Budget Travel Guides
Is it possible to go inward Republic of Costa Rica on a budget? Learn how much it cost me to backpack inward Republic of Costa Rica — along amongst my favorite go tips, accommodation, in addition to activities.
Travel Guide: Republic of Costa Rica (2018)
Everywhere I traveled inward Central America, I kept hearing the same thing. “Skip Costa Rica” they said. “It’s expensive in addition to touristy”. But i lesson I’ve learned inward my travels is to never believe everything you lot hear from others.
Costa Rica surprised me inward a goodness way. Sure, in that location were enough of expensive tourist-friendly types of activities that other backpackers warned me about. For example: I’ve never seen in addition to thence many advertisements for zip-lining!
But I before long found out in that location are a diversity of ways to sense the best of the province fifty-fifty on a backpacker’s budget.
You only demand to dig below the surface a bit.
The Rich Coast
Named the rich coast (Spanish: Costa Rica) past times Castilian conquistadors, Republic of Costa Rica is i of the planet’s most biologically various places. From stunning beaches in addition to incredible rainforests to the charm of modest towns nestled betwixt volcanoes, Republic of Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise.
The country’s organization of national parks in addition to reserves protects some 25% of the country, i of the highest inward the world.
Here are a few budget go tips in addition to some useful advice almost traveling inward Republic of Costa Rica that volition assist you lot excogitation your trip.
Budget Travel In Costa Rica
Costa Rica may live to a greater extent than expensive than some other Central American countries, but you lot tin sure sense the province on a backpacker’s budget if you lot choose the fourth dimension to investigate low-cost sleeping options similar camping, hostels in addition to modest eco invitee houses.
Budget travelers tin live on on around $30 – $50 USD per day.
Costa Rica’s unit of measurement of currency is the Colon (520 – 550 colones / $1 USD).
While States dollars are widely accepted, changing your currency to colones is recommended to avoid overpaying for things inward dollars.
My Republic of Costa Rica Travel Budget
TOTAL DAYS = 34
TOTAL SPENT = $1,100 USD
DAILY AVERAGE = $32 USD
When I spent 34 days traveling through Republic of Costa Rica inward 2011, I spent a full of $1100 for an average of $32 USD per day. This was possible past times staying inward hostels, camping, using world transportation, eating cheaply, in addition to avoiding organized tours equally much equally possible.
READ MORE: Travel Banking Tips
Where to rest inward Costa Rica
Costa Rica offers a broad gain of accommodation, in addition to thence everyone tin respect a perfect identify to stay. Prices of accommodation vary depending of the share (prices are highest inward well-established tourist towns such equally San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Arenal in addition to Tamarindo) or fourth dimension of the year.
Here are some examples to assist you lot excogitation according to your budget.
- Backpacker Hostels: $9 – $18 per night
- Guest Houses: $24 – $40 per night
- Mid-Range Hotels: $50 – $75 per night
- Resorts & Nice Hotels: $100 – $200 per night
Click hither for nifty accommodation deals…
Food In Costa Rica
Rice in addition to beans are the foundation of most low-cost Costa Rican meals. If you lot never acquire sick of eating it over in addition to over again, this volition assist you lot salve on food.
You tin purchase a hearty plate of beef, pinto, & fried plantains for almost $3 at modest local establishments. Yuca (also known equally cassava) is some other inexpensive starchy rootage vegetable that is served frequently.
A nifty money-saving pick that powerfulness give you lot insight into the local civilization is sodas – local line of piece of occupation solid unit of measurement run restaurants that serve typical Costa Rican cuisine for equally trivial equally $5 – $8 for a gigantic plate of food.
They’re a grapple compared to restaurants that cater to tourists, in addition to thence you’ll definitely desire to follow locals to the busiest spots if you’re on a budget.
If you lot desire something a trivial fancier, meals at the best restaurants laid about at around $20 USD. Most restaurants already include a 10% gratuity fee, in addition to thence there’s no demand to tip more.
