16 Important Things To Know Before Travelling To Costa Rica

With lush rainforests, volcanic landscapes, stunning coastlines, and an abundance of wildlife, Costa Rica offers something for every kind of traveller. 

But before you zip-line through the jungle or sip coffee on a cloud forest terrace, there are a few essential things you should know to make the most of your journey to Costa Rica. 

From local customs and currency tips to road conditions and safety advice, this guide will help you prepare smartly and travel to Costa Rica with confidence. 

Here are 16 important things to know before visiting Costa Rica - so you can focus on the “pura vida” and leave the stress behind.

Costa Rica is not cheap

Possibly the biggest misconception: Central America equals cheap travel. 

Not always. 

While that may hold true for some countries in the region, Costa Rica is a different story. 

Owing to high import taxes, extirpation, and challenges with local agriculture, cost of travel here can be surprising to many visitors. 

Tours can often exceed $150 USD per person, dining out is comparable to prices in the U.K, and fuel cost is practically like-for-like. 

At first glance, planning your own trip might seem like a more budget-friendly option than working with a travel agency, such as Cecropia Travel.

However, without insider knowledge or a well-thought-out itinerary, it’s easy to burn through your budget much faster than expected. 
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That’s where we come in. At Cecropia Travel, our knowledgeable staff and trusted partners will always ensure you have the most cost-effective trip, without compromising on comfortability or excitement.

Travelling around Costa Rica takes time

Our comfortable transportation will allow you to see the best of Costa Rica without any stress

Costa Rica may be similar in size to Denmark, which makes it tempting to think you can see the whole country in one trip.  

Technically, you can - but it won’t be enjoyable, especially on a two-week time frame, and you definitely won’t experience the best of what Costa Rica has to offer.

And there’s a few good reasons for this. 

First, not all roads are in great condition. Between potholes and rough terrain, driving can be slow and frustrating - though if you’re used to British roads, this might feel oddly familiar! 

Then there’s the geography. The sheer abundance of National Parks and wildlife reserves means trips are never as the crow flies.

In addition, Costa Rica is full of winding, mountainous routes, further increasing journey times. 

Even on highways, the speed limit averages just 50 mph. And when you factor in traffic, single-lane roads, and the occasional slow-moving lorry, travel times can easily double. We’re still regularly caught off guard ourselves - what looks like a two-hour drive on the map can quickly become four or more! 

Holidays should be relaxing, not stressful. To help you make the most of your time in Costa Rica, check out our sample itineraries. They’re carefully curated to balance adventure, downtime, and efficient travel across Costa Rica.

Tap water is safe to drink in Costa Rica

In much of Costa Rica, you can drink tap water. 

However, if you have a sensitive stomach, it may be worth travelling with a water filter.

Throughout the coasts of Costa Rica, especially on the Pacific side, the water tends to be hard, meaning higher amounts of calcium and magnesium are present. 

I live in Samara, on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste and I regularly drink the water with no adverse effects. However, if you are immunocompromised, store-bought bottled water may be worthwhile.

Even in remote locations, such as the Osa Peninsula, in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province, water from the tap can be drinkable. This is because water comes directly from fresh springs and has been filtered. 

This isn't always the case, so we would also recommend travelling with a full water bottle and checking in with hotel staff before drinking on-site tap water. 

If you can, we urge you to travel with a reusable water bottle to limit plastic consumption. 

Yes, mosquitoes are common in Costa Rica

Humid coastal regions of Costa Rica suffer the worst from mosquitoes, especially during the rainy season (but can be found year-round).

Although there have been a few reports of malaria on the Caribbean coast, malaria isn’t common country-wide. However, we always suggest consulting your doctor prior to travel. 

Unfortunately, there are other mosquito-borne diseases throughout Costa Rica. 
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One such disease is Dengue Fever.

Dengue fever is a nationwide, year-round risk in Costa Rica, with risk of infection typically highest during the rainy season between the months of May-October (Pacific Slopes).

Unlike malaria, however, dengue poses fewer risks. Many people won’t even develop symptoms. Those that do can expect to experience headaches, nausea and fever.

Although a dengue vaccine has been manufactured, this is not readily available. 

Preventing mosquito bites remains the most effective way of reducing the likelihood of becoming infected. Precautions include:

• Wearing long, but loose, clothing.
• Use a mosquito net when sleeping in accommodation with no screens over the windows. 
• Insect repellent with 50% DEET. For a more environmentally friendly and natural alternative, use products that contain lemon eucalyptus oil. 

Costa Rica can get cold!

If you're travelling to high-altitude regions, a jumper -and a raincoat - is a must

Whilst Costa Rica seems like a tropical paradise, there are some areas that really do get cold!

