Costa Rica

Travellers from the US, Canada, the EU, the UK and most of Latin America do not need a visa · a valid passport with at least six months' remaining validity is enough, for stays of up to 90 days. Immigration at SJO and LIR frequently asks for a departure ticket, so carry it printed or on your phone. Entry rules can change: always verify before you travel.

December to April is the dry season: clear skies, excellent visibility for wildlife and volcanoes. It is peak season and prices rise 30–60%. The green season from May to July brings explosive nature, brief afternoon showers and moderate prices. September and October are the worst window on the Pacific but the best for the southern Caribbean, which has its own microclimate.

Five days cover Arenal and Manuel Antonio in a compact but coherent way. Seven to ten days adds Monteverde, Tortuguero or Osa. Fourteen days allows a full ocean-to-ocean circuit including the southern Caribbean. Fewer than five days leaves the experience shallow given travel times. CocoVolare designs itineraries from five to twenty-one days.

The Costa Rican colón (CRC, symbol ₡), with a reference exchange rate of around 510 CRC per USD. Hotels, agencies and domestic flights quote in US dollars; it's worth carrying colones in cash for local sodas, markets, toll booths and small tips. Visa and Mastercard work in 95% of tourist areas. Bring new-condition USD notes · worn bills are frequently refused.

Yes. Costa Rica is one of the safest destinations in Latin America for visitors. Violent crime against tourists is low in tourist zones. The real risks are opportunistic theft at beaches and from unattended rental cars, pickpockets in central San José and riptides on the Pacific coast. CocoVolare designs itineraries only within areas with confirmed security coverage.

Costa Rica is not a cheap destination and it's worth saying so upfront. A ten-day boutique trip, excluding international flights, sits in the comfort band of USD 5,050–8,500 per person in double occupancy. CocoVolare signature itineraries start from USD 2,800 per person for five days. Budget an additional 8–12% of your total for tips to guides, drivers and lodge staff.

The yellow fever vaccine is only mandatory if you are arriving from an endemic country (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru or certain African nations). The certificate must be at least ten days old. Hepatitis A, typhoid and a tetanus booster are also recommended. For Tortuguero, Osa and the Caribbean, DEET 30% or picaridin 20% insect repellent is essential against dengue.

It depends on your travel style. For Arenal, Monteverde and the Central Pacific, a 4x4 gives you freedom, though many routes are unpaved and a high-clearance vehicle is advisable. For Corcovado or Tortuguero, boat or shuttle is the only option. CocoVolare typically combines private chauffeured transfers with short domestic flights · they save hours on mountain roads and the driver adds genuine context along the way.

Yes · it is the difference between walking through forest and understanding an ecosystem. A naturalist with a telescope who has spent years in Osa or Manuel Antonio will spot species the unguided traveller walks straight past. The difference between seeing three species and twelve is exactly this. Be wary of guides who solicit at park entrances: many are not ICT-certified.

Yes, for travellers with a genuine interest in biodiversity. Corcovado holds a remarkable share of the planet's biodiversity and is only accessible with a certified guide and a SINAC permit. San Pedrillo and Sirena ranger stations have limited capacity. For the full experience, plan a minimum of two days · ideally with a night inside the park at Sirena station.

Increasingly so. Tico cuisine is rooted in simple campesino tradition, but over the past decade chefs such as Pablo Bonilla, Santiago Fernández and José González have been rewriting it with native ingredients and contemporary technique. Add to that world-class third-wave coffee, Bribri cacao from the Caribbean and the Afro-Caribbean cooking of the south, and a well-designed Costa Rica trip is also a journey to the table.

Yes · it is one of the best destinations in Latin America for families. The key is thoughtful design: fewer strenuous hikes and more storytelling, family-specialist biologists who teach children to identify frogs and butterflies as a game, lodges with pools, and activities such as tubing, hanging bridges and chocolate workshops. The adjustment window is minimal and tap water is safe to drink in most of the country.

Bespoke itinerary design from scratch, domestic flights where relevant, sustainable boutique lodges with breakfast, private chauffeured transfers, local biologist guides, signature experiences, limited-quota national park permits and 24/7 concierge. Every trip is tailored to your profile · honeymoon, family, foodie, slow travel, adventure or sustainability. Quote within 24 hours.