Overview
** COSTA RICA TOURS **
Read travel tips for Costa Rica from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit Costa Rica. Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in Costa Rica, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for Costa Rica Tours . Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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As a solo travelling black female in her fifties, feeling both safe and at ease when traveling is very important to me. San Jose, Costa Rica scored high marks for me in both those areas. I stayed at an apartment style Airbnb in the heart if the city, Urbn Escalante, which was modern, clean, secure, had 24hr front desk service, and was an easy 15 minute walk into San Jose city center. I was delighted to discover that I could wander around freely without being stared at, approached (only minimally), or being made to feel in any way uncomfortable due to race, gender or nationality. I found people to be helpful and courteous when approached, even when utilizing my very basic Spanish. There were so any options for things to do and I had so much fun visiting La Paz waterfalls, although this adventure was way more physically taxing due to the amount of steep staircases going up and down, than I anticipated. Everywhere you look the vegetation is lush and beautiful. Also recommend a visit to Caribbean side of Puerto Viejo where the beaches were amazing and I had the most delicious fish lunch I’ve eaten in a while. Cost is also very reasonable for ubers and for food in general. Highly recommend.
My trip to Costa Rica during rainy season (great time to go because less busy and cheaper stays)! San Jose -> Manuel Antonio/Quepos -> Jaco
USD is just as accepted as colones, the local currency, if not more preferred here.
We stayed at Hotel Presidente, it was nice and comfortable. Note, they add $25 per person to your rate if you have 4 instead of 3 people in the room. Then, we took a Tracopa but to Manuel Antonio where we saw the rainforest and waterfalls. Most taxi’s here go for 6,000 colones but always try to ask for the meter because it’s kind of a ripoff. Our AirBnB here was great, but there was construction that blocked our direct access to the beach so that was inconvenient (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/40470923?source_impression_id=p3_1662506297_DDhhuUalnc6UPRA2). That didn’t damper our trip though. We did a Waterfall Tour with Paddle 9 and it was AMAZING! Only thing we wished we would have done was white-water rafting (https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/from-quepos-white-water-rafting-savegre-river-t80001/?partner_id=SVNU3W4¤cy=USD&travel_agent=1&cmp=share_to_earn).
Lastly, we took a private shuttle for $60 to Jaco (pronounced Haco), and stayed at Selina. Perfect, amazing experience. We absolutely loved the hostel vibe with the seclusion of a hotel. I highly recommend if you’re trying to be social. Also, do not be alarmed in Jaco if you see a lot of prostitutes. It is LEGAL so beware. My friend has his wallet stolen on our last night out, so be mindful especially if you are male.
I visited Tamarindo, Costa Rica for three days. It’s a surf town so there’s not much to do besides relax on the beach, go surfing, eat great food, ride horses on the beach, rent a catamaran to see turtles, dolphins and whales…all of which I did. I stayed in an Airbnb, Mango Properties, right by the beach, food truck park and restaurants. It was such a relaxing and needed break from winter woes. Beware of beach locals offering hard drugs though…yikes. Also, they don’t flush toilet paper lol. Now if you want a bit more adventure (besides surfing), you could always hop on a bus to Monte Verde for some action in the mountains ;)
We visited Jaco beach, Puntarenas and San Jose, Costa Rica. We rented a car and just drove around.
Costa Rica is great when you want to get in touch with nature. We visited Jardins da Cachoeira de La Paz, which is a great preserved rainforest in the mountains. We at at Restaurante Aldea Casa de los Mariscos in Puntarenas, which had great steak and seafood. Not a ton of English spoken, but I know enough Spanish to get by. We took the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera to do the Bioluminescent Kayak Tour at Night, which is amazing, I highly recommend it. My husband had never kayaked, but we arrived early enough while it was still daylight to get a quick tutorial. The algae have the bioluminescence the same as lightening bugs and as you row in the water, they are “disturbed” and they glow. It’s not easy to catch on film without a slow shudder camera, so we just have to enjoy the memory. But it was absolutely amazing.
There are black sand beaches and white sand beaches. We definitely want to go back because we were only there 4 days and we only got to one coast. It’s a beautiful country and we had no issues or concerns while traveling.
I spent a week in San Jose and I loved it! We traveled to Limon, Jaco, and Punta Arenas as well. This is definitely a place for people who like adventure, but you can also just come to relax as well. We ziplined, hiked, did speed boats and literally everything else we wanted. The food is great and prices even better. We stayed in an apartment style hotel (apartotel la sabana) which I would definitely recommend. We also did a day trip to a private island which was awesome! There was like a day party on the boat on the way there.
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IVE TRAVELED!!!
We stayed at the San Jose Sheraton and I highly recommend. Our suite was beautiful and the concierge provided amazing service.
I visited the hot springs, volcanoes, the coffee farm, and waterfalls. But the most exciting of all was the water rafting. It was so action packed and fun. I highly recommend.
The coffee is amazing and every meal is served with rice.
FYI… I can’t recall the name of it, but don’t be alarmed… There is an animal that looks a little like a raccoon that is usually in the jungle but walks around the city as well.
Today i went to Monteverde, Costa Rica. It’s north west of the Capital San Jose. It’s a relaxed quiet town, with a lot of outdoor adventure. I did the Tarzan Swing which is the tallest swing in central and South America. It was $40 to get in. The staff were really cool. Joked around so you wouldn’t be so nervous.
Where do we begin- there is too much to do and see in Costa Rica. At least 2 weeks to fully experience this amazing place. Here are some things we recommend doing and seeing in this beautiful country:
– Tabacon Hot Springs
– Arenal Volcano
– Zipline
– White Water rafting
– Manuel Antonia National Park ( beware the monkeys they will attack you to get your food)
– Try the local food ( amazing)
– Turtle watching ( seasonal)
– waterfalls
I really liked Costa Rica. I stayed on the Pacific side in Mal Pais. If you will be in Mal Pais I recommend Casa Chameleon. This place is beautiful and the service is wonderful–no issues. Mal Pais is relaxed and more laid back. This is not the party, night life side of Costa Rica. This is the part of Costa Rica that you would want to bring your significant other along for. I went snorkeling, ziplining, hiking, swimming, jet skiing, and on a boat ride to a private island. I suggest doing it all and making sure to do it through the hotel to avoid scams. ATV is the way to get around for day to day needs, although you may want to book a driver to take you to nearby towns (30 min.+ away). Boutique restaurants are everywhere, which is convenient. There is a restaurant on the beach that is very romantic. The terrain can be rough in some spots, but I didn’t have a problem. We got lost our first night because my boyfriend at the time was looking for shirt and misunderstood the directions. We were almost an hour away from the hotel and lost. The locals stopped to give us directions. They were helpful and peaceful. We did not experience racism here. Nothing but good vibes here…good energy everywhere. Be sure to get mosquito repellant and drink plenty of water when its hot outside. It was easy for me to get dehydrated on the hike.
