Costa Rica

Los 5 mejores lugares

1. Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna · La Fortuna

   Volcano views, hot springs, hanging bridges and the La Fortuna waterfall.

2. Monteverde Cloud Forest · Monteverde

   Misty cloud forest reserves with hanging bridges, ziplines and birding.

3. Manuel Antonio National Park · Quepos

   Small park with beaches, monkeys and sloths; book tickets online in advance.

4. Tortuguero National Park · Tortuguero

   Canals reachable by boat; sea turtle nesting season roughly July to October.

5. Corcovado National Park · Osa Peninsula

   Remote rainforest with high biodiversity; visits require a licensed guide.

Cómo moverse

• Taxi

  Official red taxis

  Official taxis are red with a yellow triangle on the door; make sure the driver starts the meter ('la maría'). At San José airport, use the orange 'Taxi Aeropuerto' with fixed fares. Avoid unmarked 'taxis piratas'.

• App de transporte

  Uber / DiDi

  Widely used in San José and some other areas and usually cheaper than taxis, but not fully legal; pickups at the airport can be difficult because of police and taxi drivers (varies).

• Autobuses

  Public buses

  Very cheap and reach most towns, but slow, with several companies and terminals in San José. Pay in colones.

• Autobuses

  Tourist shuttles (Interbus and others)

  Shared door-to-door vans between main tourist towns; more expensive than buses but much simpler. Book a day or more ahead.

• Alquiler de coches

  Car rental

  4x4 is useful for rural roads. Mandatory third-party liability insurance is added at the counter, so online quotes can look much cheaper. Photograph the car at pickup to avoid false damage claims.

Dinero y efectivo

Moneda: CRC · Costa Rican colón

US dollars are widely accepted, especially for tours and hotels, and many prices are quoted in USD. Cards work in most hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; carry colones for buses, sodas (small local eateries), markets and tips. Change given for dollars is often in colones at the shop's rate. Use ATMs inside banks or malls.

Comprobar un tipo de cambio a CRC

Propinas

Restaurants add a 10% service charge (set by law) plus 13% VAT (IVA), so extra tipping is not required. Tipping guides, drivers and hotel staff is common, especially in tourist areas.

Frases útiles

• La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.
• ¿El servicio está incluido? Is service included?
• Pura vida. Common friendly greeting and thanks.

Normas de cortesía

• 'Pura vida' is used for hello, thanks and goodbye; Costa Ricans are informal and friendly.
• Greet with 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas' before asking for anything.
• Addresses use landmarks rather than street numbers; give drivers a landmark or GPS pin.
• Do not feed or touch wildlife in parks; it is illegal and harmful.
• Expect a relaxed pace ('tico time') for buses and service.
• Bargaining is limited; mild haggling at craft markets is acceptable.

Estafas y cómo actuar

• Flat tyre robbery

  Dónde: Roads near San José airport and rental car routes

  Cómo funciona: Criminals slash or puncture a rental car tyre, then 'help' when you stop, while accomplices steal bags from the car.

  Cómo evitarlo: If you get a flat, drive slowly to a busy, well-lit place like a gas station before stopping. Keep bags locked and out of sight.

• Pirate taxis

  Dónde: Airport, bus terminals, nightlife areas

  Cómo funciona: Unmarked or unofficial taxis overcharge (often about double) and can be unsafe.

  Cómo evitarlo: Use red taxis with the yellow triangle, the orange airport taxis, or an app ride.

• Rental car add-ons and false damage claims

  Dónde: Rental car desks

  Cómo funciona: Mandatory insurance is added at the counter, and some companies charge for damage that was already there.

  Cómo evitarlo: Read the total including insurance before booking, film the car at pickup and return, and use companies with good reviews.

• Theft from cars and beaches

  Dónde: Beach car parks, trailheads, Caribbean coast

  Cómo funciona: Thieves break into cars or take bags left on the sand while people swim.

  Cómo evitarlo: Leave nothing in the car and take only what you need to the beach.

• Spiked drinks

  Dónde: Bars and nightlife areas

  Cómo funciona: Drinks are spiked to rob or assault victims. Cheap spirits have also caused methanol poisoning deaths.

  Cómo evitarlo: Watch your drink, buy your own drinks and avoid very cheap or unlabelled spirits.

• ATM theft and skimming

  Dónde: Street ATMs

  Cómo funciona: People watch users at ATMs and follow them, or skimmers copy cards.

  Cómo evitarlo: Use ATMs inside banks or malls during the day and stay aware of who is around you.

Seguridad

• Theft and mugging are the main risks, especially on the Caribbean (Atlantic) coast and in San José at night.
• Do not leave anything in parked cars, even in the boot.
• Do not stop for strangers signalling for help on the road; staged accidents and carjackings occur.
• Rip currents cause frequent drownings and few beaches have lifeguards; ask locals where it is safe to swim.
• Crocodiles live near some Pacific river mouths and beaches; follow warning signs.
• Keep an eye on bags on buses, including overhead racks.

Nivel de inglés

Good in tourist areas, lodges and with tour guides; limited in small towns and on local buses. A few Spanish phrases help a lot.

Fuentes

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Costa Rica, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: Costa Rica
• Wikivoyage: San José (Costa Rica)

Revisamos estas guías con fuentes oficiales y conocidas, pero las normas y los precios cambian. ¿Ves algo desactualizado? Escribe a support@tourits.app.