Head-to-head

🇨🇷Costa Rica vs Peru🇵🇪

Choosing between Costa Rica and Peru? Both sit in Americas, but they attract very different travellers. This side-by-side breaks down cost, climate, safety, flight time, and vibe so you can pick the trip that actually matches how you travel.

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Costa Rica
🇨🇷 Americas

Costa Rica

Cloud forests, two coastlines, and pura vida attitude

Daily cost

$140

Flight from NYC

5h

Peak temp

30°C

Safety

Safe

Best for

Nature and surf travellers, families, and eco-tourists.

Peru
🇵🇪 Americas

Peru

Inca ruins, Amazon jungle, and the world's best ceviche

Daily cost

$90

Flight from NYC

8h

Peak temp

22°C

Safety

Moderate

Best for

Ruin-chasers, hikers, and adventurous eaters.

— Scorecard

Head to head

Costa Rica leads in 4 of 10 dimensions; Peru wins 3.

Dimension🇨🇷Costa Rica🇵🇪PeruEdge
Value for money
6
8
Peru
Food scene
7
10
Peru
Beaches
9
5
Costa Rica
Culture & history
6
10
Peru
Ease of travel
7
5
Costa Rica
Nature & landscapes
10
10
Tie
Nightlife
6
6
Tie
Family-friendly
9
6
Costa Rica
Adventure
10
10
Tie
Luxury options
8
7
Costa Rica

Scores are 1–10 editorial ratings calibrated against the full destination catalogue. Not absolute — a 7 in Culture here is comparable to a 7 in Culture on any other comparison page on destination.com.

How they compare

DimensionCosta RicaPeruWinner
💰CostAround $140/day mid-range — considered moderate for international travel. Expect hotels from $84/night and restaurant meals in the $17–$31 range.Around $90/day mid-range — considered moderate for international travel. Expect hotels from $54/night and restaurant meals in the $11–$20 range.Peru
☀️Weather & SeasonsPeak-season highs around 30°C. Best window: December–April.Peak-season highs around 22°C. Best window: May–September.Costa Rica
✈️Flight TimeShort-haul at around 5h from New York. Fly-direct from most US east-coast hubs.Medium-haul at around 8h from NYC. One-stop fares are typically cheapest.Costa Rica
🛡️SafetyGenerally safe for tourists. Standard big-city caution around pickpocketing in tourist areas is enough.Safe for most tourist zones but exercise awareness — petty theft is common in crowds and some neighbourhoods should be avoided after dark.Costa Rica
✨Vibe & SceneCloud forests, two coastlines, and pura vida attitude. Highlights: Arenal volcano and hot springs; Monteverde cloud-forest zip-lines; Nicoya Peninsula surf beaches.Inca ruins, Amazon jungle, and the world's best ceviche. Highlights: Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley; Lima food scene; Amazon riverboat lodges.Tie
🎯Best ForNature and surf travellers, families, and eco-tourists.Ruin-chasers, hikers, and adventurous eaters.Tie

The verdict

For most travellers, the choice comes down to what kind of week you're really after. Costa Rica leans nature + beach, while Peru leans cultural + mountain. Peru wins on value (~$90/day mid-range vs $140/day in Costa Rica), but Costa Rica tends to deliver a more polished, higher-spend experience. Neither is wrong — pick by personality, not by ranking.

Pick Costa Rica if…

You want nature and surf travellers, families, and eco-tourists, you're drawn to nature and beach experiences, and you're happy with a 5h flight from the US.

Pick Peru if…

You want ruin-chasers, hikers, and adventurous eaters, you're drawn to cultural and mountain experiences, and you're happy with a 8h flight from the US.

Book a trip to Costa Rica or Peru

Compare Expedia hotel, flight, and package prices for both destinations in one click.

🇨🇷 Costa Rica — Flight + Hotel🇵🇪 Peru — Flight + HotelCosta Rica hotelsPeru hotels

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