Costa Rica was def one of the nicest islands I’ve ever visited! While there is nightlife in CR, there’s a certain peace and tranquility you get while visiting there from the many beaches and lush vegetation. My stay consisted of a nice mountain top villa in Dominical, which is about an hour from Manuel Antonio, my favorite beach during the visit. Jaco beach is also pretty popular and lively as well. I also stayed one day in San Jose just to get a feel of the city life. The entire experience was once I can’t wait to experience again!
Let me start by saying that Costa Rica is the most beautiful country I have ever visited. Where do I start the food was amazing we stayed in the Capital at the Marriott hotel and it was amazing. The local
cuisine was inexpensive but delicious. I just love their traditional dish of black beans, rice with a fried egg and your choice of protein. I ate this every day just changing between proteins and fish. As far as adventure this country has everything zip lines, volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls and more it was just amazing!
Costa Rica was niceI traveled with a group so we stayed in a vacation rental the link below. Very beautiful vacation home and 24hr security. All of our accommodations were meet by the concierge provided by the owners of the vacation rental. Definitely would recommend if traveling with a large group. AirBnB Link
I stayed in Jacó, Costa Rica for my first solo trip ever. There was something different to do every day, but I spent the majority of my time there surfing, doing photography, and yoga. It was a amazingly relaxing vacation for me as I did some self exploration. Despite how relaxing it was, there were still so many different options for me to choose from. There are mountains and volcanoes to hike, places to go zip lining and ATV riding, and snorkeling. If you stay in the same city as I did, which is a small town, all of the nightlife and restaurants are within walking distance. I stayed at a location called school of the world, Which helped set up itineraries for me and also provided accommodations. I would definitely recommend checking them out for any first time female solo travelers, not only does it give you classes to take, but it is also like a hostile vibe where you can meet new people easily. Everything I did I booked through them. Costa Rica is so relaxing and laid back, I experienced 0 issues there, and everyone was super friendly. Be aware that prostitutes are also big in the nightlife scene lol, it’s obvious who they are because they dress very differently than the locals do.
I visited Costa Rica in January. Late birthday trip for myself. I traveled solo here but heard it was a safe place to do so prior to making travel arrangements. Costa Rica was beautiful! A mix of nature and beautiful oceans. I stayed at Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas! This private villa was amazing with breathtaking views. My stayed in the Marbella Sunset Villa. This Villa cane equipped with private plunge pool, waterfall cascading wall, sliding glass door rain shower which provided amazing views of the outside & a canopy bed. Food was amazing here; I had braised lamb risotto, ribeye steak, avocado and smoked salmon toast, fresh hibiscus tea and other. The villa was not cheap but worth every dollar spent! Outside the villa they have nature trails, subset cruise, beaches, shopping and other! Activities included zip lining, horseback riding, hot springs at Vandara Hot Springs & Adventures. It will take time to get to this villa but that is the case for all hotels, resorts and villas from the airport. Definitely a 5 star experience!
Helpful Links:
Costa Rica
Villa:
https://www.casachameleonhotels.com/las-catalinas/
Activities:
https://vandara.travel/
Nightlife: N/A
Spa/Relaxation:
Book through the hotel. Massage Therapist will come to your villa for private massage.
Restaurants: https://www.sentidonorterestaurant.com/
Transportation:
Trip Advisor Private Transportation and/or Private Transfer
https://www.tripadvisor.com/
Costa Rica is one of my favourite places in the world! I love their culture, I love their food, I love their people and I love how much they care for the environment. I went with a small volunteer group from Miami to build a house for a family in Limon. I left with many local friends, and a great story. I have vowed to go back many times because there is still so much to do and see, but I just haven’t had the chance. I would absolutely buy a house here and live on the south side near the Pacific Ocean! That’s one really cool thing about Costa Rica that I liked––they border on two major oceans. There are volcanoes and waterfalls and lots of history, and I even hear that there is a community of Jamaicans who had moved there after working on the Panama Canal. I find that this is one of the most welcoming Spanish-speaking countries for black people and I really appreciate their energy. I would pick CR over Mexico any day.
As a crew member we get special perks when visiting certain places. If you happen to have a long layover in SJO stop by La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Bring your work ID for free entrance! You can Uber it here (around $30) but be warned getting back Uber might not be available and the price for a private can can be double what you pay to get there. There are about three waterfalls so lots of walking and climbing to get around. The place is like a sanctuary for animals and bugs. My favorite thing here was the butterfly habitat. You walk in this enclosed area and the butterflies are flying all over the place. I got to see a cocoon actually hatching! It was literally the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I felt very comfortable with the staff, they were very friendly and they helped us get a private ride at the end when we couldn’t find an Uber to get back to our hotel hahaha.
There are a number of things to do in Costa Rica. We stayed in Tamarindo which is a bit touristy so I recommend finding other places to stay if you’re not into touristy spots. But, it was great nonetheless. While we were relaxing on the beach, we saw some people getting surf lessons. We wanted to take some as well and negotiated a price of around $20 for lessons. We also met someone on the beach who had horses and again, negotiated around $20 for horseback riding. We encountered this guy a few times during our stayed and he ended up letting us just take his horses and bring them back when we were ready… for free. We went up into the mountains, on the street, and on the beach with the horses and got AMAZING photos which we wouldn’t have been able to get on an official trip for horseback riding because the places they take you are less scenic and they make you wear helmets.
We also did an activity where we went white water rafting, ziplining, and had a few other activities like relaxing in a hot spring for one fee.
