Plan your trip to Costa Rica
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Regional Population: 4,016,173
Local Currency: CRC
Latitude: 9.916667
Longitude: -84.066667
Costa Rica, Spanish for “rich coast,” is a country in Central America. This is a fitting name, as the country is world famous for having an incredibly high level of biodiversity in its tropical forests. Tropical mammals such as monkeys, sloths, tapirs and wild cats mingle with an amazing assortment of birds, insects and other animals.
There is such biodiversity in Costa Rica not only because it’s a land bridge between North America and South America, but also because of its varied terrain and varied weather patterns moving in from the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. There are impressive volcanoes, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and beaches throughout the country. Costa Rica borders Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the south. To the west lies the Pacific Ocean and to the east, the Caribbean Sea.
Top Trips: road trips to Costa Rica
Weather: road conditions around Costa Rica
How Far Is It: distance to Costa Rica
Cost to Drive: how much is it to drive to Costa Rica
Learn how ancient Aztecs and Mayans invented chocolate from raw cacao beans on this chocolate adventure tour in a Costa Rican rainforest.
Costa Rica offers an exciting yet safe entrée into exotic ecotourism and soft adventure vacations, from coast to coast.
Amigo, catch some totally tubular waves in one of Costa Rica’s top surfing destinations, Playa Guiones.
Walk in the clouds and volunteer at a nature school in Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests.
Tortuguero, on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica, provides a wealth of opportunities to see a variety of sea turtles and other jungle life.
From scarlet macaws to leatherback turtles, Costa Rica’s unique biodiversity is a world all its own.
Volunteer to help leatherback turtles on your next Costa Rican vacation with EcoTeach.
Our young writer shares his excitement and avian finds while bird watching on a family vacation to Costa Rica.
Best destinations for students or families for a memorable Spring Break getaway.
Our expert surf bum selects six sweet surfari destinations around the world—from San Diego to Bali—to check out for fitness and fun on your next family vacation.
Looking for an adventure-packed guy getaway escape? Check out these six active volcano locales for a hot time with molten lava.
Go where no other boats can. Plan your kayaking vacation with our expert tips on how to choose the right type of trip and find recommended tours.
Had it with wedding planning? Elope! Check out these destinations and packages that offer an alternative to Vegas.
Take your vacation beyond champagne and flowers with these tips for spicing up your travels, even on a business trip or family vacation.
A teen adventurer hikes through the Costa Rican rainforest to check out a lava-spurting volcano.
Costa Rica cruise discount and new yoga retreat, Cayman Islands and Mackinac Island both welcome families with savings packages and discounts, and the Omni Hotels in Texas teach the kids to cater to parents.
I came face-to-face with a poisonous snake during my visit to Costa Rica and was nearly attacked by a monkey, but I'd return in a heartbeat.
