30 Suggestions Earlier than Travelling In Costa Rica

Must you’re planning a go to to Costa Rica, this weblog submit is for you. Don’t switch an inch.

I’ve merely obtained once more from one month travelling and exploring this stunning Central American nation and on this weblog submit I will share all of my courses, findings and excessive concepts that may help you intend your go to (and by no means make the similar errors!).

We’re going to bear excessive concepts for renting a car in Costa Rica, what to anticipate from the roads in Costa Rica, how lots it costs to eat in Costa Rica, examples prices in Costa Rica, all the way in which wherein to the suitable solution to be a sustainable vacationer on this nation, what money is accepted in Costa Rica and the way in which to resolve in your places correctly. Yep, there’s various truly important info on this Costa Rica journey info and in addition you’ll be left with additional excessive concepts for travelling in Costa Rica than you thought potential. I obtained you.

Are you aware?

Over 25% of Costa Rica’s land has now been was protected parks and reserves. There are at current 27 nationwide parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected zones, 15 wetland areas/mangroves, 11 forest reserves, and eight natural reserves, along with 12 totally different conservation areas! This land is unimaginable. 

Must you’re planning your dream journey to Costa Rica you’re onto one factor out of this world!

On the similar time though, it’s important to do your evaluation sooner than travelling to Costa Rica on account of Costa Rica is regarded as the ‘Switzerland of Central America‘. Mhmmmm… not low price. Don’t worry we have strategies to economize in Costa Rica on this weblog submit too!

Let’s tuck in, we may?

Completely different weblog posts and journey guides you might uncover useful…

Get lifetime entry to my limitless hours of study and time spent on the underside discovering the easiest places to eat, drink, loosen up and uncover throughout the area. You merely open the Google Map in your system and all my pins are on the contact of your fingertips.

1. Costa Rica is rather more pricey than it’s neighbouring nations

This was most probably the advice I was given in all probability probably the most sooner than heading to Costa Rica, neglect mozzie spray. 

‘It’s so pricey’ have been the phrases on fellow travellers lips. I’ve to say, it’s true. Travelling in Costa Rica isn’t low price, considerably should you want to profit from the appreciable land and go to various nationwide parks, waterfalls and reserves. Some are cheaper than others, for example the Uvita waterfall entry was $4 per specific individual. For the Rio Celeste waterfall (and Nationwide Park entry) it was $15 with parking.

Most points embrace a worth and so it’s important to account for the extra costs previous the basics (transport, lodging and meals) when planning and budgeting in your journey to Costa Rica.

I most probably felt the costs barely additional as I was travelling solo and deciding on to stay in lodges / Airbnbs / customer houses, versus hostels and shared rooms. For my part, there are on a regular basis strategies to cut costs and decrease your bills on a go to, along with in Costa Rica so fear not, don’t let these suggestions put you off the journey of a lifetime proper right here!

2. You need to make the most of each USD / CRC in most places

Must you’re confused regarding the overseas cash accepted proper right here in Costa Rica, let me clear points up for you.

Costa Rica’s nationwide overseas cash is the colón (Costa Rican Colones) nevertheless US $ {{dollars}} are nearly accepted everywhere too.

When you withdraw money at ATMs you will in all probability be withdrawing in CRC nevertheless everytime you pay by card you could choose to pay in USD or CRC.

Principally, as long as you can have USD or CRC you could be unbelievable to pay. If the vendor solely has CRC and in addition you pay in USD, they might calculate the change in CRC for you. So that you just may end up with a combination of currencies in your pockets.

One excessive tip for travelling in Costa Rica, I am going to say, is that everytime you withdraw / get money exchanged earlier to travelling get a mixture of small and massive notes. Some of us struggled to supply me change after I used to be breaking the larger notes.

Moreover, once you’re driving and use the toll roads obtainable in Costa Rica, it’s good to have some change rolling spherical for a speedy drive by way of.