I had the best time of my life in Costa Rica. I went with two of my best friends and though the resort had a romantic feel, it was still fun for three single gals. We stayed at Dreams Las Mareas Resort and Spa at which was heavily discount at the time because the resort was recently built and to encourage guest to visit, they were offering specials, so we paid less than $200 a night. However, guests now pay about $500 and up. The resort is located at Playa, Provincia de Guanacaste, situated on the beach. Its about a 2 hour ride to get there from the airport, but with much to see on the way, which made it quite entertaining. We spent most days by the pool or on the beach doing water sports. The hotel was all-inclusive and we never got bored of the variety of tasty foods always available. The service was impeccable and during the day we were entertained by the hotel staff who taught us dances or played various types of music. The resort was very large and to get to different parts such as the dining areas, we needed to request a ride or hop on one of the golf-cart-style-trollies going by if one was available. We stayed for 5 days and went off the resort one day, where we zip-lined, walked the swing bridges between the trees, and went tubing. All in all it was a fun trip and I would love to go back and explore more of the island.
I visited Costa Rica two years ago and it was a great experience. Costa is nothing like The other 47 countries I’ve been to. We went in August which is basically their winter/ rain season, it rained everyday we were there. Because of wher Costa Rica is located the mornings are early daylight 4-5am and the sunsets at 4:30-5pm the early darkness takes some getting use to. We stayed in the guanacaste area because we wanted a combination of both the beaches and adventure. If you’re visiting Costa Rica guanacaste area I would recommend doing all inclusive at the hotel because it’s more affordable and it’s actually worth it since food in this area are expensive and far. We did a series of activities during our stay, I would highly recommend booking your excursions online or at the hotel the day you arrive. Most of the excursions vary by day in Costa Rica and unfortunately we weren’t able to partake in some of the adventures because of the days. We did an Atv beach tour 2 hours $70 per person. The tour was amazing because they took us to 8 different beaches and we got to visit some private beach only accessible exclusively via the tour (wildlife protection) we got to see turtles and various monkeys on the tour at the end we had grilled lobster and beer for lunch and we visited playa conchael which is a beach where the sand is made up of only seashells (1 of 8 beaches like this in the entire world). My favorite activity throughout the the trip was the Arsenal volcano, Jungle tour, zip line and hot springs tour (150 per person) it provided an 8 hr bus drive front the hotel to Arsenal with lunch and fancy dinner). The Arsenal volcano was amazing because you get to learn the history of Costa Rica and the volcano was still active so you could see fresh lava projecting out of the volcano, we took a walk in the jungle where we learned about the Costa Rican culture, plans and food we saw a series of animals. After the tour we stopped for some adrenaline with zip line adventures if you’re afraid of heights this activity is not recommended how ever you have the option to stay on the bus. Finally they took us the springs resort and spa in arena for much needed relaxation and cocktails we had a very nice five course meal where you could watch the sunset. This excision was filled with adventure the dinner was very romantic and we pretty much passed out on the 8 hour drive back to guanacaste. Finally be careful with travel guides/promoters in this area don’t pay them in advance for any tours because. We paid a tour guide for horse back riding and he basically robbed us and never came to pick us up for the tour. So if you’re booking an excursion either do it online or via the hotel directly. Costa Rica is a great location if you’re looking to relax spend a day at the beach and have some quiet time, the food is fresh but expensive we stayed for 5 nights and ended up spending approx $2,500 Mostly on food. And you also have to leave some funds to pay taxes The airport ($50). Great location to unwind relieve stress not a good travel option if you’re on a budget and you need to be street smart the people here can be a little sketchy/ try to take advantage if you don’t speak Spanish.
I have traveled to 21 countries and out of all of them this place food is number one still. The food here is so fresh. If you like seafood this is the place to be. We met a driver who ended up being our driver for the whole trip. He was very nice to us and we made sure to tip him really good before leaving. The beach are clean and beautiful. The water is so clear and blue. I didn’t see to many people like us but that was ok, I didn’t mind. We had a lot of people looking at us but after traveling so much you get use to it. We use google translator and that helped us during our stay there. Getting money out ur account at the bank was horrible, the wait was a few hours and it was really hot. We didn’t use atm’s due to what we heard so banks is all we did there.
Costa Rica was amazing and definitely a place you want to put on you’re bucket list! The people are all very friendly and down to earth! You will get the best of both worlds, from fun and turn up to rest and relaxation. I stayed in Guanacaste Providence which is where you will find all the amazing beaches, great Hot Springs and have amazing excursions with lots of Instagramable moments! The best time to travel is during dry season which is Mid November to March. If you are not Bi lingual you will also be surprised just how well many people speak English which can help things go a lot smoother! I stayed in Playa Hermosa about 30 mins from the Air port at Condovac La Costa. I took a cab to the hot springs. The name of the resort was tabacon springs. The drive was 3 hours. For a 3 hour round trip drive and a full day pass I paid $170 USD. I actually booked all my excursions for this trip through Viator.com which had tons of info and reviews to let me know what I was getting into. Even my shuttle from the airport to Resort which was round trip $50 usd was booked through viator.com. I visited two beaches during my duration. I stayed on Playa Hermosa beach. Literally a 2 minute walk from
My front door was the beach front. And I took an excursion to Coco Beach.
We had the opportunity to stay in a small coastal town South of Nosara. Great weather, culturally rich, relaxing basically a great place to unplug and detox. It has become an annual trip for me. Absolutely no issues traveling while black.
Costa Rica is a wonderful country rich in adventure and beautiful natural resources. They are known for their tourism industry and they do not disappoint in this area. The tours are innumerable and include a variety of options to suit the desires of those seeking extreme adventure to those seeking extreme relaxation. Our favorite tour was booked through our hotel which included hotel pick-up, transportation via 2 hour drive to the Fortuna area with a stop in a local town to take pictures and shop for souvenirs, a lunch, volcano tour, and visit to Tabacon hot springs with a dinner. We absolutely loved Tabacon hot springs. The springs were so relaxing and varied in temperatures. There was a pool with a swim up bar and slide for those wanting to simply swim and drink! If you want more extreme adventure, make sure to bring hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, sunscreen and insect repellent to visit their many rainforests, parks and volcanoes. All tour guides, staff at hotels and tourist sites spoke English very well, however, some of the Uber drivers did not, so be prepared to know a little Spanish or use Google translate. In all, visiting Costa Rica was an excellent experience that I highly recommend.
The thing I love about Costa Rica is there are so much things to do outdoors. Me and my boys went for my bday back in 2015 we went down south to quepos a lot of atv tours hiking waterfalls plantain fields and canopy tours you really can’t go wrong in Costa Rica when it comes to exploring the jungle
My husband & I visited Costa Rica 8/2019 – flew into the San Jose airport & took a taxi to the El Castillo Resort in Puntarenas. It was about a 3 hour drive, so next time would definitely rent an SUV to save money (taxi close to $275) & to be able to drive around more.
