Why consider Costa Rica for treatment?

Costa Rica is located in the heart of Central America, between Panama to the south, and Nicaragua to the north and is an extremely bio-diverse country with an abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna.  Touching both the Atlantic and the Pacific seas, the country is divided into three main regions; the Central Valley, Guanacaste/Nicoya Peninsula and the Central Pacific Coast. 

Costa Rica literally means 'rich coast' (so named by Columbus), and is one of the most bio-diverse countries on earth.  When you think of Costa Rica tropical rainforests, misty waterfalls, stunning coastline and probably coffee will spring to mind (the coffee industry began in the eighteenth century in Costa Rica, and is the nation's major export).

As well as agriculture, tourism is also one of its main sources of income, especially eco-tourism, and there are many Community Rural Tourism projects underway.  Much of Costa Rica's land is heavily forested with almost a third of the country being protected.  The country's national parks are a top attraction, and the Tortuguero National Park is a particular highlight, attracting many tourists to watch sea turtles nesting between July and October.

The country has many mountains and volcanoes and the coastline is surrounded by mangrove swamps and stunning white (or black) sand beaches.  In the Caribbean part of Costa Rica there is a diversity of aquatic ecosystems while the Pacific coast is where you should head with your surf board - beaches like Esterillos, Jaco, Hermosa and Boca Barranca are super hot on the surfing circuit. 

The capital city is San José, a bustling city with colonial neighbourhoods and a mish mash of modern and traditional architecture.  Many different cultures have settled in Costa Rica, adding their unique essence, and Costa Rica gained its independence from Spain in 1821.

Priding itself on being a peaceful democracy Costa Rica is one of the few countries to operate without the assistance of a military force.  In 1987 President Oscar Arias Sanchez made great headway in history and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for helping nearby countries find peaceful solutions to civil war. 

The country's economy has enjoyed a fairly steady growth and over time it has become a popular choice with medical tourists, particularly from the US (tourists from the States make up almost one third of all visitors), who are combining private treatment with a fabulous holiday in an exotic country full of natural wonders.  International patients have their treatment, recover in luxury hotel accommodation and return home, rested and content, having spent less than the procedure alone in the US.

Costa Ricans are known as Tico's and are known for being very hospitable.  With stunning natural landscape and scenery, top class medical teams who spend many years qualifying (sometimes abroad in countries like the US, Mexico or Spain), Costa Rica offers the medical tourist excellent value.  The private hospitals are first class and standards of health and hygiene are among the highest in Latin America.

The best time to visit is during the dry season (between December and April).  The rainy season (also known as the 'green' season for obvious reasons) is the hottest time of the year (between May to October).  The weather is influenced by altitude, and the hottest months are March and April.  The Pacific coast is drier while the Atlantic coast has the most rainfall (approximately 300 days a year).  

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

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