3. Paying in cash can secure you a inexpensive worth

One different excessive tip for travelling in Costa Rica and goal to carry not lower than some cash spherical with you is that cash can secure you a inexpensive worth or increased address distributors.

I’d certainly not advise carrying an extreme sum of money nevertheless a mixture of card and cash, considerably when procuring is an outstanding idea!

Cash was moreover useful for me in Costa Rica as soon as that they had an affect decrease (additional frequent than you suppose, usually due to rain) and I was needing to pay in a restaurant when card machines have been down.

Oh, and for parking, you’ll need some small change/notes. A great deal of paring areas are run by locals that ask for a small donation and naturally, don’t take card.

4. Look out for the ten% service price and 13% tax!

The taxes in Costa Rica are one factor to look out for, considerably once you’re on a worth vary and by no means wanting any shock additions to your bill on the end of the evening time.

On menus, consuming locations and bars will disclose whether or not or not the taxes are included throughout the prices or excluded and added to the bill on the end. Protect a watch mounted out for these!

see all costa rica journey guides

5. Be aware of the local weather and seasons when reserving your journey

A excessive tip for travelling in Costa Rica is to pay attention to the seasons when you end up planning and reserving your journey.

Ponder what actions you intend to do in Costa Rica. Ponder the principle focus of your journey. Is it sunny seashore days? Is it nature? Is it an out of doors journey? Or it is tucking away proper right into a retreat space and embracing the entire land has to produce? Are you needing to cut as many costs as potential to make it cheap? Searching for to steer clear of the crowds, or get caught into them?

Regardless of your intention, it’s important to do your evaluation on the clear seasons proper right here in Costa Rica to be sure to get in all probability probably the most out of your journey.

Excessive concepts for travelling in Costa Rica:

• The winter (wetter season) season is May – October
• The summer season (dry season) is November – April
• September / October is claimed to be the worst time to go to as various firms shut down (considerably on the Pacific Coast) all through these months as a result of it’s very moist.
• However, Sept / Oct are considered the easiest months for the Caribbean Coast which sees dry and sunny local weather.
• April / May is the shoulder season so you could secure some good gives on transport and lodging sooner than the local weather turns to full Winter motions.
• The local weather will affect the car lease strategies (4WD are actually helpful throughout the winter months as roads can flood and driving can turn into more durable on many roads in Costa Rica).

Dive into Costa Rica local weather barely additional proper right here.

6. Hiring a car is probably going one of many biggest strategies to see Costa Rica

Hiring a car in Costa Rica is probably going one of many biggest strategies to see the nation… little doubt about it. I rented a 4WD for the month that I was exploring and there wasn’t a second of regret.

Advantages of renting a car in Costa Rica embrace:

1. Diminished need to e-book onto pricey excursions to see. the favored spots and waterfalls
2. Flexibility and freedom
3. Means to change location and plans with minimal organisation/stress
4. Can arrive at customary spots at a time of your choice, sometimes avoiding crowds.
5. Can attain off the grid Airbnb and funky areas!

However, there are loads of points to consider when reserving a car in Costa Rica. I was unsure about various points and a few points caught me off-guard so I’m going to share my learnings with you!

• Be aware of insurance coverage protection insurance coverage insurance policies when reserving your car.

In Costa Rica, it isn’t necessary to have insurance coverage protection prefer it’s in plenty of nations similar to the UK. This makes not having third-party insurance coverage protection an unlimited menace. After I booked my 4X4 on-line it marketed it as ‘completely coated’ and throughout the UK this means completely coated lol. However, after I obtained to decide on up my car they educated me that third-party was not included and pulled out their additional paperwork and small print. Had someone damaged my car on the road or whereas parked I might need been liable. Having no idea of the driving conditions or roads at this degree I paid the extra £300 to cowl myself. A bit little bit of a blow nonetheless it gave me peace of ideas. Solely a discover, be careful of wording when reserving and study for third event insurance coverage protection. Normally the worth is a baseline and it is worthwhile to pay insurances on excessive!

