📍 The country in brief
Capital San José, Spanish language, and a nickname that says it all: the Switzerland of Central America. Payment is in Costa Rican Colón (CRC), but US dollars are accepted everywhere, and credit cards work without issue in the vast majority of businesses. The time difference with France is -7h in winter, -8h in summer, with no local time change, which simplifies calculations.
🛂 Entry formalities
Good news: no visa for French citizens, and tourist stays can be up to 180 days. Your passport must be valid, ideally 6 months after your return date, even if technically 1 day is sufficient. Remember to have a return or onward ticket: airlines may request it at boarding. No mandatory vaccinations, unless you are arriving from a yellow fever risk zone.
💉 Health & safety
Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America, and we have been traveling here for years without ever having any problems. Travel with peace of mind, remain vigilant as you would anywhere else. Tap water is potable in the vast majority of the country, and pharmacies are numerous and well-equipped. The only real reflex to have: plan for good mosquito protection, as dengue and zika circulate, especially in humid and low-lying areas.
🌦️ When to visit?
Costa Rica has two seasons, and honestly, both have their charms.The dry season (December to April) is characterized by bright sunshine, perfect underwater visibility, and humpback whales as a bonus from January to March. It is also the high tourist season, so expect a few more people at iconic sites.The green season (May to November) has a bad reputation, but wrongly so. Rains mostly occur at the end of the day, mornings are often magnificent. The jungle explodes with green, prices drop, and you encounter far fewer tourists. For diving, it remains very feasible. Coast & jungle 25–32°C Central Valley 20–26°C Water (diving) 26–29°C, a Wetsuit Shorty is largely sufficient all year round
🚗 Getting around
Car rental remains the most practical way to explore. Take a 4x4 as soon as you leave the main roads, some tracks are in poor condition, and you won't want to get stuck during the rainy season. A French driving license is accepted.The bus network is extensive and very economical, ideal if you have time. For remote areas like the Osa Peninsula, internal flights on small planes exist (Sansa, Green Airways), often faster than a 6-hour drive.
🍽️ What to eat
Contrary to popular belief, Costa Rican cuisine is not spicy. The everyday dish is the casado: rice, black beans, a meat or fish, some vegetables, simple, nourishing, and always affordable. Fish and seafood are excellent (being between two oceans helps). And tropical fruits, mango, papaya, pineapple, are omnipresent and of a freshness you don't usually find in France.
🐒 Wildlife & nature
25% of the territory is protected, and it's noticeable everywhere. You'll encounter monkeys, sloths, toucans, crocodiles... sometimes without even looking. Underwater, it's another story: manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, schools of fish galore. Humpback whales pass twice a year (July–October and December–March depending on the area), and sea turtlescome to lay eggs on certain beaches depending on the season.
📶 Phone & electricity
Mobile coverage is very good. A local SIM cardcan be easily purchased at the airport or in supermarkets (Kolbi, Claro, Movistar, expect a few dollars). Wi-Fi is available in almost all accommodations.For outlets: American type A/B format, 120V voltage. Remember to bring an adapter before you leave.
🧭 Some final tips
Always have a raincoat in your bag, even in the dry season. Water shoes if you plan hikes or river crossings. At night, drive carefully, animals cross, roads are sometimes unlit.Nature is very seriously protected here: respect the guidelines, do not touch animals, leave nothing behind. Fines can be high, but above all, it's simply the right attitude to have. And then there's Pura Vida. You will hear it dozens of times a day. It's not just a word, it's a way of being. To say hello, thank you, everything is fine, see you soon, or simply to signify that life is beautiful. Adopt it, it rubs off quite quickly.
📍 The country in brief
Capital San José, Spanish language, and a nickname that says it all: the Switzerland of Central America. Payment is in Costa Rican Colón (CRC), but US dollars are accepted everywhere, and credit cards work without issue in the vast majority of businesses. The time difference with France is -7h in winter, -8h in summer, with no local time change, which simplifies calculations.
🛂 Entry formalities
Good news: no visa for French citizens, and tourist stays can be up to 180 days. Your passport must be valid, ideally 6 months after your return date, even if technically 1 day is sufficient. Remember to have a return or onward ticket: airlines may request it at boarding. No mandatory vaccinations, unless you are arriving from a yellow fever risk zone.
💉 Health & safety
Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America, and we have been traveling here for years without ever having any problems. Travel with peace of mind, remain vigilant as you would anywhere else. Tap water is potable in the vast majority of the country, and pharmacies are numerous and well-equipped. The only real reflex to have: plan for good mosquito protection, as dengue and zika circulate, especially in humid and low-lying areas.
🌦️ When to visit?
Costa Rica has two seasons, and honestly, both have their charms.The dry season (December to April) is characterized by bright sunshine, perfect underwater visibility, and humpback whales as a bonus from January to March. It is also the high tourist season, so expect a few more people at iconic sites.The green season (May to November) has a bad reputation, but wrongly so. Rains mostly occur at the end of the day, mornings are often magnificent. The jungle explodes with green, prices drop, and you encounter far fewer tourists. For diving, it remains very feasible. Coast & jungle 25–32°C Central Valley 20–26°C Water (diving) 26–29°C, a Wetsuit Shorty is largely sufficient all year round
🚗 Getting around
Car rental remains the most practical way to explore. Take a 4x4 as soon as you leave the main roads, some tracks are in poor condition, and you won't want to get stuck during the rainy season. A French driving license is accepted.The bus network is extensive and very economical, ideal if you have time. For remote areas like the Osa Peninsula, internal flights on small planes exist (Sansa, Green Airways), often faster than a 6-hour drive.
🍽️ What to eat
Contrary to popular belief, Costa Rican cuisine is not spicy. The everyday dish is the casado: rice, black beans, a meat or fish, some vegetables, simple, nourishing, and always affordable. Fish and seafood are excellent (being between two oceans helps). And tropical fruits, mango, papaya, pineapple, are omnipresent and of a freshness you don't usually find in France.
🐒 Wildlife & nature
25% of the territory is protected, and it's noticeable everywhere. You'll encounter monkeys, sloths, toucans, crocodiles... sometimes without even looking. Underwater, it's another story: manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, schools of fish galore. Humpback whales pass twice a year (July–October and December–March depending on the area), and sea turtlescome to lay eggs on certain beaches depending on the season.
📶 Phone & electricity
Mobile coverage is very good. A local SIM cardcan be easily purchased at the airport or in supermarkets (Kolbi, Claro, Movistar, expect a few dollars). Wi-Fi is available in almost all accommodations.For outlets: American type A/B format, 120V voltage. Remember to bring an adapter before you leave.
🧭 Some final tips
Always have a raincoat in your bag, even in the dry season. Water shoes if you plan hikes or river crossings. At night, drive carefully, animals cross, roads are sometimes unlit.Nature is very seriously protected here: respect the guidelines, do not touch animals, leave nothing behind. Fines can be high, but above all, it's simply the right attitude to have. And then there's Pura Vida. You will hear it dozens of times a day. It's not just a word, it's a way of being. To say hello, thank you, everything is fine, see you soon, or simply to signify that life is beautiful. Adopt it, it rubs off quite quickly.
