Bilingual website for tourism: what you need to get direct bookings

In areas like Arenal, La Fortuna or Guanacaste, many customers come from abroad and decide on their phones, often the night before. A well-built bilingual website is the difference between receiving that booking directly or losing it to a platform that charges a commission.

1. Truly bilingual, not half translated

• Each language should have its own web address (for example, / and /en/). That way Google shows the right version to each person.
• Copy should be reviewed by someone fluent in the language. An unreviewed machine translation signals little care.
• Prices, hours and policies must match in both languages.

2. Built for phones

Most travelers browse on their phones, sometimes with a weak signal. So:

• The site must load fast: optimized images and nothing unnecessary.
• Buttons must be large and easy to tap.
• Key information (what you offer, how much it costs, where you are) must be visible without searching.

3. A clear path to booking

Every page should answer: what do I do now? The best options for tourism businesses in Costa Rica:

• A booking button that opens WhatsApp with the details already filled in (service, date, number of people).
• A short form for those who prefer email.
• Deposit and cancellation policies visible before booking.

4. Local SEO to show up when people search

• A complete Google Business profile with photos and hours.
• Structured data so Google understands what kind of business you are and where.
• Content that uses the words your customers search for, in both languages.

5. Visible trust

• Real reviews linked to the source (Google, Tripadvisor).
• Your own photos, not stock images.
• Clear contact details and location.

A real example

For Bamboo Massages Wellness & Spa in La Fortuna de San Carlos, we built a bilingual site with one address per language, a service catalog with prices, real reviews and a booking dialog that sends the request via WhatsApp with all details filled in.

Want a site like that? See our websites that convert or get a free assessment.