Costa Rica has become one of the top vacation destinations in the world. It ranks in the Top 10 in best beaches in the world. It ranks fifth in best cheapest winter vacations in the world. Costa Rica is an excellent place to visit during January through April, what the locals, the Ticos, call the dry season.
In addition to being one of the top overall vacation destinations in the world, it’s also one of the top places for U.S. citizens to receive overseas dental care. The Costa Rica dental tourism industry is flourishing due to Americans flocking to the pure vida way of life for what are normally costly dental procedures.
What makes Costa Rica such a special vacation destination? And why is Costa Rica such a popular place in the dental tourism industry?
What Makes Costa Rica one of the Top Destinations in the World?
Costa Rica is a diverse place. It’s rich in wildlife, including toucans, monkeys, and jaguars, and rainforests or cloud-forests like Monteverde. It also has volcanoes and some of the top beaches on Earth. Here’s more information on both!
Costa Rica Beaches are Some of the Most Beautiful on the Planet
Costa Rica has 800 miles of coastline. With so much coastline mileage, beaches are plentiful in Costa Rica. 300 beaches border both of Costa Rica’s coastlines, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Check out 5 of the most popular:
- Coco Beach – Located in Guanacaste and the North Caribbean, Coco Beach is known for its awesome night life. It’s always crowded, but if you like being around people, this beach is for you.
- Playa Carillo – Only the cleanest and pristine beaches fly the blue flag. That’s what Playa Carillo does. It’s been ranked the 27th top beach in the world.
- Playa Flamingo – Unlike Coco Beach, Playa Flamingo is a secluded spot perfect for families and couples looking to relax.
- Samara Beach – A six kilometer-stretch of sand, Samara Beach, like most destinations in Costa Rica, is a great place to relax. It’s also shaped like a horseshoe with each end protected by a reef.
- Herradura Beach – Only locals used to go to Herradura Beach. Since Marriott built the Los Suenos Marriot Ocean and Golf Resort, Herradura Beach has become a major tourist attraction.
Volcanoes are a Part of Costa Rica’s Natural Diversity
Not only will tourists find a variety of wildlife and great beaches in Costa Rica, but they will also find volcanoes. Costa Rica’s volcanoes are not only big with tourists, but they also attract scientists.
Costa Rica boasts 3 volcanic range systems: Guanacaste Range, the Central Volcanic Range, and the Talamanca Range. Only one volcano, El Viejo, is in the Talamanca Range. See below for a few of Costa Rica’s more active volcanoes.
- Arenal – Arenal used to be the most active volcano in Costa Rica. Until 2010 it regularly ejected hot gases and steam. Arenal is still thought of as Costa Rica’s most famous volcano.
- Poas Volcano – The most accessible volcano in Costa Rica, Poas Volcano not only has an active lake of boiling acid, but it also has a cold-water lake. The water from the lake flows down the side of Poas Volcano to create the Sarapiqui River.
- Irazu Volcano – Most believe that Irazu Volcano provides the most scenic and spectacular views. It last erupted in 1994.
Why are U.S. Citizens Flocking to Costa Rica for Overseas Dental Care?
Not that we’ve got a grasp on how beautiful Costa Rica is and why it’s such a great destination spot, let’s turn to Costa Rica dental tourism. Why are U.S. citizens heading to Costa Rica for dental care?
Dental Care Costs in the U.S. Continue to Rise
Dental Care costs in the United States continue to rise. One of the reasons for this is because of the lack of dentists. There are only 61 dentists for every 100,000 people that live in the United States. Although many of those 61 per 100,000 population dentists are capable of providing basic care like cleanings and fillings, they aren’t specialized enough to always perform root canals.
Only a few dentists can perform a dental implant. Dentists are allowed by law in the U.S. to perform dental implants, but they often refer their patients to oral and maxillofacial surgeons or periodontists.
Any time a specialist is involved in the U.S., the cost rises. The typical dental implant in the United States can average $4,000. Depending on if other procedures must be performed before a dental implant, like a bone graft, a single dental implant performed in the United States can cost $10,000 or more.
Dental Insurance in the U.S. Does Not Cover Dental Implants
The worst part is that in the United States almost all dental insurance follows the 100-80-50 rule. One-hundred percent of the easy procedures, like a cleaning, are paid in full by the insurance company. Tough procedures like fillings are only paid at 80% while most dental insurance only pays 50% of intense procedures like root canals or dental implants.
Costa Rica Dental Tourism Makes Dental Procedures a Vacation
Costa Rican dental clinics like DDS Dental and the Flikier Dental Institute understand that U.S. citizens are looking for options. They’ve partnered with dental tourism consultant companies like Care Overseas to help them provide full-fledged dental tourism packages.
U.S. Citizens can head to careoverseas.com and get a quote for dental procedures. They can then discuss with the best way to get to Costa Rica, where to stay, and how to get home.
The fun starts when they arrive in Costa Rica. Dental tourism companies provide tourist packages. In addition to knowing highly trained professionals that will perform their procedures, they will also know the best things to do during their stay in Costa Rica, like when to best to visit Coco Beach or Playa Carillo. Or, when is the best time to check out Arenal or Irazu.
Anyone in need of a dental procedure that their insurance won’t pay enough of, or if they don’t have dental insurance, should consider contacting a company like Care Overseas. 40,000 dental patients travel to Costa Rica for dental care procedures every year. If you must, you should consider becoming one of the 40,000 this year.