The Costa Rica smart tourist guide.

Since nov. 2020, Costa Rica is open to worldwide tourism without a covid test. 

 

Costa Rica illustrated map (GREEN MAP) copyright to fikismatica. You can  purchase this map as a poster 70 cm x 40 cm.
 

 

 

Prices are approximative and updated to 04-10-2022. Fikismatica don't have any commercial relationship with the tourist services presented in this guide.

Costa Rica offer to the smart tourist many options. An small country, with an excellent weather all the year, where you can drink water directly from the pipeline, peaceful, politically and economically stable, with an excellent health standards and full of green. Also, another positive point is the money exchanges rate: 640 colones for one dollar. Costa Rica is an excellent option to avoid the winter in USA or Europe. Specially attractive for pensioners. Costa Rica is an important world ECO-TOURIST spot.

I must confess that San José City is not too attractive for the tourism. The main target are our beaches, volcanoes, National Parks (biological diversity) and adventures activities (surf, paragliding, rafting canopy, etc.). Costa Rica have an outstanding nature contact. But before you enjoy it, stay one day at least in San José and discover its secrets, visiting the 3 museums and the National Theater. A time travel to precolombinan people art and to the 1897 year. 

 

Very important "must known" when you visit Costa Rica

1-Always keep an eye on your baggages and all yours belongs.
2-Don't behave as a foreign. Prefer to pay with colones than dollars.
3-Don't do any tourist visit or activity alone. Specially woman don't do tourism or any activity (even run) ALONE. Travel and enjoy in group. Avoid night activities. Don't walk never alone in the night. Beware of foreign people that lives and maybe works in Costa Rica.
4-There are many people offering tours. In your hotel you can get many offers about tour packages. Only trust in tour operating that are approved by the Costa Rica tourist office even if your hotel offer these activities. Specially for activities that may be risked as canopying, canopy, sea travel, zip-lines or rafting. Costa Rica have a trademark called "essential Costa Rica" from the National tourism office. Prefer tour operators endorsed by this quality seal.

5-If the sea is not calm, a windy climate, don't do any travel to the islands (Tortuga island tour for example, specially a catamaran boat is very vulnerable to these hard conditions).
6-Be cautious about rafting. Beware of water head in some river, a very important increase in the water flow that could surprise you (caused by the rain into the mountains where the river birth). I particular  warn about Naranjo river, near Manuel Antonio where some tourist pass awaysome years age due to a head water. 
7-Be cautious swimming in the sea, especially when the "resaca" attacks. Many beaches don't have watchers. You can be surprised by a force moving you the sea.
8-Be cautious about sun and mosquitoes (specially dengue mosquitoes).

Costa Rica have two seasons:  dry and rainy. Temperature is nearly constant all the year.

During the dry season the tourist activity is high (december to may). So, prices reach the higher levels for tourist activities. The climate specially is windy during first three months of the year. Specially warning for sea travels to the island.

During the rainy season, tourism is in a low activity (june to november). Prices are lower for tourist but climate is bad specially in Caribe region. You can get rainy waves in all the country. Head water that are very dangerous for rafting activities. You can get really raining days in some Costa Rica regions.

Costa Rica roads are not in good conditions.

Costa Rica is a mountain country and many roads are in bad conditions. Driving is difficult because roads are narrow and not in good condition. There are only few high ways. In the Gam (most populated area of the country, located in the center) there are many jams. Don't expect a Highway experience.

Costa Rica is more expensive than other countries in Central America. Seek for service that are endorsed by the government.

Purchasing a tour in your hotel can be more expensive than a direct hiring. It is also possible that this service is not endorsed by the Costa Rica tourist office. All the tourist services hired by you, must be endorsed by Costa Rica government, especially the risky ones. It is not illegal to offer tourist service not endorsed by the tourist office (or Procomer office) but I recommend to you only these services. Essential Costa Rica, is a country trademark.

Another seal of quality, is an official Costa Rica sustainable certification from the national tourism office.

 

How to get to San José from Juan Santamaría airport

High budget: take a cab. Outside the external door of the airport, there are a row of these orange cab.
Middle budget: Uber is working in Costa Rica.
Low budget: Outside the airport but in the public street, you can take a public bus (black and red from TUASA). This is the public service from Alajuela city to San José (about 1$). There is no any special service bus from the airport to San José city. No metro in Costa Rica.

Exchange dollars to colones
It is a good idea to get some colones to pay. Some stores accept dollars of course and your credit card. At the airport you can do this.

