Overview Country

Costa Rica
The ultimate ecotourist destination

Colorful Toucan birds live in the rainforest of Costa Rica.

Your rainforest villa has no walls or windows so you wake with the dawn chorus of howler monkeys. Your walk through one of the many national parks is punctuated with spotting sloths and toucans. Your view of the verdant rainforest from the zipline is literally a high-light of the trip. Your stretch of beach is pristine. Welcome to Costa Rica, where ecotourism is the norm thanks to biodiversity like nowhere else on earth.

The still active Arenal volcano with clouds and jungle of Costa Rica.
where it is

Where it is

Central America

When to go

When to go

November to May

Why go there

Why go there

Great beaches
Amazing wildlife
Lush rainforest

what to see

What to see

Arenal
Manuel Antonio
Osa Peninsula

A sloth hanging in the rainforest of Costa Rica.

Relish the exotic wildlife

A sloth hanging in the rainforest of Costa Rica.

The rainforests of Costa Rica are bursting with life from spider monkeys and red-eyed tree frogs to sloths and macaws. Have your camera ready.

Relax in the hot springs near Arenal volcano in Costa Rica.

Chill beside a volcano

Relax in the hot springs near Arenal volcano in Costa Rica.

This could be the most Costa Rican thing you do: lie back in the hot springs and watch smoke puff out the cone of Arenal volcano.

Costa Ricas beaches are perfect for swimming and surfing.

Relax by the ocean

Costa Ricas beaches are perfect for swimming and surfing.

Costa Rica has some divine beaches, like those at Papagayo and Manuel Antonio, whether you want to swim or surf or simply relax.

Lapa Rios in Costa Rica offers luxury and is eco-friendly

Stay in the rainforest

Lapa Rios in Costa Rica offers luxury and is eco-friendly

Luxury villas in the rainforest, surrounded by the Osa Peninsulaโ€™s abundant wildlife. Welcome to Lapa Rios, an eco-lodge youโ€™ll fall in love with.
What is an eco-lodge?

Enjoy fresh seafood directly from the market in Costa Rica

Travel in Costa Rica

Enjoy fresh seafood directly from the market in Costa Rica

Although itโ€™s a small country (much the same size as Switzerland), getting around on public transport is challenging. After arriving in the capital, San Josรฉ, youโ€™ll probably need to take internal flights and/or hire a 4WD as the roads can be terrible. Travel is harder in the wet season (May to November) so we recommend avoiding it if possible. Ecotourism is popular and successful in Costa Rica so ask us about the best eco-lodges, wildlife spotting, rainforest tours and sustainable travel.

Costa Rica facts

Costa Rica is sometimes called โ€˜the Switzerland of Central Americaโ€™ but itโ€™s a very loose comparison. Yes, the country is surprisingly mountainous (the highest point is Cerro Chirripo at 3821m) and peaceful โ€“ the army was abolished in 1948. But there are also active volcanoes, tropical rainforests and two coastlines: the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Not forgetting that the population is about half that of Switzerland at only 4.5 million.

How to know the time zone

Time zone

UTC -6

Check the flight time

Flight time

12 hours from Switzerland

local currency

Local currency

Costa Rican colon

Dial code by country

Dialling code

+506

Costa Rica