You will most likely fly into San Jose or Liberia. San Jose is located centrally in a mountain valley so the weather is unpredicatable. The city itself is very average and doesn’t hold anything extraordinary. It is fine for a stopover and I don’t discourage visiting it as it is the largest city in Costa Rica. Liberia has a small airport which holds direct flights from the US and is nearer the ever so popular northeastern coast and towns such as Tamarindo and resorts.
Taking a bus in from Nicaragua or Panama is also a popular option. If coming in from Nicaragua, then Penas Blancas is the main crossing point and can have a fairly long queueing time.
This is a reliable website for buses in the region: https://12go.asia/en/bus/san-jose/managua
When entering Costa Rica you will likely be asked for a return or onward ticket leaving the country, so make sure you have something. You can book a cheap bus ticket out the country or something that you can cancel with a refund, but have something you can show or they might not let you board your flight in Costa Rica. (This is common in Latin America)
Where to go?
The region of Guanacaste is popular amongst most visiting the country. It holds national parks and many beach towns on the Pacific coastline. La Fortuna is also located near the region. There you can find the well known Fortuna waterfall and Arenal Volcano which is next to the large Lake Arenal. There are many hikes and outdoor activities to do in this area such as hot springs and rafting. Monte Verde is located nearby higher up in the mountains where you can zip line through the clouds.
On the coast head to Tamarindo if you want a vibrant touristic spot which is also dubbed Tamagringo. However, the beach is scenic and can have amazing pink sunsets. This is where I saw the greatest sunset in my life.
Further down the coast you have more smaller feel beach towns with more of an authentic vibe. Santa Teresa has a superb beach and noticeable expat community. Great surfing but the conditions vary day to day. On the day I went surfing there the ocean was far too intense and therefore not many people were hitting the waves.
I do not recommend going out of the way to go to Jaco. It is pretty run down and the other beach towns are far nicer. If you’re staying near the San Jose airport in Anajuela, do NOT stay at Hostel Anajuela Backpackers. They don’t have lockers and I stayed there for one night and had a credit card stolen. Not a welcoming atmosphere either.
I have not been to the Caribbean side and don’t know much about it.
Driving in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is not a massive country, but when driving it does feel a lot larger than it is. What may seem like a short distance on the map will take much longer as most of the roads wind through the mountains. They are also typically one lane so there is a lot of overtaking traffic. I’d say driving here is safe and fairly easy just adapt to the local driving culture and you’ll be fine.
Other forms of transportation
I have heard hitchhiking is pretty easy is Costa Rica, but have not tried it myself. There are public intercity buses too. Head to the bus station of whatever city you’re in ask around. For public transportation the best is to ask as many people as you can and follow the most common answer.
Overview:
Costa Rica has amazing biodiversity and nature to see along with wonderful beaches and activities. This is probably is most popular Central American country to visit, but in my honest opinion I prefer it’s neighbors. Like I said before, it feels like everything’s far away to get to and it doesn’t feel as welcoming as other Central American locations. It is also very expensive and the food is nothing to boast about. From what I saw, other countries in the region have a stronger cultural identity. All of this is based off my experiences, perspective, and opinion.