 

One day in San José City

I propose to you first at all, one day visiting San José city. A cultural one, a time travel visiting three museums and the National Theater, as you can see in my map:

 

San José downtown map. Visiting 3 museums and the National Theater.
Costa Rica tourist guide

 

Where to stay

High budget: Costa Rica Hotel (in front of the National Theater). Hotel Holiday Inn (Morazán Park).
Sleep In Hotel (Morazán Park). Crown Plaza (near Sabana Park).

Middle budget: Talamanca Hotel (Second Avenue). Guady's backpacker (Paseo Colón)

Low budget:  Hotel Dorado, Hotel Quinta Avenida (400 m north Hospital de Niños, near th terminal bus called "Coca Cola").

 

 Museum and theater schedules and prices

last updated 26-03-2020

National Museum of  Costa Rica:  Tuesday (8:30 to 4:30 pm) to Sunday (9:00 to 4:30); $11

Jade Museum: Monday to Sunday (9:00 to 5:00), $16

Golden Museum: Monday to Sunday (9:15 to 5:00), $14

National theater: Monday to Sunday (9:00 to 4:00) $11.

You can buy a ticket for the 3 museums,  $33

Jade museum main features.
Principales características del museo de jade de Costa Rica.

Costa Rica National Museum main features.
Principales características del museo nacional de Costa Rica, con diagrama incluido.

Costa Rica National theater main features.
Principales características del Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica con diagrama.

Golden museum main features.
Principales características del Museo de oro de Costa Rica.

Enjoy a "casado"

✓take a break and enjoy a casado, a typical food or traditional food. Composed with rice, read beans, a "plátano maduro" (a vegetable), an ayote (vegetables) with a portion of fish or chicken. A fresco to drink (a natural tropical juice). You can eat a casado even in restaurants of fast food as KFC.

✓If you walk Av. 0 (see the map for a pedestrian walk),  6 blocks west from the cultural square, you can go to Central Market. Here you can listen a marimba, purchases some souvenirs, wood crafts., t-shirts and also taste a casado food and others typical foods (enyucados, tortillas, olla de carne (a soup with vegetables and meat), the famous "gallo pinto" (rice and beans), etc.). Also you can purchase some tropical fruits.

 

At the night, you can go to the restaurant Mirador Ram Luna, to enjoy our typical kitchen and an incredible view of the Central Valley. Perfect for a romantic dinner. 

Also you can get a city tour with the vip city bus in San José.

Purchase some souvenirs

✓Craftmen Market (8): To purchases more souvenirs you can visit the craftmen market (8 in the map). Near 11, you can meet craftmen on the street selling his original products.

✓Jade Museum and the golden museum have souvenir stores. Particularly, golden museum sells replicas of the precolombinan jewelry. A certified gold purchase for you. 

Costa Rica is pure nature

The Costa Rica slogan is "pura vida" means everything is ok. But the really slogan is pure nature. Costa Rica have a huge nature diversity in an small region. Between the 25 top countries with more biodiversity. This is the most outstanding feature in Costa Rica. About 4% of all existing species in the earth are living in Costa Rica while its territory is only 0.03%. Costa Rica is a leading country in ECOTURISM. Protect 25% of his territory with National Parks or biological reserves.

Quick and easy tours from San José. One day visit.

San José → Limón
San José → Puntarenas
San José → Poás Volcano
San José → Irazú Volcano
San José → Jacó Beach

Quick visits from San José

By bus, from San José, is very easy and cheap to visit main ports in Costa Rica, Puntarenas (ocean pacific) and Limón (caribbean sea). Round trip about 6 hrs. Also, you can visit two volcanoes: Poás and Irazú. Poás is one of the world biggest craters, a don't miss visit. From Irazú, you can view during a clear day, the Pacific and Caribean seas. You can visit also Jaco (Pacific sea), not a so beautiful beach but is ok and near of the most visited national park Manuel Antonio.

Station buses are scattered in San José. There is no a central bus station. 

 

Vista lo sueños, in Jaco Beach offer tours in adventures (certified by essentials Costa Rica seal). Atv and zip tours ($70 to $120 activities).

It is a good idea for your budget to go to these cities and then rent a car in Limón, Puntarenas or Jaco. And not to rent directly in San José. You can also go to Liberia, rent a car a do an incredible tour through the Guanacaste beaches. From Roca Bruja to Santa Teresa.

North Pacific tourist pole (Guanacaste)

One of the most important tourist pole in Costa Rica with an international airport near Liberia. Amazing sunsets, amazing galactic night skies. From small hotels to the international ones. Some of the beaches of Guanacaste are preferred by surfers, as the Roca Bruja. You can find a bunch of activities as canopy, snorkeling, horse riding, atv, yoga, surf schools, etc.

