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Together by bus through Costa Rica.
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Discover the natural paradise of Central America on a round trip
A Costa Rica trip means immersing yourself in unique nature, hiking through a rainforest or deep cloud forests and plunging into the sea of waves on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. This natural paradise is an unforgettable experience thanks to its numerous protected national parks and nature reserves, which make up around 25 % of the country. Marvel at the still active Arenal volcano and Lake Arenal with its small islands shimmering in the green hilly landscape. Taste exotic fruits and let yourself be infected by the "Pura Vida" motto of the locals. Experience a country on a Costa Rica trip that may not be bigger than Lower Saxony, but is hard to beat in terms of diversity.
Your advantages on your Costa Rica trip
Sustainable travel
Commitment to responsible travel and environmental sustainability.
Authentic experiences
The focus is on genuine interaction with the local culture and communities.
Experienced advice
Experienced travel experts plan your unforgettable trip.
Tailor-made itineraries
Our trips are tailored to the interests of the travelers.
Best price guarantee
Good value for money: Competitive prices and high-quality services.
Comprehensive support
24/7 support: constant support throughout the entire trip
How would you like to spend your Costa Rica vacation?
As a specialist for Cuba, Mexico and Central America, we offer many years of experience in planning Costa Rica trips. Our local team knows the national parks and sights inside out, as do our experts in Frankfurt. Our English-speaking tour guides will accompany you with passion through this unique natural paradise.
Private guided tours
Traveling privately with your loved ones and flexibility in the organization of your day.
Plan your dream trip
Start planning your trip today - it only takes 2 minutes!
Don't miss the chance to make your dream trip a reality! Contact our experienced travel consultants now and let them inspire and advise you for your trip. Take the first step towards your unforgettable adventure!
Our popular Costa Rica trips
Private round trip
9 days / 8 nights
Best of Costa Rica
- Sunset cruise on Lake Arenal or white water rafting in La Fortuna
- Guided tour in the Monteverde Reserve
- Explore the beaches and national park in Manuel Antonio
Private round trip
7 days / 6 nights
Costa Rica - Volcanoes and beaches
- Experience the volcanoes of La Fortuna
- Enjoy a sunset cruise or white water rafting
- Relax on the beaches of Samara
Group Tour
15 days / 14 nights
Costa Rica for families
- Interactive coffee tour in Copey (also for children)
- Hikes in the Parque Nacional Los Quetzales and Manuel Antonio National Park
- Family-friendly beaches in Manuel Antonio and Samara
Group Tour
11 days / 10 nights
Costa Rica Intensiv
- Relaxation and exploration in San José
- Experience the Rio Celeste in Tenorio National Park
- Sunset cruise or white water rafting in La Fortuna
Private round trip
9 days / 8 nights
Costa Rica's natural treasures
- Tropical beaches and Caribbean flair in Puerto Viejo
- Night walk and chocolate tour in Sarapiquí
- Sunset cruise or white water rafting in La Fortuna
Above all, a vacation in Costa Rica means incredible nature
Costa Rica translates as"rich coast" and that is literally what you will find in this small Central American country: nature, nature and more nature.
There is a lot to explore in Costa Rica: Whether you want to make your own way and head north by rental car from the capital San José to the Arenal Volcano National Park and start your journey south from there. Or whether you want to go on a guided round trip, everything is possible. Visit the Monteverde cloud forest reserve or surf on the beach at Santa Teresa. The Tortuguero National Park is also very special: various species of green sea turtle have been nesting here for centuries and the Caño Negro nature reserve can only be accessed by boat. You can find all the highlights of our Costa Rica trips here .
Actively discover Costa Rica
Active Group Tour
15 days / 14 nights
Costa Rica Cross Over
- Volcano descent from Irazú to Turrialba
- Optional rafting on the Río Pacuare
- Cloud forest exploration in Monteverde
Tanzreise
9 days / 8 nights
Dancing in Costa Rica
- City tour in San José with tastings of local specialties
- Visit to the Irazú volcano and Mirador de Ujarrás in Cartago
- Coffee tour and tortilla de queso cooking class in Los Santos
The"Ticos", as the Costa Ricans call themselves, are 94% descendants of European immigrants. Costa Rica has the lowest proportion of indigenous population in Central America. Today, around 5 million people live here, over half of whom live in the country's major cities. The capital and largest city in the country is San José, with around 340,000 inhabitants. It is home to various museums, theaters and a newly extended railroad line, making it a worthwhile destination. The time difference to Germany is +6 or +7 hours, depending on winter or summer time.
Costa Rica is a presidential republic and has been governed by Carlos Alvarado Quesada since 2018. The country's politics serve as a model for many countries in South and Central America, as it is one of the richest. Costa Rica completely dismantled its army in 1949 in order to use the money to build a comprehensive education and healthcare system.
The inhabitants of Costa Rica are friendly, helpful and child-loving people, as you can see for yourself on round trips or tours. They love to talk about soccer, the country's favorite sport. Thanks to compulsory education, around 90% of children attend a state school and 10% attend a private school. Around 96% of the population in Costa Rica can read and write, which is an above-average rate compared to other South and Central American countries.
The national language in Costa Rica is Spanish. If you speak a little Spanish on your round trip or group tour, you have a good chance of striking up a conversation with the locals. The Spanish spoken in Costa Rica differs from the Spanish spoken in Spain in terms of pronunciation. It sounds harsher and is often spoken with English pronunciation. Compared to the indigenous countries of South America, there are very few indigenous languages in Costa Rica.
