Costa Rica Tours

If you've never travelled to Latin America before, Costa Rica is the perfect place to start. Despite only taking up around twice the landmass of Wales, it's packed with lush rainforests, natural hot springs, incredible wildlife and beautiful tropical beaches, making it easy to experience so much in one trip.

One phrase you'll hear everywhere in Costa Rica is Pura Vida (‘Pure Life’). It's much more than just a national slogan, it's a way of life! Locals (known as 'Ticos' and 'Ticas') use it in all kinds of situations, whether they really mean ‘thank you’, ‘you're welcome’, ‘sounds good’, ‘yes’, or simply expressing happiness and appreciation. While it literally translates as ‘pure life’, its meaning is different for everyone. At its heart, though, it's about slowing down, enjoying the moment, and appreciating the simple things – something you'll quickly find yourself doing when in Costa Rica, too.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica on a FAM trip, and it completely exceeded my expectations. From misty cloud forests and unforgettable wildlife encounters to incredible places to stay and some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen, every day brought something new. Above all, though, it was the country's Pura Vida way of life that stayed with me long after I came home. In this blog, I'll take you through some of the highlights from the 11-days my group and I spent exploring Costa Rica. While it's impossible to fit everything into a single blog post, I hope it gives you a taste of what makes this country so special.

From the dizzying heights of the Monteverde skywalks, to the dense jungles of Tortuguero and the calm flowing waters of the Tabacon Hot Springs, Marianela, Llama Travel's Consultant has put together her top 5 list of what makes Costa Rica such a blissful country to visit.