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If you insist on sunshine every day, plan your Costa Rica vacation for after December 15 through the holiday season and before April 15. This time of year is known as the dry season. If you are willing to put up with a bit of rain (usually in the afternoons), visit between April 15 and December 15 - aka the green season. There will be less tourists during the green season and you'll get better prices from some hotels and tour operators. Keep in mind the holiday seasons. The entire country closes for about a week during Christmas and Easter, and the beaches are packed with locals and tourists. We have prepared more information about Costa Rica weather, safety, what to bring and visa requirements for your convenience.
If you've never been to Costa Rica - it would be easy to assume the short distances between destinations would make it possible to get from one place to another quickly. Rough or curvy roads make this very unlikely. Be assured - you don't want to visit Tortuguero National Park one day and then drive to Corcovado National Park the next. These places are on opposite sides of the country and it would take more than 12 hours driving on some fairly treacherous roads to get from point A to point B. Let us help you build a travel strategy based on attraction groupings or your personal interests. For example: If you plan to visit Arenal Volcano - it might be a good idea to stop at Sarchi Village, home to many artisans, and maybe Poas Volcano on the way. An alternate route will take you through Zarcero, Costa Rica's dairy capital where you can sample home made cheeses and delicious sour cream (Natilla in Spanish). No matter what you do, be sure to stop off at one of our many beautiful Costa Rica hotels for a break from time to time.
Be Smart About Safety
Unfortunately crime has been on the increase, but exercise good common sense and your chances of having a problem in Costa Rica are minimal. Compared to many US and European destinations, Costa Rica is still a haven of peace and tranquility. Be sure to review our Costa Rica Travel Safety information page before your srrival.
If you are in good condition and have a lot of energy, riding around on the buses can be a great way to get around. Wages have gone up substantially over the past 10 years and a lot more people are buying cars, but buses and taxis are still the transportation of choice for most Ticos. For example: bus fare from our offices in Heredia to San Jose would be less than US$1 and take about 30 minutes. The same trip by taxi would run about $10 by taxi and take only about 15 minutes. Check out our Costa Rica bus schedule page for information on arrival and departure times to various destinations.
Taxis
You can spot an official taxi by it's red color and a yellow triangle on the door. There are many "Pirata’s" or pirate taxis floating around the streets. The fact they don't have a permit to operate keeps their costs lower and in most cases they charge lower fares. We recommend you stay away from pirate taxis. If they are not willing to spend the money to get a permit it's likely because either their car won't pass the standards (have fun stopping) or they may have some other stain on their record (say several accidents?) that might prohibit them from obtaining the necessary permissions.
Rental Cars
In our humble opinion, the best Costa Rica vacation includes a sense of adventure. Renting a car and driving around is certainly an adventure. Expect to get lost - there are few street signs and almost no street addresses. This author arrived in Costa Rica in the early 1990’s. I was looking for some place in San Jose and a local told me it was a few hundred meters west of the "Coca Cola". Like an idiot I assumed he must mean the gigantic Coca Cola sign I had seen near the National Theater and I set off on my quest, only to find he was referring to an area of town where there used to be a huge Coca Cola bottling plant decades ago. I've had many interesting journeys based on these types of directions since. Costa Rica is so beautiful no matter where you drive there will be something great to see. Rent a car in Costa Rica and get lost - you'll be glad you did.
Costa Rica TravelBe aware - almost all car rental agencies will reserve a $1,000 deductable on your credit card just in case you damage the car. They don't always tell you this as they take your card information and on more than one occasion a tourist with a low card limit ran out of credit in the middle of their vacation. We have a listing of Costa Rica car rental agencies for your convenience.
If your plans are to visit popular beaches and the main tourist attractions in the Central Valley area (where roads are pretty good quality), any compact car will do the job for you. If you intend to drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest or through Tilaran to Arenal from Cañas, we recommend you rent a 4x4. Keep your Costa Rica ravel fun by being prepared in advanced ;)
Be Smart About When to Come
Anyone who has ever taken a vacation in Costa Rica knows they will come home feeling like a new person, totally relaxed and invigorated.
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Need to know what to bring on your Costa Rica travel vacation? What about Costa Rica weather? Do you need a visa? When is the best time to visit?
