PacificorCaribbean?Choosingyourcoast
Costa Rica's two coastlines are less than a day apart and feel like different countries. Here's how to decide between them, or whether to see both.
Ask people about a beach in Costa Rica and most will picture the Pacific: long sunsets, surf and dry-season sun. The Caribbean coast is less visited and quite different in character, and for some travellers it's the better choice. The right answer depends on when you're travelling, what you want from your time by the sea, and how much of the trip you want to spend moving around.
The Pacific: range and reliability
The Pacific coast is long and varied. In the north, Guanacaste has the most dependable dry-season weather in the country and bays sheltered from the open ocean. The Nicoya Peninsula brings surf towns and quieter beaches. The Central Pacific mixes beach with wildlife-rich forest around Manuel Antonio, and the far south, around Uvita and the Osa Peninsula, is wilder still.
Broadly, the Pacific is driest from around December to April. That's also when it's busiest.
The Caribbean: culture and contrast
The Caribbean side is greener and slower, with a culture shaped by Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous communities. Tortuguero in the north is all canals, forest and nesting turtles; the south coast around Cahuita and Puerto Viejo has reef, small beaches and some of the best cooking in the country.
Its weather follows a different pattern. September and October, which are among the wettest months on the Pacific, are often among the driest on the Caribbean.
A rough way to choose
- Travelling between December and April, mainly for the beach: start with the Pacific.
- Travelling in September or October: look closely at the Caribbean.
- More interested in culture and food than in a resort: the Caribbean will reward you.
- Wildlife your priority: both coasts have a great deal to offer, in different ways.
Can you do both?
You can, but crossing the country takes most of a day, so combining coasts works best on trips of two weeks or more. On shorter trips, choosing one coast and seeing it well is usually the better decision.
