Destination · Central Valley9.7489° N · 83.7534° W

Costa Rica

Rainforest mornings, volcanic evenings, two coasts in between.

Why visit

What makes Costa Rica worth the trip.

Costa Rica is small enough to cross and varied enough to keep changing. San José and the Central Valley bring museums, markets, coffee country and the everyday texture of the capital. Further north, Arenal rises above protected forest and warm water. On the Central Pacific, the road meets beaches, wildlife refuges and national parks. Beyond the first route, Guanacaste, the Caribbean and the South Pacific each open a different version of the country — dry forest and surf, Afro-Caribbean coast and coral water, deep rainforest and long beaches. Latitude12 will approach Costa Rica as a connected journey through those contrasts, not as a list of hotels.

Stays in Costa Rica

Hotels, villas and retreats with a true sense of place.

All stays

Monteverde

Elida Lodge Monteverde

Monteverde

Miztli Lodge & Adventure

Guanacaste

Hotel Boyeros

Central Pacific

Claritas Beach Bar & Resort, WorldHotels Elite

Central Valley

Hotel Amón Real

Central Pacific

Amapola Resort

Journeys including Costa Rica

Pair Costa Rica with another destination.

All journeys

Costa Rica: Highlands to Pacific

9 days

Three chapters, one slow arc.

A slow route from the Central Valley through Guanacaste to the Central Pacific, moving from coffee country and volcanic highlands toward dry forest and the coast.

Travel guide

Everything you need to know before you go.

Best time to visit

Costa Rica has a dry season from roughly mid-December to late April and a green season from May through mid-December, with meaningful regional and microclimate differences.

Atmosphere

The country shifts quickly between city, highland, volcano, rainforest and coast. Build the journey around those transitions rather than trying to compress every region into one trip.

Food

Start with the everyday food of the Central Valley and let coffee country, coastal cooking and Caribbean influence shape the route as it moves.

Beaches & coastline

The Pacific and Caribbean coasts are not interchangeable. Season, surf, wildlife and local culture all change the meaning of a beach stop.

Safety

Road conditions, weather and local advisories vary by region; check the specific route before longer drives.

Local tips

Allow more time for road journeys than a map suggests.
Treat the green season as a different travel mode, not simply a worse version of the dry season.
Use the region and the landscape to choose a stay before using price or volume as a filter.

Getting here