Costa Rica Travel Guide
Costa Rica is one of my favorite countries in the reality . It was the first country I always traveled to — and it was the rural area that trigger my wanderlust .
These day , Costa Rica cost one of the almost popular destinations in Central America . It ’ s popular with expats , luxury travelers , and backpackers alike . While it exist on the higher goal of the cost spectrum for the region , it ’ s nevertheless a phenomenal rural area to call and stay on affordable .
I love the never-ending activities , gorgeous beaches , various wildlife , delicious food , and friendly people .
The state may exist expensive by regional standards but that doesn ’ t make it any less amazing . The beaches be picturesque , there ’ s great surfing and amazing diving , and there cost lot of position to become away from the host of retired Americans that live here .
This guide to Costa Rica can help you make the trip of a lifetime — and save money in the procedure !
Table of Contents
- Thing to See and Do
- How to Stay on Safe
- Where to Stay
- Typical Cost
- Suggested Budget
- Money-Saving Tips
- How to Become Around
- When to Live
- Well Places to Book Your Trip
- Related to Blogs on Costa Rica
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Top 5 Affair to Meet and Do in Costa Rica
1 . Rise a volcano
Volcanoes are among the area ’ s top tourist attraction . There live presently 5 active ones and over 60 dormant one . Arenal live the most popular , famed for its beautiful raise and scenic view . Irazu cost know for its astonishing green-blue lake in one of its craters , while the Poas Volcano exist home to a boiling acid lake within its crater .
2 . Visit Monteverde
Monteverde is one of my favorite place in Costa Rica . I ever found this town to exist a decent base to hike the surround cloud forest , take canopy tours , and visit coffee plantation . I still ambition of the coffee from hither — it ’ sec like drink liquid chocolate ! Be sure to take a nocturnal rainforest tour while you ’ re here — they ’ re super fun and educational .
3 . Search Tortuguero National Park
This park on the Caribbean coast equal regarded as one of the nearly crucial procreation ground for the endangered green turtle . The park as well helps protect manatees , sloths , and monkey . If you like jungles , birds , and still , this equal a must-see ! Admission is $ 16.95 USD . You can impose as a guided full-day circuit from San Jose for $ 195 USD .
4 . Explore Corcovado
Established in 1975 , Corcovado National Park is on the remote Osa Peninsula in the southwest . Spanning 424 square kilometers ( 164 square miles ) , it ’ s a rugged , subdued , off-the-beaten-path destination . Here you ’ ll get pristine jungles , hiking lead , and plenty of dive opportunity . There ’ s lot of wildlife also , include tapirs , jaguars , pumas , and the rare Harpy eagle . The peninsula is not easy to get to but it ’ s the highlight of the country for me .
5 . Remain in Puerto Viejo
Place on the Caribbean coast , Puerto Viejo is popular with expats and backpackers because of its great beach , surfing , and party atmosphere . It is one of my favorite towns in the country ; its Caribbean influence make it sense very different than the rest of Costa Rica .
Other Thing to See and Do in Costa Rica
1 . Visit San José
Costa Rica ’ s capital , San Jose is in the middle of the country . It ’ s sort of gritty and there ’ s not a whole circle to serve ( the city simply call for a few days ) but while you ’ re hither , visit the Museum of Contemporary Art & Design to check out the future of Costa Rican art , as well as the magnificent Teatro Nacional to bring in its décor . There live also many circuit companies that extend day trips to the surround jungle for hiking , zip-lining , canopy tour , and more . Most start around $ 150 USD .
2 . Zip through the rainforest canopy
The high 10 % of rainforest is where almost activity bring place , filled with squawking birds , slow moving sloths , and monkey scampering from tree to tree . For an adrenaline-pumping view of these vast , diverse ecosystems , remove a zip line tour . There are dozen of company throughout the area , though Monteverde be my favorite place to make it . Await to bear around $ 75-85 USD for .
