Global Escapes

Costa Rica

Volcanoes, cloud forests, sloths in the treetops and two coastlines, all in a country smaller than West Virginia.

By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated

Best time to go
December to April, the dry season
Trip length
8 to 12 days
From Atlanta
About 4 hours nonstop to San José or Liberia
Time difference
2 hours behind Atlanta in summer, 1 in winter
Entry
U.S. passport, no visa needed
Currency
Costa Rican colón; U.S. dollars widely accepted. Plugs match the U.S.

Why Costa Rica gets everyone outside

It’s adventure that feels easy: short flights, friendly people and wildlife around every corner.

A classic first trip goes from San José to the Arenal volcano for hot springs and hanging bridges, into the misty Monteverde cloud forest, and out to the beaches of Guanacaste. Manuel Antonio, the Osa Peninsula and Tortuguero are easy add-ons for wildlife lovers.

It’s a natural fit for families and multigenerational trips: a zip line for the teenagers, a hot spring for the grandparents and a sloth for everyone.

Getting around

  • San José to ArenalAbout 3 hours by car
  • Arenal to MonteverdeAbout 3.5 hours, or jeep, boat and jeep across Lake Arenal
  • Monteverde to GuanacasteAbout 3 hours
  • San José to Manuel AntonioAbout 3 hours
  • San José to the Osa PeninsulaAbout 1 hour by small plane
  • San José to TortugueroAbout 4 hours by road and boat, or a short flight
San JoséArenalMonteverdeGuanacasteNosaraManuel AntonioOsa PeninsulaTortuguero
Classic first-trip route Easy add-ons

When to go

The best months, the busy weeks and the quieter windows, so you can choose the trip that fits.

  1. JanDry and sunny
  2. FebDriest weeks
  3. MarHot and dry
  4. AprEaster, dry season ends
  5. MayGreen season begins
  6. JunAfternoon showers
  7. JulShort dry spell, turtles
  8. AugWhales on the Pacific
  9. SepWettest on the Pacific
  10. OctRainy, Caribbean side drier
  11. NovGreen and lush
  12. DecHoliday weeks

Peak season Shoulder season Low season

Average temperatures and rainfall

Approximate average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.

Spring

March and April are hot and dry, especially in Guanacaste. Easter week is a big local holiday, so beaches and hotels fill up.

Summer

May through November is the green season, with sunny mornings and afternoon showers in most places. Many families travel in July, when a short dry spell often arrives.

Fall

September and October are the rainiest months on the Pacific side, while the Caribbean coast is often at its driest. It’s also sea turtle season in Tortuguero.

Winter

December through April is the dry season and peak time, with sunny days and clear volcano views. Holiday weeks book far in advance.

Where to go

The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.

Arenal & La Fortuna

A cone-shaped volcano with hot springs resorts, hanging bridges and waterfalls all around it.

Best for Families, adventure

Monteverde

A cloud forest high in the mountains, with suspension bridges, zip lines and guided night walks.

Best for Nature, birding

Guanacaste

Dry, sunny Pacific beaches and the Papagayo Peninsula’s luxury resorts, close to Liberia airport.

Best for Beach time, resorts

Nosara & Nicoya

Surf breaks, yoga retreats and a famously long-lived local community.

Best for Wellness, surf

Manuel Antonio

A small national park where rainforest meets the beach, with monkeys and sloths close to the trail.

Best for Wildlife, families

Osa Peninsula

Corcovado National Park, among the most biodiverse places on earth, reached by small plane.

Best for Serious nature lovers

Tortuguero

Canals, rainforest and nesting sea turtles on the Caribbean coast, reached by boat or small plane.

Best for Wildlife, turtles

San José & the Central Valley

Coffee farms, the Poás volcano and a good first or last night near the airport.

Best for Coffee, short stays

From the travel blog

Costa Rica in the dry season

Volcano, cloud forest and Pacific coast in one well-paced trip, timed for the sunniest months.

Read the guide

Good to know

The small things that make a big difference once you arrive.

Slower roads

Mountain roads are winding and slower than maps suggest. We keep drives to about three hours a day so you see more and sit less.

Driver or self-drive

Private transfers make the mountain roads easy. Self-drive works well if you’re comfortable on gravel and hills.

Two airports

Fly into Liberia for Guanacaste, San José for everything else, or into one and out of the other.

Pack for sun and rain

Quick-dry clothes, a light rain jacket, closed-toe shoes for trails and reef-safe sunscreen.

Hire a naturalist

A good guide spots sloths, frogs and birds you’d walk right past. It’s worth it in every park.

Small bills help

U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere, but small bills are handy for tips and roadside stops.

Questions we hear a lot

When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?

December through April is the dry season and the most popular time. The green season, May through November, brings afternoon showers, lush scenery and better rates.

Is Costa Rica good for families?

It’s one of the most popular family destinations in the Americas, with wildlife, zip lines, hot springs and beaches all within a few hours of each other.

Should we fly into San José or Liberia?

Liberia is closest to the Guanacaste beaches. San José is better for Arenal, Manuel Antonio and the Caribbean side. Many trips use both.

Do we need a visa for Costa Rica?

No. U.S. citizens need a passport valid for the length of the stay and proof of a return or onward ticket.

How many days should we plan?

Eight to twelve days covers three or four areas without rushing.

Let’s plan your Costa Rica trip

Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.

Start planning Call 706.549.1164