24 Costa Rica Journey Suggestions To KNOW (2023)

Have plans to journey to Costa Rica and want some Costa Rica journey ideas? With low-cost and direct flights from the US, a plethora of wildlife, gorgeous shoreline, and pristine jungle, it’s no surprise Costa Rica has turn into a sizzling journey vacation spot within the final decade.

We had been transfixed by lovely nation photographs and knew it was time to make the journey. In case you’re like us and dreaming of a Costa Rican trip, listed here are my greatest Costa Rica journey ideas that can assist you plan.

Useful Costa Rica Journey Tricks to know

Welcome to an Eco-Lovers Paradise

One among my high Costa Rica journey ideas is to take pleasure in all the character. Within the ’80s, the primary ecotourism increase started in Costa Rica. Vacationers started to be taught of the nation’s wealth of pure wildlife and acted quick to protect it.

As tourism {dollars} continued, the Costa Ricans shortly fell in step and preserved their nation’s magnificence. It’s now trickled all the way down to nearly each degree; we even discovered small soda retailers (native eating places) utilizing eco-friendly merchandise like biodegradable straws and ditching styrofoam takeaway.

What’s superb is over 27% of the nation is protected as a nationwide park, wildlife refuge, or reserve. To make issues higher, even the Costa Rican authorities has taken lively measures to guard the nation’s biodiversity. In case you’re questioning the place to go in Costa Rica – be certain that to incorporate the rainforest!

Take Notice of Your Invoice

One other of my Costa Rica journey ideas is to pay attention to your checks. It’s value noting that anytime you eat out, whether or not at a restaurant, soda store, or restaurant, there will probably be a ten% service cost and a 13% tax added to each invoice.

So don’t be stunned in case your invoice is 23% greater than what you thought it might be. This additionally signifies that there isn’t any want to depart an additional tip to your server except you wish to ( you Americanos).

Roads = Crap

No record of Costa Rica journey ideas could be full with out mentioning that a lot of the roads are absolute crap. In case you plan on driving in Costa Rica, it’s greatest to know that the roads may be fairly terrible, a few of the worst in all of the Americas, to be actual.

All of it is determined by the place you journey, however we discovered nearly any highway, not a part of the nationwide freeway, to be fairly meh. The worst we personally traveled on was from Nicoya to Santa Teresa (I could or could not have had again spasms from the fixed crater-like potholes).

It’s greatest to hire a 4×4 for those who drive in Costa Rica. Belief me, pay the additional quantity and save your self the headache of touring with a small car. You’ll need the excessive clearance and energy from a four-wheel-drive car, granted it doesn’t have to be something enormous.

Examine Your Automotive Rental Costs

If there may be one Costa Rica journey tip I can provide you, double-check your automobile rental costs. After we first began trying to find automobile leases in Costa Rica, we had been shocked by the loopy low costs we noticed. Sadly, for our wallets, we simply hadn’t clicked to the cost web page but. In Costa Rica, all drivers are required to have third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage.

This isn’t lined together with your bank card or residence insurance coverage supplier like in different nations (however verify simply in case you are feeling it might be lined). Even our major insurance coverage lined by our Chase Sapphire Reserve (one of many high journey bank cards available on the market) doesn’t work in Costa Rica as a third-party legal responsibility plan.

As a result of insurance coverage, the net worth is far more costly than you assume. We advise including the insurance coverage to your reserving to make sure you aren’t met with a shock price addition once you land in Costa Rica. For 25 days, we bought a small 4×4 for $436 from Alamo and had an awesome expertise, and that was a reasonably first rate deal, in my view! I usually wish to verify comparability websites to get the very best costs. You’ll be able to see our rental automobile ideas right here.

When you have extra particular rental car necessities, just a few websites I like to check charges and specs on are:

Drive Rigorously

Now that you’ve got your rental automobile, it’s time to apply secure driving. Once more, most of the roads in Costa Rica are pothole-ridden and grime. They are often robust for an inexperienced driver to navigate. To not point out as with many nations, we discovered the drivers right here to be impatient, quick, and scary, and I’m not even speaking concerning the semi-truck drivers who don’t appear to worth life.

