Good to Know

Best time to visit:
November until April.

Flight duration (from Vienna):
To San José 18 hours with two variable stopovers in Europe and the USA.

Covid-19 measures:
The 3G rule applies. Recovered and tested people must have health insurance and fill out the pase-de-salud form.

Etiquette:
Ticos love their nature - so you should not pick plants, feed wild animals or leave marked trails.

Don't miss it:
The mist-shrouded suspension bridge parks at Arenal Volcano in the Monteverde Nature Reserve are worth a visit.

©Illustration: Blagovesta Bakardjieva by carolineseidler.com

Hotspot Costa Rica you immediately feel at home. Although the small country in Central America is becoming increasingly popular as a vacation destination, it remains authentic. Unspoiled nature is right on the doorstep: toucans sing on the balcony in the morning and sloths live up to their name, hanging on trees. In addition, Costa Rica is a safe travel destination. It is considered the "Switzerland of Central America". The capital San José with its more than 300 000 inhabitants can be explored comfortably even with jetlag, the historic city centre has a lot of flair. Costa Rica translates as "rich coast"; in the Museo del Oro, the gold museum, you learn why: valuable pre-Columbian jewellery shines brightly, and some exhibits date back to 500 A.D. and yet seem very modern.

Just a few minutes outside the capital, everything turns lush and green. Costa Rica is a biodiversity hotspot. Some 87,000 species live here, including howler monkeys and pumas. Manuel Antonio National Park may be the smallest in Costa Rica, but you can see a lot here in a manageable space - the national park also includes twelve islands and 55,000 hectares of ocean, where dolphins, stingrays, whales and sharks cavort. And after a trekking tour through the jungle, you can sunbathe extensively on the sandy beach. But Costa Rica is not only a great adventure for adults, the country is also prepared for its little visitors.

©Mauritius Images

Where else do you have the opportunity to look into the maw of a volcano? Costa Rica has a myriad of them, some still active - like Arenal, one of the youngest volcanoes, which is also picturesquely located on the country's largest inland lake. The hikes can also be done with children. If you want to get out of your hiking gear for a change, you'll find high-end luxury hotels on Tamarindo Beach that are sure to leave nothing to be desired. If you are looking for exercise and want to try something new, book a surfing course at Santa Teresa Beach, located at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The good wind conditions have ensured that surfers from all over the world come here to prove their skills.

Related: Best of Costa Rica - The best hotels, restaurants and souvenirs

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Text: Karin Cerny, Marion Genetti and Christina Horn