 

Do you need vacations with no hassle at Guanacaste? Land at the international airport in Liberia. Contact the hotel Andaz at Papagayo from Hyatt international hotels and enjoy the Papagayo gulf and tours offers. A minimum of $300 for a two-bed habitation. 

More Hotels options:

◆ Four seasons hotel at Papagayo gulf. Minimum of $2500 per night 2 adults.

◆Riu Hotel at Matapalo Guan. not too far from the international airport. About $300 service/2 bed ( 5 stars hotels)

◆Hilton Garden Inn (in front of the Liberia airport). About $75 double bed room.

◆Tamarindo Diría  Beach resort. About $275 double bed with breakfast.

◆Hotel Villas Nacazcol (Panamá Beach, near El Coco beach). Minimum $60 double bed.

◆Cañón de la Vieja (north to Liberia city). Double bed $100. Many activities: canopy, waterfalls, horseback riding, rafting and too many fun.

 

◆Río Perdido with wellness and adventures packages at $600 each, 3 days and 2 nights. You can enjoy an outstanding architectural design in this hotel.

 

 

◆Azul paraiso residences at beach Ocotal near Coco beach (about $300 per day, two bedroom, depending high or low tourism activity reaching $600).

◆Condovac la costa, Hermosa Beach, about $120 with a 50 m² two bedrooms.

◆ Hotel Punta Islita,  located in this beach at a minimum of $200.

◆Hotel Boyero at Liberia city. Maybe your connection point. Have an auditorium center.

 ◆Villa Manzu builded on a cliff of the Papagayo Gulf if you 're seeking for luxury.

North volcanoes and Monteverde poles 

Monteverde: An amazing place into the cloud forest. Come back to a nature experience in the hotel Belmar (about $150 for a couple with breakfast). Same experience as living in a forest. Monterverde is really a wonderful place, canopy, suspension bridge, waterfalls (The tigre). San Gerardo lockout. Another example of the pure nature in Costa Rica. Mirador San Gerardo lodge (a very affordable possibily $55).

La Fortuna, lake and Arenal Volcano: Today this volcan have no activity. It was a time when you can observe the lava. Don't miss to visit La Fortuna waterfalls, the lake and volcano. Another wonderful adventure. At Fortuna you can visit the volcano, rafting, zip lines, thermal water, waterfall, atv, horse riding, arenal lake activities, and more adventures. Here it is located the Mistic Park. Also Arenal Mundo Aventura but not endoresed by essential costa rica (really chilling zip lines descending.

 

North volcanoes: Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles and Tenorio (Guanacaste): These volcanoes are in calm but  you can get gas emission into a big explosion sometimes. The tree volcanoes are located inside a National Park and are one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica.

 

At Tenorio, you can find the amazing light blue waterfalls and rivers. Ceibas trees in Tenorio (37 m in diameter, a height of a 15 level building and 350 years old) and the light blue river. Casita Tenorio with the seal essential Costa Rica, offer to you  these beautiful spots ($150 two adults per night).

Oropéndola most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica

 

At the Miravalles, you can visit las HORNILLAS, a wonderful place where you are literally inside a volcano crater, get a sauna, mud bath, thermal waters, etc. 

 

At Rincón de la vieja, you can not miss the opportunity to meet the paradise, a walk to the PAILAS and to the waterfall LA OROPENDOLA. Blue light cristal waters. A so magic place.

 

 

Hacienda Guachipilín close to Rincón de la Vieja. Don't miss to visit the national park. Hacienda Guachipelín offer to you canopy at Río Blanco. Also the amazing tour to the Oropéndola waterfall. Another option is Borinquen termal resort (basic two beds about $150, weddings, honeymoon and many tours offer to explore the amazing Rincón de la Vieja)

 

Dino park adventurs (Rincón de la Vieja) and the Blue river resort offers too much fun for children and adults. Mud bath, sauna, butterflies and botanical gardens, spa, pools, lodge, restaurant, tours to Rincón de la Vieja, waterfalls las catedrales, beaches, zip line, water tubing, etc. About $70 the full adventure at Dino park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sensoria,is a private and natural reserve at Rincón de la Vieja. You can get in contact with nature. Trees, waterfalls, natural pools in a light blue waters for romantic couples and also weddings into a natural environment.

 

 

Middle and Caribean north tourist pole. Sarapiquí river, Braulio Carrillo and Tortuguero national parks.

