Visa Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not need a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. A stamp is placed in the passport upon entry. Required: Passport: Valid for at least 6 months beyond the stay. ID card is NOT sufficient. Return or onward flight ticket: Almost always checked! Entry may be denied

Colón and Dollar — The Dual System Costa Rica has two de facto currencies: the Costa Rican Colón (CRC) and the US Dollar (USD). In tourist areas, both are accepted everywhere. Hotels, tours, and national park entries are often priced in USD. In local sodas, buses, and shops, you pay in Colones — and

General Safety Situation Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America — and remarkably safe by Latin American standards. The crime rate is significantly lower than in neighboring countries, and violent crimes against tourists are rare. However, Costa Rica is not a European safety paradise, an

Vaccinations No mandatory vaccinations for entry from Germany. Recommended: Hepatitis A: Recommended Hepatitis B: For longer stays Typhoid: For travel to rural areas Rabies: For close contact with animals (bats in caves, stray dogs) Update standard vaccinations: Tetanus, diphtheria, polio Yellow fe

Internet & Communication

Mobile & SIM Cards A local SIM card is the best option for mobile internet in Costa Rica. At SJO airport, there are stands from Kolbi (state provider, best coverage), Claro, and Movistar. A SIM with 5 GB data costs about 5,000–8,000 CRC (9–14 USD) and lasts 30 days. Top-ups (recargas) at any superma

National Parks & Wildlife

National Park Entry Since 2023, tickets for most national parks must be booked online via the SINAC system (sinac.go.cr). Entry prices for foreigners are 12–18 USD per person. Locals pay significantly less (1,000–1,600 CRC). Important rules: Online Reservation: For Manuel Antonio, Poás, and other p

Packing List & Rain Gear

What You Absolutely Need Costa Rica has extremely diverse climate zones — from hot beaches to cool cloud forests. A well-thought-out packing list saves nerves: Clothing Rain Jacket (light, packable): A MUST, even in the dry season! It rains almost daily in the cloud forest and highlands. Hiking Bo

Types of Accommodation in Costa Rica

Costa Rica offers the full range from the 6-USD hammock to the 1,000-USD suite — and everything in between has its own charm. Sodas, Cabinas & Hostels (€) Cabinas are Costa Rica's version of the simple guesthouse: small, family-run accommodations with basic amenities (bed, fan, sometimes air condit

Tico Slang & Basic Vocabulary

Costa Rican Spanish is clear, friendly, and relatively slow — ideal for understanding and learning. The Ticos are patient with Spanish beginners and appreciate every attempt. The formal address "Usted" is used more often than in other Latin American countries — even among friends and couples (!). Th

Useful Phrases for Every Situation

Basic Communication GermanSpanish Good morningBuenos días Good afternoon / Good eveningBuenas tardes / Buenas noches How are you?¿Cómo está usted? (formal, common in CR) I'm fine, thank youBien, gracias (or simply: ¡Pura Vida!) How much does it cost?¿Cuánto cuesta? Where is...?¿Dónde está...? I do

Features of Tico-Spanish

The "-tico" instead of "-tito" The Ticos got their nickname from a linguistic peculiarity: where other Spanish-speaking countries use the diminutive "-tito" or "-cito," the Ticos say "-tico". A small moment is not a "momentito," but a "momentico". A small thing is not a "chiquitito," but a "chiquiti

Emergency Numbers & Contacts

ServiceNumber Emergency (Police, Fire Department, Ambulance)911 Red Cross128 Traffic Police (Tránsito)2222-9330 Tourist Police (ICT)800-8887-4766 SINAC (National Parks, Park Emergencies)1192 German Embassy San José+506 2290-9091 Austrian Embassy (Hon. Consulate)+506 2296-1009 Swiss Embassy San Jos

Home Travel GuidesCosta Rica

🇨🇷

Travel Guide Costa Rica

Your complete travel guide for the green paradise of Central America

Capital:San José

Language:Spanish

Currency:Colón (CRC) / US Dollar

Best Travel Time:Dec–Apr (Dry Season)

Flight Time:~14 hours from DE

Visa:Not required (90 days)

Last updated: 11 March 2026 · 11 Chapters · 59 Sections

RECOMMENDED

Route Suggestions

Classic Costa Rica Tour

14–21 days

The grand tour through Costa Rica's highlights — volcanoes, cloud forest, Pacific beaches, and Caribbean feeling. Best with a rental car (4×4!) or a combination of shuttles.