We noticed one bike accident in our 25 days in Costa Rica and two, sure two, overturned semis in a ditch. Watch out and get journey insurance coverage earlier than touring to Costa Rica.

USD is Completely Acceptable

The colón is the forex of Costa Rica, however nearly wherever will settle for USD as cost too; you simply could get a foul trade charge. On the time of writing the trade charge is 1 USD = 560 Costa Rican Colón. Be sure that to obtain the XE app so you may all the time keep updated with the charges.

Nature is Not Free

After all visiting all of the pure points of interest is the very best factor to do in Costa Rica. The primary waterfall we visited in Costa Rica was Catarata del Toro, and I used to be shocked once they requested for a whopping $15 admission payment to see it.

I anticipated I must pay one thing, possibly $5 – however $14? Little did I do know that this might not be a first-time incidence.

All through our time in Costa Rica, we visited numerous waterfalls. At all times paying a minimum of $12-$20 per particular person to go to. Don’t be shocked for those who go to La Paz waterfalls and pay a $50 entrance payment! I hope all these charges are going again to conservation as a substitute of a authorities official’s pocket.

The Ticos are So Welcoming

If there may be one truth about Costa Rica I can stress, it’s that the persons are amiable and symbolize Costa Rica tourism effectively! Costa Ricans or “Ticos” are glad to welcome you to their lovely nation, assist you to out, chat with you, and share their piece of paradise with guests.

We additionally discovered that the majority Ticos may converse English effectively, nevertheless it definitely will assist to choose up just a few Spanish phrases.

Watch Out for the Humidity

If there may be one factor that killed us (and our electronics) in Costa Rica, it was the humidity. We discovered the humidity in Costa Rica horrible within the south, together with the coast, and just about wherever away from the cloud forest. It was robust to dry our garments and maintain them from not smelling and molding, however the actual downside was with our electronics going haywire.

In case you’re touring with numerous electronics, as we did, it’s greatest to stuff socks filled with rice in your bag to soak of the moisture. Or, for those who assume you should have hassle within the warmth, be certain that to e book locations with AC.

We booked Airbnb just a few instances with a washer, dryer, and AC to dry our stuff out. Be sure that to examine the very best time to go to Costa Rica so you may entry temperatures and rain to your go to.

Deliver Water Sneakers

Not one in all your typical Costa Rica journey ideas, however a useful one! Cameron could have laughed at me just a few instances whereas exploring the waterfalls, however I bought the final chortle with lovely toes protected by my water sneakers.

In case you plan on spending time across the waterfalls and going within the water, it’s value choosing up a pair of low-cost water sneakers. They are going to assist you to grip the slippery rocks and defend your toes from cuts.

Costa Rica is Not Low-cost

It’s possible you’ll assume that Costa Rica is an affordable vacation spot to journey to, given its location in Central America. We discovered first hand that this was not the case. Whereas touring round Costa Rica, we discovered park charges to be excessive for the vacationers (keep in mind these waterfalls I talked about?), gas costs costly, automobile rental costs are excessive given that you just had so as to add insurance coverage to all the things, and meals costs a rip-off.

Assume I’m mendacity? Costa Rica is rated as one of the vital costly locations to dwell in Latin America and has the best costs in Central America.

The nation is filled with vacationers, ex-pats, and American retirees looking for their little slice of paradise. This, mixed with excessive taxes on imports and sustainability efforts, has elevated costs through the years.

I’m not saying that Costa Rica is as costly as Norway. It’s simply one of many higher-cost locations to journey in Central America.

There are Methods to Save Cash

Regardless of the nation being a bit costly there are methods to save cash in Costa Rica. My recommendation could be to:

• Keep in dorm rooms or camp: Like wherever on the earth, hostels and campsites are the most cost effective lodging choices.
• Eat native: Sodas gives you an opportunity to attempt the native meals at the very best worth.
• Skip the touristy websites: Issues like zip-lining, four-wheeling, and horseback using are enjoyable however will not be precisely budget-friendly.
• Go to within the Off Season: Visiting within the inexperienced season will yield decrease costs and fewer vacationers.
• Keep out of San Jose: Not that you just’ll actually wish to hand around in the capital anyway, however lodging and getting round this space can add up. 

