The local staple is gallo pinta, a mixture of rice, beans, and spices. It’s a decent staple and can often be found in the national dish of casado. Casado is the typical lunch with a meat, salad, cheese, gallo pinta, tomato, salsa, and plantains. You need to try it with a “batido,” which is fruit smoothie made with ice “aqua” or milk “leche.” Here are some tips on how to secure the best flight price and make your journey as smooth as possible. When the surf is up, waves can reach 12 feet, making it a top surfing spot. In calmer waters, paddle boarding and sea kayaking are popular. Costa Rica". International Monetary Fund. October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020 . Retrieved 15 October 2019.

This tour lasts three hours and along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s history, taste local cuisine, and sip local coffee.Costa Rica has plenty of less-traveled towns and national parks that offer travelers numerous adrenaline-fueled or wilderness activities – and they won’t break the bank either. Located in Arenal Volcano National Park, this 70-meter-high waterfall is a delight for visitors who must pass through 530 steps to reach it.

Costa Rica's seasons are defined by how much rain falls. It does not have the four seasons other countries have. The year can be split into two seasons: the dry season (known as summer), and the rainy season (known as winter). The "summer" starts in December and ends in April. "Winter" starts in May and ends in November. During this time it rains constantly in some regions. Renting a car offers the best flexibility to explore more remote and less touristy spots in the country. It’s my favorite way to get around! By Bus Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is the perfect place to head if you want to chill in the treetops all day. This is a wonderful forest surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary. The hanging bridges are one of the most unique places to observe different species. It’s not an advertised attraction but a great one if you want to see crocodiles up close and in their natural element. This bridge is along a busy highway but you’ll know you found it when you see the vehicles pulled over with people looking over. Usually, about a dozen crocodiles are lounging in the sun below the bridge.I carried a small Spanish phrasebook that covered the basics which worked fine. These days my basic grasp of Spanish is all I need to get around and make myself understood for simple situations. Costa Rica's poverty was also because there were not enough indigenous people available for slavery. Most of the Costa Rican settlers had to work on their own land. There were no large haciendas ( plantations). For all these reasons, Costa Rica was unappreciated and forgotten by the Spanish Crown. It had to develop on its own. Eggar, Marc. "Climate/Weather". Archived from the original on 23 June 2011 . Retrieved 28 June 2011. Costa Rica is home to many plants and animals. The country has only about 0.25% of the world's landmass, but it has 5% of the world's biodiversity. [21] [22] Almost 25% of Costa Rica's land area is in national parks and protected areas. [23] [24] This is the largest percentage of protected areas in the world. [25] [26] [27] Hunter, Luke; Andrew, David (2002). Watching Wildlife Central America. Lonely Planet. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-86450-034-9.