Dental tourism in Costa Rica and vacations
Costa Rica Advantages for Dental tourism
Many people needing major dental work are finding that they can save up to 75% of the cost by going abroad to Costa Rica. There are many dentists located in the capital of San Jose, but Mora & Valdez is the only specialized clinic located on the southwest coast, so you can come to have Dental Tourism in Costa Rica. Even though it is in the coastal rainforest, the clinic is equipped with state of the art equipment and uses the finest quality materials manufactured in the US. The office is so modern and comfortable, that the only way you will know that you are in the jungle is by looking out the window.
By having your Medical or Dental work done here, you are already saving money. Through our involvement with the Costa Ballena Community, we can add to those savings substantially while helping you with all of your arrangements for Dental Tourism in Costa Rica. Contact us for more information and check out the links on our website.
When we arrange your stay, our tours can include…
Telephone and online consultation prior to your trip with consultants who have been patients themselves. Before you arrive, we will have established a clear line of communication. We will educate you on your procedure, advise you of possible complications, suggest a diet and inform you on your medical prescriptions and restrictions. If requested, you will be put in touch with other patients.
- Your travel arrangements including hotel, transportation, car rental, special needs and meal requirements and general logistic consultation. We can design a package with additional savings.
- An introduction tour of the Costa Ballena Area, including the best restaurants and local attractions on the Whale Coast with discounted coupons for many of these businesses.
- Your initial trip to the Clinic and help with your transportation details during your visit.
- Referrals to other professionals (massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritionists, etc.)
Mora & Valdez Dentistry
Dental
in Costa Rica
Can you imagine going on a trip where you learn to stand-up paddleboard, snorkel on the reef of a pirate island, watch monkeys swing from trees, zip lining through the primary rainforest, deep sea fishing, eating fine cuisine, exploring sea caves and at the same time improving your health and appearance. All this while you are saving money. Come home smiling! You have been on Dental Tourism in Costa Rica with Mora & Valdez Advanced Dentistry.
Costa Rica is well known for its high quality, affordable dental, and medical work, but most of the specialist have clinics in the city of San Jose. We are located only 3 hours away on the Costa Ballena (Whale Coast) in the town of Bahia Ballena, Uvita, a popular and affordable destination. In our Dental Tourism in Costa Rica you can see the rainforest, beaches, and abundant wildlife, you are already there. Our famous landmark is a giant sandbar in the shape of a Whales Tail where large pods of these giant mammals can be seen migrating. The whole area is surrounded by the coastal mountains and rainforest. It is a natural atmosphere that promotes recovery and still provides multiple options for activities and tours.
The cost of our dental services compared to the costs you face back home will make you consider dental tourism in Costa Rica as part of your next vacation.
“The cost of dental care in Costa Rica is actually less than half the price of the same service you can get in the United States. But is cost the only reason why you should go to Costa Rica to get dental care? Not really. Below are some of the other reasons why you should consider traveling to this beautiful country for dental services. Costa Rica’s geographical location plays a big part in making it a great destination spot for Westerners and Europeans alike. Costa Rica’s nearness to the US, Canada, and other European countries, a mere 4-7 hours flight, lure tourists to travel to this country. Another plus factor is that visa is not required of American and Canadian citizens who wish to stay for less than three months. Another reason why people should go to Costa Rica for dental care is the standard of dental care in there.
Since The World Health Organization ranked Costa Rica’s health care system higher than the system in the United States, patients are assured that they will get the best medical service there is. It is also worth mentioning that the dental clinics and hospitals in Costa Rica are modern, clean and use first-rate prostheses and dental equipment like those used in the US, UK and Canada since most are imported from the said countries. Furthermore, they use the newest technology in the market to diagnose and treat dental illnesses for complete Dental Tourism in Costa Rica.
Lastly, dental health care providers in Costa Rica are highly qualified since they studied and trained in prestigious dental schools in the United States and Europe. They are also more experienced in doing some dental treatments than some American dentists as they have had years doing dental procedures that are not yet or just newly approved in the US.”
Dental Tourism in Costa Rica
Places to visit in Costa Rica
Uvita
See the famous Whale Tail, visit Marino Ballena National Park, take a whale watching tour, enjoy the incredible sunsets, or go surfing.
