It’s April 2020. Obviously, we had to talk about the Coronapocalypse. In just a couple of months, we went from our normal day-to-day life to social distancing, closed borders, curfews and toilet paper hoarding. The spread of COVID-19 has been a devastating public health emergency, and is likely to reshape the world as we know it completely. Even when the pandemic dies down, the effects on society will be profound and long-lasting. We will probably look at life from a different perspective, with new priorities and an appreciation for the more essential things in life. Of course, we don’t know when the Coronavirus will be under control. However, once it is and people can safely travel again, we think you should come to Costa Rica.
**2021 UPDATE: Travel has restarted in Costa Rica since we first wrote this article. You can check out the updated entry requirements here. However, we are of course not out of the woods when it comes to this pandemic, and this nice little list of reasons is still very relevant.
Here are just 8 of the many reasons to visit Costa Rica when the Coronapocalypse is over.
1. The Outdoor Adventures in Costa Rica Are Amazing
Chances are, you’ve recently spent more time cooped up in your home than you ever had (thank you for being responsible!). You know what’s the opposite of quarantine? Rafting, probably. Or rappelling down waterfalls in the middle of the rainforest, surfing, ziplining through the cloud forest, horseback riding… Almost anything that your adrenaline-starved brain can think about is possible in Costa Rica!
The Arenal Volcano area is the Adventure Capital, and there is so much to do there that you won’t know where to start! However, almost anywhere you go in the country, you’ll find something to satisfy the thrill-seeker in you.
2. Its Natural Beauty Will Take Your Breath Away
Yes, that was a Coronavirus joke…
After being isolated, and mostly indoors for such a long time, people need to be surrounded by nature more than ever. If the pandemic has made you claustrophobic, Costa Rica is the cure! Put on your hiking shoes or take a leisurely safari cruise and explore some of the most beautiful places you can think of – volcanoes, waterfalls, mountains, mangroves and more. Over 20% of the country’s territory is protected, as National Parks or reserves, so exploring all kinds of pristine environments is made easy!
The wildlife observation here is unparalleled as well. Taking a tour will help you see a lot more, but it isn’t uncommon to cross paths with monkeys, toucans, sloths and coatis during an outing. No matter what area you visit, as soon as you get out of the city, you’ll be transported into a new, more peaceful world. Just breathe in the fresh air and listen to the sounds of the forest, and forget about everything else for a while. Nuevo Arenal is absolutely perfect for this, by the way!
3. The Healthcare System Is Top Notch
If the recent global health crisis has taught us something, it’s the importance of having a strong healthcare system. Costa Rica provides universal healthcare to its residents, and its system is considered one of the best in Latin America, and even in the world.
This, coupled with strong preventative measures taken by the government, has been key in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Currently, the number of new infections is growing in a linear manner instead of exponentially, and the mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world. They have truly put the health of its residents – and its visitors as well! – first. Costa Rica has also become a popular destination for medical tourism (especially for dental work), as procedures are affordable and the medical attention is excellent.
Also, Daniel Salas, the Minister of Health, has now become somewhat of a rock star/national hero. It’s amazing, well-deserved, and kind of hilarious, too. I mean, this has happened:
4. There Are Over 100 Beaches (and You Need Some Vitamin D)
Nothing better than being (self-) quarantined right after a long, sunless winter, right? By the time all of this blows over, you will not just need to be outdoors. You’ll need to be at the beach! The ocean has amazing healing properties, and you’ll hopefully leave feeling recharged and deeply relaxed.
If you love the beach, Costa Rica has got you covered! With over 100 beaches, on both the Pacific and Caribbean coast, there is something for absolutely everyone. You’ll find secluded beaches that are an adventure to get to, more built-up ones for when you want to party hard, or chill at an all-inclusive resort with your family. We have some of the best surfing spots in the world, but also tranquil bays that are perfect for swimming, and so many different shades of sand. Catamaran cruises, turtle nesting, kayaking, coconut water drinking, whale watching, fishing, getting your bag stolen by monkeys… Take your pick, it’s all waiting for you!
