Who it's for
Is Costa Rica right for your trip?
Every country is somebody's favourite. The honest question is whether it is yours, and for this trip.
This is your trip if…
- You want wildlife and forest with guides who can explain what you are seeing.
- You prefer small active days—walk, paddle, surf or bird—over a resort-only trip.
- You can accept rain, rougher roads and flexible timing as part of the landscape.
- You want a trip that can work well for families without removing all adventure.
Think twice if…
- You expect a cheap Central America trip; lodges, rental cars and guided activities add up.
- You want to see both coasts, Arenal, Monteverde and the far south in one week.
- You need guaranteed dry weather or wildlife on demand.
- You are uncomfortable driving winding roads or arranging transfers between small bases.
Best time to visit
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
December–April for the Pacific; Caribbean windows differ. The Pacific and Central Valley broadly split into dry season from mid-December to late April and green season from May into mid-December. The Caribbean follows a different rainfall pattern, often with relatively drier spells around February–March and September–October. Elevation changes temperature quickly.
- Best
Pacific dry season
Mid December–April
Reliable beach weather, dusty landscapes and peak prices on the Pacific and in major parks.
- Good
Early green season
May–July
Lush mornings and regular afternoon rain, often with better value and fewer visitors.
- Avoid
Pacific wet peak
September–October
Heavy rain can slow roads and close trails on the Pacific; the south Caribbean may be comparatively calmer.
- Good
Transition
November–mid December
Rain eases unevenly, landscapes remain green and high season has not fully arrived.
Climate · monthly normals
High-elevation Central Valley: mild temperatures, dry northern winter and rainy afternoons in green season.
For contrast
South Caribbean: warm and wet year-round, with a different rhythm from the Pacific dry season.
Festivals and events
Calendar and cultural context
Dates a plan should either aim for or steer clear of. Both are useful; the second saves more money.
January
Fiestas de Palmares
Palmares
Concerts, rodeo traditions, food and large public celebrations open the year in the Central Valley.
Traffic and late-night crowds affect the wider area.
2 August
Día de la Virgen de los Ángeles
Cartago
A major national pilgrimage to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles.
Roads and transport around Cartago change; observe the pilgrimage respectfully.
15 September
Independence Day
Nationwide
Lantern parades, school bands and civic events give towns and cities a strong local rhythm.
Events begin on the evening of 14 September.
October
Limón carnival
Limón
Caribbean music, food and parade traditions celebrate the province's Afro-Costa Rican identity.
Check current dates and local scheduling before building a trip around it.
Where to go
Where should you go in Costa Rica?
The places that earn their nights, most important first, with how long each deserves. Nobody needs all of them on one trip.
City and local guides
6 worked-out stopsMap numbers match the local guide cards.
01San José
Central Valley
city1–2 nightsThe capital rewards one deliberate day and prevents the international-flight day from swallowing a nature itinerary.
Best time: December–April; July often brings a shorter drier spell
Explore San José
02La Fortuna
Northern Plains
town3–4 daysA practical northern-plains base for volcano walks, wildlife, water and thermal time, with sights spread beyond town.
Best time: February–April for drier odds; year-round with rain flexibility
Explore La Fortuna
03Monteverde
Puntarenas highlands
travel base2–3 nightsCooler elevation, reserve walks and rough approach roads demand an overnight rather than a drive-through stop.
Best time: January–April; November–December for lush forest with wind and rain
Explore Monteverde
04Manuel Antonio
Central Pacific
travel base3 daysAccessible wildlife and handsome coves come with major visitor pressure; official reservations and early timing matter.
Best time: December–April; May–July for greener, quieter mornings
Explore Manuel Antonio
05Tamarindo
Guanacaste
town3 daysA polished, walkable surf base with broad dining and transfers, best when its convenience is an explicit choice.
Best time: December–April for dry weather; May–July for greener value
Explore Tamarindo
06Puerto Viejo
South Caribbean
town4 daysAfro-Caribbean food, Bribri-led experiences, cycling and rainforest give the south coast a distinct identity and season.
Best time: February–March and September–October often bring calmer, drier spells
Explore Puerto Viejo
Things to do
What should you do in Costa Rica?
The handful of things that make the destination distinctive, with the timing catch that stops people doing them well.