The hospitality at this adults only resort was great & the food was delicious. Other than the taxi costs, everything else was affordable. We stayed on the SOL side which is more so Spaniards – next time plan to visit the other side bordering Panama where it’s more African descendants. But, I will say, there were no negative experiences we had with the locals – all kind & welcoming.
Will visit again! Beautiful place
Costa Rica is very cost efficient to visit between flight and hotel. I flew into San Jose and it was a 2 hour ride, pre arranged through my hotel) to Jaco. It was my first time staying at a boutique hotel and the experience was absolutely amazing at Hotel Pumilio. They were very attentive and they had great communication before my arrival. I booked all of my excursions beforehand and I got really good deals by reaching out through whatsapp from recommendations on Tripadvisor. I went zip lining through the beautiful greenery in CR. The views were breathtaking. Our next excursion was waterfall rappeling and jumping something I thought I would never do! Our guide was very knowledgeable about the plants and animals that we saw on our hike to the waterfalls. We ended our trip with thee most serene horseback ride on the beach with a great guide. Our excursion also included lunch at a hotel on the beach. That day was my Birthday and simply perfect! All in all we had great food and great customer service! I would like to go to CR again and experience the rainforest and Arenal Volcano.
I booked zipline and waterfall tour together you can contact the guide via whatsapp +506 8305 8080 tell him Tabia sent you.
I stayed at the Riu Palace in Liberia Costa Rica for a 7 nights. I paid $1,100 for flight, hotel and round trip transfers As single black female traveling alone. The hotel was great! 4 star. They were very friendly and I felt safe the entire time. The hotel was 25 mins from the Liberia airport. The Resort also was all inclusive and the food and entertainment was amazing! . I purchased my resort and round trip transportation on Bookit.com. 6 payment installment options. Great site for flight And resort packages.
I visited Costa Rica in April and it is definitely a beautiful place to go. This was another family trip with my cousins so it was 13 of us that went. We got a bomb villa through luxuryretreats.com so it came with a chef and housekeeping. Our villa was called Villa Nova. It had 4 bedrooms inside of the house and then had a guest house with another bedroom. The house was at the very top of a hill so our view was amazing. We had an infinity pool which was amazing and at the guest house there was an outdoor jacuzzi. I would suggest everyone traveling in big groups anywhere to use luxuryretreat.com because you get an amazing villa for a cheaper price (due to so many people paying).
https://www.luxuryretreats.com/vacation-rentals/r/20520840?federated_search_session_id=b0d7dab0-586d-4d56-8b1d-9316d0db1fe1&guests=12&adults=12&sl_alternate_dates_exclusion=true
I stayed at Xandari Resorts, it was beautiful and had a great pool and water fall hike on property
Costa Rica is home to one of the most unique Airbnb experiences I have ever had. Located in Heredia, the “Alianz Estudio” used to be an office to architects, however, once the business outgrew the building they converted it into a home. Lined in glass windows with an amazing futuristic design, this loft is within a quiet architect community that even has a friendly horse twith full range of the gated neighborhood. The rental features two bedrooms, a hot tub, fire pit, amazing sound system and can host up to four guests at $230/night. Check out this stunning home here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15378037?source_impression_id=p3_1567242774_EjjaF%2B%2FpkcsMohpt
Last Fall, my friend decided that she wanted to throw herself a 25th Birthday bash, but wasn’t sure what to do, where to go and or what price people would be willing to pay, since it fell right after the major holidays and on super bowl weekend. (We ruled most football fanatics out of that trip, which made it a girl’s trip). Since most of us lived in NYC and preferred a house over a hotel, I suggested Costa Rica. It’s great for groups, cost-efficient, nice beaches, rain forests and excursions. Flights ranged from $250- $450 roundtrip. Within ten minutes, we sent out the suggestion and ended up with a solid group of 8. We booked a villa in Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica roughly 2.5 hours from the Capital San Juan (West Coast of CR). See below for the link, but this house was modern with a pool, spacious and surrounded by nature. Needless to say we did not have to book to monkey excursions because they practically lived with us. Our accommodations came to $1800 USD (225 pp) for 5 days and 4 nights and everyone had their own bed. We had an amazing concierge service that booked everything from our airport shuttle ($36 pp), Zip lining tour ($75 pp), Horseback riding ($75pp), Party Boat ($50 pp) and an optional chef daily for roughly $25 pp. All tours included lunch and beverages. I loved that our house was right across from a few bars and restaurants, 20 minutes from Jaco, which is another touristy area and 8 minutes from the beach. This was my second visit to Costa Rica, and I would definitely return for another group trip!
P.S. We were able to still watch the Superbowl!
https://bnc.lt/m/GawH8GRgiZ?_p=c61d29c098017af2e00388f9
If I didn’t know there was so much to do in Costa Rica before, I definitely know now. Although I went as part of a curated travel experience (Haywire Weekend), anyone who visits can find just as much to do there. For my trip, I stayed in Garabito and it’s super close to the city of Jacó — where all the action and entertainment is. In one day alone, my friends and I were able to take an ATV ride through the mountains, visit a local waterfall, bungee swing over the Costa Rican rainforests, attend a pool party with the natives and other tourists at a popular beach club, AND hit the city strip club before the night was over. ? There were so many options for beach or adventure activities during the day and so many things to do on the main street downtown at night, that it was hard to fit everything we wanted to do into 4 days — not to mention, we were there during Carnival (to our surprise) so that just added to the lively vibe of the city. All in all, if you want an affordable, action-packed trip abroad, I’d recommend adding the Jacó/Playa Hermosa area of Costa Rica to your travel bucket list.
Costa Rica surprised by how costly things were. The prices for food were more than I anticipate and it was not easy to find authentic local food. I also spent a lot on taxis while in San Jose and had to opt for buses since they were more affordable. Overall Costa Rica was one of those places that I will definitely not add to my list of places I will visit again even though the empathy were really good.
I have been to Costa Rica 3 times. Once in jaco beach and the other two in San Jose. During my stay in San Jose I stayed in a local hotel in the city. The hotel included breakfast and ran me $40/night. During my stay in Costa Rica I got to visit the crocodile river, go zip lining, surfing, horseback riding, and on an ATV excursion. Crocodile river and surfing did not cost anything because you pass crocodile river going to or leaving from jaco beach going towards San Jose, and of course all it takes is a board and a beach to go surfing lol. Horseback riding ran $35/person as we were approach by a man walking 2 horses on the beach and when he found out how many of us were interested he came back with a buddy of his and 6 more horses?. The ATV’s was a 3 hour excursion that took us on the beach, up a mountain, through a river, and across a farm land for $55. Costa Rica is definitely one of my favorite places and why I’ve been 3 times.