San JoséPoás VulkanLa Fortuna (Arenal)Río CelesteMonteverdeManuel AntonioUvitaPuerto ViejoSan José

Pure Adventure & Nature

10–14 days

For the active: White-water rafting, volcano hikes, hanging bridges, ziplining, and the best national parks. Good fitness required.

San JoséTurrialba (Rafting Pacuare)La FortunaRío CelesteRincón de la ViejaMonteverdeManuel Antonio

Pacific & Surfing

10 days

The Pacific Coast from south to north: Surfing, beaches, yoga, and sunsets. Perfect for wave riders and all who love the sea.

San JoséJacóManuel AntonioUvitaSanta TeresaNosaraSámara

Caribbean & Volcano Express

7 days

Volcanoes and Caribbean in one week: Hot water and hot rhythms. Compact but intense — ideal for a week's vacation.

San JoséLa FortunaArenal Hot SpringsTortugueroPuerto ViejoCahuita

All Chapters

Planning· 2 Chapters

Chapter 1

Welcome to Costa Rica

8 Sections

Chapter 2

Arrival & Transport

3 Sections

Regions· 4 Chapters

Chapter 3

San José & Central Valley

8 Sections

Chapter 4

Pacific Coast

7 Sections

Chapter 5

Caribbean Coast

4 Sections

Chapter 6

Volcanoes & Highlands

5 Sections

Understanding· 3 Chapters

Chapter 7

Land & People

5 Sections

Chapter 8

Food & Drink

3 Sections

Chapter 9

Art & Culture

3 Sections

Practical· 2 Chapters

Chapter 10

Practical A–Z

9 Sections

Chapter 11

Tico-Spanish Language Guide

4 Sections

Discover More Travel Guides

Regions at a Glance

San José & Central Valley

The capital San José with Mercado Central and the National Museum, surrounded by the active volcanoes Poás and Irazú, the charming Orosi Valley, and top-class coffee plantations in the fertile Central Valley.

Mercado CentralNational MuseumVolcán PoásVolcán Irazú+1

San Jose Alajuela Cartago+1 mehr

Pacific Coast

From the white beaches and cheeky monkeys in Manuel Antonio to the mystical cloud forest of Monteverde, the surfer paradises of the Nicoya Peninsula, and the most biodiverse place on Earth in Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula.

Manuel Antonio NPMonteverde Cloud ForestNicoya PeninsulaCorcovado NP+1

Manuel Antonio Monteverde Santa Teresa+2 mehr

Caribbean Coast

Afro-Caribbean culture, reggae rhythms, and coconut cuisine: Puerto Viejo with its dream beaches, Cahuita National Park with coral reefs and sloths, and Tortuguero — the "Venice of Costa Rica" with its turtle nesting sites.

Puerto ViejoCahuita NPTortugueroPunta Uva+1

Puerto Viejo Cahuita Tortuguero+1 mehr

Volcanoes & Highlands

The perfectly shaped Arenal Volcano with hot springs and the spectacular La Fortuna Waterfall, the surreal turquoise Río Celeste in Tenorio National Park, the bubbling mud pots at Rincón de la Vieja, and world-class rafting on the Río Pacuare.

Arenal VolcanoHot SpringsRío CelesteRincón de la Vieja+1

La Fortuna Tenorio Rincon De La Vieja+1 mehr

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