The sun's rays shining through the leaves

PURA VIDA COSTA RICA

Name: Costa Rica Adventure
Brand: Costsaver
Price: 950.0 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (31 reviews)

Destination guide

Dreaming of golden beaches, towering volcanoes, and rainforests filled with wildlife? You’ll find it all and more in Costa Rica, a stunning country that just begs you to be outdoors. We’ll take care of all your Costa Rica tour essentials, while you choose from our optional experiences to create your dream trip to Costa Rica. Whether you want to soak up the ‘Pura Vida’ life in the tropical paradise of Guanacaste or go in search of sloths, toucans and monkeys in the cloud forests of Monteverde, you’ll always do Costa Rica your way.

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OUR FAVOURITE WAYS TO SEE COSTA RICA

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ESSENTIAL COSTA RICA BUCKET LIST ITEMS BY US

Wondering where to go and what to do in Costa Rica? We’ll show you the way with all the iconic sights like the lava trails of Arenal and the unique wildlife in the jungles of Tortuguero.

HIKE ALONG LAVA TRAILS IN ARENAL

We’ll take you on a Costa Rica hiking adventure through Arenal Volcano National Park, where you’ll get up close and personal with one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Walk through a wonderland of lava fields, old lava rocks and lush forests, all backed by stunning views of the volcano and Arenal Lake, the largest lake in Costa Rica.

ENJOY AN ORIENTATION TOUR IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF SAN JOSE

You’ll feel the Pura Vida way of life take over as soon you arrive in San Jose, the charming capital of Costa Rica. Take in all the highlights on a San Jose sightseeing tour with us, as we go from Barrio Amón, lined with colonial mansions converted into trendy art galleries, to Barrio Escalante, the best place in the city to grab a bite to eat.

WANDER AROUND MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST

We’ll be listening out for the collective gasps of amazement as we climb high into the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a nature lover’s paradise. It’s home to around 2.5 percent of the world’s plants and animals so keep your eyes peeled for sloths, toucans and monkeys as you walk along the treetop bridges… you might even spot a super rare Quetzal!

COSTA RICA TAILORED BY YOU

Tailor your Costa Rica tour your way with our range of Optional Experiences. Choose from adventures like surfing the beaches of Guanacaste and visiting a real working farm in Monteverde.

Toucan resting among the leaves of the tree

Katie B.

happy Get Going past guest

TAKE ON THE SKY TREK IN MONTEVERDE

If you're visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest, you can't miss the Sky Tram and Sky Trek. We hopped on board a gondola and flew among the trees, keeping watch for all the wildlife. At the end of the Sky Tram, you can either glide back to the starting point or get an adrenaline rush on the Sky Trek, where you fly over the forest on a series of ten ziplines. All the ziplines give you a 360° view of the rainforest and it's definitely an experience I'll never forget!

Irina G.

Costsaver team member

GO SURFING IN GUANACASTE

Guanacaste has some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica and they're perfect for swimming, surfing or simply lazing on the sand. Some of my favourite beaches were Playa Flamingo, which had the most incredible fine white sand and crystal clear waters, and I also loved Playa Tamarindo, the famous surfing beach where I had a go at riding the waves!

Kelsey F.

Costsaver team member

LEARN ABOUT FARM LIFE IN COSTA RICA

We visited a real working farm in Monteverde and got to see all kinds of crops including oranges, bananas, sugarcane and coffee plantations. We got to learn how liquor is made out of sugarcane and how they make coffee from bean to cup. Best of all, we got to taste all the delicious products!

WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN COSTA RICA

We’ll show you the very best of Costa Rica food, from tasty tamales and tangy gallo pinto, to the casado, the ultimate Costa Rican mash up!

GALLO PINTO

Breakfast is the most important and delicious meal of the day in Costa Rica. This classic morning meal of rice and beans is flavoured with onions, capsicum, coriander and fresh lime, and it’s a great reason to jump out of bed, but you can eat it any time of the day you like.

CASADO

This classic Costa Rican mixed plate is the perfect thing to order when you want a taste of everything. It usually comes with rice, black beans, tortillas, salad and some kind of meat like beef, pork, chicken or fish, and you can mix and match with ingredients like eggs, corn and avocado. Perfect!

TAMALE

Costa Rica puts their own delicious spin on the classic tamale. They use a rice dough filled with a mix of vegetables and meat (usually chicken or beef), corn flour and broth, then wrap them in banana leaves and steam them in a pot for hours. They’re traditionally enjoyed at Christmas, but we’ll show you where to find them all year round.

WHEN IS BEST TO VISIT COSTA RICA

Our favourite time to visit Costa Rica is the green season from May to November when there’s a bit more rain but fewer visitors, plus the jungle lights up and the wildlife show of their babies.

BEST TIME TO GO WILDLIFE WATCHING IN COSTA RICA

Jungle wildlife like monkeys and birds come alive from May to November and humpback whales come to give birth in August and September, while sea turtles hatch their eggs between July and October.

BEST TIME TO EXPLORE COSTA RICA’S CLOUD FORESTS

The cloud forests look extra beautiful in the green season, while the best time for bird watching is March to July, especially if you want to catch a glimpse of that rare Quetzal.

BEST TIME TO HEAD TO THE BEACH IN COSTA RICA

The best time for the beach on the Pacific Coast is the dry season from December to April, but don’t forget about the secret dry season in the Caribbean from September to October!

PACKING TIPS FOR COSTA RICA

Reef-safe sunscreen

If you’re snorkelling or swimming on your Costa Rica holiday, it’s best to use reef-safe sunscreen to protect yourself from the blazing sun and the beautiful coral from harsh chemicals.

Waterproof coat

It can rain any time of the year in Costa Rica, so come prepared with a raincoat or small travel umbrella that you can keep in your bag while you’re out and about.

Mosquito repellent

You’ll come across a few mosquitoes and insects in Costa Rica thanks to the humid environment. Stay free of any nasty bites by bringing a strong repellent and applying it regularly.

HOW TO TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY IN COSTA RICA

Take care of the turtles

You’ll have the incredible chance to watch sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach in Tortuguero but please remember to keep your distance and never use flash photography.

Say no to plastic

Costa Rica has plans to become the first country to ban single-use plastics by 2022, so remember not to bring any bags, bottles, cups, straws or cutlery made from plastic.

Head to the markets

If you’re on the hunt for some souvenirs, we’ll take you to Sarchí, a creative little town that’s filled with local arts and crafts like intricate carvings and paintings.

YOUR SOUTH AMERICA, YOUR WAY

Mountains and a lake reflecting the blue-pink sky

ALL SOUTH AMERICA

Llamas standing on a hill and warming in the rays of the setting sun

ARGENTINA

BRAZIL

People in national costumes admiring the view of the mountains

PERU