I just got back from solo travelling in Costa Rica, and as a black female I felt completely safe and welcomed by the locals.
I spent half of my time in La Fortuna, having an adventurous holiday and the other half in a beach town called Tamarindo relaxing.
At La Fortuna, I went hiking to see the Volcano, spent a day in an observatory admiring their plans, animals and walking across different hanging bridges. I ended my time there at a canopy session where I ziplinned across the rainforest and rappelled into a river. The beauty of this town was unreal. Hiking to the top of the rain forest took my breath away. At the top, you get a clearers view of the volcano and the city and honestly, I had never seen anything like it. It was quite a hard hike with lots and lots of bugs (so come with you bug repellants) but the end result was worth it! Ziplining Cost me $45 and the hiking and observatory cost $55. As I am here during the raining season, it will probably be higher during their dry season.
In Tamaridon, I spent more of my time at the beach, hotel pool, eating and talking to strangers. I got a half hour full body massage on the beach which cost me $20 and a 2 hour boat ride around a river to see crocodiles and money which cost $35. I decided I didn’t want to be adventurous here as I wanted to go home feeling relaxed. There are many options for bars and clubs at Tamarindo, such as ‘ladies night’ every Friday at Mokeys bar where all ladies get free cocktails within a certain time.
Food was expensive depending on where you went, but it was very tasty.
The people are respectful, friendly and very accommodating.
I will definitely be going back with friends!
I could seriously retire in Costa Rica! So much wildlife & beautiful views! While there I stayed in Liberia, activities are pretty for from anywhere you are staying so you’ll need to definitely rent a car but that makes the adventure more exciting! Airbnb has great tours from zip lining, meeting a sloth & a nature hike with waterfalls very informative.
Wow, this trip has literally been one of the most spontaneous and adventure filled experiences of my life. I had no initial plan to come here nor had I done any prior research about the country; but one day I woke up & said Costa Rica it is! Booked my flight & 3 hours later I was here! Crazy right? I really enjoy traveling with my girl but this trip was personal for me. This trip taught me survival, how to be interact and connect with people from all over the world and become one with yourself and be content in your mind and body. I traveled through this entire county in a matter of 4 days! Each night I stayed in a different city/town booking my stays day by day pretty much wandering like a nomad. Some people say I’m crazy & it’s not safe but until you open your mind and get out of your comfort box you will never see this life for what it is and has to offer, beauty. I caught taxis/cabs, visited the jungle, an active volcano, saw tropical animals, met friends that I genuinely connected with, & ate amazing food (seriously bomb). Solo backpacking is not as glamorous as the pictures you see. There’s times of uncertainty, you wonder about your safety, you have to be aware of everything at all times, you get anxious about what’s next but that’s the beauty of whole experience. Everyone and everything around you is completely unfamiliar! This photo was taken on Jaco beach just outside of my hostel. I would not call this a vacation but yet an experience of a lifetime. Costa Rica is an endless adventure from start to finish, I loved this place so much I’d go back in a heart beat. The beautiful views, the inviting locals, and delicious food choices! One of my top choices for sure. As they say in Costa Rica, Pura Vida! ??
While in Costa Rica I stayed in Jaco. While there I was able to take part in a few fun activities such as ATV riding and going on a monkey tour. There isn’t much night life as it’s a small town, but the beaches are really nice and lowkey. Besides the group I was with I didn’t see many black people, but also didn’t experience much discrimination besides a time when police confused us with Nicaraguan refugees. It definitely helps to be fluent in Spanish here as well.
The excursions are everything! I personally loved riding ATV’s to private beaches, snorkeling, and a relaxing mud bath. My family was actually lucky enough to meet one of the restaurant workers who drove a taxi cab and he took us to 3 different beaches and dinner in one day. The people were extremely friendly and made sure that each and every experience was memorable for us. Costa Rica is good in my book!
Costa is amazing and it is a big city where there is a lot going on. During my time there i stay in hostels to make it cheaper and it was amazing to meet people.
1. i wouldn’t recommend going to Jaco beach. The place is nice but there is a lot of prostitute in the street and they will come up to you and shout things at you. i would look up other places by the beach.
2. i would reccomending doing a bus tour or using the shuttle services. i got a chance to travel and take some amazing photos.
3. I WOULD NOT RENT OR DRIVE. people drive crazy there, the roads dont make sense and insurance is a pain.
Costa Rica is simply, AMAZEBALLS! If you’re looking for a nice getaway with a mix of relaxation, adventure, and history- travel to San Jose! My personal opinion is it would be a shame to not head to one of the volcanoes, you know there is still an active one there! The backdrops of nature at it’s purest and finest make great IG photos! I chose to visit the Barva volcano as I was drawn to the idea of getting there by jeep. Though the hike up was greater than 1 hour and the lookout was completely foggy once at the top- it was still so worth it. The experience overall was amazing, nature is a natural beauty.
I spent 10 days on the Pacific Coast of Coast Rica in a surf town called Nosara. It so beautiful with much of the coastline protected against development by the government which is great and a rare find! The town is friendly but consists mainly of rich, white Americans that are on holiday or have bought holiday homes there. Therefore the area is one of the most expensive places in Central America.
Its a great place surf whether you’re new or experienced, but don’t expect any nightlife or much Costa Rican food while you’re there. Rosa’s cafe is the one place that serves local food at a reasonable price so definitely try that one! Overall a relaxing place to stay with lots of outdoor activities and nature to enjoy.
Went to Tamarindo just 2 weeks ago and I must say it’s a beautiful place with lots to do. I definitely recommend renting a car from there because transportation is fairly expensive and it gives you the opportunity to see more of the country since Costa Rica is not too big. Affordability wise where we stayed It was pretty touristy and for the most part prices were just like the US, It was pretty expensive, but driving out into the more local towns you could certainly find a cheap bite at the sodas. If you do rent a car be sure to check out some waterfalls and volcanos, when I went we drove a little over two hours to Llanos De Cortez and Villas Miravalles, it was gorgeous. Overall still loved the trip but the prices do not compare to other Central American countries at all.