- 01
Walk forest with a naturalist
Cloud forest, lowland rainforest or coast
A good guide turns green density into species, behaviour and conservation rather than a hunt for one animal.
- 02
Choose one volcano region
Arenal, Poás, Irazú or Rincón de la Vieja
Weather and access change; one well-timed volcano is more useful than a crater checklist.
- 03
Match the coast to the month
Pacific or Caribbean
Costa Rica's two coasts do not share one dry-season calendar.
- 04
Learn from Indigenous-led experiences
Bribri and other community regions
Book directly or through transparent community partners and avoid staged cultural packaging.
- 05
Use water actively
River, reef or surf coast
Raft, paddle, snorkel or surf with operators who explain conditions, group size and environmental practice.
- 06
Protect one unscheduled morning
Every base
Wildlife, cloud and rain create opportunities that a pre-booked dawn-to-dark activity stack cannot use.
How to get around
How do you get around Costa Rica?
Public buses reach most major towns but rarely create a seamless multi-base itinerary. Shared shuttles suit car-free travellers; a rental car unlocks smaller lodges and trailheads but adds insurance, rough-road and night-driving decisions. Domestic flights save time only on the longest diagonals.
Rental car
Best for a three- or four-base route with remote lodges. Choose clearance by actual road, not an automatic 4×4 upsell, and understand mandatory insurance.
Rule of thumb: Several rural bases → car, if the driver is comfortable.
Public bus
Affordable and extensive but fragmented by operator and terminal. Good for simple coast or capital links when time is flexible.
Rule of thumb: One direct corridor and light luggage → bus.
Shared and private shuttles
Door-to-door links reduce driving stress and work well for a small number of established tourism bases.
Domestic flights
Useful for the Osa Peninsula and long cross-country jumps. Weather, baggage and airstrip transfers must be included in the comparison.
Passes and cards, honestly
- There is no national transport pass that solves a mixed nature itinerary; price each link.
- National-park entry is site-specific and may require an official timed reservation.
- Rental-car quotes are only comparable after mandatory cover, taxes, deposit and road restrictions are visible.
Travel tips
What should you know before you go?
The things locals assume you know. Most travellers learn them by getting one wrong on day two.
- Pura vida is context, not a slogan
- It can mean hello, fine, thanks or a calm acceptance of the moment. Use it naturally rather than performing it.
- Wildlife distance matters
- No feeding, baiting, touching or flash. A guide who stages contact is a reason to leave.
- Nature access is managed
- Many parks use capacity limits, scheduled entry and closure days. Use official channels and verify rules close to travel.
- Road time is real
- Mountain gradients, single-lane bridges, rain and town traffic make kilometre-based estimates misleading.
- Communities differ by coast and elevation
- Afro-Costa Rican Caribbean culture, Guanacaste traditions and Central Valley life should not be flattened into one eco-resort identity.
Travel basics
Visa, money, SIM cards and more
The boring section, which is why it is the one people skip and then regret at the airport.
visa
Entry and onward travel
Requirements depend on passport and intended stay. Confirm official entry rules and carry evidence of onward travel if required.
money
Colones and dollars
Cards are common in tourism areas and US dollars circulate, but prices and change may favour colones. Keep small cash for buses, tips and rural stops.
connectivity
SIM and offline maps
Coverage is useful around towns and weaker in parks, mountains and the far south. Download maps and reservations before moving bases.
plugs
Plugs and power
Costa Rica uses 120 V with type A and B sockets, as in the United States.
safety
Road and beach safety
Avoid night driving on unfamiliar rural roads, secure valuables at beaches and follow rip-current, river and park warnings.
health
Heat, insects and water
Tap water is generally safe in much of the country, but confirm locally in remote areas. Sun, dehydration and mosquitoes are the everyday risks.
Trip costs
How much does a trip to Costa Rica cost?
A mid-range trip usually needs about €95–€190 per person per day, before long-haul flights. Costa Rica is one of Central America's more expensive destinations. Park entries, naturalist guides, shuttles and rental insurance are real costs; local sodas and fewer, longer bases protect the budget without weakening the trip.
Shoestring
€€60–95
per person / day
- Stay
- Hostel or simple cabina, US$30–65
- Food
- Sodas, groceries and local breakfast, US$20–35
- Transport
- Public bus and shared shuttles
Possible on established corridors, with less access to remote trailheads.