• I prefer to suggest getting an SUV or 4X4 for the clearance

Of the 3000miles+ I coated in Costa Rica, I’d say 60% have been utterly unbelievable and the rest required full consideration, avoiding potholes and adjusting tempo to account for numerous terrain ranges. A excessive concepts for Costa Rica when hiring a car could possibly be to get an SUV or 4X4 for ease and luxurious.

• The roads vary from great and simple to some of the worst I’ve pushed on

It utterly depends upon what part of the nation you go to. Among the many worst roads I encountered have been spherical Santa Teresa (Nicoya Peninsula) and up in Monteverde. Nonetheless many and lots of the roads all through the nation have been utterly unbelievable!

•  There are assistants on the gasoline stations that fill your car for you, you could sit in your car

Pretty sweet! Considerably in case you’re a vacationer and wish assist anyway. Normally they might give your property home windows a quick clear so it’s good to drop them a tip in case you’ve got some change!

• How lots is gasoline in Costa Rica?

In May 2021, it was 689 colones per litre for regular petrol and for diesel 553 colones per litre. Taking part in playing cards have been accepted at every station I ended at.

• Have some cash for the toll system.

I solely paid tolls on my big journeys on the highways. They’ve been certainly not above 1000CRC so that they aren’t pricey nevertheless I’d recommend having barely pot of cash for them!

• I solely obtained right here all through like 3 items of tourists lights in a whole month of driving, one in Quepos and the rest coming into San Jose, city!
• Get hold of Google Maps offline so that you have directions everytime you lose signal / WIFI
• Don’t park beneath coconut bushes

(within the occasion that they drop they might do some hurt!)

7. Faucet water is drinkable

Faucet water in Costa Rica is often generally known as safe to drink.

The choice to drink faucet water is at your private discretion. It’s biggest to ask and study with the restaurant/resort/bar you are at sooner than ingesting it. Sometimes in rural areas, it might be a safer option to drink bottled water nevertheless in truth, the place it’s safe to drink faucet water, this generally is a increased risk for the environment.

I carried a reuseable water bottle spherical with me in Costa Rica and certainly not struggled for places to fill it up. I moreover drank faucet water and had no points (in truth our strategies are all very utterly totally different though so go along with what feels biggest for you). 

8. Nationwide Park and path fees add up

As talked about earlier, should you want to profit from the appreciable nation that you just’re visiting, you will have to go to not lower than various trails, parks and waterfalls when you’re proper right here in Costa Rica.

Chances are high excessive, it’s the pure world which have bought you proper right here.

There seemed to be a worth on most places I visited, though in truth once you take heed to concepts from fellow travellers, do your evaluation (such as you’re doing on this submit) and are curious, there are on a regular basis alternate choices that will stop money!

As an illustration:

1. In Arenal, you could pay for a day go to one among many Scorching Springs resorts OR you could head to the free spot on the river for a dip within the similar geothermal springs. See additional in my Arenal info proper right here.
2. You may pay for one among many many Sloth trails or you could spot them throughout the wild. On my Chocolate Tour they’d 3 resident sloths throughout the bushes! In Manuel Antonio, I seen 3 throughout the bushes on the seashore!

Occasion prices in Costa Rica:

• Rio Celeste Nationwide Park entrance – $13.50
• Curi-Cancha Reserve – $20
• Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – $25
• Uvita Waterfall entrance – $4
• Montezuma waterfall entry – 3000CRC
• Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park entrance – $18
• Tour info for Manuel Antonio (actually helpful) – $15

9. It’s suggestion to be taught main Spanish phrases

There have been many situations that I actually couldn’t discuss with the attractive Spanish folks in entrance of me. For that motive, and out of respect for the custom and nation by way of which you are travelling, I’d suggest learning various of the important phrases. Such a pleasurable part of travelling by way of a model new nation!

Listed below are various to get you started!

