Let me start off by saying Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever traveled to. This country truly has something for everyone. Whether you are looking to relax on the beach or spend all your time adventuring. The wildlife is incredible and there is never a shortage of breathtaking scenery. It was also the place that taught me a lot of lessons about traveling internationally.
DO NOT leave valuables in your car. I learned this the hard way. The third day into our trip I had EVERYTHING I brought with me stolen from our vehicle. Passport, phone, wallet, camera, clothes, you name it, it was gone. I hope this does not deter you from taking a trip here, despite that hiccup it was an amazing trip and I intend to go back.
There are 27 National Parks. Part of what makes Costa Rica so unique is the biodiversity and abundance of national parks. This is also a great country to skip out on the expensive group tours, chances are you'll have the chance to see plenty of wildlife exploring on your own. The two parks we had the chance to see and hike were: Parque National Volcán Arenal and Parque National Manuel Antonio. Another place we went to for hiking is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve.
Uber is illegal. If you don’t plan on renting a car you may want to reconsider. There are options like public buses or taxis. If you decide to take a taxi just make sure it is legitimate!
Be prepared for the car rental charges. Renting a car in Costa Rica is very expensive. They require a certain insurance (which I am glad we had because there was damage done to the car from being broken into). We were aware of these charges so we made sure to fit this into our budget when planning.
There are plenty of affordable accommodations. We spent the majority of our time in Airbnb's and one in particular comes to mind as our favorite. We payed less than $50 per night, had the whole place to ourselves and a pool! Prices may have gone up since, but I would play around with the dates/time of the year for your trip. It was a close drive to the National Park and to the downtown area of La Fortuna. CLICK HERE for airbnb recommendation.
Be careful when driving, many of the roads are not paved and/or line the side of a cliff. We drove to Ziplining park and the whole drive I was convinced we were going the wrong way. Sure enough after an hour of driving a long a desolate, very concerning road we arrived and had an amazing time! There was another instance where our tire got stuck in a drain that was missing the cover plate. We were in the middle of a small town and luckily a bunch of men came from inside a shop and lifted the car out of the hole. Every encounter and experience we had with the locals was amazing and a big part of the reason we are excited to revisit.
You need to have money for tolls, I REPEAT YOU NEED TO HAVE MONEY FOR TOLLS. Our experience with this was…interesting. We got to a toll on the highway and quickly realized we didn’t have any more cash on us. They did not let us through and we sat in the middle of the highway for a while before we decided to pull into the closest “town” and try to get some cash. The closest/only place was a small bakery. Luckily they accepted credit cards. We tried to explain the situation to the woman at the counter but we were both having difficulty with the language barrier. Eventually she understood that we were asking to buy some things and get cash back. She offered us the money before we even bought anything. Because she was so kind we stocked up on all kinds of sweets we definitely did not need in an attempt to pay her back. This was another example of the kindness that we experienced during our short time in Costa Rica.
It rains a lot. Some months are worse than others, but afternoon showers are quite common. There were a couple nights where it absolutely down-poured so just make sure to pack accordingly!
It is possible to do on a budget. I think the biggest cost is the rental car, which could be avoided if you took public transit. There are tons of affordable places to stay, and food to eat. Eating at the local restaurants will make your money last longer. A plate of traditional Costa Rican food includes: rice, beans, salad, plantains and meat. You can find these filling and delicious meals called Casado for about $5.
I can't recommend Costa Rica enough. I tell all my friends and family how incredible the place and people are. I hope this will encourage you to visit this magical place, and make the best out of your trip while learning from my mistakes.
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