Costa Rica is one of the most attractive destinations for Americans headed abroad for healthcare. The birthplace of eco-tourism is also home to many dental and cosmetic surgery clinics catering to U.S. patients, prompting some to call it "the Beverly Hills of Latin America." About 15% of its foreign tourists come for medical care.
Costa Rica's proximity to the United States -- the capital San Jose is less than a three-hour flight from some U.S. airports -- and its stunning natural attractions, combine with the presence of many well-regarded clinics to make Costa Rica a very appealing destination for dental work and cosmetic surgery. It costs less and is quicker to get to Costa Rica than rival destinations, and its bioversity makes the country hugely attractive to medical tourists seeking both cut-rate healthcare and truly memorable travel experience.
A quarter of Costa Rica is composed of national parks and protected areas, offering many places to see abundant wildlife and lush tropical vegetation. Costa Rica is a top eco-tourism destination because although it comprises just 0.01% of the earth's surface, it is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species. That's due largely to a diversity of habitats, including tropical rainforests, mist-shrouded mountains, rain-fed rivers, volcanoes and white-sand beaches.
As a society, Costa Rica also has much to brag about. Within Latin America, it's the most stable democracy, and has both the highest literacy rate and life expectancy.
Almost all the best cosmetic and dental clinics are located in the capital San Jose, a city of 1.6 milliion, just over a third of all Ticans (as Costa Ricans refer to themselves.) San José is situated on a high plateau (about 3,500 feet above sea level) , in the center of the country. Because of the altitude, the temperature year round is cool (59-79°F), but it's humid (relative humidity 60% and 90%). The rainy season is April to November.
San Jose was just a little village until 1824 when Costa Rica's first elected head of state, Juan Mora Fernandez, moved the government there from the old Spanish colonial capital of Cartago. As a result, San Jose has little of the Spanish colonial architecture common in most other Latin American capitals.
San Jose is served by Juan Santamaria International Airport, located about 14 west of downtown, near Alajuela.