This ultimate guide to visiting Uvita includes how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Uvita, Costa Rica.
You can also take the Tracopa bus from San Jose to Uvita, which runs several times a day. The bus journey takes around 4.5-5 hours, and the bus ticket costs around 10 USD.
This ultimate guide to visiting Uvita includes how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Uvita, Costa Rica.
The best way to reach Uvita is by rental car, private or shared shuttle, or public bus.
A shuttle minivan from San Jose Airport/City to Uvita starts from 60 USD. Book a minivan here.
There is no airport in Uvita. The nearest airport is in San Jose, which is about a 4-hour drive depending on traffic.
Jaco Beach
Jaco is located on the Central Pacific Coast, 61 miles (98 kilometers) south-west of the airport in capital city of San Jose, the Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO). It is also possible to arrive there from the international airport of Liberia (LIR) in the northern province of Guanacaste Costa Rica.
Its location near to the capital and main cities of the country, varied range of lodging and dining options, nightlife and activities in the area such as surfing and great sport fishing, have put Jaco on the map.
It is the closest beach town from the capital city of San Jose Costa Rica, and the modern Route 27 highway, inaugurated in 2010, made it an even more accessible road trip. This means that travelling there won’t take you a lot of time.
Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park
The reason to come here is Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, one of the most picturesque bits of tropical coast in Costa Rica. If you get bored of cooing at the baby monkeys scurrying in the canopy and scanning for birds and sloths, the turquoise waves and perfect sand provide endless entertainment.
Tamarindo Beach
Spending a day at Conchal is an entirely different experience than spending the day in Tamarindo. Conchal’s beach is not the surf haven that Tamarindo provides, but many times throughout the year you can go snorkeling and see a large variety of fish right off the sand.
That sand – by the way – is unique in its own way, made up of small, refined pieces of seashells. Grab a local lunch in next-door Brasilito.
Taking a hike to the Rio Celeste waterfall is a wonderful day trip from Tamarindo. Located
in the Tenorio National Park, Rio Celeste can drive to from Tamarindo in less than 3 hours.
This is the farthest trip we will mention for a day trip, but as long as you pack a lunch and
bring some water bottles this adventure hike will make for a long, but extremely exciting
day.
Playa Santa Teresa
For nightlife, there are a few places to have a good time when the sun goes down. There are some places with live music and a good happy hour. We recommend going to Hotel Vista Las Olas or Banana Beach Restaurant for sunset happy hour cocktails first. Then check the schedules (there are always flyers on trees at the beach or people handing out flyers) for what’s going on that night.
Surfing
Cabo Blanco Reserve Hike
This reserve is at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula and has two nice hiking trails for visitors to see the forest and spot some wildlife.
Fishing
Since Mal Pais is famous for fishing, you can go on an off or in shore fishing trip to catch rooster fish, sail fish, tuna, grouper, jacks, snappers and more.
Yoga
Take a yoga class at one of the many hotels or studios that offer classes. They have everything from beginner to expert level yoga classes and even have acro yoga, couples yoga and private classes.
Monte Verde
Monteverde has unquestionably become one of Costa Rica's most popular draws, making it a must-do for 70,000 tourists each year. Its popularity is largely due to its many protected reserves, including the star of the show: the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Listed in National Geographic and Newsweek as one of the top cloud forest reserves in the world, the government even deemed it one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Costa Rica.
Sendero Bosque Nuboso (1.2 miles) is one of the most popular trails in the reserve. Over its course, it gains an elevation of about 213 feet and at one point features a viewpoint of the Continental Divide. You're treated to some stunning flora along the way, including the tendril-like branches of strangler figs. You should be able to finish the trail in an hour and a half.
Sendero Pantanoso (1 mile) is another trail that runs along the Continental Divide. This one, however, passes through a swamp forest and includes conifer trees. Most people complete the trail in just over an hour.
Sendero El Río (1.2 miles) is a trail that runs along the Quebrada Cuecha ravine. It features bridges over streams and there's a side trail that runs to a small, inviting waterfall that looks like something out of Tolkien. Most finish this trail in about an hour and a half.