5. Costa Rica Is One of the Happiest Countries in the World
Costa Rica is consistently in the top 15 happiest countries (or much closer to/at the top of the list), as ranked with measures such as the Happy Planet Index or the World Happiness Report. If you’ve been reading so far, you probably are starting to get an idea of why people could be quite satisfied with living here. All of this, coupled with relative political stability, tight-knit family/social structures, high levels of education and a laid-back Pura Vida attitude/philosophy makes this country a pleasure to visit, and/or live in.
“Pura Vida” literally means “Pure Life”. It’s so much more than that, though – people here also use it to say: how are you?, thank you, yes, everything’s good, hello, goodbye, no worries, etc. A Central American Hakuna Matata, if you will.
6. The Food Is (Mostly) Fresh and Healthy
The Coronavirus pandemic has not been kind to most people’s diets. Whether it’s because of stress-eating, products not being available, or just because you’ve had to limit your trips to the grocery store, you probably need lots of fruits and vegetables by now. Costa Rica will not let you down! Thanks to relatively consistent and warm temperatures throughout the months, there is a large variety of fresh produce available here all year round. The amount of new and delicious fruits to try will blow your mind, and you might not want to eat anything else. But you should!
The basic, typical meal here is called a casado (which means “married”). This is rice, beans, a protein of your choice (usually chicken, fish, pork or beef), vegetables and/or a salad. At the beach, the seafood is out of this world, and you’ll probably go back home a complete ceviche addict. It’s also very easy to find options for any kind of diet – gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian… There will always be something fresh and tasty for you to eat! One of the 5 “blue zones” in the world – areas where people live the longest – is the Nicoya Peninsula! There are many factors that come into play to explain this, but the Costa Rican diet definitely helps.
Of course, you don’t have to always eat healthy. Costa Rica has bar food down to a science, and the amount of mouthwatering, salty fried stuff that goes perfectly with a cold beer can be dangerous. It’s all about balance, and you can’t leave without trying patacones (fried green plantain, can also be made into patanachos, which is exactly what it sounds like), or a chifrijo (basically rice, beans, lots of chicharrones, pico de gallo and tortilla chips).
7. It’s the Perfect Place to Practice Yoga (or Get a Massage)
The Coronapocalypse is a strange and incredibly stressful time. We hope that you have not been to affected by the virus and its inevitable consequences, and that you will still be able to travel once things settle down. Costa Rica is the perfect place to indulge in self-care, which is vital in these times of uncertainty about the future. Yoga and meditation can be amazing tools to ground yourself and ease anxiety. If you’ve been sitting too much, it will feel like heaven to stretch and strengthen your tired muscles.
Thanks to its recent growing popularity, excellent yoga classes and retreats of all styles are widely available. Places like Nosara and Mal Pais are particularly well-known for their yoga/surfing community, but there are good options everywhere (Nuevo Arenal is also amazing for that, by the way!). It helps that the environment is so perfect for it, it’s ridiculous. I mean, what could be better than a good practice surrounded by the beauty and music of the rainforest? A massage in the same location, maybe, so you don’t even need to move.
If you’re thinking about traveling to Costa Rica to turn inward and reconnect with yourself and Mother Nature, you’ll find some great ideas of places to stay below. All of these offer either full yoga/meditation retreats, or at least an extensive offering of yoga classes on the premises. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious experience, or something more rustic and hands-on, you’re sure to find the right option for you!
8. Costa Rica Needs You Just as Much as You Need it!
Tourism is one of the biggest industries in Costa Rica, and the country heavily depends on it. They do adventure and ecotourism like few places can, and Costa Ricans are incredibly welcoming and proud of their home. Just last year, over 3,000,000 visitors enjoyed a vacation of a lifetime here, and most come between December and April.
As you can imagine, the travel industry is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, and it has hit Costa Rica particularly hard. With closed borders during what is normally the busiest time of the year, the impact has been devastating. If you’ve already reserved a vacation to Costa Rica, please consider postponing it instead of cancelling. And whenever the Coronapocalypse passes, our beautiful country should be your next destination. We need you so we can keep sharing our little slice of paradise with the world!
