcanoes.

Monteverde Cloud Forest: Monteverde’s misty cloud forests offer canopy walks and wildlife exploration within one of Central America’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

Osa Peninsula & Corcovado: The remote Osa Peninsula protects Corcovado National Park where rainforest trekking reveals extraordinary biodiversity.

Tortuguero National Park: Tortuguero’s canals and wetlands are explored by boat through wildlife-rich rainforest landscapes rich in birdlife and wildlife.

Pacific Coast & the Camino de Costa: Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline offers spectacular coastal trekking where hikers follow sections of the Camino de Costa through rainforest, beaches and remote coastal villages.

The best time to travel to Costa Rica for hiking, trekking and adventure touring is generally Dec–Apr, when temperatures are comfortable and conditions are favourable for exploring landscapes, national parks and cultural highlights.

Costa Rica has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round, typically ranging between 24°C and 32°C (75°F–90°F). Most regions experience a dry season and a wetter season which influence outdoor travel conditions.

During the wetter season tropical showers refresh the landscape and create lush green forests and flowing rivers. While humidity is higher, this time can still be rewarding for adventurous travellers seeking vibrant scenery and quieter trails.

Costa Rica is -6 hours behind UTC/GMT

Spanish is the official and primary language, with Costa Ricans speaking a Central American variant known as Costa Rican Spanish

English is the most commonly spoken and taught foreign language, followed by French, German, Italian and Cantonese

Indigenous communities speak a variety of indigenous languages from the Chibchan language family, including Bribri

A unique dialect of Jamaican Creole English called Limonese Creole or Mekatelyu is spoken in the Limón Province on the Caribbean coast

A unique dialect of Jamaican Creole English called Limonese Creole or Mekatelyu is spoken in the Limón Province on the Caribbean coast

Costa Rican colón

US dollars cash are the most easily convertible currency

Credit cards and ATM are available in most large cities and hotels, however it is not recommended to rely on these solely.

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Electricity in Costa Rica is 110 Volts, at 60 hertz. The most common pin type is A. (2 flat prong).

Visas are exempt for passport holders from the following countries:-

Australia

New Zealand

Canada

United States

United Kingdom

All other nationalities should check with your nearest embassy or consulate.

If you are travelling to Costa Rica through the United States of America (USA), or if you are transiting in Honolulu or other USA points of entry, you are required to meet USA entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate your visa requirements well in advance of your travel.

Please ask your reservations consultant about visa requirements for any country you may transit en-route to Costa Rica.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.