Costa Rica
Costa Rica is pura vida in two weeks — cloud forests, volcanoes, two coasts, and the world's greenest easy ecotourism.
Costa Rica is the world's ecotourism model — cloud forests (Monteverde), an active volcano (Arenal), surf beaches (Tamarindo, Santa Teresa), and wildlife in every direction. Use San José as the airport gateway, not a stay; head to the cloud forest and the volcanoes. Go in the dry season (December–April); rainforest is the point.
How long
7–14 days
Currency
Costa Rican colón (CRC). Cards accepted; carry cash.
Language
Spanish. English common in tourist areas.
Getting around
A rental car or shuttles; the country is small.
Budget range
USD 70–150 per person per day at mid-range.
See what a trip to Costa Rica actually costs. Travel Budget Co.
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