Guatemala vs Costa Rica: where to pick for your next trip

Deciding where to travel is one of the hardest parts of any adventure. If you’ve narrowed it down to Central America, how do you then choose which country to visit when they all have such distinct draws?

Costa Rica and Guatemala are two popular places for G Adventures tours, so either country makes a great starting point if you’re thinking about your next trip. Both Guatemala and Costa Rica have plenty to see and do, so let's take a deep dive into both to find out which one is best for your next trip.

Best place to watch wildlife

Costa Rica is home to half a million species

With 500,000 native animals, Costa Rica’s wildlife is well known the world over. It’s synonymous with sleepy sloths and howler monkeys in its rainforests, while the surrounding seas hold an abundance of marine life, including whales, turtles, and dolphins. Costa Rica’s national parks are a dream for eco-minded travellers, and they keep the country's well-deserved reputation as one of the best places in the world to appreciate animals in their natural habitats.

Experience it for yourself on: Costa Rica: Wildlife, National Parks & Hidden Gems of the Northwest

Guatemala is for the birders

Guatemala is gifted with some wonderful wildlife, too, but it’s the 800-plus types of birds that set it apart. Pack your binoculars to give yourself every chance of spotting packs of keel-billed toucans, colourful quetzals (the country's national bird), and Guatemalan screech owls. Monkeys make mischief here too, and eye-catching cats, such as the margay and the jaguar, also call this fascinating destination home.

Where to take a hike

Lace up your boots and hike Costa Rica's stunning landscapes

Hiking is, hands down, one of the most rewarding ways to travel, and Costa Rica provides a particularly beautiful backdrop, with a quarter of its natural beauty under national protection. With the help of a local guide, set off on Costa Rica's best hikes into verdant jungles and to local homestays to experience how life is lived amid the riches of the rainforest. Head into Manuel Antonio National Park to find yourself surrounded by serenity on a secluded sandy beach that's accessible only on foot.

Experience it for yourself on: Trek Hidden Costa Rica

Trek around the ruins of Tikal and Guatemala's volcanoes

Guatemala offers its own walkable wonders, most notably the ruins of Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Elsewhere in the country, Guatemala’s volcanic topography makes for some seriously tempting treks. Hike to the summit of Volcán Acatenango with a local guide and stay the night for the star-studded show of El Fuego and its fountain of glowing orange lava, which erupts every 10 minutes or so. Meanwhile, Laguna Chicabal, a sacred lagoon surrounded by cloud forest with views of neighbouring volcanoes, offers a slice of serenity.

Experience it for yourself on: Classic Belize & Tikal

Best place for food

Try delicious Costa Rican cuisine

Food is more than fuel for the conscious traveller — it’s a gateway to local life. Costa Rican food takes inspiration from South America and the Caribbean, incorporating coconut milk, meat, and a medley of spices into its most frequently made dishes. You won’t get by without gallo pinto (rice and beans), and almost every cantina serves chifrijo (fried pork and red beans). Be sure to stop and savour rondón (seafood and coconut stew) if you find yourself on the Caribbean coast.

Guatemalan food has deep cultural roots

Guatemala’s gastronomy mixes Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and Indigenous influences. It shares staples such as tortillas, tamales, and tostones (fried plantain slices) with its Central American neighbours but serves them up its own way. Pick a pepián de pollo (chicken stew) for a quintessential taste of the country’s cuisine or kak’ik (turkey soup) to sample something rooted in Mayan history. If you happen upon a street food market on a Thursday, order the paches (similar to tamales) – traditionally, they’re only served on this day of the week.

Central America's best scenery

Find beaches, cloud forests, and waterfalls in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, so it offers beautiful beaches and diverse seaside scenery, from the black-sand surf spot of Playa Negra to the white-sand serenity of Playa Conchal. The country’s 29 national parks help to maintain the impeccable natural beauty — and thriving flora and fauna — of this captivating country, which includes Monteverde’s mystical cloud forests, Arenal’s volcano and hot springs, and La Paz’s collection of wondrous waterfalls.

Experience it for yourself on: Costa Rica: Monteverde and La Fortuna

Visit volcanoes and rainforests in Guatemala

Guatemala derives its name from the Aztec language and means "land of the trees." Its 14 different ecosystems range in elevation from sea level to more than 4267m (14,000 ft), giving different parts of the country their own distinct feel. From vast volcanic highlands to cactus-covered flatlands, rainforests, swamplands, lakes, and lagoons, Guatemala’s diversity is what differentiates it from its Central American neighbours. Not to mention its amazing ancient Mayan cities – Tikal National Park included, which featured as a backdrop in Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.

Culture

Costa Rica is easygoing and safe

Costa Rican culture blends Indigenous heritage and Spanish colonial influence with a touch of Jamaican and Chinese. The armed forces were disbanded in 1949, leaving the country proudly without an army ever since. The government is stable and has run a successful democracy for more than six decades. The environment is considered of paramount importance in Costa Rica, and the country has subsequently become the poster child for ecotourism across the world. Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken, though trying to speak a little of the local lingo will endear you to the friendly locals.

Guatemala shows off its Indigenous heritage

Guatemalan culture reflects the nation’s strong Mayan and Spanish influences, creating a contrast between the rural Mayan villagers and the relatively wealthy urbanites, known as ladinos, who descended from the Spanish conquistadors. While Spanish is the official language, many Mayan languages continue to be spoken throughout the highlands, and there are places where Spanish was never adopted, even as a second language. Recognize Maya people by their brightly coloured textiles adorned with the distinctive pattern of their home village.

Decision time: Guatemala or Costa Rica?

It’s almost impossible to decide between Guatemala and Costa Rica. Seeing Costa Rica’s rainforests from a zip line or suspension bridge is just as much fun as watching Guatemala’s scenery roll by from one of their famous chicken buses. If the decision is too difficult, why not do both on the same G Adventures tour, such as our Rainforests & Ruins tour or by following the Volcano Trail? Ultimately, the destination is for you to decide, and the best bit is that you can’t get it wrong.