La Fortuna
For someone who looking for a true hardcore adventure, I would say this isn’t worth it to them. Our family was visiting during this time and it was great for everyone. Catarata La Fortuna is beautiful and I don’t think anyone would truly be disappointed by seeing its massive strength and size.
The park is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. It is suggested to come no later than 4 pm if you want to enjoy the entirety of the park.
This hike will take you 20-30 minutes to go down the stairs. This all depends on your fitness level but there are resting spots after every major section. You will see a lot of people looking tired going back up but you can do it!
Volcan Poás
The view of the rim of the crater is nothing short of spectacular, giving visitors a unique memory that they'll hold onto for a lifetime.
While the main draw is the crater, there are other things to do in the area, too. For instance, the park is home to a number of interesting bird species, including the fire throated and tan hermit hummingbirds, the quetzal, and the grey-breasted wood wren. There are also larger mammals in the forest as well, such as coyotes, weasels, and armadillos.
Because Poas Volcano is so close to Costa Rica's capital city, many visitors sleep in San Jose and just make a day trip to the national park. But there are also closer options with unique accommodations for those who want to get out of the city.
- La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge: This exciting resort is a favorite for families. It's located in the rain forest and includes a wildlife refuge, butterfly garden, snake house, jungle hikes, and natural waterfalls. Plus, it's one of the closest options to the national park and just 30 minutes away from the entrance.
- Casa Orquídeas: This no-frills boutique hotel in San Jose only has seven rooms, so you can rest assured that you'll be taken care of by the family who runs it. There are also common rooms to mingle and socialize with other guests, which is a plus for solo travelers who don't want to sleep in a hostel. It's about 90 minutes by car from the national park entrance.
- Apartotel La Sabana: This centrally-located accommodation gets its name because it offers apartment-style rooms with full kitchens but the amenities of a hotel like room service and concierge. It's just over an hour away from the national park but within walking distance of many of San Jose's best spots.
Tortuguero
Tortuguero is a small and remote village located on the northeast Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and named after the 40,000 turtles that come to nest on its beaches every year. The village is within the wider Tortuguero National Park, a broad floodplain known for its dense rainforest, swampy lagoons rich in wildlife, and communities connected by a network of canals.
Tortuguero is famous for the green turtles that come to the long, empty beaches to nest. Hawksbill, loggerhead, and giant leatherback turtles also nest in this region. The green turtle nesting season runs from July to October, and the hatching season from November to January, and many visitors choose to time their visit in these windows to maximise their chances of watching one of nature’s remarkable events. On many of our trips to Costa Rica, including the Costa Rica Adventure and Pura Vida Costa Rica – Premium Adventure, you can join an optional excursion to the beach to see the endangered green turtles laying eggs, as long as your departure coincides with the nesting season. Whatever time of year you travel here, you can visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy Tortuguero Visitor Centre, an educational centre in Tortuguero’s village, to learn more about sea turtle research and conservation.
El Arenal
At 1,633 metres above sea level, Arenal Volcano has been until recently the most active in Central America and was considered to be one of the world's ten most active volcanoes! As you can imagine this is a popular spot for anyone wanting to visit Costa Rica therefore you should be aware, in peak season especially
You can explore the area by combining a multitude of activities such as canopy walkways, horse riding, canoeing and walking. The nearby hot springs, though busy, make for a special experience bathing beneath the stars and the nearby Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is well worth a day trip.
The volcano's growth over the ages has been characterised by a number of eruptions — the last major one of which occurred on 29th July 1968. This eruption blasted off the top of the volcano creating the volcano shape that can be seen today.
Termas de Tabacón
La Fortuna hotel that has hot springs on-site, you can choose the Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa, the resident hotel of the Tabacon Hot Springs. It’s important to note, however, are accessible to the public via the purchase of a hot springs pass; they are not reserved for hotel guests. If you’d prefer to stay at a La Fortuna hotel that limits hot springs access to hotel guests only, it would be best to choose a different hotel.