Costa Rica Transportation
The primary ways to acquire around inward Republic of Costa Rica are past times world bus, rental car, taxis, shuttle minivan or modest planes. Public buses are the cheapest option, but they aren’t ever convenient.
While the buses aren’t luxurious, the ride is definitely doable. You tin await to pay around $3 to acquire from i town to the side past times side or to upwards to $20 USD to go across the entire country.
You tin rent a machine inward Republic of Costa Rica for almost $300 – $700 USD per week.
Shuttle buses cost almost $40 – $80 USD per somebody from i town to another.
If you’re curt on fourth dimension in addition to willing to pass some extra coin you lot may desire to go using modest domestic planes from local airlines NatureAir in addition to Sansa. You tin acquire a flying starting around $30 past times booking inward advance.
Alternatively, in that location are many multi-day in addition to twenty-four hours tours inward Costa Rica that tin drive you lot from your hotel to the most famous attractions.
Visa Requirements
Citizens of the the States in addition to most European nations don’t demand a visa to see Republic of Costa Rica unless the length of your rest exceeds ninety days. Visitors must pay a Costa Rican divergence revenue enhancement of $29 when leaving the country.
Things To Do In Costa Rica
Costa Rica has enough of less-traveled towns in addition to national parks that offering travelers numerous adrenaline-fueled or wilderness activities – in addition to they won’t intermission the banking corporation either.
Tortuguero National Park
Ever dreamed of bounding main turtles? Tortugero National Park is the identify to acquire because endangered greenish turtles are breeding on the beach here. Tortugero is too domicile to many birds, crocodiles, monkeys, sloths, in addition to manatees, in addition to thence if you’re a fan of the jungle you’ll dearest it! Boat or kayak tours through the jungle volition cost you lot betwixt $40 – $60.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Monteverde is i of Costa Rica’s most pop natural parks amongst a lot of activities, such equally walking through the tree canopy, zilch lining ($50 – $90) over the forest, java plantation tours ($10 – $30) or hiking in addition to wild fauna spotting. The common is gorgeous in addition to shouldn’t live missed. It’s piece of cake to hike Monteverde on your ain in addition to salve money.
Arenal Volcano (La Fortuna)
Costa Rica is domicile to many active volcanoes amongst Arenal beingness the most visited one. Volcano hiking is a must, but unfortunately, you lot can’t come across lava oozing out of the volcano anymore. There is too whitewater rafting ($70 – $130), relaxing hot springs, or walking through the treetops on suspension bridges ($60 – $80).
Playa Tamarindo
Lively Tamarindo is a hyped-up surfing in addition to water-sports beach amongst wild nightlife. Most visitors come upwards hither to surf in addition to larn Spanish. The beach is gorgeous in addition to shouldn’t disappoint you.
Corcovado National Park
Corcovado is for peril lovers, where you lot tin hike through the jungle searching for unique Costa Rican wild fauna similar tapirs, toucans, in addition to pumas. The largest of Costa Rica’s parks, it covers one-third of the Osa Pensinsula. While you lot can’t hike the common on your ain anymore, it’s possible to hire a local guide to exhibit you lot the way.
Budget Travel Tips
If you’re on a strict budget inward Costa Rica, consider bringing your ain tent for camping, instead of paying for a bed every unmarried night. Campsites inward Republic of Costa Rica are inexpensive (about $5) in addition to the landscapes are often gorgeous.
You could too facial expression into homestay mode lodging, equally locals are starting to opened upwards up their homes to travelers inward an attempt to brand a trivial extra money.
Off The Beaten Path
For an off-the-beaten path sense inward Republic of Costa Rica you lot powerfulness desire to cheque out Cocos Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site located 300 miles southwest from the Pacific coast. Cocos is business office of the same chain of underwater volcanoes equally the Galápagos Islands in addition to activities include scuba diving amongst dolphins, hammerhead sharks, giant rays, or exploring over 200 waterfalls.