Mid-range
€€95–190
per person / day
- Stay
- Good small hotel or lodge, US$120–230 for two
- Food
- Sodas plus one restaurant meal, US$45–80
- Transport
- Rental car or shared shuttles plus guided activities
The realistic level for a first nature-led route.
Comfortable
€€260–520
per person / day
- Stay
- High-end lodge or resort, US$350–700 for two
- Food
- Resort dining, seafood and drinks, US$130–250
- Transport
- Private transfers and small-group guides
Spend on habitat, guiding and location rather than a generic luxury room.
Sample itineraries
Starting points, not scripts
Use these as conditional starting points. Confirm current access, the operating transport and permissions before committing.
Volcano, cloud forest and Pacific
10 days- San José
- La Fortuna
- Monteverde
- Manuel Antonio
The classic first route with three distinct habitats and manageable transfers if each nature base receives real time.
Guanacaste without resort lock-in
12 days- San José
- La Fortuna
- Rincón de la Vieja
- Tamarindo
Volcano and dry-forest contrast before a surf coast, using Liberia for the return if fares work.
Caribbean and southern nature
16 days- San José
- Turrialba
- Puerto Viejo
- Cahuita
- Osa Peninsula
A slower, wetter route built around Caribbean culture and lowland biodiversity rather than the standard Pacific circuit.
Common questions
Quick answers about travel in Costa Rica
Short answers to the questions people ask before they book. Use the full guide for the detail and trade-offs.
- When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
- December–April for the Pacific; Caribbean windows differ. The Pacific and Central Valley broadly split into dry season from mid-December to late April and green season from May into mid-December. The Caribbean follows a different rainfall pattern, often with relatively drier spells around February–March and September–October. Elevation changes temperature quickly.
- How much does a trip to Costa Rica cost?
- Plan about €95–€190 per person per day for a mid-range trip, before long-haul flights. Costa Rica is one of Central America's more expensive destinations. Park entries, naturalist guides, shuttles and rental insurance are real costs; local sodas and fewer, longer bases protect the budget without weakening the trip.
- How do you get around Costa Rica?
- Public buses reach most major towns but rarely create a seamless multi-base itinerary. Shared shuttles suit car-free travellers; a rental car unlocks smaller lodges and trailheads but adds insurance, rough-road and night-driving decisions. Domestic flights save time only on the longest diagonals.
More destinations
Where else?
- JapanA megacity, a thousand temples and trains that leave to the second.
- ChinaImperial capitals, fast trains, regional tables and landscapes at continental scale.
- ItalyThree civilisations' worth of cities, and lunch takes two hours.
- SpainEurope's longest high-speed rail, five cultures, and lunch at three.
- PortugalTwo hilly cities, a valley of port and a long Atlantic coast.
- GreeceAntiquity, two hundred inhabited islands and a ferry timetable to respect.
- IcelandOne road, no trains, and weather that rewrites the plan daily.
- ThailandStreet food, temples, two coasts and Asia's cheapest good hotel room.
- VietnamTwo capitals, one slow railway and the best street food in Asia.
- MoroccoMedinas, the High Atlas and the Sahara, a ferry ride from Europe.
- MexicoA 3,000-year-old civilisation, the best street food on earth, and two coastlines.
- The BahamasShallow banks, island towns and water-led journeys between cays.
- BarbadosCoral coasts, Bajan food and an island with several speeds.
- CubaLayered cities, karst valleys and a journey that needs patience.
- Dominican RepublicCaribbean cities, mountain interiors and coasts beyond the resort gate.
- JamaicaMusic, mountain rain, strong food and coasts with different rhythms.
- FranceGreat cities, long lunches, mountains and a coast for every mood.
- United KingdomHistoric cities, wild coastlines and weather worth planning around.
- GermanyBig culture, small cities, forests and trains with caveats.
- NetherlandsCanals, art, cycling and small cities that reward staying longer.
- CroatiaAdriatic islands, stone towns, clear water and a crowded August.
- TurkeyMosques, markets, ancient cities and coastlines on a huge scale.
- SwitzerlandAlps, lakes and trains that make the expensive route feel simple.
- AustriaImperial cities, Alpine lakes, music and excellent rail links.
- NorwayFjords, midnight light, coastal towns and beautiful long distances.
