Travel Costa Rica • Central America | She is Wanderlust Travel Blog

Located in Central America between two oceans and two continents, Costa Rica is a natural wonder itself. The country is well known for its incredible natural landscapes, filled with rainforests, beaches, river valleys, volcanoes and diverse wildlife. You can go to both relax and have an adventure.

Why Visit Costa Rica

NATURE

Costa Rica is home to rainforest, coral reefs, jungles, beaches, volcanoes, offering unique habitats and ecosystems that allow a wide range of wildlife to flourish. It has been the leader in natural conservation throughout the years. Costa Rica is home to 27 national parks and five percent of the world’s biodiversity

BEACHES

Costa Rica has more than 800 miles of coastline between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, offering pristine beaches to relax or to surf (and to watch the whales and turtles too!). It even has a pink sand beach in Playa Flamingo.

VOLCANOES

We named the volcanoes above, but they deserve to have a section for themselves. Costa Rica has 6 active and over 60 dormant or extinct volcanoes in its small area. You can hike them or dip in their hot springs, as there are a lot of spas around taking advantage of these natural wonders. The Arenal is the most famous volcano of the country.

WILDLIFE

Thanks to its biodiversity, 30 percent of the country is dedicated to national parks with thriving wildlife. You can spot animals almost anywhere you go. The country is home to over 500,000 species of animals, from monkeys to sea life and insects.

Why Visit Costa Rica

NATURE

BEACHES

VOLCANOES

WILDLIFE

Name: Republic of Costa Rica
Capital: San José
Official Languages: Spanish
Currency: Spanish
Time Zone: UTC−6

Name: Republic of Costa Rica
Capital: San José
Official Languages: Spanish
Currency: Costa Rican colón
Time Zone: UTC−6

Bucket list

What to expect

LANGUAGE

Spanish is the official language. Other languages spoken are English (especially in tourist areas), Creole, and some Indian languages.

ELECTRICITY

The standard voltage is 110 V and the frequency is 60 Hz. That’s the standard voltage in the american continent; If you are traveling from the EU you will need an adaptor.

CURRENCY

The colón is the official currency in Costa Rica. Dollars are freely used, however other foreign currencies like euros are not. Credit cards are widely accepted. It is encouraged to exchange it in a bank or withdraw it directly from the ATM if you are flying in with another currency than american dollars. 1 USD equals 568.64 colones.

CLIMATE

Costa Rica has a subtropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, typically hot and humid day and night year round. Temperatures annually range from 50-95°F, with an average temperature of 70°F to 81°F.

SAFETY

Costa Rica is safe to travel to. Its among the safest countries in America. However and just like anywhere else, some places are better than others, and exercising caution is recommended, especially in isolated areas at night.

How to get around

By plane

To flight in Costa Rica is quick and surprisingly cheap. Rates start at $60 depending on the destination. Sansa is the main airline serving domestic flights.

By Car

Renting a car will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the country on your own terms and at your own pace, however is not recommended for first time visitors due to the conditions of the roads, the traffic and the inexistence of signs. A lot of companies offer a to hire a driver with the car, however it is not cheap.

By Bus

Bus is the best way to get around Costa Rica. It is reliable and inexpensive. The downside is that they are slow.

By Taxis

Taxis are the most convenient way to move around the main cities and towns. They do not have meters, and you would have to negotiate the price in advance.

Visa Policy

Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica for a period of 90 days or less: US, European Union, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, South Africa, UK, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay..