Costa Rica Costa Rica

Pura vida (“real life”) has become the unofficial motto of Costa Rica. And for a reason. Costa Rica is, in essence, a slice of tropical paradise in Central America, and its inhabitants, AKA “the ticos”, are justifiably proud of it. Perfect waves for surfing, breath-taking sunsets, misty crater lakes, waterfall-filled hiking trails, white-water rapids, sun-kissed beaches, adventure-filled paths and wildlife that includes howler monkeys, capuchins and other friendly-looking animals await you in this small, yet magnificently varied country.

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Costa Rica Explorer

This 11 day trip through Costa Rica is perfect for anyone who wants to experience a true Costa Rican adventure. You will become fully enthralled in ...
from
£1755
/ person
duration
11 days
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Active Costa Rica

This holiday offers you a range of opportunities that celebrate the rich diversity of Costa Rica’s wildlife and indulge your penchant for adventure as you ...
from
£2145
/ person
duration
14 days
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Costa Rica Discovery

Explore on your own the great diversity of Costa Rica’s National Wildlife in the northern part of the country, in a remote region named Boca ...
from
£1380
/ person
duration
13 days
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Football Coaching Project in Costa Rica, Esparza

Join us in coaching football in our affiliate football schools in rural Costa Rica. You’ll be involved in coaching all ages under 18, teaching ...
from
£695
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Community Experience Placement in Esparza, Costa Rica

Join us in working alongside local Costa Ricans on a variety of projects and get a unique insight into this authentic and traditional community. This placement ...
from
£695
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Costa Rica Corcovado Rainforest Experience

Central America is home to stunning national parks, one of the most amazing is the Corcovado National Park. This trip will allow you to explore the ...
from
£1760
/ person
duration
4 days
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Community Farming Project in Costa Rica, Esparza

Help us support a rural family in a traditional and sustainable way of life that is sadly dying out. You can be involved in cattle-farming, ...
from
£695
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Intensive Spanish Course in Costa Rica, Esparza

Communicate effectively in Spanish within two weeks! Gain a solid grounding in Spanish with all of the necessary techniques to continue to progress to fluency! This ...
from
£845
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Building and Renovation Community Project in Costa Rica, Esparza

Join us in working alongside local Costa Ricans on one of a variety of small-scale construction projects. This placement is a great way to get ...
from
£735
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Care Work Volunteer Project in Costa Rica, Esparza

You will work with the daycare and preschool kids, between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. The centre is bilingual, but none of the ...
from
£695
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Deluxe Costa Rica

If you love exclusive ecofriendly accommodations, a bit of adventure and unique places, this is the trip for you. This 11 nights program offers you chances ...
from
£2275
/ person
duration
12 days
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Gems of Costa Rica

Explore the unique and more hidden destinations in Costa Rica. From the Tropical Rainforest to the Tropical Dry forest. Experience the feeling of being immersed in ...
from
£5530
/ person
duration
15 days
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Teach English in Costa Rica, Esparza

Teach English to children in a fun and practical way! Create real-life situations, games and other activities while utilizing your mother tongue. There is a ...
from
£695
/ person
durations start from
14 days
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Costa Rica Tortuguero and Rainforest

Costa Rica is a nation of rich diversity, wildlife and culture. This 8 day trip will take you to a variety of sites of natural beauty. ...
from
£1495
/ person
duration
8 days
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Costa Rica Unique

A world of exclusivity and uniqueness is waiting for you in our boutique journey to the land of Pura Vida! A selection of unique properties nestled ...
from
£2150
/ person
duration
15 days

Accommodation Examples

Quick Facts

Name

Republic of Costa Rica

Population

4.8 million

Capital

San José

Language

Spanish

Currency

Costa Rican Colón (CRC)

Time Zone

UTC -6

Flag Costa Rica

Climate

Costa Rica has a reputation for being a tropical paradise, and rightly so. However, due to its diverse terrain, the country boasts a range of different climates.

Costa Rica has no real summer or winter due to its proximity to the equator, and the average temperature ranges from 21°C to 27°C. However, a rainy season does exist, and takes place between May and November.
The central valley is often cooler than the coastal areas.

The Pacific coast tends to be hot and dry all year-round, especially the northern part (known as the Gold Coast), while the highlands (around Monteverde) are filled with mist during much of the year, due to the high altitude. The Caribbean coast is quite hot and moist, and receives rain during most of the year. The lowlands have quite a warm climate, with an average temperature of 26°C, and the Central Valley, including San José, is said to have the best climate in the country.

Culture

Costa Rican culture, as in most Latin American countries, is heavily influenced by Spain, as a result of colonization. However, parts of the country have other strong influences, such as that of Limón, which has more of a Jamaican feel to it. There are also several indigenous areas throughout the country.

A great part of the music and folklore of Costa Rica comes from the north of the country, where Mayan culture mixes with Afro-Caribbean trends. Costa Rica has a distinctive musical genre known as punto and most of its music can be easily distinguished by a very unique rhythm known as tambito.

Costa Rica goes by the motto Pura Vida, which means “pure life” and the phrase can be used as a greeting or a farewell, or just to say “that’s great” or “all’s good”. The phrase was originally from a Mexican film, but was soon adopted by Costa Ricans, and is used in several contexts to express a positive outlook on life.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Costa Rica relies heavily on fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fish and meat. Rice and black beans are traditional and included in most meals. Potatoes are another staple of Costa Rican gastronomy as wells as plantain, a member of the banana family.

Due to the tropical location of the country, you will be able to find many exotic fruits that you might have never heard of before!

Due to the amount of tourism that Costa Rica boasts, international food is offered in many sites – from Japanese to Mexican to Peruvian.

Transportation

By Plane
Two domestic airlines (NatureAir and Sansa) connect major tourist towns

By Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles are available to popular destinations on a daily basis and they will pick you up from your accommodation and return you, making them the most stress-free option.

By Bus
Traveling by public bus is the most affordable way to get around Costa Rica. It can be time-consuming for many Costa Ricans, as many routes are based in and out of San José. However, Esparza is 1.5 hrs away from San Jose by direct bus, and Puntarenas has access to much of the Pacific Coast by bus, so Esparza is well situated for bus transport to the whole country and beyond.

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