There are three thermal springs that naturally surface and flow in the property at 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). Total volume generated by the three springs is 80 liters per second (approximately 20 galons / second). In total, there are five different springs that exist throughout the property, with temperatures ranging from 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). There are two main branches to the thermal river that flow through the gardens, and one cold river spring that flows down from the rainforest. Two more springs are captured for cold water consumption for guest use in the resort. Tabacon was the first Hot Springs resort open to the public in the Arenal Volcano Region, and is still the top rated, most acclaimed and publicized luxury Hot Springs and Spa resort in Costa Rica.
Tabacon is COMPLETELY natural. Water flows by gravity throughout the property, forming in-river pools, waterfalls, and cascades and filling in the pools throughout the resort. An eco-friendly and carbon neutral resort, Tabacon places a big emphasis on turning the guest experience a close encounter with nature.
Catarata Río Celeste
Hidden in Tenorio Volcano National Park, Rio Celeste, and the waterfall was for long Costa Rica's best-kept secret. Nowadays, it's one of the top attractions in Guanacaste Province. Our Rio Celeste travel guide includes tips on how to get there, how much things cost, what to pack, and when to go. Simply put, here is everything you should know before visiting Rio Celeste.
Costa Rica has two distinct seasons - wet and dry. The dry season lasts from December to April, while the wet season, when you can expect more rain, especially in the afternoons, is from May to November.
The rules are a bit different in Tenorio Volcano National Park, though, and it can rain any time of the year because of the settings in Costa Rican's hills and rainforest.
Sure, the rainy season receives a lot of rainfall, but we cannot say that visiting the area in the dry season is a safe bet.
It is essential to mention that Rio Celeste has unworldly blue water only when it does not rain. When it rains a lot, all the mud from the jungle goes into the water, and the amazingly blue color turns into a dark brownish one, which can cause disappointment as it is not picturesque anymore.
Corcovado
There are about 140 species of mammals, 117 species of amphibians and reptiles, 40 species of freshwater fish, 367 species of birds, 6,000 species of insects and 500 species of trees. All this flora and fauna is distributed among humid forests and cloud forests, rivers, mangroves, lagoons, marshes and, of course, heavenly beaches which stretch for more than 45 kilometres.
This is an area with dolphins, so even before reaching your destination you’ll already be enjoying the wonders of Corcovado.
But that’s not all. If you visit this area between February and May you can find humpback whales which come down from the North whilst, if you visit between July and November, you can spot those that move up from the southern seas. In addition, at certain times of the year you’ll see migratory birds which add to the hundreds of species inhabiting the park.
In addition, if you’re a bit lucky and a good observer, you’ll have the opportunity to see one of the four species of sea turtles which arrive on the beaches of Corcovado to lay their eggs. On the trails of the national park it’s also normal to find different species of monkeys, sloths, tapirs, agouti pacas, raccoons, anteaters and coatimundis.
But not only mammals inhabit the park. Every day, hundreds of bird species spread their wings over the Corcovado. It’s a show like no other! Hikers delight in the scarlet macaw, the toucan, the tinamou, the campana bird, the griffon vulture, the pelican, the blue-crowned manakin and the white falcon, among other species.
Tired of walking? Don’t worry: you’ll have time to relax on the beautiful beaches lapped by the Pacific. Hungry? No problem, because excursions usually include a picnic service. Hiking is not the only option in the Corcovado. The crystal-clear waters which surround the edges of the park allow activities such as swimming and diving (with turtles, manta rays, dolphins and coloured fish). In addition, you can go kayaking or even practice recreational fishing.
Playa Puerto Viejo
On the Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca or simply Puerto Viejo is a slice of paradise in Costa Rica. It’s a seaside town known for its stunning beaches, incredible food, and chill vibe that is perfect for a relaxing vacation.
Puerto Viejo is located in the province of Limon. It’s around 4.5 hours from San Jose and 1 hour from the city of Limon.
Playa Cocles is a favorite beach of mine located only 10 minutes from the center of Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. Playa Cocles won me over with its beautiful soft sand, clear blue waters, and the fact that there were fewer tourists than most of the other beaches in Costa Rica.
Mora & Valdez Dental Dental Tourism in Costa Rica
Meet Our Qualified Team
Dr. Ricardo Valdez
Dentist
Dra. Priscila Mora
Dentist