Costa Rica

Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken in hotels, tour operations, and restaurants in the main tourist areas — Guanacaste, the Arenal region, and the coasts — but far less so in small inland towns. A few basic Spanish phrases go a long way outside the main tourist circuit.

Prepaid SIM and eSIM plans from Kölbi, Liberty, and Claro are easy to buy at the airport or in shops in almost any town; bring your passport to activate one. Coverage is strong along the main tourist routes but can drop out in remote national parks and on mountain roads.

Tap water is safe to drink in San José and most towns; in very remote areas, bottled or filtered water is the safer choice. Pharmacies (farmacias) are common and well-stocked, and many sell over-the-counter versions of medicines that need a prescription elsewhere.

No vaccinations are required for entry, but a yellow fever certificate is required if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue exist in lowland and coastal areas — use repellent, especially during and right after the rainy season.

Citizens of the US, Canada, the EU, the UK, and most Latin American countries can enter Costa Rica visa-free for a non-extendable stay of up to 180 days, with a passport valid for the length of the stay. Proof of onward or return travel is sometimes requested at the border.

Travelers who need a visa can apply at a Costa Rican consulate before arrival.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Costa Ricans, known as Ticos, use the phrase "Pura vida" for everything from "hello" and "goodbye" to "everything's fine" — it sums up the country's relaxed, easygoing culture. Greetings are warm; a handshake is standard, and friends often greet with a light cheek kiss.

Casual dress is fine almost everywhere, including many restaurants. Swimwear is for the beach or pool only — cover up when walking through towns. Punctuality is relaxed outside business meetings, so don't be surprised if plans run on "Tico time."

Public holidays affect transport and business hours: many shops and offices close, and buses run on reduced schedules. Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is the most disruptive — expect closures and busy roads as Ticos travel.

Shops in cities typically open Monday to Saturday and close by early evening; many close or reduce hours on Sundays. Sodas, the small local eateries, tend to keep longer, more flexible hours.

• By air: Domestic flights connect San José with Guanacaste (via Liberia), the Osa Peninsula (via Puerto Jiménez), and other remote areas — worth it when the drive would otherwise take most of a day on mountain roads.
• By bus: An extensive public bus network reaches almost every town. It's cheap but can be slow on mountain routes. Private shuttle services connect major tourist towns directly and cost more but save time.
• By car: Renting a car gives the most flexibility for reaching beaches and national parks, though many rural roads are unpaved and slow, especially in the rainy season.

Costa Ricans typically start the day with gallo pinto — rice and beans fried together, usually served with eggs, cheese, and fried plantain. Lunch is the main meal for many locals: a casado plate of rice, beans, salad, plantain, and a choice of meat or fish, often eaten at a small local eatery called a soda. Dinner tends to be lighter, sometimes a smaller version of the same dishes.

Street food and snacks lean on corn and fried plantain: chifrijo (fried pork, rice, beans, and salsa, often served at bars), tamales around the holidays, and patacones (fried plantain) as a side almost everywhere. Fresh fruit juices, called frescos naturales, are sold everywhere, blended from tropical fruit with water or milk. Coffee is a point of national pride — Costa Rica grows some of the world's best arabica, though the highest-grade export beans can be easier to find in specialty cafés than at a hotel breakfast.

Most visits start in San José, the capital, with its markets, museums, and the ornate National Theatre of Costa Rica. Nearby Cartago was the country's colonial capital and holds its most important pilgrimage church, at the foot of Irazú Volcano.

The northern lowlands center on La Fortuna, the base for hiking, hot springs, and views of Arenal Volcano, and on the cloud forests around Reserva Monteverde near Santa Elena. In the northwest, Liberia is the gateway to Costa Rica's driest region and its most developed beach resorts, centered on Tamarindo.

Further south, Quepos is the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the country's most visited protected areas, while remote Puerto Jiménez on the Osa Peninsula serves Corcovado National Park's rainforest. Puntarenas is the main port for ferries to the Nicoya Peninsula. On the Caribbean coast, Cahuita has a laid-back, Afro-Caribbean culture distinct from the rest of the country, with a coral reef just offshore.