We had a wonderful time at the Royal Corin. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this Spa. The thermal pool is so relaxing the food was delicious and the rooms were very clean and modern. The only thing I would be aware of is that nothing dries there. The hotel offers a free service to dry your clothes but you need to give them the entire day. Keep this in mind when you are about to check out. The location was perfect.
Costa Rica is one of my favorite places to visit! There is so much untouched nature! The monkeys came to our window every morning! And our hotel was literally in the middle of the jungle. It was so beautiful. The food was amazing and fresh! The people were so nice and welcoming!
I visited Puntarenas, Costa Rica and it was nothing short of amazing…So many adventure opportunities! Zip lining in Miramar at Adventure Park is a must as well as a visit to the Las Hornillas volcano hot springs. Both tours were pretty inexpensive and included lunch! I also had the opportunity to drive to Manuel Antonio which is a bit of a ride from Puntarenas but well worth the drive. There are a lot more tourist in this area though so be prepared. Tuna is a MUST while you’re there as it’s one of their major exports and that Palmita cheese is delicious and I’m not even a cheese person!
I traveled to Quepos, Costa Rica this year in May 2018 to celebrate my brothers 35th birthday. We flew in to San Juan costa, mostly all of us out of 10 had different flights. I got there the night before everyone else and stayed in a small hotel not far from the airport. They had uber available in San Juan so it was easy to get around as well as taxis. I got in pretty late so didn’t really have time to explore and was too tired to enjoy the nightlife. The next day met the rest of the group and we were transported over to Quepos, which is about 3 hours away. We rented a beautiful Airbnb, right on the tip of the jungle. It had 6 bedrooms, 3 floors and infinity pool. The balcony was glass doors, so had theb most amazing view. We literally could see monkeys in the trees. The only bad part about that was the jungle bugs who invaded the house when we left the doors open. Our first night there we hired private chefs, who were recommended by the airbnb owner and they cooked a delicious 4 course meal. The next day some went to the hotsprings and enjoyed some outdoor relaxation. I just hung out by the pool. The following day we booked a zilpining excursion with Quepos Canyoning and it turned out to be quite the adventure. It included about 5 ziplines, hiking, tree climbing, and water rappelling down 100ft waterfall. The water rappelling was a little on the dangerous side, but was a great experience and our guides made us feel safe. They fed us onsite and transported us back home. I think the whole excusion was about $75 per person. We went to the local farmers market type set up near the beach, there you could find food, souvenirs and more. They were caught a wonderful sunset. There were also a lot of restaurants near by that served local cultural food. We did make it out one night for the turn up and went club hopping. I believe one club was called Republic, they played hip hop and Spanish music mixed. The locals are out down there as well, and there are plenty bars to hop around to. Another day we went to another beautiful beach, but it did rain on our parade for about 30 minutes. In our neighborhood it was local small restaurants to eat at, and corner stores that had mostly everything you need. Overall Quepos. is beautiful and very relaxing, one thing I will note is that they don’t have numeric addresses so that can present some difficulties if renting a car. Some of us in the group did and got lost ba little, but with team work was able to figure it out. If you visit, and love adventures, please do the excursion with Quepos Canyoning. It was very exhilarating!
Went here in June 2015 with my parents and June 2017 with my sisters and cousins. Drove a rental from San Jose to Arenal. The roads are well paved and GPS takes you to correct places. Stayed at Los Lagos Hotel. They have a beautiful property, with hot springs on site, a butterfly farm, ziplining, and other animal exhibits. There is an option to include buffet breakfast, which was good. The staff is really nice and may invite you out to have fun with the locals. Did ziplining on the property. Visited La Fortuna waterfall. I went waterfall rappelling with Desafio. I booked a group tour, but it turned out to be a private trip. The water was cold. It was fun and a little terrifying at the same time. You get better shots of the volcano in the morning, before the top is covered with clouds. Enjoyed the food at Rana Roja. From there we drove to Playa Carillo. Spent the day at the beach and bike riding. There are wild horses on some beaches. We drove to a secluded spot with pretty blue water. It was too rocky for swimming. Walked to La Selva wildlife refuge to see native animals. In San Jose, I went to mercado central to buy last minute souvenirs. Be sure to buy the chocolate covered pineapple candy by Britt. On the 2nd trip, stayed at the villa at Los Lagos. I went white water rafting class 3/4 rapids with Desafio. This was fun and you get a chance to see birds and butterflies (many blue morphos). I thought I would fall out a few times, but never did. Went on the sky limit ropes course with Sky Adventures. It includes ziplining, rappelling, tarzan swing, hanging bridge, free fall, and hiking. Go pros are available to rent if needed. Visited Don Olivo Chocolate for a chance to kearn how chocolate is made. We made a cup of hot chocolate and sampled a variety of tropical fruit from the vine. Went to a party at La Terraza until late in the morning. There is another club within walking distance with mostly locals that played reggae music. Drove to Manuel Antonio the next day. Rented a house (Moonshine Inn) with infinity pool. Visited Nauyaca waterfall. Paid about $20 for a drive to the waterfall. There is an option to horseback ride here as well. The trail is 12km is mountainous terrain. The views are beautiful along the way. The waterfall emit a lot of mist, so be sure to have a gopro or waterproof case. Afterwards, I went to Raindrop Spa for a massage and body scrub. The rooms are open to nature. I could hear the rain and monkeys playing in the trees outside. It was so peaceful. The next day, I went on an early morning nature walk with a local guide in Manuel Antonio National Park. She had a telescopic lens that we could take pics of the animals (sloth, hummingbird, monkies, flea..) with from our phone. Spent the rest of the day at the beach. Beware of the raccoons and monkeys. They will go to your bag to take things. Ate dinner at El Avion, inside of an old plane. I had such a good time in Costa Rica, can’t wait to return.
Costa Rica was such a great surprise. I booked the ticket because it was cheap and boy did it pay off. There is so much to do in Costa Rica so I would highly advice getting a car so that you have more control of the places you go.
From chasing waterfalls, to thermal pools, to hiking and finally relaxing on the beach it was lovely. Renting a car is not complicated but it is not cheap. Make sure you get full coverage to avoid issues when you return it. We flew into San Jose and drove all the way to Las Catalinas a city near the beach that is growing fast so go now before it is congested and expensive. The roads are not as bad as people make them sound in fact we had no issues at all. The food was amazing, fresh and made perfectly. Try the local beer, I liked it.
