Complete Costa Rica Guide

Our team based in San José has been exploring Costa Rica for years, from the beaches of Guanacaste to the misty ridges of Monteverde. This small Central American country, barely larger than Switzerland, concentrates nearly 6% of the world's biodiversity across a territory stretching between the Pacific and the Caribbean. You'll encounter three-toed sloths in the trees of Cahuita, resplendent quetzals in the forests of San Gerardo de Dota, and humpback whales off the Osa Peninsula between July and October.

Four major regions structure a coherent itinerary. The central valley around San José, with its coffee plantations and volcanoes (Poás, Irazú). The volcanic north with Arenal and the highland forests of Monteverde. The southern Pacific and Osa Peninsula, home to Corcovado National Park, one of the planet's densest tropical ecosystems. Finally, the Caribbean coast, more Creole and more laid-back, around Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero.

The road network is generally adequate, but distances can be deceiving: allow 4 hours for 150 km in mountainous terrain. For a first trip, we recommend combining two or three regions over 12 to 15 days rather than trying to see everything.