Plan Your Journey Accordingly With the Wet Season

In case you’re questioning how one can journey in Costa Rica effectively, be sure to time your journey proper. You’re not assured dry, sunny climate anytime in Costa Rica, however the ordinary wet season in Costa Rica is from Might to December. The wet season right here may have an effect on the place you journey, and I might pay specific consideration to the climate patterns.

As beforehand talked about, many Costa Rican roads are grime and dust, so for those who add a bit of rain to that, they may shortly turn into impassable. We visited initially of the wet season in Might and had completely no hassle driving. Though it did rain a bit greater than we preferred, the luxurious jungle surroundings was attractive, costs had been decrease, and it was certainly much less busy than within the dry season.

A phrase of warning – We had been informed that October is the worst time to go to Costa Rica. Rainfall is excessive, and plenty of companies shut down. In case you can’t keep away from touring in September or October, head to the Caribbean coast for the very best probability of dry climate.

Credit score Playing cards are Broadly Accepted

One other Costa Rica journey tip to know is that bank cards are extensively used. I used to be pleasantly stunned to pay with my bank card at most institutions in Costa Rica. Even little soda retailers had been accepting playing cards. We all the time attempt to pay with a card after we can whereas touring to rack up airline factors.

Nevertheless, I might by no means counsel touring round Costa Rica cashless. At all times have some USD or Colons in your pocket simply in case. Learn extra of our journey banking ideas right here.

Costa Rica is the Switzerland of Central America

Costa Rica has been dubbed the “Switzerland of Central America” for just a few causes. They’ve a secure democracy and no army. They like to stay impartial and never get entangled in battle and violence.

Costa Ricans sometimes dwell first rate lives out of poverty, in contrast to a lot of the remainder of Central America. There may be good well being care and training system in place as effectively. Usually, Ticos are very glad and happy with their small nation.

The Actual Rainforest Cafe

I wished to journey to Costa Rica for the jungle and to really feel like I used to be in Jurassic Park 5. Fortunately, I used to be not upset when visiting Costa Rica. It actually is a phenomenal nation with many major and secondary forests, wildlife, and pure lushness.

It was onerous for me to consider this gorgeous nation was so shut and accessible to the USA and even Europe. Severely we traveled to Costa Rica cheaper than it might have price us to fly again to North Carolina. There are many direct flight choices from the US that fly proper into San Jose!

Benefit from the Wildlife

Costa Rica is residence to greater than 500,000 species, with 300,000 of these bugs. This staggering quantity represents almost 4% of the full species estimated worldwide. That’s an entire lotta wildlife in a single little nation.

Costa Rica is definitely one of the vital biodiverse nations on the earth. Irrespective of the place you might be within the nation, many superb animals and birds may be discovered.

In case you’re trying to find a sloth, you in all probability know to go to Costa Rica. Then there are the monkeys, coati, ocelots, toucans, macaws, and the quetzal. They even have jaguars, however good luck discovering one of the vital elusive animals on the earth!

In our time within the nation, we noticed numerous monkeys, toucans, macaws, birds, anteaters, and frogs. The highlights for us must be the scarlet macaw, sloth, fiery acari, coati, inexperienced and black poison dart frog, and squirrel monkeys.

You might have higher luck than us and spot the well-known Resplendent Quetzal within the cloud forests. To seek out the very best place for wildlife in Costa Rica, it’s important to try the Osa Peninsula. It’s been named essentially the most biodiverse area on earth.

Costa Rica Saved Their Surroundings

So, the place does all this wildlife dwell? Over 25% of Costa Rica’s land has been was protected parks and reserves to guard the wonder. Based on Go Costa Rica, there are literally 27 nationwide parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected zones, 15 wetland areas/mangroves, 11 forest reserves, and eight organic reserves, in addition to 12 different conservation areas that defend the distinctive and numerous pure habitats discovered all through the nation. Wowza!

It’s Nice for Households, Honeymooners, Mates, and Solo vacationers

Costa Rica is an each man’s vacation spot. Whereas there, we discovered each stroll of life, together with solo backpackers, surfers chasing the waves, {couples}, honeymooners, teams of buddies, and households. Severely it’s bought some sort of journey or romantic exercise for everybody!