• Donde esta el baño = the place is the lavatory
• Hola = Hey
• Adiós = Goodbye
• Por favor = Please
• Gracias = Thanks
• Lo siento = Sorry
• Sí = Certain
• No = No
• ¿Quién? = Who?
• ¿Qué? = What?
• ¿Por qué? = Why?
• ¿Dónde? = The place?

10. Look out for ‘sodas’ – get some native meals!

Sodas are small Tico (Costa Rican) eateries the place you will discover native meals, domestically priced. It’s a great means to economize on meals as consuming in a soda tends to be fairly a bit cheaper than the worldwide and western establishments.

Nonetheless aside from worth, I LOVED the native delicacies. Numerous beans, plantain, rices and bitter cream!

I’ve included my favourite sodas in all my Costa Rica Journey guides.

11. Casado is the native dish

A Casado is an real Costa Rican meal using rice, black beans, plantains, salad, a tortilla, and an non-compulsory protein provide resembling hen, beef, pork, fish and so forth. In spite of everything though you could make it veggie like I did!

Even when rice, beans, meat and plantain aren’t your issue… my excessive tip for travelling in Costa Rica could possibly be to try the native dish not lower than as quickly as.

You presumably can see my vegetarian risk below. The Casado is a versatile dish and there could also be on a regular basis the selection to have meat / no meat and add any extras you fancy!

12. Convey Binoculars with you to embrace the pure world experience

Okay so I’ve on a regular basis had an appreciation for nature nevertheless Costa Rica takes it to a whole new diploma.

The species, colours and abundance listed below are ridiculous. Must you’re making an attempt to identify just a few of the wilder, additional camouflaged animals e.g. the sloth, bringing a pair of binoculars is a wonderful idea.

I didn’t even ponder bringing mine nevertheless I need I had, merely to bolster my walks additional.

Happily though, adequate of us had them and have been kind adequate to lend them to you within the occasion that they seen one factor great.

Alternatively, everytime you’re visiting Nationwide Parks you could lease a tour info that will carry the entire gear and further. That is doubtless one of many many perks of getting a tour info for a small extra worth.

Principally, you’d stroll by way of a park with 10 sloths throughout the bushes with out seeing an element once you aren’t paying consideration / have the binoculars to look at them throughout the tree tops.

This leads on from the ultimate degree.

In spite of everything when paying for a Nationwide Park entrance you suppose, what do I need a info for. Nonetheless truly, once you’re ever going to get a info, let it is in Costa Rica.

Optimistic you could piggyback onto one other individual’s tour alongside the way in which wherein nevertheless having that one to 1 experience and different to ask questions was definitely one among my absolute favourite experiences in Costa Rica.

I obtained a info in Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park and he had been strolling the park and lands proper right here, studying the species for 15+ years. You merely cannot compete with that type of info. It was fascinating and it was the densest experience with nature all through my total month in Costa Rica!

See all my Costa Rica journey guides proper right here.

14. No bathroom paper or totally different down the bogs (solely human waste)

It’s actually been so weird coming once more to England and putting bathroom paper down the lavatory as soon as extra.

All through the whole of Costa Rica, you are requested to place bathroom paper and any waste that isn’t derived from the human physique, throughout the bin. Simples.

15. Convey an insulated waterbottle to take care of your drinks chilly on hikes / prolonged drives

Gosh I was so grateful to have bought my insulated water bottle with me to Costa Rica. This have to be definitely one among my excessive concepts for travelling in Costa Rica.

Whether or not or not it’s on a protracted drive, a day on the seashore, in your room with solely a fan or a day hike, it’s so refreshing to open your bottle to chilly / ice-cold water – considerably throughout the 30-40 diploma heat and humidity!

16. Convey climbing path sneakers and water sneakers

One different issue I was so utterly completely satisfied I believed to pack – climbing sneakers!

I do know space in your baggage will probably be restricted nevertheless with the number of epic trails, hikes, waterfalls and rocks to find proper right here in Costa Rica, you’ll be using them rather more sometimes than you suppose.

