You are in: / Costa Rica / Tailor-made holidays in Costa Rica

Tailor-made holidays in Costa Rica

Rainforest in Costa Rica
Come and discover this little bit of paradise for yourself…..often referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas….obviously not for its high peaks, but for its lack of an army and its peacefulness, plus its mountain pastures in the interior. Costa Rica, an amazing tropical paradise in Central America lying between Nicaragua and Panama,  means ‘rich coast’ and was discovered and named by Columbus in 1502. Here you will find a wealth of wildlife and biodiversity, a lot of frogs, not to mention a politically stable country (the army was abolished in 1948 and the money saved is spent on Costa Rican’s standard of living).

Arguably showcasing the best of the Latin world, both locals and visitors spend their days enjoying the wildlife and thick jungles. With the Pacific Ocean on the west coast, the Caribbean on the east coast and tropical rain forests and volcanoes sandwiched between, Costa Rica is an adventurer's paradise. For travellers it is regarded as one of the safest, friendliest, most diverse and exotic destinations in the world.
The Poas Volcano
On a tailor-made holiday in Costa Rica you could raft one of the ten best rivers in the world, surf world-class breaks or hike on the shoulder of the most active volcano in Central America, plus much more….

Costa Rica has approximately 6% of the world’s biodiversity and to protect it all, there are 20 national parks, 8 biological reserves and other areas to protect all that is here, namely a rich array of birds, mammals, reptiles and rain-forest plants. The variety of birds, in particular, is extraordinary: some 850 species are packed into a relatively small area. Approximately 25% of the country's land has been set aside in protected areas, earning Costa Rica a reputation as an environmentally sensitive country and leader in ecological conservation. More…

Visas
No visa is required for British passport holders.

When to Go
An easy way to remember when to go to Costa Rica is to go between Christmas and Easter which more or less coincides with the country’s dry season (December to April). That said, Costa Rica’s climate is really very pleasant year round with sea breezes cooling down most of the coastal areas and San Jose evenings escape humid heat.

The rainy or green season (winter) is from the end of May to December and generally the heaviest rainfall is in September and October. However even in the supposed ‘rainy’ season, it is usually sunny in the mornings with rain (sometimes heavy) in the afternoons and evenings, but often there will be days with no rain too. Average temperature in the rainy season is between 70 and 80 degrees F, so still nice and warm. Just know that some restaurants/hotels close in the rainy season. On the upside - there will definitely be less other visitors and so this is a real bonus.

If you are intent on seeing turtles, then you must come between June and October.

On the Caribbean Coast you should plan to expect rain at any time of year on this coast, it is at its driest from February through to April, with a sort of short ‘summer’ in June and July and the wettest months are from November through to January. In contrast to the rest of Costa Rica October is actually one of the best times to visit the Caribbean coast.

The Pacific Coast and the more central parts of the country are driest from January through to March.

Costa Rica Weather in more detail…..More...

Click here to obtain the official word on the weather in Costa Rica from the BBC.

Getting there
Flying time to San Jose, Costa Rica: 13 or 14 hrs dependent on route.

Flights to San Jose are available either with Iberia via Madrid (daily service), with British Airways to Miami and continue your journey with American Airlines from Miami to San Jose (daily service). Also, Continental Airways fly from London Gatwick to San Jose via Newark or Houston.

Time Difference
GMT - 6

 

IMAGINE LATIN AMERICA
16 Bromells Road
Clapham Common
LONDON
SW4 0BG

t: 0207 622 1116
f: enquiry form
e: email us
n: sign up for our newsletter
Click here to see a map of Costa Rica
The Arenal volcano. Visit this area of Costa Rica - click here for more details
Click here to read more about beach properties in the Osa Peninsula
Visit Costa Rica's Caribbean coast...