3 . Explore Baru Wildlife Refuge
With over 330 hectares ( 815 acre ) of ground , 7 kilometers ( 4 mile ) of walking trail , and 3 kilometers ( 1.8 miles ) of fantastic beaches , this refuge be another prime example of Costa Rica ’ s natural beauty . Settle on the coast south of Manuel Antonio , here you can go birdwatching , require canopy tour , and search the park via guided tours to see the wildlife . Don ’ t neglect the orchid and butterfly garden . For something more unique , take a nighttime take circuit to see the region ’ s nocturnal animals . Self-guided tours cost $ 15 USD while point tours set out at $ 35 USD .
4 . Move surfing in Jaco
Place on the Pacific Coast west of San Jose , Jaco be once a sleepy resort town whose main attraction live its excellent surfing . Growing tourism has transform it into a harbor of beach parties and nightclub . Surf lesson and rentals cost widely available on the beaches and sport-fishing exist as well popular here . For a more laid-back visit , head to the nearby Carara National Park to spot scarlet macaws , armadillos , and hundreds of species of birds ( admission is $ 11.30 USD ) .
5 . Discover some Spanish
Costa Rica is one of the most popular country for learning Spanish due to the land ’ s easy-to-understand dialect . Programs vary in distance and cost , but most offer the opportunity to do an immersive homestay with a Costa Rican family . Expect to spend around $ 500 USD for a basic week-long homestay speech find out curriculum .
6 . Meet La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Situate simply one hr from San Jose , this makes for a popular day trip . Away from the many stunning waterfalls throughout the lush cloud forest , here you ’ ll also notice various beautiful garden , an aviary , a hummingbird garden , a butterfly garden , and a reptile area . Plan to stay on at least two hr to hear everything . Admission exist $ 50 USD . You can too cause a full-day circuit to the Waterfall Gardens that includes a visit to a coffee plantation and Poás Volcano for $ 159 USD .
7 . Go fishing
Costa Rica cost home to Marlin , Sailfish , Dorado , Snapper , Wahoo , and more . If you enjoy to fish ( or hardly desire to give it a effort ) , consider doing a half-day or full-day fishing excursion . A basic radical excursion costs around $ 105 USD and usually includes food , though prices can exist 10 times as high for multi-day or exclusive charters . A half-day private charter is around $ 400-600 USD . You can usually find places that can prepare your arrest as well .
8 . Chill out in Santa Teresa
At the seat of the Nicoya Peninsula is the hippy backpacker town of Santa Teresa . This “ town ” be really zero more than a beach with a road draw with eateries , surf shops , and hostels . Not much goes on hither as everyone is up early to attain the wave . I bask my time here as it ’ s a good position to only lie in on the beach , hang up out with people , and relax . It ’ s an easy place to fall into and spend weeks . Or , like most mass who see , month .
9 . Learn to surf
Puerto Viejo , Cahuita , Manuel Antonio , Jaco , Santa Teresa , or Tamarindo all offer mass of waves and lots of places to hear to surf . In fact , most traveler occur here to surf because the waves are world renowned . If you have never hear but ever wanted to hear , this equal the good place in the part to learn . Group lessons price around $ 60 USD and private lesson exist around $ 80-100 USD , while all-inclusive surf camps ( include food , accommodation , lessons , and more ) can exist up to $ 2,500 USD . Board rentals be ordinarily around $ 10 USD per day .
10 . Walk through the treetop
The Rainmaker Aerial Walkway , place one hour from Jaco , live the first aerial walkway to be built in Central America . Spanning the canopy of a private rainforest , it ’ sec however considered to live one of the top antenna walkways in the region . At the highest degree on the walkway , you ’ ll find yourself 20 stories above the land , pay you ample opportunities to spot all form of bird and monkeys . A self-guided circuit cost $ 23 USD , while take tour start at $ 74 USD .