Even the short hike to Montezuma Falls, near Santa Teresa, was demanding of a grippy shoe. At one degree I took my sneakers off (nearing the waterfall) and nearly slipped giant time. I put my Merrel climbing trainers once more on immediately. The pathways and walks aren’t on a regular basis maintained and as manicured as chances are high you will hope so having sneakers with tread is an effective suggestion!

Mountaineering trainers or Teva sandals are good!

17 Convey a poncho / raincoat / umbrella for the downpours

Need I say additional… when it rains it rains.

18. Use the native laundrettes when your clothes get damp from the humidity!

In case you’re visiting Costa Rica throughout the shoulder season or throughout the winter (moist) season as I did then chances are high you will be going from rainstorms to A/C, or rainstorms to humidity/fan rooms. In case your clothes aren’t given the prospect to dry appropriately, they’re going to start to get a damp scent.

Fear not, there are native laundrettes in most cities and villages. I washed my swimwear and one other bits every week for only some {{dollars}}.

see all costa rica journey guides

19. Selina hostels are the vibe for youthful travellers, whether or not or not you retain there or just have the benefit of their bar / restaurant areas

All through my month in Costa Rica, it solely took me just a few week sooner than I realised that there was an establishment on most youthful travellers lips… Selina’s.

Selina provides firm with gorgeous places to stay, journey, and work abroad indefinitely .- Selina

What stood out to me about each Selina property was the attention to factor and the fixed vitality of their branding. Each property was lined with a eye-catching art work, stunning nutritious menus, areas good for social gatherings.

Principally, whether or not or not you’re a digital nomad looking for someplace to work and have your breakfast, whether or not or not you’re a traveller making an attempt to hitch with others over a cocktail, or looking for someplace to stay that’s cheap, in a first-rate location and has music, cocktails, mannequin and wellness selections… that’s it.

I stayed at Selinas in Monteverde on account of I needed to be spherical of us as a solo traveller and it did not fail me!

They produce different properties in Costa Rica in:

• Jaco
• Manuel Antonio
• La Fortuna
• Monteverde
• Santa Teresa
• Puerto Viejo
• San Jose
• Tamarindo

20. Must you’re fast on time choose Monteverde OR La Fortuna

Must you’re on the stage the place you figuring out your itinerary my excessive tip for travelling in Costa Rica could possibly be to map out the areas you’re pondering after which report the actions it is advisable to experience in each. You may uncover that in various areas, actions will in all probability be very associated, like Monteverde and La Fortuna.

In every of these places, you could: admire views of Arenal Volcano (so long as the local weather permits), do a chocolate farm tour, espresso plantation tour, interact in trails, adrenalin actions and further.

Must you’re fast on time, this might presumably be an effective way spherical it.

Attempt my Costa Rica journey guides below to get a larger idea of what each trip spot presents:

21. Regulate your belongings, merely be cautious!

22. Convey a facemask for the mud

Neglect COVID, there are some areas of Costa Rica that I needed to placed on a masks as a result of mud!

The place roads haven’t been tarmacked however and the roads are dry, vehicles passing can indicate churning the mud up into the air and into everyone’s airways lol. There have been giant automobiles sprinkling water all through the roads to forestall this nevertheless, carry a masks.

23. Respect and luxuriate on this sustainable nation

Only a few excessive concepts for travelling in Costa Rica, in a respectful method:

• Take your litter off the seashore with you everytime you go away.
• Must you take meals into nationwide parks, go away no trace everytime you go away.
• Be taught just a few of the native lingo!
• Don’t let taps and showers run unnecessarily
• Flip off lights and electrics when not in use (AC is pricey!)
• Convey a reusable water bottle and fill it up instead of buying single-use plastic
• Respect wild animals and protect your distance, don’t scare them
• Go away wildflowers and crops alone, defend the land
• Eat and assist native the place you could!

Have you ever ever obtained a excessive tip for travelling in Costa Rica??

One thing you’d add?

Love as on a regular basis and utterly completely satisfied adventuring,

Mollie.

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