- SwedenArchipelagoes, forests, design and summer light that lasts.
- FinlandLakes, saunas, forests and a capital built for slow days.
- CzechiaBeautiful old towns, serious beer and an easy train route beyond Prague.
- PolandDeep history, lively cities, forests, lakes and mountain food.
- IrelandAtlantic cliffs, music-filled towns, green roads and weather in charge.
- AustraliaBig distances, old landscapes, city beaches and wildlife in the wild.
- New ZealandVolcanoes, fjords, coast roads and a country made for the outdoors.
- IndonesiaVolcanoes, rice fields, reefs and thousands of islands to choose from.
- South KoreaFast cities, quiet temples, mountain trails and food at every hour.
- United StatesHuge landscapes, distinct cities and a route that must respect the map.
- CanadaBig wilderness, thoughtful cities and distances that need their own plan.
- ArgentinaBig-city appetite, Andean wine country and Patagonia at full scale.
- BrazilAtlantic cities, living cultures and continental-scale nature.
- ChileDesert sky, Pacific cities, volcano lakes and Patagonian wind.
- ColombiaHighland cities, Caribbean history and coffee-country roads.
- PeruAndean cities, living food cultures and Amazon headwaters.
- IndiaMughal cities, desert forts, sacred rivers and a monsoon coast.
- Sri LankaTea hills, ancient cities and two coasts with opposite seasons.
- NepalHimalayan trails, Newar cities and lowland jungle in one country.
- MalaysiaHawker cities, tea hills, island coasts and Bornean rainforest.
- PhilippinesIsland archipelago where the flight map decides the trip.
- CambodiaAngkor's stone, the Mekong's rhythm and a country still healing.
- TaiwanNight markets, high-speed rail and a mountainous Pacific island.
- LaosSlow Mekong days, mountain roads and a new railway.
- United Arab EmiratesSeven emirates, two big cities and a mountain-and-desert hinterland.
- JordanPetra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea on one compact road.
- OmanForts, wadis, dunes and turtle beaches on the Arabian Sea.
- EgyptThe Nile corridor, Red Sea reefs and five thousand years in sequence.
- South AfricaTwo oceans, self-drive safari and cities with unfinished histories.
- KenyaSavannah, highlands and a Swahili coast, sequenced by rain.
- TanzaniaThe northern circuit, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, priced honestly.
- NamibiaSelf-drive desert, empty roads and Africa's darkest skies.
- BelgiumFlemish art cities, Brussels institutions and forested Ardennes valleys.
- DenmarkCopenhagen design, island villages and long Jutland beaches.
- HungaryThermal baths, Danube grandeur, wine hills and the Great Plain.
- SloveniaAlpine lakes, an emerald river, karst caves and a Venetian coast.
- GeorgiaCaucasus villages, eight-thousand-year wine and a serious table.
- MontenegroA fjord-like bay, limestone peaks and a short, crowded coast.
- AlbaniaOttoman towns, an Ionian riviera and a raw alpine north.
- RomaniaSaxon towns, Carpathian wilderness and Europe's largest wetland.
- BulgariaMonasteries, mountain villages and a working Black Sea coast.
- SlovakiaAlpine peaks, castle ruins and wooden churches on a rail spine.
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaOttoman bazaars, stone bridges and wild rivers between mountains.
- EstoniaMedieval Tallinn, bog boardwalks, island manors and long white nights.
- LatviaArt Nouveau Riga, castle valleys, a wooden spa coast and deep forest.
- LithuaniaBaroque Vilnius, a dune spit, lake castles and pine spa towns.
- MaltaLimestone capital, Neolithic temples, harbour ferries and Gozo's slow coast.
- CyprusDivided capital, mosaic coast, painted mountain churches and a wild peninsula.
- SingaporeA dense, humid city-state that rewards districts, not landmarks.
- MaldivesAtolls, reefs and two very different ways to stay.
- BhutanHimalayan valleys, dzongs and a daily fee that shapes everything.
- UzbekistanSilk Road cities linked by fast trains and desert roads.
- EthiopiaRock churches, highland monasteries and a distinct calendar.
- UgandaGorillas, chimpanzees, the Nile and crater-lake forests.
- RwandaGorilla volcanoes, tea hills and a compact, orderly country.
- BotswanaDelta floods, elephant rivers and empty Kalahari pans.