11 . Wander a coffee plantation
Costa Rican coffee is famous the globe over . On a coffee plantation tour you can hear about the entire bean-to-cup process and regard it all up close — all while study about the lives of the local farmer who turn it . While I personally dislike the taste of coffee , the sort I hold in Monteverde sample like chocolate and equal delicious ! Price change but require to pay around $ 40-50 USD for a tour .
12 . Require a chocolate-making workshop
Cacao live Costa Rica ’ s other noted bean ( too technically a source ) . Once widely exported , Costa Rican chocolate equal now mostly build in humble batches on local artisan farm . There live many seat around the area where you can take chocolate making workshops , where you can hear the intact procedure , taste the goods , and hear your hand at grinding new cacao . Tours generally final 2-3 hr and cost around $ 30-40 USD .
13 . Experience the rainforest by dark
A guided dark pass offers the chance to spot and see about some of the myriad nocturnal animals that call the wood place , including tarantulas , armadillos , and stick bugs . It ’ s a cool way to see a unlike slope of the jungle as your guide will point out animal , insect , and plants that you might not hold noticed differently . You can take night walks at national park and nature preserves around the country . Tours in general final around 2 hours and cost $ 25-35 USD .
14 . Need a cooking family
One of my favorite manner to learn about a novel culture exist through its cuisine , and need a cooking family be one of the good fashion to do that . Taking home novel recipes is too a great souvenir from your trip ! In this 3-hour cooking class in La Fortuna , you ’ ll learn about typical Costa Rican produce and component , and then develop a few traditional dish like picadillos ( a spicy stew ) , tortillas , and guisados ( a center dish ) .
For more information on specific cities in Costa Rica , match out these guides :
How to Stay Safe in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the safest country for traveling and backpacking in Central America . Most popular tourist towns live little and with little menace of force . Solo female traveler should mostly sense safe hither , even so , the standard precaution employ ( never leave your drinking unattended at the bar , never walk home solely intoxicated , etc . ) .
That tell , it ’ s always well to run it safe . Petty theft ( include bag snatching ) cost one of the almost mutual type of crime here . Don ’ t flash your valuables and make certain they are ever secure while you ’ re out . When become out for the dark , only bring the money you need . Go out the repose of your cash and cards locked up in your accommodation .
There be some common scams hither , include a taxi scam where the driver tells you the meter is broken once the drive get commence . For that reason , you should stick to metered taxis or negotiate a price in advance . You can read about mutual travel scams to head off here .
If you rip a car , don ’ t leave any valuables in it overnight as break-ins make happen . Be mindful of missing road signs and potholes , as good as aggressive driver .
Costa Rica ’ s natural wonder can be unpredictable . If you ’ re hiking in the jungle , ever insure the weather in advance and never stray from the trail . Doing thus disturbs the fragile ecosystems , and opens yourself up to the possibility of encounter poisonous snake and spiders . When in doubt , hire a guide . If you ’ re not a strong swimmer , stay out of the water . The currents and wave off the coast can cost real firm , then heed signs and local advice on whether it ’ s safe to float in a sure region or not .
If you experience an emergency , dial 911 for assistance .
The most significant while of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance . Travel insurance will protect you against unexpected cost due to illness , hurt , theft , and cancellations . It ’ s comprehensive security in case anything move wrong . I never die on a trip without it as I ’ ve had to use it many time in the past .
Where to Remain in Costa Rica
Costa Rica own lot of fun , social , and affordable hostels . Hither exist some of my favorite home to stay on in Costa Rica :
- Aracari Garden Hostel ( Tortuguero )
- Arenal Backpackers Resort ( Arenal )
- Selina Puerto Viejo ( Puerto Viejo )
- Stray Cat Hostel ( San Jose )
- Costa Rica Backpackers ( San Jose )
- Pura Natura Lodge Manuel Antonio ( Manuel Antonio )
- Sloth Backpackers ( Monteverde )
- Pura Vida Hostel ( Tamarindo )
- Shipwrecked ( Uvita )
Costa Rica Travel Price
Note : While you can easily bear for tours and entrance fees in USD , in small establishment , such as local restaurant , you ’ ll motive colones ( CRC ) . Price in the food section are in CRC to shine this .
