Costa Rica Travel Guide: Beaches, Rainforest & Where to Go 2026

Citizens of around 90 countries — including all EU/Nordic countries, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most of Latin America — can enter Costa Rica visa-free for up to 90 days as tourists. Russian citizens can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, or up to 90 days with a valid US, Canadian, UK, or Schengen multi-entry visa. Passport must be valid for at least 1 day beyond your stay (Costa Rica is the most flexible in Latin America on this), but airlines may require 6 months. Proof of onward travel is strictly enforced — immigration regularly turns back travelers without it. Carry a printed exit ticket; bus tickets out (to Panama or Nicaragua) work fine. Costa Rica uses the colón (CRC), but USD is accepted everywhere — most tour prices, hotels, and rental cars are quoted in dollars. Tap water is safe in San José and major tourist areas; rural and jungle zones, use filters or bottled.

December to April is the dry season (locally called verano) — sunny, warm, low rainfall, the best for Manuel Antonio beaches, Arenal hiking, and Pacific coast destinations. Peak season runs Christmas through Easter; prices climb 30–50%. Semana Santa (Easter Week, April 6–12, 2026) is when the whole country goes on vacation — book months ahead, accept heavy traffic and crowds. May to November is the green season — daily afternoon thunderstorms (rarely all-day rain), the jungle explodes into vibrant neon green, prices drop 30–50%, and wildlife activity peaks (Olive Ridley turtle arribadas at Ostional, July–November). September–October secret: the Pacific side is the rainiest then, but the Caribbean side (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Tortuguero) has its driest, calmest, snorkel-perfect months. If you're traveling Sept–Oct, head east.

The standard backpacker triangle, 8–10 days: San José (1 night transit only) — most travelers head straight out. Arenal/La Fortuna (3 nights) — the iconic conical Arenal volcano, hanging bridges of Mistico Park, Tabacón hot springs, white-water rafting on the Sarapiquí or Toro rivers. Monteverde (2 nights) — the cloud forest reserve (book sunrise tour for the elusive Resplendent Quetzal, February–May), zipline canopy tours (Selvatura or Sky Adventures invented this here), night walks for nocturnal wildlife. The jeep-boat-jeep transfer between Arenal and Monteverde is itself an experience. Manuel Antonio (2–3 nights) — the most popular national park, beaches with sloths and squirrel monkeys, easy logistics. With 14 days, add the Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita) or the Osa Peninsula (Corcovado National Park — the wildest, most biodiverse spot in Central America, scarlet macaws, baird's tapirs, possibly jaguars).

Usually yes for flexibility, but not always. Costa Rica's road network has improved a lot, but most travelers do better with a 4x4 SUV — many roads to lodges and beaches are unpaved, river crossings exist in the dry season, and Monteverde's approach is notoriously rough. Daily rental rates run $50–120 in 2026, plus mandatory insurance (around $20/day extra — credit-card coverage often isn't accepted). The alternative: the shared shuttle network (Interbus, Caribe Shuttle) connects all major tourist towns for $50–70 per leg — comfortable, A/C, hotel-to-hotel, no parking hassles. Domestic flights via Sansa or Skyway take you to Quepos, Liberia, Tortuguero, or Drake Bay in 30–60 minutes for $80–150 one way. Skip driving at night — roads aren't lit, animals on the road are real, and rural directions can get confusing. Pura vida: relax into the slower rhythm.

Costa Rica has 25% of its land in protected reserves and one of the highest biodiversity densities on Earth — wildlife viewing here is among the best in the Americas. Sloths (both two-toed and three-toed) are common in Manuel Antonio, Cahuita, and along most lowland trails — hire a guide with a spotting scope, you'll see them every day. Howler monkeys (you'll hear them at dawn before you see them — louder than you'd believe), white-faced capuchins, squirrel monkeys (only in Manuel Antonio and Corcovado), and the rare spider monkey. Toucans, scarlet macaws (Osa Peninsula and Carara), and the elusive Resplendent Quetzal (Monteverde, breeding season Feb–May). Sea turtles nest at Ostional (July–November arribadas) and Tortuguero (green turtles July–October). Hire local guides at park entrances ($20–40 for half-day) — they spot 10x what you'd see alone.