- ZambiaWalking safaris, wild rivers and the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.
- MadagascarLemurs, baobabs and an island that evolved apart.
- MauritiusLagoon coasts, a volcanic interior and a Creole, Indian and Chinese island.
- TunisiaCarthage, medinas, Roman arenas and the Saharan oases.
- GuatemalaMaya highlands, volcano lakes and a Petén forest of ruins.
- PanamaCanal city, Caribbean archipelagos and cloud-forest coffee.
- EcuadorVolcano avenue, cloud forest, Amazon edge and the Galápagos.
- BoliviaAltiplano salt, Aymara cities and a wide Amazon lowland.
- UruguayCalm capital, Atlantic beaches and slow wine country.
- FijiReef islands, village life and two big green mainlands.
- SerbiaDanube cities, monastery hills and long-table hospitality.
- North MacedoniaOhrid's lake, Ottoman bazaars and mountain villages in a small compass.
- KosovoEurope's youngest country: café capital, Ottoman Prizren and alpine valleys.
- MoldovaUnderground wine cities, cliff monasteries and Europe's least-visited country.
- ArmeniaStone monasteries, Ararat views and a capital that stays up late.
- AzerbaijanCaspian capital, mud volcanoes and Caucasus villages above the tea plains.
- LuxembourgFortress capital, Moselle wine and Ardennes castles by free bus.
- AndorraPyrenean principality of ski valleys, Romanesque chapels and thermal spas.
- Faroe IslandsEighteen basalt islands of sea cliffs, tunnels and turf-roofed villages.
- GreenlandIcebergs, ice sheet and Inuit towns reached only by air and sea.
- KazakhstanTian Shan foothills, steppe capital and canyon country by air.
- KyrgyzstanYurt stays, alpine lakes and horse treks in the Tian Shan.
- TajikistanPamir Highway, Wakhan villages and turquoise Fann lakes.
- PakistanMughal Lahore and the Karakoram, planned region by region.
- BangladeshRiver delta, mangrove tigers, tea gardens and Dhaka's old city.
- Hong KongVertical harbour city, outlying islands and surprising country parks.
- BruneiWater village, gilded mosques and untouched Borneo rainforest.
- Timor-LesteReef walls, mountain villages and a young nation's coastline.
- Saudi ArabiaNabataean tombs, Red Sea reefs and a fast-changing kingdom.
- QatarA compact Gulf peninsula built around one polished capital.
- GhanaAtlantic forts, Ashanti heritage and a warm, workable West Africa.
- SenegalDakar's music, Gorée's memory and delta and river landscapes.
- Cape VerdeTen Atlantic islands of morna, volcanoes and trade winds.
- SeychellesGranite islands, coral atolls and Creole ease in the Indian Ocean.
- MozambiqueIndian Ocean coast, dhow islands and a restored savanna.
- ZimbabweVictoria Falls, walking safaris and Africa's largest ancient stone city.
- MalawiA freshwater sea, restored parks and high plateaus in one small country.
- EswatiniA small kingdom of royal ceremony, rhino reserves and highveld hikes.
- LesothoThe mountain kingdom: pony treks, high passes and Basotho villages.
- BelizeBarrier reef, Maya cities and Garifuna coast in one small country.
- HondurasBay Islands diving, Copán's carved city and cloud-forest highlands.
- El SalvadorSurf coast, volcano towns and a small country in rapid change.
- NicaraguaColonial cities, twin-volcano island and two very different coasts.
- Trinidad and TobagoCarnival, ibis and doubles on Trinidad; reef and calm on Tobago.
- Saint LuciaThe Pitons, rainforest ridges and Kwéyòl villages on one green island.
- ParaguayRiver cities, Jesuit ruins and the enormous quiet of the Chaco.
- SamoaTwo volcanic islands, village fales and fa'a Samoa on its own terms.
- TongaA Polynesian kingdom of four island groups, whales and strict Sundays.
- VanuatuActive volcanoes, kastom villages and eighty islands of Melanesia.
- Cook IslandsRarotonga's ring road, Aitutaki's lagoon and atolls nobody reaches.
- MonacoA harbour principality of palace lanes, sea gardens and vertical streets.
- LiechtensteinRhine meadows, princely art and a small Alpine mountain world.