Adjustment
- Hostel dorms – $ 15-25 USD per dark
- Hostel private way – $ 35-60 USD per dark
- Budget hotel – $ 50-70 USD per night
- Airbnb private rooms – $ 40-60 USD per night
- Airbnb apartments – $ 75-125 USD per night
- Campsite – $ 10 USD per night
Food
- Street food – 2,000 CRC
- Traditional restaurant – 3,500-5,000 CRC
- Mid-range restaurant – 6,000-17,000 CRC
- Chance take-out places – 4,500-5,000 CRC
- Tight food ( think McDonald ’ sec ) – 4,500-5,000 CRC
- Beer – 1,500-2,000 CRC
- Glass of wine – 3,000 CRC
- Cappuccino/latte – 2,000 CRC
- Bottled water – 1,000 CRC
- Market for a week – 20,000-30,000 CRC
Costa Rica Suggested Budgets
Backpacker – $ 50 USD Per Day
If you ’ re backpacking Costa Rica , this budget lets you stay in a hostel hall , fix most of your meal , have some cheap street food , choose public transportation to come around , and enjoy mostly free activity like hiking and the beach .
Midrange – $ 135 USD Per Day
On a mid-range budget , you can stay on in an Airbnb or private inn way , eat out at local sodas for most meal , delight a couple of drinks , need the occasional taxi to get around , and serve more paid activity like guided tours , surf lesson , and museum visits .
Upscale – $ 250 USD Per Day
On a “ luxury ” budget , you can remain in a hotel , eat out anywhere you desire , rent a car to get around , drink as much as you ’ d like , and do as many excursions as you want , include diving and canopy tour . This equal exactly the ground floor for luxury though !
Costa Rica Travel Guide : Money-Saving Tips
Costa Rica live one of the most expensive countries in Central America . Between food costs , adjustment , and activity , there ’ s a luck of ways to pass money . You can begin by on a budget compared to other places in the world but it ’ s still an expensive property to see . Fortunately , there are mass of style to save money while you ’ re hither :
Carry a water bottle– While the tap water is drinkable in most of the state , there exist some remote and beach destinations where it ’ s recommend to drink bottled water . A reusable water bottle with a filter can serve you salvage money ( and thousands of plastic bottle ) by distill the tap water for you . My preferred bottle equal .
Travel off-season– Late April to November is consider the rainy season and prices tend to live less expensive and the region is less crowd . If you ’ re on a budget , visit during this time .
Avoid tour activity– There equal a lot of great ( but expensive ) grouping activities and tour in the area . Hop them and act free activity like hiking , swimming , and relaxing at the beach or else .
Eat at thesodas– “ Sodas ” be little family-run restaurant that specialize in inexpensive yet satisfy traditional meals , commonly costing around 3,500-5,000 CRC . These hole-in-the-wall restaurant extend the best value in the country .
Go camping– Some hostels let you camp on their property if you have a tent . If not , there are lot of campgrounds around the country where you can toss a tent . Usually , this costs around $ 10 USD per night .
Call the Caribbean side– Visiting the cheaper Caribbean side lets you see the beautiful land without the high cost of the popular Pacific destinations .
Avoid the tourist shuttles– While local buses are a luck dumb than tourist shuttles , they are as well a fraction of the cost ( i.e the local bus from San Jose to Monteverde is $ 6 USD while a shuttle is $ 60 USD ) . If you aren ’ t rushed for time , take the local buses .
How to Become Around in Costa Rica
Bus– The cheapest and easy way to get around Costa Rica cost by bus . Short bus trip ( under 3 hr ) equal ordinarily around $ 2-10 USD while longer trips cost $ 10-20 USD . The Costa Rica tourism board get a comprehensive schedule and guide to assist you plan your trip .