High/Low Seasons
Costa Rica is rainy pretty much all yr round, in addition to thence brand sure to convey a lite pelting jacket or poncho no thing when you’re planning to visit.
December through Apr is to a greater extent than often than non considered the dry out season, but this is too high-season in addition to the most expensive fourth dimension to visit, in addition to thence decease on that inward withdraw heed if you’re on a budget.
However, visiting during the rainy flavour betwixt May in addition to Nov is a wonderful means to sense Costa Rica’s best nature reserves without large crowds – if you lot don’t withdraw heed occasional moisture hiking conditions.
The busiest times to go to Republic of Costa Rica are during Christmas break, equally good equally the calendar week leading upwards to Easter Lord's Day (also known equally Semana Santa). It’s too the to the lowest degree economical fourth dimension to travel, equally accommodation prices are high.
Challenges In Costa Rica
San Jose isn’t the safest metropolis inward the world, in addition to taxi scams are rampant (especially the “broken meter” scam). Some national parks, such equally Manuel Antonio, tin live flooded amongst tourists at peak times/seasons.
Keep inward withdraw heed that during the rainy flavour many unpaved roads could live impassable for regular cars, making getting to remote places to a greater extent than difficult.
Internet & Cell Phone Service
If you lot withdraw maintain an unlocked jail cellphone phone, you lot tin purchase a local Costa Rican SIM bill of fare in addition to prepaid information packet amongst 4G coverage/internet. The airports inward San Jose in addition to Republic of Liberia both withdraw maintain jail cellphone service booths from the country’s largest carriers — Kolbi in addition to Movistar.
Useful Things To Know
Spanish is the official linguistic communication of Costa Rica, but English linguistic communication is widely spoken. You powerfulness desire to consider learning some Castilian patch in that location in addition to sign upwards for a linguistic communication course. Republic of Costa Rica is i of the most pop destinations to larn Castilian equally people verbalise slow in addition to their dialect is piece of cake to understand.
Costa Ricans are extremely polite in addition to quick to milk tremble hands in addition to greet you lot amongst a kiss on the cheek. Castilian polite cast used is ‘used’ almost alone in addition to it’s considered impolite to address anyone amongst ‘tu’ (like you lot would inward Mexico) or ‘vos’ (like you lot would inward Espana or Argentina).
Family is of import inward Costa Rica, in addition to thence don’t live surprised when you’re constantly asked past times everyone almost your marital status in addition to family!
Costa Rica Photography
Click Here For More Photos Of Costa Rica
Adventures From Costa Rica
Planning to go to Republic of Costa Rica soon? Browse all my spider web log posts from Republic of Costa Rica to acquire ideas & recommendations similar Chasing Snakes In National Park in addition to to a greater extent than for your adventures.
Read My Travel Stories From Costa Rica
Suggested Books & Movies
Costa Rica Books
Costa Rica Movies
Enjoy Your Trip!
Despite what you’ll hear almost Republic of Costa Rica beingness expensive, you lot tin sure sense the province on a backpacker’s budget if you lot role low-cost sleeping options similar camping, hostels, in addition to modest invitee houses.
Spend a few weeks exploring the various biology, mountains, beaches, in addition to rain-forests of Republic of Costa Rica in addition to I hope you lot won’t live disappointed! ★
Costa Rica Blog Posts: Read My Stories From Costa Rica
Accommodation: Click Here For Deals In Costa Rica
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist you lot initiative off packing for your trip. Pick upwards a go backpack, photographic television set camera gear, in addition to other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to respect deals. Also read my tips for how I respect the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a nifty site for comparison machine prices to respect the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than almost why you lot should ever demeanour go insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Costa Rica
READ MORE FROM COSTA RICA
Surfing & Camping The Nicoya Peninnsula
Exploring Tortuguero In Costa Rica
Tips For Visiting Monteverde Costa Rica
Hiking Corcovado National Park
Planning a trip to Costa Rica? Have you lot been before? Drop me a message inward the comments below!
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