Costa Rica is a small yet beautiful country in Central America, famous all over the world for its biodiversity. It offers you a chance to stay close to nature’s most amazing features – lofty volcanoes, smoky cloud forests, incredible river valleys, and tons of beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Costa Rica has a fascinating ecological story with over 500,000 plants and animal species, intertwined into the history of a tranquil and family-oriented culture.
Before visiting Costa Rica, there are a few essential factors you’ll need to plan out.
How to reach:
For most major countries of the world like the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea or Schengen, citizens do not need a prior visa, but only if they are visiting for three months or less. However, some nations do not enjoy this privilege. Therefore, you must carry your visa at the time of arrival. Always keep your ID proofs handy. Technically, there are four main transportations you can avail to reach the country, i.e., by air, by car, by boat, and by bus.
By Air-
San Jose, the capital city, has an airport located close by named Juan Santamaria Airport which links to all of America and other international destinations. Other airports include Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport and Tobías Bolaños International Airport which connects both domestically and internationally.
By Car-
The main highway to drive through Costa Rica is Pan American. The road has excellent signage and speed usually ranges between 50 to 80 km/h. However, driving at night is highly inadvisable.
By Boat-
There is a daily boat service from Los Chiles (in NE Costa Rica), to San Carlos, Nicaragua. Small ship cruises taking less than 100 passengers starts in Panama and ends in Costa Rica or reverse.
By Bus-
There are continuous bus services from the neighboring countries of El Salvador, Panamá, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Guatemala. Tica and Tracopa are main bus services to look out for. Fares are reasonable, and though deperatures are punctual, delays are common via road.
Where to stay:
Thanks to its tourism industry, you will find a plethora of options for accommodation. The best and most preferred choices include hotels, condos, vacation rentals, and cabinas. Hotels are often the most expensive, owing to a 13 percent additional tax.
What to experience:
Wildlife- Owing to massive biodiversity, you’ll find a variety of tropical animals like monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and wild cats in the dense forests. 25% of the country houses national parks and protected regions.
Bird watching- There are over 800 species of tropical birds including parrots, hummingbirds, quails, owls, falcons and many more.
Volcanoes- Being in a seismographic zone, it has notable volcanoes like Paos, Irazu, Arenal.
What to eat:
Costa Rican cuisine is expressed as plain but wholesome with several uniquely blended flavors. Gallo pinto is a mix of rice and beans with a little cilantro or onion, usually served in breakfast. Casado is a typical lunch in Costa Rica. It contains rice and beans with meat which is mostly either chicken or fish. It is mostly served with fried plantain and salad.
Daytime activities include rafting, fishing, scuba diving, surfing, biking, and golfing.
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