The Married Man’s Meal

There are numerous typical Costa Rican dishes to attempt, however maybe the one we discovered essentially the most was the cascado. A cascado, or a “set meal of meat,” or a “married man’s meal” consists of mainly rice, beans, meat –it could possibly be fish, rooster or beef.

There are additionally vegetarian cascados that often embrace plantains and avocado too. It’s one of many most cost-effective meals that may be had in Costa Rica, sometimes for below 5000 colons, and it’s scrumptious and plentiful.

Sodas

These casados that I converse of and plenty of different typical dishes may be discovered at sodas. Sodas are native family-run eating places that serve typical Costa Rican meals and drinks. Sodas are the place the locals eat and the place your greatest worth for meals may be had.

You can not miss seeing a soda store as they’re all over the place within the nation. Be sure that to present one a attempt! Trace Search for the one with essentially the most locals consuming there at lunchtime. It’s seemingly the very best one!

There’s a Lot of Climate Going On

For a small nation, there may be numerous climate and totally different environments. One among my high Costa Rica journey ideas is to pay shut consideration to the climate.  Round Monteverde and the cloud forest, temperatures drop, and it stays fairly cool, particularly at night time.

San Jose and the encompassing space are identified to have an “everlasting spring,” Guanacaste is dry and sizzling, whereas the coastal areas are simply miserably sizzling and humid all yr spherical. The nation usually sees numerous solar and sometimes enjoys 12 hours of sunshine day-after-day. The solar often rises earlier than 6 am and units simply earlier than 6 pm.

Faucet Water is Usually Protected to Drink in Costa Rica

One other essential Costa Rica journey information is that the water is fairly secure. Yep, the faucet water in Costa Rica is mostly okay to drink. Nevertheless, for those who really feel you might simply get an upset abdomen, you need to follow a water filter, bottled water or boil your water earlier than you drink it.

At any time when we arrived at a brand new place, we might ask if the water was okay to drink; for essentially the most half, it was. Our buddies at My Tan Ft do an awesome job of delving in-depth into the water scenario in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida

My final Costa Rica journey tip entails the saying Pura Vida. Pura Vida means Pure Life and is a lifestyle in Costa Rica. Ticos will use this time period with one another and guests to say hi there, goodbye, and something in between. It means don’t stress, take pleasure in life, don’t fear, and be grateful. Embrace it and benefit from the Pura Vida life-style!

Our Favourite Locations to Keep in Costa Rica

Lapa Rios

Top-of-the-line locations to remain in Costa Rica! This property is a part of the well-reputed Cayuga Assortment. A number of the greatest guides within the nation work right here, and there are all types of excursions to suit everybody’s wants. We personally spent our two days right here on night time walks scouting uncommon frogs, dawn fowl watching, waterfall trekking, and guided hikes to see the howler monkeys.

On some days, yoga is obtainable, and native distributors typically are available to share their crafts. Or you may chill on the pool all day and get full-on watermelon juice. No matter exercise you select will probably be distinctive and remind you of why you got here to Costa Rica within the first place. All meals and actions are all-inclusive. Charges begin at $800 an evening.

Finca Bellavista

Finca Bellavista is likely one of the most original and coolest locations to remain in Costa Rica. This eco-community is ready in the midst of the Costa Rican jungle alongside the Pacific Coast.

It’s a surprising monitor of secondary and first forest with a community of climbing trails to discover by yourself. Rooms right here come within the type of treehouses unfold all through the forest, some an hour-plus hike from the primary lodge so be sure to e book accordingly.

The entire group is off the grid and runs on solar energy. Friends ought to be ready to be fairly self-sufficient when visiting, though there’s a primary kitchen dishing up tasty Costa Rican classics for individuals who don’t wish to prepare dinner.

With a down-to-earth vibe, it attracts a clientele trying to find digital detox and good dialog. Treehouses begin at $100 an evening, meals not included, however you should have entry to their superb grounds and climbing.

MORE COSTA RICA TRAVEL

Hope these Costa Rica journey ideas assist you have got the very best journey ever! For extra studying round Costa Rica, see beneath.