It was an honour to be invited by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, Proimagen Futuropa, and VoX International to a familiarization trip to Costa Rica from August 20 to August 26, 2024. This trip helped me better understand sustainable tourism practices in Costa Rica and learn about the “Pura Vida” lifestyle.
Costa Rica has two main international airports: Juan Santamaría International Airport (Code: SJO), located in Alajuela, San Jose, and Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia (Code: LIR). Direct flights to each of these airports are from Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Ciudad de Mexico, Lima, Bogota, Panama, and several other cities. Since 2016, the country's departure tax has been included in most airline tickets. For those flight tickets where it is stipulated that they do not include the departure tax, you’ll pay $29 per person.
Costa Rica has a tropical climate year-round, with an average annual temperature of 21C to 30C (70F to 82F), so you can visit any time of the year. The territory combines mountains, plains, and plateaus with two beautiful coastlines on the Pacific and Caribbean.
The Pacific region is characterized by well-defined dry and green seasons. The dry season lasts from December to March, with March being the driest and hottest month. The green season is from May to October. During July and August, locally called "veranollo," winds increase, leading to the rainy season’s primary months in September and October. The Caribbean region doesn’t have distinctive dry and green seasons, but November to January and May to August are two periods when visitors can expect constant rain showers. There are endless sunny days in October. The rainiest month is January because of cold fronts from the Northern Hemisphere, with most of the rainfall happening at night and in the early morning, which allows for rain-free exploration from mid-morning until the late afternoon.
Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, but English is widely spoken throughout the country.
This destination is perfect for families, boasting various activities for all ages, like hiking and exploring nature reserves, fishing for trout or tilapia, and visiting San José for its Children’s Museum. More family activities include land tours like cycling, ATVs, and horseback rides to explore the different landscapes and zip lining or walking hanging bridges to experience the forest canopy. You can find a range of trails, from stroller and wheelchair-accessible trails to teen adrenaline adventures. Costa Rica’s small territory is advantageous because families can discover different regions quickly.
There are many water-based adventures to consider, like rafting the Pacuare, Sarapiquí, or Corobicí Rivers or heading to the Caribbean or Pacific coasts to surf, jet ski, ride banana boats, or swim and play in the waves or on the sand surrounded by nature. Additional marine fun for families includes snorkelling, kayaking, boating, and diving. Due to the country's warm coastal waters, opportunities to access the sea are available year-round.
Children of all ages can enjoy visiting the forest, seeing animals, plants, and birds and learning about conservation and nature.
Costa Rica is a destination of unspoiled nature and authentic experiences. It features tropical beaches, grand adventures, memorable culture, and an endless array of biodiversity to be discovered in the many natural habitats throughout this Central American country. With its wildlife, nature, wellness, and culture, Costa Rica provides a memorable place for an unforgettable vacation, whether for solo travellers, families, honeymooners, or a group wanting a dose of life’s essentials or the simple life that we call “pura vida.”
Let me know if you have Costa Rica on your bucket list!
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