The hotels we stayed at were not cheap but you can stay at airbnb if you like. I wanted to maximize our experience so we stayed at Tabacon Resort and Spa in the La Fortuna area and I highly recommend staying here or at the very least getting a day pass. We stopped for the night at Rio Perdido another great hotel. They have zip lines, thermal pools, swim up bars, ATV’s, hanging bridges whatever you like for adrenaline junkies they have it. Lastly we stayed at Casa Chameleon in Las Catalinas and this was an amazing place to end our trip.
Costa Rica is “Pura Vida” learn that before getting there, it means life is good. There are lots of activities, and it all depends where in the country you’ll be visiting. My favorite beaches are: 1)Punta Uva, Limón
2) Playa Blanca at Punta Leona Resort
3) Playa Buena, Guanacaste
4) Manuel Antonio National Park Beaches.
Favorite Volcanoes: Arenal, Irazú and Rincon de la Vieja.
Ziplining, Sky Trek at Fortuna area or Monteverde Extreme.
There’s an amazing pineapple tour with Organic Paradise tour at Sarapiquí and Fortuna area, lots of fun.
You gotta go to some hot springs if visiting a volcano.
Hike in the Rainforest to see wildlife.
If you enjoy nature, and want to visit a small quiet and remote area compare with the Amazon’s beauty, go to Tortuguero National Park.
If you enjoy coffee, Britt or Doka coffee tours are amazing.
This review speaks more towards Adventurors and Thrill Seekers. We stayed in Casita Blue in La Fortuna for about $180 for 5 nights. La Fortuna is 3 hours away from San Jose (and SJO airport) so we rented a car. Driving those mountain roads are an adventure all on their own (especially at night). The highlights of our trip we’re going to the see the Arenal volcano and going on an ATV Tour. We paid $120 each with La Pradero for a predicate tour (just my boyfriend and I) and had the time of our lives. Our tour-guides name was Donald and he let us speed through mud puddles, get stuck in the mud, and I accidentally flipped my ATV and he was cool about it. If you want some adventure, I definitely recommend th ATV Tour!
Jaco Beach, Costa Rica
One of my favorite places I have visited, so much so that I visited twice this year. There is just so much to do & see that one visit does not suffice.
Some super cool things to do here are:
* ATV to waterfalls – be ready to get down and dirty!
* With the ATV tour I Ziplined through the rainforest
* Most fun of all was the Tarzan Swing! It really got my adrenaline pumping and was so exhilarating! I believe everyone must try.
* Rafting is also another thrill seeking experience. My first time rafting here was at a time the river was class 4 & 4+ which is really high and made the experience quite advanced.
Clubs/ Parties
* Jaco is one of the best places to club/ party in Costa Rica or at least so I’ve heard and experienced.
* I loved that the genres of music varies and that (Jamaican) Dancehall & Reggae is very popular here!
* The clubs I’ve been to here are Le Loft (in San Jose & Playa Jaco) & Black Marlin.
A visit to Costa Rica is definitely a must!
I truly enjoyed this trip to the fullest. A down side of some areas in Costa Rica is that they are far and wide. Everything is a bit spread out. Luckily i rented a car and was able to do some much. Zip lining, visited a nature reserve, the beach, the national parks. Visiting one of the national parks is a must. I’d really suggest you get a guide. The natural hot springs IS A MUST. 8 months later i swear i still feel the hot natural spring pour on my shoulders. Honestly one of the best experiences of my life. The food is fresh, the locals are kind, and there is A LOT to do.
Out of all the trips I have taken, I would honestly say that Costa Rica as a entire visit had the most adventure and activities to do spread around the country. We flew into The capital of San Jose and spent 3 days, (honestly was too long) but the hostel was $11/night for a 2nd private in downtown so that was perfect. I didn’t start enjoying the place until I got closer to the water, then I was in heaven. We took a bus to the Caribbean side where the Afro-Carribeans are speaking creole and cooking that FIRE dishes. The beaches are warmer, the water is clearer and the fish and turtles are huge and tropical. Great time to see. Did 2 days here at another hostel and everything was walkable, the hardest bus or transportation is getting TO and FROM one side of the island to the next, just takes time because of elevation and roads aren’t the best so plan
Then headed to the tourist side (west side) and the club scenes as well as things to do doubleded. Still very water centric but that’s what I enjoy so I was content and about it.. definitely a doable city if you ask me
We went to Jaco for a bachelorette party. We left the Airbnb to go out around 12am Man Cave was definitely the move. It wasn’t huge inside but they definitely played current and throw back hip hop music all night. There was no cover charge, decent price on drinks and they accept US dollar and Costa Rican currency. It’s also located within walking distance to other bars/clubs if you decided to hop. We went to Le Loft first and it was empty. The bartenders told us Le Loft doesn’t get live in until around 1am so we left and went to Man Cave. Man Cave also had free WiFi inside ?. Orange pub is another place that the locals recommended going to but we didn’t get a chance to stop by. Also there was no dress code. Some of us wore sandals, others had heels on. Overall there was a good mix of Americans and locals in Man Cave.
Go to Jaco, Costa Rica! Went for my 30th birthday and it was FANTASTIC! Worth every moment and dollar. Get activities that have food included. Locals were helpful. From San Jose to Jaco I recommend taking Uber it is much cheaper
There are so many things to do in Costa Rica! If you end up coming, make sure you save up for all the activities that you can do! I went ATVing, rented a bike to take a ride on the beach and visited Manuel Antonio National Park. This was just in Jaco, Costa Rica. I also went to La Fortuna Waterfall and the Tabacon Hot Springs in La Fortuna!
Costa Rica was such a gem! The beaches were pristine, the people were jovial and the food, oh the food was so bomb! We stayed in the Guanacaste rejoin specifically Tamarindo which is a surfers town. As you can imagine we don’t surf lol but, there were still a wide variety of activities we could enjoy. From zip-lining to tubing or even our failure of a surf lesson; there was always something to do. The night life was also very popping with a strip in tamarinds boasting a variety of clubs. The drinks were great and cheap and some clubs even had activities such as dancers and a fire show. Our budget was approximately $750 which included our flight, Airbnb, all meals, activities and transportation!
