So, you’re looking to plan a trip to Costa Rica? Here are some fun facts to help you plan your itinerary.
Costa Rica sits comfortably between Nicaragua and Panama in Central America and is home to a little over 5 million people, with over 50,000 of those being American ex-pats. It has long been touted as one of the most biologically diverse and beautiful countries in the region and is home to an astonishing array of wildlife.
Unlike Mexico, its famous cousin to the north, Costa Rica is not known for its ancient ruins, varied cuisine, or artisan crafts but instead a trip there focuses on the gorgeous jungle scenery, a wide range of adventure activities, stunning beaches, and over 500,000 species of animals. Each bend in the road brings yet another vista that will have you brandishing your camera to capture the scene.
The third smallest country in Central America, Costa Rica covers a little over 19,000 square miles. The topography ranges from mountains topping 10,000 feet and drops to sea level on both the Caribbean and Pacific with over 800 miles of coastline. Even more impressive for such a small country, Costa Rica features 28 national parks as well as three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
San Jose, the capital city of around 1,500,000, sits near the center of the country at an elevation of nearly 4000 feet and experiences a pleasant climate year-round. Most travelers will land at the main international airport of Juan Santamaria located in the small city of Alajuela 20 km west of the capital city, although there are also international flights available at the Liberia airport set 210 km northwest of San Jose. Although distances in the country are short, winding roads and elevation changes can create long travel days, and it’s not a bad idea to fly into one airport and out of the other if you’re looking to check out several areas of the country.
Along with its diversity of wildlife, the landscape of the country also varies dramatically from one area to the next. The Caribbean coast features a hot and humid climate, dense mangrove swamps, and a rich culture all its own. Much of the center of the country south of San Jose is where the highest elevations occur with the road south along the Cerro de la Muerte mountain range occasionally causing altitude sickness for those hiking in the national parks. The Pacific Coast climate tends to be warm year-round with only a small variance between summer and winter.
Planning for a vacation to Costa Rica should certainly include some consideration of the wet and dry seasons. While the country is in the normal hemisphere you’ll find that the locals, known as Tico’s. refer to the “green” rainy season from May to November as winter and the dry season of December to April as summer. Having said that, there are actually 12 different climate zones across the country as well as a mystifying number of sub-climates so it’s good to assume that whenever you visit, you WILL experience some rain. One exception is the Caribbean coast in September and October which is the driest period and the time to see the turtles hatching!
Be prepared for the somewhat surprising cost of nearly everything once you arrive in the country, especially compared to its neighboring countries. Prices in the main tourist regions and the capital can easily be similar to prices within the USA while smaller, less touristed towns are more reasonable. Eating at sodas, the local typical restaurant helps with the budget and is where you’ll find some of the best food in the country. Imperial, the National beer did not impress us but craft breweries are sweeping the country if you’re looking for more variety although at prices similar to the USA.
Travelers have the option of taking public transportation which is available throughout the country but renting a car is the more popular option and certainly gives the opportunity to explore at will. In a later post, I’ll go over our experience highlighting what to be aware of.
Overall, Costa Rica surprised us on several levels and we can’t wait to share more about this beautiful country.