Costa Rica, otherwise known as the ‘rich coast’ lives up to its reputation as being ‘the Switzerland of Latin America’. It has proven to be a peaceful, safe, (well relatively for a country situated in the middle of South America) eco-friendly country, practicing sustainable tourism that is backed by a well-developed infrastructure. It is now really easy to get to for European travellers with recently announced direct flights from London.

It is therefore not surprising that it is attracting visitors in increasing numbers. Europe is the second largest source market of tourists to Costa Rica after the US, according to data from the Costa Rica Tourism Board. Last year, Costa Rica issued over 370 000 tourist visas to European passport holders.

Thomson Airways was the first airline company to offer a weekly, direct flight, from the UK to Costa Rica. In November 2015, they began scheduled flights, every Monday, from Gatwick, landing in Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, Liberia (approximately 215km northwest of the nations capital, San José).

British Airways (BA) seeing the potential of Costa Rica as a European tourist destination soon followed suit and is selling direct flights, with departures starting in April. Their route is from London Gatwick airport to San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport. Travelers and divers can travel to the country many consider to be the ‘poster child for eco tourism,’ in less than 11 hours for as little as £500 return. (BA flies on Wednesday or Saturday during the summer months, or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the winter months.)

If you intend to dive in Costa Rica (and how could you not?) make sure you plan your trip before you arrive in this ‘Garden of Eden’. Relatively few liveaboards operate in the spectacular remote Costa Rican dive destinations. Not surprisingly, places can be booked up well in advance. Scuba divers traveling to Costa Rica can choose between diving world renowned, Cocos Island or the lesser known, but by no means less impressive, Caño Island.

You can dive Caño Island with the highly rated sister vessels Okeanos Aggressor I and Okeanos Aggressor II. These boats along with the other Cocos liveaboards can take you diving the once-in-a-lifetime, liveaboard-only dive destination Cocos Island.

Now that it is easier than ever to travel to Costa Rica from the UK and Europe. Book your Costa Rican liveaboard diving safari with our Dive The World sales team right away on +66 (0)94 582 7973 / (0)83 505 7794 or send us an email and book your Cocos or Caño Island liveaboard diving safari today!