Stunning scenery, endless adventures and cheap direct flights from the U.S. have made Costa Rica one of the most desirable travel destinations. While it’s generally a safe country for tourists, that doesn’t mean you should totally let your guard down. Here’s a few Costa Rica travel tips to help make your trip unforgettable, but in a good way!
By: Kelly Roberson
Lush rainforests, beautiful beaches, epic surf spots, vibrant cities, and diverse national parks is what Costa Rica is all about. The ‘pura vida’ laid back lifestyle mixed with the landscape, the warmth of the locals, and the fact that the country hasn’t had a military since 1949, makes it easy to believe how Costa Rica has been ranked the happiest country in the world for a few years now.
Safety–Costa Rica Travel Tips
Costa Rica is a safe country. But just like any time you travel, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and your belongings. The main concern with safety is in major cities, at bus stations, and in the more touristy towns. Specifically San Jose, Quepos, Jaco, Tamarindo, Limon, and Puerto Viejo. In rainforest areas and national parks, especially in Manuel Antonio, watch out for theft by locals. And by locals I mean monkeys. Monkeys like to steal things especially when their targets leave their bags on the beach unattended. They are mostly looking for food, but I have seen tourists running out of the water after monkeys carrying their entire backpacks into the jungle.
What to Do–Costa Rica Travel Tips
There is no lack of adventure here. You can surf some of the best waves, zipline across cloud forests, hike to waterfalls or volcanoes, face rapids white water rafting, go whale watching starting in October, or just relax on the beach practically all year long. Make sure to bring water shoes to protect your feet in the waterfalls. It’s worth picking up a pair. Another thing to be mindful of is the steep price to enter the waterfalls. The Catarata Del Toro is $14 per person.
Cost–Costa Rica Travel Tips
The waterfalls aren’t the only pricey thing to watch out for. Despite the affordable direct flights you can catch from the U.S., Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. Restaurants add a 10% service charge and a 13% tax to your bill. Your total will be 23% more than you planned on so no need for extra tipping unless you want to.
Getting Around–Costa Rica Travel Tips
Traveling throughout Costa Rica is relatively simple and safe when you know how to get around. Despite it’s name SJO, the airport is located in the city of Alajuela, not in the capital of San Jose. If you are short on time and have a budget that allows for it, airlines like NatureAir make it convenient to reach other small airports throughout the country. However, if you are taking a quick flight to the Pacific or Caribbean side, be prepared to fly in a 10-12 seat plane and to pay extra for any luggage you have.
If you have a little more time to explore, the cheapest option ends up being by bus. Since there is not one central bus station in San Jose, you’ll have to check which station takes you where before you make any assumptions. For example, it would seem that Puerto Viejo which is on the Caribbean side would be a destination at the Caribe Station, but that is not the case. Click here for a helpful guide to bus stations in the Costa Rica. It is best to buy tickets online or at the station beforehand and remember to get there at least 15 minutes early to be ready to board with a seat, even though they are assigned on your ticket. Some busses aren’t direct and if people are getting on and off they won’t care which seat is which. Plus, you don’t want to end up standing for hours since some busses pack people on. Headphones are also an important item to have while traveling on any mode of transportation, unless you want to hear reggaeton blasting from a portable speaker at 6:30am.
Private shuttles are also available throughout the country, but they are much more expensive. Shuttles are a good option if you are traveling with a group and are able to negotiate a decent rate.
Taxis–Costa Rica Travel Tips
Taking taxis can be risky and can get quite expensive since they charge by time, not distance. Some taxi drivers can be very aggressive as well, especially at airports and bus stations. Some drivers have also been known to scam riders by telling them the hostel or hotel they’re trying to reach is booked, then take them to a place to stay where they receive commission from the owners instead. One plus is that Uber has become popular in most cities and almost always proves to be cheaper than a cab.
Car Rental–Costa Rica Travel Tips
If you’re looking to rent a car, it is recommended to walk in or call a rental place directly versus booking a rental car on websites. They may honor the price you paid online, but will then tell you that insurance is mandatory and will up the price by $40 or more a day. Also, some roads throughout the country will need a car with 4WD, especially during the rainy season. Roads are on the more narrow side here and even though locals know how to navigate them with ease, they will not stop for pedestrians so be careful when crossing streets without a crosswalk. Honking is also very common, but it’s more of a polite way to say hello, thank you, or pura vida while passing another driver.
You must have a third party rental insurance, which is more than likely not covered by your credit card company. So beware of of inexpensive the car rental price is online because that doesn’t include the insurance you’ll need.
Currency–Costa Rica Travel Tips
One convenient thing to remember is that most everywhere in Costa Rica takes US dollars or debit/credit cards and if necessary you will get change in their currency, Colones. It is not necessary to change money in the airport, especially since they may charge you more to do so, however the bills here are fun to have since they are colorful and feature Costa Rican wildlife.
How to Dress–Costa Rica Travel Tips
Dress is not a major concern, but lightweight long sleeves and pants are recommended in the rainforest because of mosquitoes and rain jackets come in handy quite often. Other than that, whatever you feel comfortable in works just fine.
Costa Rica is a country full of breathtaking landscapes, warm people, diverse wildlife, incredible beauty, adventure, and lots of fun. Whether you are hitting one or two destinations or traveling throughout the entire country, you will be able to do so with ease. Keep in mind that the pura vida lifestyle is contagious and you may never want to leave, so pack accordingly.