- San MarinoThree ridge-top towers and a small republic beyond the day-trip crowds.
- MongoliaOpen steppe, ger hospitality and journeys measured in driving days.
- BahrainPearling lanes, Dilmun archaeology and a compact Gulf island culture.
- KuwaitA working Gulf city of souq lanes, modern culture and a long corniche.
- DominicaRainforest trails, volcanic pools and a Caribbean island built for walking.
- GrenadaSpice gardens, a handsome harbour and islands with their own pace.
- Antigua and BarbudaDockyard heritage, sheltered bays and Barbuda’s separate island rhythm.
- Saint Kitts and NevisTwo volcanic islands, a fortress coast and a quieter Nevis stay.
- Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesA green volcanic main island and a chain of small sailing worlds.
- GuyanaKaieteur, rainforest lodges and savanna journeys with Indigenous hosts.
- SurinameTimber Paramaribo, plantation rivers and rainforest stays with local hosts.
- AlgeriaMediterranean cities, Roman stone and a Sahara that needs its own journey.
- BeninRoyal history, Vodun heritage and lake communities along a southern route.
- TogoLomé markets, green hill country and Batammariba architecture.
- Côte d’IvoireAbidjan’s lagoon city, Grand-Bassam heritage and a rich southern circuit.
- The GambiaAtlantic beach bases and a river journey into birdlife and history.
- Sierra LeoneFreetown history, forest-backed beaches and locally guided island stays.
- LiberiaMonrovia’s complex history, surf at Robertsport and a working Atlantic coast.
- Guinea-BissauBissau’s riverfront and the tide-shaped world of the Bijagós.
- São Tomé and PríncipeCocoa roças, rainforest walks and two islands with distinct rhythms.
- ComorosLava-stone medinas, volcanic slopes and quieter island communities.
- GabonRainforest, Atlantic wildlife and park journeys built around skilled guides.
- PalauRock Islands, reef diving and a country where conservation shapes the visit.
- Marshall IslandsLow atolls, lagoon communities and journeys that follow rare connections.
- Federated States of MicronesiaFour island states, deep ocean distances and distinct local traditions.
- KiribatiLow atolls, maneaba hospitality and a country spanning the date line.
- TuvaluFunafuti’s narrow atoll and outer islands that follow the sea schedule.
- Solomon IslandsLagoon stays, community hosts and islands with a deep wartime history.
- AngolaAtlantic cities, giant waterfalls and the highland road south.
- CameroonA southern route of cities, coastal waterfalls and western cultural towns.
- Republic of the CongoRiver cities, coastal forest and specialist rainforest stays.
- Equatorial GuineaBioko’s volcanic coast and a separately planned mainland chapter.
- GuineaCoastal communities and the green highlands of the Fouta Djallon.
- MauritaniaAtlantic birdlife and ancient desert towns on a carefully checked route.
- DjiboutiSalt landscapes, volcanic plains and a compact Red Sea gateway.
- EritreaA heritage and access overview of Asmara and the Red Sea landscape.
- TurkmenistanSilk Road cities and desert landscapes through a current sponsored route.
- Papua New GuineaCommunity-led culture, volcanic coasts and a few well-supported bases.
- NauruA small raised-coral island with a history larger than its road loop.
- BermudaPastel villages, a historic harbour and a North Atlantic island rhythm.
- ArubaDry-island landscapes, easy west-coast stays and a strong local town culture.
- CuraçaoWillemstad’s harbour quarters and a dry island beyond the postcard.
- Sint MaartenA Dutch-Caribbean gateway with several distinct coastal districts.
- Saint-MartinFrench-Caribbean villages, food-led stays and a shared-island geography.
- Saint BarthélemySmall bays, village traditions and an island best explored slowly.
- AnguillaLow island shores, village food and a stay shaped by the right bay.
- MontserratNorthern communities, forest trails and an active volcanic history.
- British Virgin IslandsA few island bases and sailing routes with time for the sea.
- US Virgin IslandsThree main islands with distinct town, park and coastal rhythms.
- Cayman IslandsA main-island base and two smaller islands with different paces.
- Turks and Caicos IslandsLow cays, a few island bases and marine plans with room for weather.
- Puerto RicoOld San Juan, forested hills and island chapters beyond one beach base.
- GuadeloupeTwo main islands and smaller neighbours with distinct Creole identities.