Within the country, there are a variety of microclimates - 28 to be exact. A microclimate is the climate of a small area that is different from the surrounding region. 

Due to the topography, with some places in Costa Rica exceeding 3,000 meters, temperatures can fall below freezing. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Costa Rica is -8.9°C, which was recorded at Cerro Chirripo - the tallest point of Costa Rica.

Whilst it’s unlikely you’ll ever experience such frigid temperatures on a trip to Costa Rica, there are some hotspot regions, such as Monteverde, San Gerado de Dota and Poas that are high elevation and can get rather chilly. At night, temperatures can plummet to as low as 10° C.

If you are planning on travelling to any high-elevation regions, or even just passing through, you will want to pack some warm clothes! Our travel experts at Cecropia Travel can help you with any packing questions. ​

Costa Rican currency is colones, but US dollars are readily accepted

The Costa Rican Colon is some of the coolest money in the world

Don’t worry about that last minute scramble to the Post Office to order in Costa Rican Colones. One of Costa Rica's main forms of currency is the U.S dollar.

Many hotels and tour companies throughout Costa Rica quote prices in USD. 

In most places, debit and credit cards are widely used - from restaurants to supermarkets. However, the more rural you go, the less reliable the use of a card will be, so it is always encouraged to take cash. 

If you do pay with USD, you may receive your change in colones. For Ticos, the two currencies are used interchangeably. You can also be quoted in USD but pay in Colones. 

Currently the exchange rate stands at 618 Costa Rica Colon for 1 Pound Sterling. Or, 454 CRC to 1 USD.

The rainy season is a great time to visit Costa Rica

Lush jungles after a recent downpour

We Brits love the sunshine. Especially on holidays. 

If you’re after the sun, then a trip to Costa Rica during the Dry season (Dec - April) has the best weather - with sunny days and high temperatures. 

However, this is also the busiest time in Costa Rica. 

Between the months of May - November, Costa Rica has so much to offer. Don’t let the term “Rainy Season” put you off.

For us at Cecropia Travel, the rainy season is one of our favourite times to be in Costa Rica. 
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Not only is there an explosion of life - from courting frogs to migrating whales - but there are way fewer crowds for you to actually enjoy nature. Prices are often cheaper during this time too.

Besides, the rainy season doesn’t always mean rain. There's some months, such as June, where there'll be no rain for days. 

Sloths are pretty hard to see in the wild

Rescue Centres are a great place to see sloths if you haven't spotted any in the wild

Costa Rica capitalises off the humble sloth. You’ll see sloth marketing everywhere - from cuddly toys to the names of hotels and restaurants. 

However, sloths aren't as common as you may think. And they are certainly very hard to spot in the wild without a guide. 

There are two species of sloth found in Costa Rica - the two-toed and the three-toed sloth.

Both species tend to prefer undisturbed primary rainforest - that means you won’t find any sloths on the beaches of Guanacaste. 

Some of the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica are Manuel Antonio, Osa Peninsula, La Fortuna, Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, Monteverde and Bijagua (and more). These are year-round tropical rainforest regions and provide a continuous food source for the slow moving mammals. 

However, due to the sloth's expert camouflage, we would always recommend travelling with a tour guide if you want to see a sloth - especially at night. Our guides are highly experienced, and know exactly where to look. Or, we can suggest hotels that have regular sightings of sloths. ​

Police can stop and ask for your documents at any time

It’s not as scary as it sounds, but yes, police are allowed to legally stop anyone in Costa Rica - whether in a car, boat or other transportation. 

Whilst travelling around Costa Rica, ensure you have your passport on you at all times. If you are doing day trips and would rather leave your passport in the hotel safe, a colour photocopy will suffice.

If the police stop you, they’ll normally ask you for your passport, ask you where you’re going and then send you on your way. This happened to me whilst travelling to Tortuguero via boat. 

If you're in a car, wear a seatbelt at all times. Caught without your seatbelt on can result in a fine of over $200.

In Costa Rica, there are no on-the-spot fines. If a police officer has stopped you and is asking for money there and then, it's not a legitimate request and is actually illegal. Stay calm, ask for the officer's badge and take a picture of it and report the incident to a police station or embassy. All fines should be processed via a bank, not directly with the issuing officer. 

With Cecropia Travel, you will have a designated driver with you to shuttle you between each destination. They will be able to help in any such situation. 

Driving in Costa Rica is not for the faint of heart

People are always surprised by the driving in Costa Rica - it can get quite crazy. 

In our opinion, and coming from a Tico, the roads are poorly designed in Costa rica. This leads to a lack of organisation - something us Brits can’t seem to grasp. What can I say, we like our orderly queues and lines.

