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 Australian Travellers
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 updates from Smart Traveller when planning your trip.
Flying to Costa Rica from Australia:
The flight time from Australia to Costa Rica can vary from 22-32 hours depending on which city you depart from and which day of the week you fly. One of the most direct options from Sydney is with Delta and Virgin Australia via Los Angeles though this route does not operate everyday so you may wish to extend your time in Costa Rica in order to coincide with the quicker flight journeys. At other times many airlines require two transit stops en route to San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica and main transportation hub. You can use Skyscanner to search for flight deals from Australia to Costa Rica.
Useful Online Resources:
The official Costa Rica Tourist Organisation site and the latest Costa Rica Weather Updates from the BBC.