Braulio Carrillo Park: One of the most biggest parks of the country with 44 099 ha. Between Poás and Irazú volcanoes. Rivers, canons, mountains and waterfalls.You can observer here the rainforest (in guanacaste you can observe dry tropical forest. At Monterverde cloudfourest). You can observe the quetzal, tapir, oaks, aulladores monkeys, etc. Near the Carrillo park, you can visit an eco-park with tram, zip-lines, watching birds, etc.

Tirimbirina Biological Reserve: You can lodge, eat and enjoy many activities near the Sarapiquí River (Puerto Viejo). Enjoy 9 km with primary, secondary forest and gardens with suspension bridges. Bird watching, night walk, chocolate experience. Don't forget closed shoes, poncho and repellent.

Farm Pozo Azul (La virgen de Sarapiquí, official sustainable seal): Perfect to enjoy the live in a farm. Lodge in tents inside the jungle, restaurant, farm activities, and also adventures as canopy, rafting in the waters (IV level) of the Sarapiquí rivers, rappel, canopy, riding horse, chapulín (tractor tour), etc.

Tortuguero national park: International recognition as an "amazon" experience. Ocean and terrestrial nature protection. Network of rivers and canals. One of the main nesting green turtle beach site in the world (July to October). Also you can see baula and carey turtles. The best way to enjoy is with a kayak tour to see the amazing canals.

Middle Pacific tourist pole

Still near San José, about 3 hr away from San José city, you can get some very beatiful beach as Punta Leona and Herradura near Jaco Beach. From Puntarenas you can get many tours to the Nicoya gulf, specially the tour on catamaran to the Tortuga Island (a very visited spot). You can add a visit to Quesera Beach and Curú national reserve.

 

Manuel Antonio about 4 to 5 hr from San José, is a beautiful and one of the most visited touristic spot in Costa Rica. Beautiful beach near the National Park of Manuel Antonio. You can find many hotels, builded into the nearby mountains with amazing views of the sunset ocean. It is a "must visited spot" in this amazing Costa Rica. Gaia hotel at a minimum $300 rate but you can find packages for 4 days at $450.

 

Playa Hermosa and Dominical are an important spots for surfers with a high level. Near Parrita, Playa Bandera is a beautiful beach near Quepos city as well as Matapalo beach.

 

Near Dominical you can support and visit the Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary. ($30)  

 

Not too far, the Hacienda Barúlodge. Where you can lodge in cottages, vegetarian food, zip line (14 platforms), watching birds, experience a tent into the jungle, etc. ($100 2 person one night)

 

 

Villas Río Mar it is another lodge at Dominical ($100 to $150)

 

 

 

Hacienda Ébano it is another natural reserve with beautiful waterfalls ($40 to 1250 tours).

The water fall villas is for people seeking a yoga retreat, vegan and healthy food and beautiful nature with waterfalls near Dominical beach ($150 to $300). What about your honeymoon in this paradise?

Playa uvita near Ballena bay, it is an spot having the National Marine Park Ballena. Very visited because one can observe the amazing humpback whales, dolphins and mantras in september. 

 

Near Uvita Villas bungalows lodge.  

 

 

Kurá hotel is another option at $800 minimum.

 South Caribean tourist pole

This a very beautiful Costa Rica region. You must really discover this touristic pole. Cahuita and Gandoca national parks.

At bananito selva lodge you can get rappel in trees and waterfalls. A beautiful spot view from an autogyro. 

 

Visit, enjoy and support the Sloth Sanctuary near Cahuita. Meet these beautiful and nice animals ($30 closed mondays, you can do a virtual adoption and also stay at the in hotel).


 

Discover one of the most beautiful and visited beaches in Costa Rica: Cahuita, Cocles, Punta Uva and Gandoca. Amazing sunsets and snorkeling at the Cahuita reefs.

South Pacific tourist pole

Osa region is full of nature and beauty, and located at the south pacific. This touristic pole is situated in one region that is one of the most nature diverse in the world.

Do you like to surf? Pavones is the third world longest wave to surf. Many surfers visit Pavones.

Are you stressed? The answer is beach Nicuesa,

a beach at the Dulce gulf. An isolated and beautiful paradise with many activities or just for a relaxation time. Only one hotel in this beautiful spot (single person $300, 3 meals one day), located on this amazing pacific beach, surrounded by the ocean and the nature.

 

Bay Drake, it is a connection point to many attractions as Caño Island, Corcovado park etc.

