The Benson Preferred Guide
Costa Rica
Guanacaste / Central Pacific / Southern Pacific, Costa Rica
What is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
Why this week is so special
Is February a good time to visit Costa Rica?
- Is February a Good Time to Visit Costa Rica?
- It's arguably the best month of the year.
- In February you'll typically enjoy:
- Warm, sunny days.
- Lower humidity than the green season.
- Excellent wildlife viewing.
- Calm ocean conditions along much of the Pacific Coast.
- Beautiful jungle landscapes that haven't yet dried out from months of sunshine.
- Exceptional fishing and water activities.
- If you're visiting Costa Rica for the first time, February is hard to beat.
What we’d actually do
- What Is the Best Month for Wildlife and Adventure in Costa Rica?
- February is one of our favorite months for combining adventure with wildlife experiences.
- Some of our favorite experiences include:
- La Fortuna Waterfall
- Tabacón Hot Springs
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Isla del Caño scuba diving and snorkeling
- Offshore fishing in Quepos
- Whale's Tail Beach in Uvita
- Hanging bridges and volcano views
- Sunset sailing along the Pacific Coast
- Costa Rica shines when you're outdoors, and February offers ideal conditions for nearly every adventure.
Why it scores so high
| Weather | 10/10 |
| Crowds | 9/10 |
| Adventure | 10/10 |
| Wildlife | 10/10 |
| Value | 9/10 |
What we skip
If we only went once…
The Benson Preferred Guide to Costa Rica
Why Should You Visit Costa Rica?
Costa Rica was one of those destinations that kept surprising us throughout the entire trip.
We expected beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and wildlife. What we didn’t expect was how much variety we would experience in a single week. Every time we got in the car and drove a few hours, it felt like we’d arrived in an entirely different country.
One day we were swimming beneath La Fortuna Waterfall and soaking in the volcanic hot springs at Tabacón. The next, we were stopping to watch massive crocodiles from a bridge on our way to Jacó. A few days later, we found ourselves watching dolphins race alongside our dive boat before dropping into the Pacific Ocean to dive with sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, moray eels, and enormous schools of fish.
By the end of the trip, we were already talking about when we’d come back.
Costa Rica is one of the few destinations I’ve visited that truly feels like several vacations rolled into one.
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Who Is Costa Rica Perfect For?
If your ideal vacation involves both adventure and relaxation, Costa Rica may be difficult to beat.
It’s especially perfect for:
- Couples who enjoy active vacations.
- Families with adventurous children and teenagers.
- Divers and fishermen.
- Wildlife enthusiasts.
- Multi-generational family trips.
- Travelers who prefer experiences over sitting at a resort all week.
- Anyone who thinks the perfect vacation includes waterfalls, hot springs, black sand beaches, and sailfish.
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What Are the Best Things to Do in Costa Rica?
Honestly, narrowing this list down is difficult.
Some of our favorite experiences included:
- Swimming beneath La Fortuna Waterfall.
- Spending an evening at Tabacón Hot Springs.
- Visiting the Monkey House.
- Watching crocodiles from the famous Crocodile Bridge.
- Relaxing on Playa Hermosa’s black sand beach near Jacó.
- Visiting Marina Ballena’s famous Whale’s Tail formation.
- Deep sea fishing from Quepos.
- Scuba diving at Isla del Caño and Bajo del Diablo.
- Exploring Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Driving from region to region and discovering just how different each part of Costa Rica feels.
Costa Rica is one of the few places where I wouldn’t recommend spending your entire trip at a single property. Get out and explore.
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What Is Costa Rica’s Signature Experience?
The diversity.
Most destinations are known for one thing. Costa Rica is known for about twenty.
Volcanoes. Rainforests. Wildlife. World-class fishing. Scuba diving. Black sand beaches. Hot springs. Luxury resorts. Waterfalls. Jungle adventures.
The best part is that none of them feel like tourist gimmicks. They’re simply part of everyday life in Costa Rica.
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What Are Some Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss?
La Fortuna
If you’re only going to visit one waterfall in Costa Rica, make it La Fortuna Waterfall. Swimming in the cool river below the falls was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip.
Don’t skip Tabacón either. Spending an evening soaking in naturally heated volcanic hot springs after a day of exploring is pretty hard to beat.
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is absolutely worth your time, but I’ll save my biggest recommendation for the Insider’s Secret section below.
Jacó
The Crocodile Bridge and Monkey House make for surprisingly fun stops while traveling along the coast. We also loved grabbing tacos at Tico Mexican Grill and spending time at Playa Hermosa’s beautiful black sand beach.
