Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [3]
As stated by former President Oscar Arias Sánchez in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, ‘we seek peace and democracy together, indivisible, an end to the shedding of human blood, which is inseparable from an end to the suppression of human rights.’ This is a unique point of view – not only in Central America, but in the whole world.
Lifestyle and democracy aside, Costa Rica is mind-bendingly beautiful. Although there are certainly other countries in the world that enjoy divinely inspired natural landscapes, Costa Rica boasts a higher biodiversity than Europe and the USA combined. Its small size also means that traveling from cloud forest to coastline and from summit to savanna is quick, easy and enjoyable.
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Getting Started
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WHEN TO GO
COSTS & MONEY
TRAVELING RESPONSIBLY
TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN
TRAVEL LITERATURE
INTERNET RESOURCES
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Costa Rica is the most user-friendly country in Central America. Most of the tourist hot spots are well connected by cheap buses, accommodations are plentiful and decent eateries are thick on the ground in nearly every corner of the country. Unlike in some other parts of the region, dining without fear for your stomach, meeting and engaging locals, and accessing the internet are all things that can be taken for granted.
Predeparture planning will usually make your trip a bit smoother, but on the whole it’s unnecessary unless you’re on a tight timetable, and it’s usually more enjoyable to give in to the idea of adventure travel. Indeed, Costa Rica has something for everyone, especially if you are an impulsive traveler seeking an adrenaline rush. Of course, if you prefer to spend some quality time with a good book on a sun-drenched beach, Costa Rica has quite a few of those, too.
For shoestringers, transport around the country is plentiful – local buses can carry you to just about every nook and cranny, and boats will pick up where buses leave off. For the more discriminating or time-pressed travelers, minivans with air-con, domestic flights and charters can reach even the most remote corners. Accommodations also range from bargain-basement cabins, campsites and hammock hotels, all the way up to 1st-class resorts loaded with every conceivable luxury.
See the Directory for more information on climate (click here) and festivals (click here).
Lodging is abundant throughout Costa Rica, and it’s usually easy to find someplace to stay when you arrive in town. The exceptions to this rule are the weeks between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and before and during Semana Santa (the week preceding Easter Sunday). It is also a good idea to book accommodations ahead of time during the school vacation in January and February.
Note that because Costa Rica has a high standard of living, prices here tend to be a good deal higher than those of other Central and South American nations. However, although your dollar may not stretch as far here as in neighboring countries, you can expect an extremely high quality of goods and services throughout Costa Rica.
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WHEN TO GO
Generally, the best time to visit Costa Rica is the dry season from December through April, which locals refer to as verano (summer). Dry season does not mean it does not rain – it just rains less (so perhaps should be called the ‘drier season’). Costa Rican schools are closed from December to February; beach towns are busy during this period, especially on weekends. Lodgings during Semana Santa are usually booked months ahead.
In May begins the rainy season, or invierno (winter) as it’s known locally. The tourism ministry has come up with the more attractive denomination of ‘green season.’ The early months of the rainy season are actually a wonderful time to travel to Costa Rica: you can avoid the tourist bustle and lodging is slightly cheaper. During this time, however, rivers start to swell and dirt roads get muddy, making travel more challenging. Some more remote roads may not be accessible to public transportation, so always ask locally