- MartiniqueCreole towns, volcanic north and southern bays with different rhythms.
- Caribbean NetherlandsBonaire, Statia and Saba: three islands that need separate journeys.
- French PolynesiaA few island stays across a much larger Polynesian ocean.
- New CaledoniaLagoon city life, Kanak cultural landscapes and carefully checked island stays.
- NiueRaised-coral coasts, village hosts and a week that follows the sea.
- American SamoaTutuila’s harbour villages and outer islands with their own access plan.
- GuamChamorro heritage, a practical beach base and a southern island road.
- Northern Mariana IslandsSaipan’s different coasts and two separately planned island stays.
- Wallis and FutunaThree customary kingdoms and two island chapters far from a resort circuit.
- French GuianaA French-Amazonian coast of cultural towns, wetlands and supported forest stays.
- Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench harbour life and a separate North Atlantic nature island.
- RéunionVolcanic cirques, Creole towns and a west-coast lagoon base.
- MayotteA lagoon territory with village, nature and current-access planning.
- Isle of ManHarbour towns, Manx heritage and a hill-and-coast week at a slower pace.
- JerseyGranite harbours, tidal coasts and village days beyond one beach stay.
- GuernseyA harbour island and smaller neighbours that deserve separate stays.
- GibraltarA compact harbour town, limestone heights and several distinct walking districts.
- Åland IslandsA Swedish-speaking Finnish archipelago of ferries, red granite and quiet stays.
- SvalbardAn Arctic community and operator-led fjord journeys under strict nature rules.
- Falkland IslandsSouth Atlantic wildlife, working farms and small-island stays arranged around the weather.
- Saint HelenaA remote Atlantic community of Georgian streets, volcanic walks and endemic cloud forest.
- Christmas IslandAn Indian Ocean rainforest island shaped by red crabs and a multicultural community.
- Cocos (Keeling) IslandsTwo inhabited islands, Cocos Malay culture and an Indian Ocean lagoon explored with care.
- Norfolk IslandNorfolk pines, a layered community history and green coastal walking.
- Pitcairn IslandsA remote Pacific community reached by a planned sea passage, with volcanic walks and dark skies.
- AfghanistanA mountain capital with layered urban history
- BelarusA capital shaped by reconstruction and civic space
- Burkina FasoThe capital's cinema, craft and everyday life
- BurundiLakeside commercial city and practical gateway
- NigeriaArt, music and a megacity spread over waterways
- MacaoSquares, churches and a living street network
- Vatican CityThe public approach and ceremonial space
- HaitiA capital with major cultural institutions
- VenezuelaA mountain-valley capital
- UkraineA Dnipro capital with layered sacred and civic history
- RussiaA capital of museums and monumental urban form
- IranMuseums and mountain-edge urban history
- IraqA Tigris capital with living literary traditions
- IsraelModern urban life and an older Mediterranean port
- PalestinePilgrimage traditions and agricultural terraces
- LebanonA coastal capital of neighbourhoods and cultural institutions
- SyriaAn ancient city with living religious traditions
- YemenHighland tower houses and an inhabited old city
- North KoreaA tightly controlled capital
- MyanmarA lowland city of religious and urban history
- Democratic Republic of the CongoA vast Congo River capital
- Central African RepublicAn Oubangui River capital
- ChadA capital at a major river confluence
- LibyaA Mediterranean capital and old medina
- MaliA Niger River capital with major music traditions
- NigerA river capital and national collections
- SudanA Nile confluence capital affected by war
- SomaliaA historic Indian Ocean capital
- South SudanA White Nile capital
- AntarcticaAn island group near the Peninsula gateway
- South Georgia & the South Sandwich IslandsHistory and administration in a sheltered bay
- Bouvet IslandA small exposed research and wildlife area
- Heard Island & McDonald IslandsA historic station area and exposed coast
- British Indian Ocean TerritoryA restricted military and administrative island
- French Southern TerritoriesA large subantarctic archipelago
- TokelauA northern atoll community
- United States Minor Outlying IslandsA wildlife refuge with historic significance
- Western SaharaAn administrative city in Moroccan-controlled territory
Costa Rica is a good trip. Make it your trip.
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Start planning Costa RicaGuide last reviewed 2026-09. Check visa rules against your own passport before you book.