Approximately 77% of Costa Ricans are Roman Catholic. Almost 14% of the population is Protestant and mostly belongs to the Afro-Costa Rican population who live on the Caribbean coast. Church festivals and processions are mostly well attended, as are the churches for worship.
Despite the country's small size, it has an incredible variety of landscapes to discover, for example on an active trip. Costa Rica is divided into five zones: the volcanic mountain range of the Cordilleras, the Central Valley, the Caribbean and Pacific coasts and the Nicoya Peninsula.
The Cordilleras mountain range is a very interesting and well-visited tourist area with many extinct and active volcanoes. The mountain range stretches from the northwest of the country to the southeast to the Caribbean Sea. At 3,820 meters, the Chirripó Grande is the highest mountain in the country.
Costa Rica's floodplains and marshlands are located on the border with Nicaragua. The Caribbean lowlands have many small rivers and narrow land passages that extend all the way to the mountainous landscapes of the Cordilleras. The Caribbean coastline is over 200 km long and stretches from Panama to Nicaragua.
Most animals live in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica. Birds, monkeys, reptiles and amphibians live secluded lives in the densely vegetated forests of the tropical rainforest and shy away from human contact. If you still want to marvel at the animals in their natural habitat, you should make your way to one of the many reserves or nature reserves.
Anyone traveling to Costa Rica should have a certain preference for rice and beans, as Costa Rican cuisine (comida típica) is dominated by these ingredients. Probably the most popular Costa Rican dish is the"Gallo Pinto". This meal consists of boiled rice, black beans and onions and is served with fried or scrambled eggs, sometimes also steak. It is not unusual to eat this combination even for breakfast. Another typical Costa Rican dish is called"casado", which literally means "married". It is a typical lunch dish that can be found in all sodas (simple restaurants with local cuisine). It typically consists of a piece of meat, rice, black beans with a little broth, a small side salad, tortillas (corn cakes) and plantains (platanos). It is often accompanied by a fresh juice, which is included in the price.
Compared to other South and Central American countries, Costa Rican food is very healthy, as lots of vegetables, low-fat meat and fruit are used in cooking. The Pacific and Caribbean coasts are dominated by fish dishes, dumplings with vegetables or meat and stuffed banana leaves. Caribbean cuisine also influences the Costa Rican way of cooking in the coastal areas, where dishes are fried in coconut oil.
Our tip: If you want to get to know the cuisine of the Ticos and try the typical dishes, you should go to the so-called sodas. The small family-run restaurants and snack bars offer a wide variety of typical dishes at low prices, but with great taste.
You can find out more about typical dishes in Central America here.
Costa Rica's climate is tropical and humid all year round in the east, alternately humid in the west and always humid on the southern Pacific coast.
The average temperature in the lowlands is around 26 °C, in the highlands around 20 °C.
The best time to visit is the dry season from December to April. Rainfall is very low during this time and remote towns and villages are best reached. Travel is also possible at the beginning of the rainy season (May to July), as schools in Costa Rica are open again.
As a German citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica for tourism purposes and can enter the country visa-free for up to 90 days. Only the passport/children's passport (also temporary passport) must be valid for at least 1 day after entry. However, you should note that the validity period for your return journey to Germany or other countries is usually longer. In individual cases, a residence permit is only issued for 30 or 60 days. The decision lies with the individual federal official. Travelers should also be able to present a return flight ticket and prove how the stay is to be financed.
When entering Costa Rica from Panama and Nicaragua by land, you should ensure that both the Costa Rican entry stamp and the Panamanian exit stamp are affixed to your passport. The same applies to the return journey. Without these stamps in your passport, there may be considerable difficulties when you finally leave the country.
It is prohibited to import meat and sausage products, dairy products, fruit and vegetables into Costa Rica. Further information on importing goods to Costa Rica can be obtained from the Costa Rican embassy, as only they can provide you with legally binding information.
The export of all types of plants, animals and shellfish from Costa Rica is strictly prohibited.
The departure tax for Costa Rica has been included in the price of the flight ticket since 2015. If you are leaving the country by land, the tax of around USD 7 must be paid locally.
Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
The official currency in Costa Rica is the Colón. Cash should ideally be exchanged for US dollars in Germany, as US dollars are easier to exchange locally. An exchange fee of 1 % is charged when changing US dollars into Colón, whereas the exchange fee for EUR into Colón is 10 %. However, many stores already accept the US dollar as a means of payment.
There are cash machines (ATMs) all over the country where you can withdraw money. Please note that some banks in Costa Rica do not accept Maestro bank cards. You can easily pay by credit card in all large stores and restaurants.
Choose Sprachcaffe Travel
For 40 years we have been a leader in travel to Mexico, Cuba and Central America. With over 200,000 happy travelers, we have gained extensive knowledge and understanding of these regions. Our long-standing partnership with industry leaders guarantees the highest reliability and quality. Enjoy your vacation with German legal standards and full package travel protection for maximum security. More about us »
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All important travel information
Visit our travel information page and discover everything you need to know for your upcoming trips to Central America. Here you will find details on the best time to travel, information on time changes and recommendations for important health precautions you should take before you leave.
We have compiled all the necessary information for you to ensure that your stay in Central America is pleasant and smooth. You can also find out more about local customs, safety advice and tips for an authentic and unforgettable stay.