Uvita
The Whale’s Tail formation at Marina Ballena National Park is worth seeing in person. Playa Hermosa near Uvita is another beautiful place to spend an afternoon.
Diving & Fishing
Diving Isla del Caño and Bajo del Diablo was one of the highlights of our trip. Before we even entered the water, dolphins were swimming alongside our boat.
Underwater we encountered blacktip reef sharks, green sea turtles, moray eels, manta rays, and some of the largest schools of fish I’ve seen in years.
Quepos is also an incredible place to experience deep sea fishing. Sailfish are abundant and provide an unforgettable offshore experience.
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Where Should You Stay?
During this trip, we stayed in several beautiful Airbnb properties throughout Costa Rica, including La Fortuna, Jacó, Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Uvita.
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is currently part of The Benson Preferred Guest List collection, and we’re excited to experience it ourselves in the future.
Costa Rica is one destination where I would strongly consider splitting your time between multiple locations rather than staying in a single region.
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When Is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica?
- Peak Season: December through April offers beautiful dry season weather throughout much of the country.
- Shoulder Season: May and June may be my favorite months to recommend. The country becomes incredibly lush and green, crowds are lighter, and pricing is often more favorable.
- Green Season: July through November brings afternoon rain showers throughout many regions. Don’t automatically dismiss it, though. Costa Rica is breathtakingly beautiful when everything is green.
Best For
- Waterfalls and Wildlife: Year-round.
- Diving: December through August.
- Deep Sea Fishing: Year-round.
- Beaches: December through April.
- Best Value: May and June.
- Fewer Crowds: May, June, and early July.
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Insider’s Secret
Hire a Wildlife Guide in Manuel Antonio.
Do not skip this.
Without a guide, you’ll enjoy Manuel Antonio National Park. With a guide, you’ll see things you would have walked past all day without ever noticing.
Our guide was spotting tiny frogs, sloths sleeping high in the trees, exotic birds, and monkeys that were completely invisible to us until he pointed them out.
It’s one of the best values of the entire trip and dramatically improves the experience.
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What Is a Great 5-7 Night Itinerary for Costa Rica?
- Day 1: Arrive in La Fortuna and spend the evening at Tabacón.
- Day 2: Visit La Fortuna Waterfall and enjoy the surrounding rivers.
- Day 3: Drive toward Jacó and stop at the Crocodile Bridge and Monkey House.
- Day 4: Explore Manuel Antonio National Park with a wildlife guide.
- Day 5: Deep sea fishing from Quepos.
- Day 6: Scuba dive Isla del Caño and Bajo del Diablo.
- Day 7: Visit Marina Ballena before heading home.
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Founder Favorite
This is cheating a little because I can’t pick just one.
Swimming beneath La Fortuna Waterfall and soaking in the hot springs at Tabacón later that same day was one of my favorite combinations of experiences anywhere in Costa Rica.
A close second was watching dolphins escort our boat to Isla del Caño before spending the morning diving with sea turtles, sharks, manta rays, and enormous schools of fish.
If I returned tomorrow, both experiences would immediately make the itinerary.
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Member Tip
Pack lighter than you think you should and bring quick-drying clothes.
You’ll likely spend part of your day hiking to a waterfall, swimming in a river, getting caught in a tropical rain shower, or jumping in the ocean. Costa Rica is wonderfully casual and adventurous. Dress accordingly.
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Our Favorite Experiences
Costa Rica made us feel like kids again.
There was always something new waiting around the next corner—a waterfall, monkeys in the trees, dolphins swimming beside our boat, or an incredible view we weren’t expecting.
What surprised us most wasn’t any single experience. It was how much fun we had simply exploring the country together and discovering what was around the next bend in the road.
We’re already looking forward to returning and continuing to explore more of this incredible country. We still have Peninsula Papagayo to experience and plenty more adventures waiting for us in Costa Rica.
I have a feeling this is going to become one of those destinations that keeps calling us back.
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Bull Sharks in Playa
They gather off this coast for a few months a year. Close enough to count the scars, calm enough to stay a while.
The walk at golden hour
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast empties out just as the light gets good. Most evenings, the beach is yours.
Hot chocolate at the bottom
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We're lifelong adventurers who believe travel is one of life's greatest investments. Not because of the places you'll go, but because of the memories you'll create and the people you'll share them with.
The Benson Preferred Guest List is simply our way of sharing some of our favorite places and experiences with our circle of friends, family, and people we're glad to know. Read more about our story →
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