Travel in Costa Rica

Nearly four years after the devastating effects of COVID-19, the tourism industry is out of intensive care and approaching a full recovery. Welcome to the era of resilience.

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I've always dreamed of staying in an overwater lodge, but I've never managed to budget for a trip to somewhere like the Maldives to make it a reality.

If the current heat-wave has got you dreaming of snow-capped peaks and balmy ocean breezes, you’re not alone. Alaska Airlines just announced a massive winter expansion with one brand-new cold-weather destination and 18 new routes spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Growing up with three siblings, I regularly spent my summers at a beach house with cousins and spring breaks in Arizona, watching the San Francisco Giants ' spring training. I always thought I'd do the same when I had my kids and spend our vacations exploring new places as a family.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ivette Cuevas, a café owner living in Costa Rica, and her 16-year-old son, Vincent Alcampo. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Even though the summer travel season is in full swing, Alaska Airlines is already planning for what's shaping up to be a busy winter.

World Travel Awards – has revealed its 2024 Caribbean and The Americas winners.

Alaska Airlines is planning a massive expansion with 18 new nonstop routes to popular warm-weather and snowy destinations in time for winter, including the airline’s first-ever flights to Vail.

There's more to see on the white sand beaches of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula than the beautiful jungle coastline.

Jul 11, 2024 • 9 min read

Avianca LifeMiles members, listen up: The airline is currently offering two limited-time deals on award flights to South and Central America and Europe — but you must book this deal by July 4.

Jun 26, 2024 • 8 min read

Jun 26, 2024 • 7 min read

Jun 25, 2024 • 5 min read

First of all, if we propose you to go sightseeing during the rainy season, does it sound like a good plan? Wait until we tell you what happens in Costa Rica before you respond. The rains in Costa Rica unleash a natural spectacle that turns the country into a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with a captivating green predominating in the landscapes, accented by multicolored flowers. Because of this scenery, and as an initiative of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, the rainy season has been promoted for some years now as the Green Season, which lasts from May to November throughout the country, except in the Caribbean.

Despite economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living, there’s one thing some of us are unwilling to give up: travel. A recent study by American Express in the United Kingdom found that almost half of the population are more interested in taking a major trip this year than previously, while more than half of those surveyed said they are saving up for a bucket list adventure. While our wanderlust hasn’t dampened, the way we travel post-pandemic has changed in many ways, and many travelers are more savvy than ever when securing a jet-set deal.

As savvy as seasoned advisors may be on the nuances of travel, it’s not possible for them to have their fingers on the pulse of every destination on the planet. That’s where destination management companies (DMCs) come into play, say travel sellers who capitalize on their services.

Last month, as I explored Costa Rica's Pacific coast, I took particular care to visit the Blue Zone of the Nicoya Penninsula.

I had just turned 9 when I discovered Anthony Bourdain's show "No Reservations." It wasn't like the other Travel Channel shows. Sure, the premise was straightforward: Bourdain traveled around the world to meet up with locals and try their cuisine. But instead of focusing on tourist hot spots and flashy, curated experiences, "No Reservations" was about traveling by the seat of your pants and getting as close to the local culture as any outsider could be allowed. I was an immediate disciple.

Diplo, born Thomas Wesley Pentz, fell in love with Jamaica, particularly its Portland parish on the northeast coast, nearly 20 years ago. “I was D. J.ing on a cruise ship, got off in Ocho Rios, and drove through Port Antonio to get to Kingston,” said the 13-time Grammy nominee who has collaborated with Dua Lipa, Sturgil Simpson, Snoop Dogg, Shakira, Bad Bunny and countless other musicians. “Portland is sort of like Costa Rica, all jungly and waterfalls. And Port Antonio is this quaint little town where I’d go on a sort of retreat, “Mr. Pentz added. About eight years ago he bought some farmland and built a house there.

When planning a multigenerational trip with 11 other people, I knew I wanted to head somewhere warm.