Why Costa Rica Should (or Shouldn’t) Be Your Next Adventure Destination

Choosing a travel destination isn’t always straightforward. Between sometimes conflicting opinions from fellow travelers, our current desires and budget constraints, travel documentaries and advertisements we’ve seen, not to mention the positive or negative impressions we might have formed, making a decision can be challenging. That’s why we’re taking you through the main arguments that might convince you to visit a particular place… or not. Today, we’re exploring Costa Rica.

The compelling reasons to go

Minimal entry requirements

Costa Rica has long prioritized tourism, making entry formalities remarkably simple for most visitors, with authorized stay durations significantly extended for many nationalities.

For Americans and Europeans, no visa is required for tourist stays of up to six months. You simply need a passport valid for six months beyond your planned departure date.

An accessible destination

Costa Rica is an easy country to travel through that doesn’t require extensive experience. It offers well-established tourism infrastructure, good facilities, minimal health or safety concerns, and incredible diversity in both destinations and available activities. The country is ideal for those wanting to explore Central or Latin America for the first time, including families with children.

Home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity

Despite its small size (19,700 square miles—roughly the size of West Virginia), Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity. The country features an impressive range of ecosystems, from humid tropical rainforests to dry forests, mangroves, coral reefs, and of course, volcanoes. The same applies to local flora and fauna, with countless varieties of tropical plants, sloths, howler monkeys, magnificent toucans, brightly colored frogs, and many other species.

It’s no wonder this destination has long been a true paradise for nature lovers and ecotourism enthusiasts—Costa Rica actually pioneered the ecotourism movement.

Over a quarter of the country is protected

As a logical extension of this natural wealth, more than a quarter of the country is designated as protected areas, including parks and reserves. These locations play an essential role in biodiversity conservation while offering exceptional ecotourism opportunities.

This protection spans both Caribbean and Pacific coasts with parks like Cahuita, Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio, Corcovado, and others, as well as inland areas. Whether it’s Rincon de la Vieja, Monteverde, Braulio Carrillo, or La Amistad Park (which extends into Panama), you won’t be disappointed. The country’s interior is also where you’ll find the most spectacular volcanoes.

A wide range of nature activities

While Costa Rica boasts dense forests and beautiful volcanoes, it also features stunning beaches perfect for swimming, diving, and especially surfing—the country has earned quite a reputation in this area.

But that’s not all. The destination offers excellent opportunities for trekking and hiking, particularly in its numerous parks and nature reserves. In recent years, horseback riding, bicycle touring, rafting, whitewater adventures, and adventure courses including zip lines, suspension bridges, and canopy tours have all flourished. There’s something for every taste and interest.

“Pura Vida”

“Pura Vida” is an expression you’ll hear frequently in Costa Rica, and it has become the country’s unofficial tourism slogan over time.

But “Pura Vida” (meaning “Pure Life”) is much more than just a phrase here—it represents a life philosophy. It embodies a positive mindset of enjoying existence and appreciating simple moments that invite you to let go and not worry too much about problems, focusing instead on moments of happiness. It also reflects the friendliness, optimism, and gratitude of Costa Ricans, who call themselves “Ticos.”

In everyday language, “Pura Vida” serves multiple purposes—as a greeting for hello or goodbye, “how are you,” or even “thank you.”

… and the reasons that might give you pause

Crowds in certain locations

Costa Rica is among those countries that have heavily invested in tourism economically, particularly ecotourism. This now translates to significant visitor numbers in certain places and during peak periods like Christmas or Easter holidays. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming.

A trend toward “Disneyfication”

This observation—or criticism—comes mainly from those who visited Costa Rica some time ago and have returned recently. There’s a certain disappointment regarding the direction the country has taken in tourism development, where nature seems increasingly “staged” to meet certain visitor expectations, with often excessive monetization of what’s offered today. But this is how times change.

An increasingly expensive country

More tourists often means rising prices and travel costs that become more expensive over time. Costa Rica can be considered costly compared to other Central American countries, though it’s true that the standard of living is higher, tourism is more established and “quality-focused,” with heavy visitor traffic and a predominantly North American clientele.

In short, aside from food and local buses which remain affordable, everything else comes at a price—though the overall budget will still be lower than a trip to Europe or North America.

A road network that could be better

While Costa Rica’s main road network connecting major cities isn’t bad (though often quite congested), secondary roads are a different story. Many are unpaved or poorly paved, requiring careful and slow driving. During the rainy season, some routes can be cut off due to flooding or landslides.

As for driving conditions, like in many countries, traffic rules remain somewhat flexible for some drivers, so it’s better to avoid driving at night outside urban areas.

Info: www.visitcostarica.com