“Pura Vida” is a phrase that will be etched into your soul after traveling in Costa Rica. This incredibly beautiful and tranquil Central American country is where one can truly find “the pure life” as long as you get here before the crowds of gringos arrive for their winter break. Get away from the popular tourist beach-towns like Tamarindo (aka: Tama”gringo”) and into a more unexplored site of Costa Rica where Ticos (Costa Ricans) go about their daily life at a laid-back pace.
Get into the cloud forests of central Costa Rica to fly through the canopy in Monteverde on a zipline, hike the Arenal Volcano, go white-water rafting on class IV rapids from Turrialba, see thousands of turtles lay their eggs on the beach in Tortuguero or simply relax on the beach listening to reggae on the Caribbean coast in Puerto Viejo drinking an Imperial Beer.
The Costa Rican government permanently abolished the national army in 1949 and has since earned honorable rankings in the Human Development Index and environmental sustainability. Costa Rica was ranked as the “greenest country in the world” by the New Economics Foundation in 2009 and claims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country by 2021.
Welcome to this natural paradise where you can cuddle a sloth, watch as sea turtles lay their eggs, come eye to eye with a howler monkey, admire the vibrant colors of a red-eyed tree frog or spot a brightly-colored toucan. Costa Rican, as you will quickly see, is well-deserving of it’s nickname as the Switzerland of Latin America.
| Population: | 4.3 Million |
| Size: | 51,100 km2 |
| Capital: | San Jose |
| Languages: | Spanish |
| Currency: |
Costa Rican Colon 1 USD = 500 CRC Check the current exchange rate |
| Time Zone: |
San Jose is UTC/GMT -6 hours Check the current local time |
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Budget per Day in USD (Food): |
Cost of a Beer = 2 USD Cost of a Basic Meal = 10 USD |
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Budget per Day in USD (Accommodation): |
Cost of a Hostel Dorm = 7 USD Cost of a Hostel Private Room = 16 USD Cost of a 3-Star Hotel = 70 USD |
| Visa Requirements: |
Citizens of most nationalities do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica. Costa Rican Embassy in UK Visa HQ (Text for ALL COUNTRIES) *Please contact the Embassy nearest you as requirements may change at anytime without prior notice. This is always the best way to find out current visa requirements as they often vary depending on your nationality. |
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TRAVEL INDEPENDENTLY
You are a traveler, not a tourist. We want you to be able to explore the world exactly as you have always dreamed it. You are free to travel at your own pace with no tour leaders or set schedules.
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DAILY DEPARTURES
Depart any day you want, 365 days a year whether you are traveling on your own or in a group.
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UNLIMITED SCHEDULE CHANGES
We make it easy for you to be spontaneous! Enjoy the freedom of making an unlimited amount of changes to your schedule before and during your trip. Your pass is valid for 12 months so you can take all the time you need to enjoy your journey!
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