Costa Rica
Travel to Costa Rica for a holiday or city break
Travel destination Costa Rica offers popular things to do or visit that go far beyond its postcards. Once, I paid a fruit vendor with the wrong currency, and instead of getting annoyed, he handed me a slice of pineapple. Rain can fall sideways here, sometimes even upwards if the wind is feeling cheeky. For those looking for the best hotel in Costa Rica, don’t expect a bellhop with a silver tray—sometimes your luggage gets a free frog escort. People come for volcanoes, stay for the rice and beans, and leave with half their socks missing, thanks to laundry mishaps and too many river crossings. The sun sets at 5:34 pm, every day, as if the country runs on Swiss precision. If you have never tried ziplining, be ready for your hairdo to become a memory. And always check your shoes for scorpions, unless you like surprises.
Local weather in Costa Rica
Spring
warm & sunny
Summer
warm & sunny
Autumn
warm & sunny
Winter
warm & sunny
Top destinations in Costa Rica
La Asunción
Garita
Tárcoles
Best places to visit in Costa Rica
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
Travel destination Costa Rica: popular things to do or visit and finding the best hotel in Costa Rica
Popular things to do or visit in Costa Rica can range from walking barefoot on black sand beaches to finding yourself face-to-face with a sloth, who will probably move faster than the public buses. Sometimes, the bus schedule is just a suggestion, and you might wait next to a chicken, or a goat, or a man selling empanadas who claims to have seen the ghost of a conquistador. There are zip lines, hot springs, and waterfalls, but also a soccer match in the mud where locals let you play, as long as you don’t mind losing your shoes. The best hotel in Costa Rica may have air conditioning, or maybe just a ceiling fan that clicks like a toucan at dawn, but always a hammock and a view of something green, unless it is the rainy season—then you will see only fog, and your own reflection.
Sometimes, you find yourself on a jungle path, following a map drawn by a bartender on a napkin. The bartender may have forgotten to mention the river crossing, but that’s part of the charm. Breakfast comes with rice, beans, and a side of "pura vida," which is not on the menu but will be served anyway. Ask for directions and you’ll get a story about someone’s uncle, a mango tree, and a left turn after the second howler monkey. The best hotel in Costa Rica could be a bamboo hut or a room with so many geckos you start naming them, but always, you’ll sleep to the sound of rain on a tin roof, or maybe a neighbor’s karaoke. If you’re lucky, you’ll wake up to the smell of strong coffee, and if you’re not, to the sound of a rooster who doesn’t believe in weekends (or alarm clocks).
Accommodations in Costa Rica
Discover the best accommodations for Costa Rica and start planning your holiday.