In response, many locals drive offensively - cutting in line, speeding, honking, not using their indicators. You get the idea.
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Fortunately, if you book through Cecropia Travel, you will have a designated driver throughout the duration of your trip and won’t have to worry about the stress of driving. Just sit back and appreciate the amazing views. ​

San Jose, the Capital of Costa Rica, is not that bad

National Museum of Costa Rica

San Jose has gained a reputation as not being the nicest of Capital Cities. 

And for the most part, well, it’s not. 

Afterall, for a country that is blessed with nearly 5% of all biodiversity on Earth, why would you want to stay in a crowded city?

However, San Jose isn’t all bad. There are some hidden gems here - from cultural treasures, such as the National Theatre and Museum of Costa Rica, to food tours, where you can experience locally-made produce.

There are some decent bars if you want to experience typical Tico nightlife, although we wouldn't recommend staying out too long after dark.

What’s more, San Jose is ideally located for those who want a base for the duration of their time in Costa Rica. Many key tourist destinations are located within a couple of hours drive from the city. ​

English is widely spoken but not all Costa Ricans speak English

People assume that because Costa Rica is a touristic country, everyone speaks English.

This isn’t always the case. 

Sure, if you’re travelling to key touristic regions, such as La Fortuna or Monteverde, many locals will have some knowledge of English. In fact, nearly all Costa Ricans working in the tourism industry will be almost fluent in English. 

However, don’t assume all Costa Ricans can speak English. Not even those with higher education. I’ve been in the hospital here and had a doctor that didn’t speak English. 
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The further off the beaten path you go, the less common it is to find locals who speak English. However, in most cases, locals are more than happy to try and help help. 

It’s always worth knowing at least a few basic Spanish words prior to travelling to Costa Rica. Check out our guide to Tico Spanish to learn more about common expressions in Costa Rica.
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Personally, we always learn how to say the basics like hello and thank you in the language of the country we’re visiting to be polite.

It gets dark by 6 PM. Everyday. ​

Hanging bridges at night

Costa Rica doesn't have daylight saving.

​Being a near-equatorial country, sunset time rarely changes throughout the year - give or take 30 minutes maybe? 

By 6pm everyday, it’s dark. Many shops shut just after, and restaurants/bars will close no later than 9/10pm - especially at hotels. 

Many Ticos follow daylight hours - rising early with the sun, and going to bed early. And you most likely will too, after all, it’s hard to sleep when you have the howler monkeys and macaws as an alarm clock at 5am. 

However, after dark is when the magic begins. A range of species that hide away during daylight hours can now be seen - from kinkajous to armadillos, to caimans and tarantulas. One of the best things to do in Costa Rica is to experience the forest at night is on a guided night tour. 

Be careful of petty theft

Costa Rica is a peaceful country, and one of the safest countries in Latin America for traveling, especially families and solo travellers.

The most common crime in Costa Rica is theft: car/house break ins and pickpockets. Y’know, the opportunistic kind that happens worldwide. 

To prevent this, you must always use your common sense and have a heightened sense of awareness - keep belongings nearby, don’t leave anything unattended, don’t bring fancy jewelry or designer clothes. 
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Many hotels will have a safe. It is recommended for you to store your valuables in them - they’re there for a reason. ​

No, you can’t hold a sloth ​

Only observe sloths in their natural habitat, or from a reputable rescue centre

Fuelled by social media, wildlife encounters have surged in popularity.

Everyone wants to hold a sloth or take a selfie with a monkey. 

Many places that offer these opportunities are not ethical, and certainly do not have animal welfare in mind. As such, it is now illegal for establishments in Costa Rica to offer these practices.

In recent years, the Costa Rican Government created the #stopanimalselfies campaign to raise awareness of the negative impact of selfies and photos on native wild animals. I've seen the negative effects people have on wildlife hirsthand, especially with my experience working with monkeys. 

Whilst photographs of wild animals are encouraged, the aim of #stopanimalselfies is to prevent the demand of these animals being taken out of the wild and used as tourist props. 

The scheme was launched in response to tourists trying to ride on the backs of sea turtles as they came ashore to lay eggs - just one of the many threats facing sea turtles in Costa Rica.

For us, seeing an animal in the wild is 100% more rewarding than seeing them in captivity.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to know a thing or two about the country you’re travelling to.

Afterall, it’ll help you be somewhat prepared for the unexpected. 

When I first arrived in Costa Rica, back in 2018, there were quite a few shocks in store - from prices to journey times.

This guide should help you understand what to expect before travelling to Costa Rica. It will help set expectations, help with planning and make you aware of certain aspects. 
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But if there’s one big take-out message - please no selfies with wild animals and respect all natural spaces.