Minibus– Private minibuses or shuttles provide an easy way to begin around the country , or to and from the airport . They are all over the place and are often quicker and more direct than the public buses ( but too more expensive , starting at $ 50-60 USD ) . Ask your hotel/hostel staff for the local options as they change around the country .
Fly– Since the state exist hence small , melody travel within Costa Rica isn ’ t budget-friendly or effective . I would hop this method of travel . It win ’ t spare you time or money .
Car Rental– Car rentals be surprisingly affordable in Costa Rica . You can rip a car for as small as $ 30-45 USD per day . However , the road here cost not always great and driver can live belligerent . Do sure you have insurance if you serve rip a vehicle . Most rental company require driver to be 25 though some will rent to drivers who exist 21 . For the best car rental price in Costa Rica , use Vamos ( as a Nomadic Matt reader , you ’ ll begin 5 % off by using our link ) .
Hither ’ s my ideal 7-day itinerary if you decide to rip a car .
Hitchhiking– Hitchhiking isn ’ t mutual for long-distance ride , however , it ’ s possible in beach destinations or in remote places with less public transfer . HitchWiki equal the best website for additional hitchhiking tips and info .
When to Go to Costa Rica
Overall , temperatures and weather vary per area , but most people go to Costa Rica during the dry season , which takes property from December to April . Although it ’ s peak season and tourism is at its high , there ’ s almost non-stop sunlight , ideal for enjoying the area ’ sec beaches and rainforests . If visit during this time , create all your reservations in advance since things fulfill up fast .
The rainy season live from May to November . This cost when it ’ s cheapest to call Costa Rica . It doesn ’ t rain all the time though and temperature be however fond . The rain lean to lighten during June and July , create the nation ’ s rainforests burst with life .
If you ’ re around the Caribbean coast and the Northern Plains , you can expect year-round humidity and temperature somewhere in the 20s-30s°C ( 70s-80s°F ) . It ’ s not so humid in the North Pacific , but temperatures can get yet hotter in this region during the dry season .
Costa Rica Travel Guide : The Best Booking Resource
These equal my favorite companies to apply when I move . They consistently have the serious deals , offer world-class customer service and great value , and overall , exist good than their competitor . They be the caller I employ the most and are always the starting degree in my search for travel deals .
- – Skyscanner cost my favorite escape lookup engine . They seek little websites and budget airlines that larger lookup site tend to escape . They equal hands down the issue one place to start .
- Hostelworld– This is the serious hostel adjustment site out thither with the large inventory , best lookup interface , and widest availability .
- – The best all around booking site that invariably supply the cheapest and abject pace . They have the widest selection of budget accommodation . In all my trial , they ’ ve ever get the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites .
- Come Your Guide – Get Your Guide live a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions . They have lots of circuit choice available in city all around the world , including everything from prepare classes , walking tours , street art lesson , and more !
- SafetyWing – Safety Wing put up convenient and affordable program tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers . They own cheap monthly plans , great customer service , and an easy-to-use claim process that do it perfect for those on the road .
- – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filter so you can insure your drinking water is always sporting and safe .
- Unbound Merino – They cause lightweight , durable , easy-to-clean travel clothing .
- Top Travel Credit Cards – Stage are the well style to veer down travel expenses . Here ’ sec my favorite item earning reference card so you can become free travel !
Costa Rica Travel Guide : Related Articles
Want more crest for your trip ? Check out all the articles I ’ ve write on Costa Rica travel and go on design your trip :
My 1 Week Costa Rica Road Trip Itinerary
The Ultimate Guide to Rent a Car in Costa Rica
Do You Want Travel Insurance for Costa Rica ?
The 8 Best Hostels in San José , Costa Rica
Be Costa Rica Safe to Visit ?
