A view of Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica

Costa Rica tours & holidays

Travel guide

A peace-loving pioneer in ecotourism, Costa Rica is a glorious tribute to the planet. Over a quarter of its lands are protected areas and with half a million species, it’s one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. Walk along the treetops in the Monteverde Cloud Forest to find the Resplendent Quetzal, or canoe the lagoons and beaches of Tortuguero to find sloths, toucans, rare ocelots and sea turtles. Our Costa Rica tours will take you through these wondrous landscapes in ways you could never imagine, from trekking the slopes of Arenal Volcano, to ziplining through the rainforest. While it’s a country where nature rules, we’ll also introduce you to the wonderful culture of the easygoing Costa Ricans. You’ll meet a master chocolatier and taste the world’s best cacao beans, and enjoy lunch on a traditional working ranch. Wherever you go, you’ll hear the phrase ‘Pura Vida’, and it won’t take long before you melt into the relaxed and happy lifestyle of Costa Rica.  

Trending Costa Rica tours

Costa Rica Eco Adventure Guided Tour
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4.7

Costa Rica Nature Adventure

8 Days

1 Country

9 Locations

8-Day Costa Rica Tour from San Jose to Liberia

From

$3,725

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Costa Rica experiences with Trafalgar

With Trafalgar, you’ll journey into the heart of each destination. Be My Guest invites you to connect with locals, while MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences let you positively impact communities. Plus, on many tours, you’ll overnight at Stays with Stories accommodations with tales as rich as the places you explore. Here are just a few of these unforgettable experiences on a Trafalgar Costa Rica tour.

Discover what you can unlock on a Costa Rica tour with Trafalgar

Get a glimpse of our guests on Costa Rica Nature Adventure and hear why they love touring with Trafalgar. Meet the locals on Trafalgar’s Be My Guest and MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences, and watch as our guests taste Costa Rican chocolate, enjoy adventure activities, and explore the wildlife and scenery of this biodiverse country.  
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Costa Rica at a glance

Walk the treetops of Monteverde, canoe the lagoons of Tortuguero to find sloths, trek the slopes of Arenal Volcano and meet a master chocolatier. Join your expert Trafalgar Travel Director and discover one of the world's most biodiverse countries and the 'Pura Vida' pioneer in ecotourism.

Currency

Costa Rican colón

Capital City

San José

Winter avg

22°C

Language

Spanish

Summer avg

25°C

Good morning

Buenos dias

Time Zone

GMT-6

Good evening

Buenos tardes

"From beaches to jungles to volcanoes, and all the weird and wonderful wildlife in between, I could never choose just one favourite place in Costa Rica. Relax and enjoy the pura vida, mae!"

Travel Director

Weather in Costa Rica

Discover the weather, temperatures, and seasonal trends across Costa Rica to plan your trip.

Our top 5 things to do in Costa Rica

From hiking up volcanoes to walking through treetops, our Costa Rica guided holidays take you to the heart of the country in ways you could never imagine.

Best museums in Costa Rica

Our Costa Rica tour packages delve deeper into the history and culture of Costa Rica through their wonderful museums.

Best food in Costa Rica

Full of fruits, vegetables, rice and beans, Costa Rican food is fresh and filling, and we’ll show you all the best places to taste the country’s most-loved dishes.

What to pack for a tour in Costa Rica

Consider your environmental impact when you next take a trip and go single-use-plastic-free by packing a reusable water bottle, a steel straw, your own shopping bags and refillable toiletry bottles.

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Spanish phrasebook

Learning a few Spanish phrases is highly appreciated and will make it easier to connect with the locals. The first Costa Rican saying to learn is ‘pura vida, mae!’

Mosquito repellent

Costa Rica has plenty of mosquitoes, so to avoid any nasty bites from mosquitoes or other insects, bring a strong repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) and apply it regularly.

Reef-safe sunscreen

Protect yourself from the harsh sun with SPF 30 or higher and protect the environment with reef-safe sunscreen. It’s recommended to bring your own, as sunscreen is expensive in Costa Rica.

Adaptor plug

In Costa Rica, the standard voltage is 120 V and the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard frequency is 60 Hz.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is open for tourism for people from most countries around the world. If you're from the US, UK, EU, Canada, or Australia, you can visit Costa Rica visa-free. The Costa Rica Tourism Board provides some more advice, but check with the Costa Rican embassy in your country for your specific visa requirements.

Costa Rica's dry season (December to April) offers sunny weather and is great for beaches and outdoor adventures. The green season (May to November) brings lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but quite a bit more rain.

Costa Rica has a tropical climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons. The coasts are hot and humid, while the central highlands are cooler.

The Costa Rican Colón (CRC) is the local currency, but US dollars are widely accepted. Credit cards work in most places, but it's useful to have cash just in case.

A 10% service charge is often included in restaurant bills. Extra tipping is appreciated but not required.

Costa Rica uses Type A and Type B plugs, with a voltage of 120V.

ATMs are common in cities and tourist areas but can be scarce in rural regions.

Tap water is safe in most areas, but bottled water is recommended in remote locations.

It all depends on when you're visiting. In general, lightweight clothing, hiking shoes, insect repellent, and sunscreen are recommended. If you're visiting in the green season, definitely pack more rain gear.

We recommend a good 10-14 days to fully experience the diversity of the country, covering the beaches, rainforests, and volcanoes.

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