Pass The Passport

Places / North & Central America

Costa Rica

Visited

At a glance

Region
Central America
Capital
San José
Population
5.2 million (2025)
Area
51,100 km²
Languages
Spanish
Currency
Costa Rican colón (CRC)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+506
Visited: Costa Rica

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Before you go

My adventures in Costa Rica

My own trips, races and stories from Costa Rica, from May 2009 to February 2020.

My videos from Costa Rica

  • Capuchin monkey, Costa Rica
    Cahuita, Costa Rica

My photos from Costa Rica

From 2 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

February 2020 Central America

Talamanca, Puntarenas, Golfito, Poás Volcano, Cahuita National Park, Tortuguero, Tilarán, Oreamuno and 1 more

Whole trip gallery
  • Dan grinning at the rim of a steaming volcanic crater in Costa Rica
  • A sloth hanging in the trees in Cahuita National Park.
  • A jungle-lined river in Tortuguero.
  • Clusters of small white mushrooms growing densely on a tree trunk.
  • A small dark hummingbird feeding at a red feeder hanging in the forest.
  • Close-up of a shimmering green hummingbird drinking from a red feeder.
  • A calm blue bay with a small dinghy on a dark sandy beach and boats on the water.
  • A tamandua anteater climbing along a branch among green leaves.
  • A turquoise lake at the bottom of a grey volcanic crater with scrubby vegetation.
  • A dark water bird with outstretched wings perched on a stump in a jungle river.
  • A long-tailed lizard resting on a branch among narrow green and red leaves.
  • A black vulture pecking at a coconut husk on the forest floor.

May 2009 Punta Leona and San José

Punta Leona, San José

Whole trip gallery
  • A quiet beach edged with trees at Punta Leona.
  • A path running through a tunnel of tall bamboo in Costa Rica.

Overview

Costa Rica is one of the best countries in the world for wildlife, with rainforest, volcanoes, cloud forest and beaches on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. A quarter of the country is protected.

San José is the capital. Arenal volcano, the cloud forest of Monteverde, the beaches and monkeys of Manuel Antonio, turtles at Tortuguero and the wild Osa Peninsula are the highlights.

Things to see and do

  • Arenal – the volcano and hot springs
  • Monteverde – cloud forest
  • Manuel Antonio – beaches and monkeys
  • Tortuguero – turtles
  • Corcovado – rainforest
  • Pacuare River – white-water rafting

Food to try

Gallo pinto, casado, ceviche and coffee.

When to go

December to April, the dry season.

Did you know?

  • Costa Rica has no army.
  • It has around 5 per cent of the world's biodiversity.
  • Most of its electricity comes from renewable sources.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica

0 of 4 visited. See every site I've been to.

All 4 sites in Costa Rica

Plan your trip to Costa Rica

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Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Costa Rica