La paloma lodge
it is a luxury place, about $1000 for 3 days per person. Romantic place for a honeymoon. Las caletas lodge it is another option or

Águila de osa

Or more affordable, Pirate Cove lodge with double bed ($120).
From Drake bay, you can spot (september-august) the humpback whales and visit Caño island, where you can diving in one of the most important places in Costa Rica for such activity.

 

Dulce gulf, it is a 45 min faraway from San José by plane. Here, you can spot dolphins and visit the National Park of Corcovado. One of the parks with more biodiversity in Costa Rica and in the world. At the night you can enjoy the bioluminescence in the gulf. Playa Cativo lodge it is a beautiful hotel at Dulce gulf (a minimum of $600 per person but it is included many services as transport from Golfito or Puerto Jiménez).

 

Costa Rica te enamora offers tours from Uvita to Caño Island, Corcovado National Park  and more.  Have the official seal Costa Rica essentials and offer tours that are difficult to find (including Coco Island that is too far from Costa Rica, one of the jewel of  Costa Rica pure nature).

Encanta la vida is another nature contact lodge at Matapalo, south of Puerto Jiménez. Yoga, surf and many nature activities. Cocodrile Bay, eco resort specially for fishing and more in Puerto Jiménez. At this port you can contact the certified tour operator Surcos. Tours to Corcovado National Park, watch birds at Coto Brus. Sometimes hiring a native guide it is a good idea to optimize your visit to Costa Rica.

 

Near Drake you can also visit the mangrove of Sierpe. one of the most important in Central America. Near Ciudad Cortés you can enjoy the canopy in OSA canopy.

The top 10 most visited national parks (2019)

1-Manuel Antonio
2-Poás volcano
3-Irazú volcano
4-Tortuguero
5-Marino Ballena
6-Cahuita
7-Arenal volcano
8-Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
9-Santa Rosa
10-Corcovado.

Costa Rica is an important rafting country

As an example, you can see in the pic the amazing experience of rafting in the Pacuare river (middle caribean region). Rios tropicales is one of the most important tour operators (essential seals) specially for rafting at Pacuare river. Aguas bravas at Chilamate of Sarapiquí for rafting class II, III and IV (sustainable seal quality, zip-line and horseback riding).

 

 

Avoid Naranjo rafting (near Manuael Antonio). It is a risky river because you can be surprised by a head water (or flash waters)

Eco tourism parks. Adventure, too much fun in Costa Rica.

Diamante park, located at Matapalo, Guanascaste: You're involved in many activities as:

♦ Dual zip-line with a 1.5 km long and a 9 m bungee fall.  Two friends can enjoy the lines at the same time with an amazing view of the Pacific ocean. 

♦Animal sanctuary (sloth, jaguars, puma tucans,tc). Butterfly observatory. Botanical Garden.

♦Hanging bridge under cocodriles.

♦Beach activities as kayaking, snorkeling, paddle surf.

♦Atvs and horseback riding

♦Cane, chocolate and coffe experience. 

One day pass about 120$. Essential Costa Rica trademark.

Mistico park, located at La Fortuna de San Carlos. A circuit trail with 6 hanging bridges, waterfalls. Bird watching. Nature and amazing view of the Arenal volcano in the rainy forest. You can get a package for $130, including the park, the lodge (Rain forest villas) and thermal waters. Official Sustainable quality seal.

Ponderosa park, located at Liberia, Guanacaste. You can observe african animals.

Skyadventures, located at Monteverde (and also another twin park is located at the Arenal). Cloud forest experience.Trails and hanging bridges. Sky tram over the forests. Climbing the trees. Zip lines: 100 m change in level, 700 m and speed of 70 km/h adrenaline experience. Herpetarium tour (frogs, lizars, snakes, etc.). At Arenal park kayaking in the lac and personal rafting into the Piedras Negras river. Essential Costa Rica trademark.

Veragua rainforest: located west to Limón with the view of Talamanca montains National Geographics says: cream of the cream of the tropical jungle. Have an offer of one day in Veragua and one day at Puerto viejo (Playa Chiquiti\a) for only $100. Essential Costa Rica trademark.

 

Hacienda El Viejo (wetlands). 5000 acres wild life private refuge at Guanacaste (close Palo Verde National Park), with an old house builded in 1800, perfect for your wedding. Cultural, rum and boating tours with lunch.Official Sustainable quality seal.

Adventure park Costa Rica & Hotel vista golfo. Located at Tajo Alto (Puntarenas).  Amazing view of Nicoya Gulf. Zip line over 11 waterfalls. Horse back and ATVs tours.