Costa Rica is one of my favorite places to visit. It’s like a piece of heaven on earth. Whenever I go, I make sure to fly CopaAir, usually under $200 RT from Orlando, FL. I especially like that airline because of the REAL food and free beer or wine. Do venture out to the southeast side as I found there was so much more to do there. It is a 3 hour drive from San Jose but it’s flat ground and goes by pretty quick. Airbnb is your way to go, I stayed in a tree house for $45/night in Quepos, five minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park. Do not pay for the tour of the National Park, it’s a waste of money because they show you everything you’ve seen if your eyes were open (obvious things haha). Check out Jaco which is one hour away from Quepos for the night life! Check crowd and so many bars and cheap places to eat within walking distance. El Santaurio Canopy Adventure Tour has a great zip lining deal with food and transportation included. If you don’t do anything, make sure you find Nauyaca Waterfall! It’s about a 2 hour hike but soooooooo worth it! A beautiful 2 part fall with places to swim and flat area to sit and take it all in.
Had a great time in Costa Rica. We stayed at the RIU, about 20 minutes from airport. Beautiful black sand beaches. The staff was extremely friendly, and accommodating. At the end of the beach, there is a hidden jewel of restaurant called Monkey Bar. Great margaritas and appetizers. The zip lining was by far the best, talllest and most adventurous. Get out and spend the day site seeing and travel to see the volcanoes
I recently just came back from my trip to Liberia and I have to say that Costa Rica is definitely the perfect place for those who are seeking a more eco-tourist and adventurous kind of vacation. I HIGHLY recommend not staying at an all inclusive/chain hotel (especially the Westin) because they tend to be very isolated, providing you with a non- authentic experience. That being Airbnb is definitely the way to go! If you’re in Guanacaste and looking for a fun ATV Tour and a great tour guide then be sure to seek out Marizio Silva (you can check out his Facebook page: authenticotours). He was amazing and left me with a great impression of Costa Rica.
My overall experience was ok, but I was only there for 4 days. I think that to really get a good feel for the country you have to be there for at least a week and do EVERYTHING. ATV tour, zip lining, snorkeling, hiking etc. Also the more time you can spend around the locals the better. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how friendly the Costa Ricans were when my sister got injured during our ATV tour, and a family came to our aid inviting us into their home.
I had the opportunity to spend my birthday with my family in Liberia, Costa Rica (Memorial Day Weekend)! This was my first time out of the country so I was pretty stoked!! We booked a rental car months in advance for $13 a day/ 4 days. We were so excited about how inexpensive it was. When we arrived at the airport there was a shuttle that took us to Payless car rental. Once we got there the gentleman informed us that local car insurance is required in order to rent the car taking my total from 52 to 279…then they held an additional cleaning fee of $300. As you can imagine I wasn’t too happy about the unexpected fees but I paid it and kept it moving. The hotel of choice was the Casa Conde Beach Front Hotel, it’s a gorgeous all inclusive resort. They had a salt water pool, chlorine pool, and access to such beautiful secluded beach, Playa Hermosa,. The staff was wonderful. Almost each person I spoke with knew a bit of English so there were no communication barriers. I learned a few Spanish words..you know the basics, hola, gracias, si…lol that’s about it…my children have severe food allergies so I made sure I wrote them down in English and Spanish and communicated it to the staff in the kitchen…What I liked the most about this resort is in every direction I turned my head there was wildlife. I’m talking iguanas, geckos, lizards, monkeys, crabs, exotic birds all right there on the resort freely roaming, I felt like I was in paradise! The activities that we chose were the mud bath, hot water springs ($20 per adult $15 kids) and a hiking trail($10 per person) through the forest to see the Waterfall. All of these activities took place at the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano about an hour away from the hotel. One thing I want to point out is that the rainy season is beginning in CR it didn’t dawn on me to check the weather there until we landed in Liberia, smh it said 100% rain everyday. I was worried. To my surprise it did rain everyday but it was a light rain early in the morning and it never lasted longer than an hour. We had a chance to check out a couple of gift shops in Playa de coco and dipped into one of the markets to purchase some Native fruit to take back to the hotel for our late night snacks. I fell in love with the simple living. I saw many locals walking, riding bikes or waiting for the public bus. The houses were small and old. One of the bartenders at the Resort told us that the average wage was $3 per hour yet the people were some of the friendliest, stress-free and peaceful people that I have ever met. My heart grew a little richer from this trip, truly a magical experience.
This was the first time i visited central america. For Costa Rica to be the first country to visit there was one experince to remeber. I stayed at the Casa Cristal Boutique Hotel in Escazu, Costa Rica overseeing the entry city of San Jośe. A breathtaking sight. It was like a mansion with 6 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 swimming pools along with maids.
I spend most of our time in Jaćo, Costa Rica where I ziplined and drove the ATV for the first time. It was pretty dope. The food in Jaćo was amazing. I can’t remember the name of the restaurants, sorry. San Jośe, Costa Rica was pretty cool. I enjoyed the bars and clubs in the downtown area. All and all a great first time experience in Central America.
Costa Rica is a beautiful place to see in person. They have some of the best waterfalls and hot water springs. I enjoyed the food and exotic fruit that they have. Their fruit is amazingly good, best fruit I’ve ever had. I would definitely return to Costa Rica.
There’s just so much I can say but idk where to begin. I have not been to a island/country/territory that gives you every single thing you are looking for… Rainforest, Volcanoes, Rugged Terrain, Beach Vibes, City Life, Local living. If you are looking for the entire package (options), Costa Rica has got to be your pick. Not to mention the people are loving and kind. Btw, give yourself time, you’re going to need lots of time to fully explore what Costa Rica has to offer. I did the atv tour with adventures and the wonderful tour guide Diego who rode us up and down the mountains and they the rural areas of Costa Rica. We stopped off at the beach for a quick dip and headed back to our resort. The ATV tours was $75 pp. I did a tour with Blue sky private tour, and the best tour guide Carlos who brought us to Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Liberia. For 80 pp we did the sulphur bath, hot springs, waterfalls and free lunch. For 100 you can do all that plus horse back riding, zip lining and waterpark. It’s all on the premises. I also stayed at the Riu palace which was beautiful. The landscape and amenities are what you paid for and more. The added bonus is the staff, they are friendly and kind and always willing to make sure you have the best time possible. When you stay at the Riu palace, you also have access to all the amenities at Riu guanacaste which right down the hill. We went out to playa de coco which is about a 20 minute drive (15 depending on who your driver is, they drive fast lol). Therre you can visit all the restaurants and bars and try all the local foods. One thing I have to say about Costa Ricans, many of them love reggae music and hip hop which is a bonus coming from a Jamerican (Jamaican-American).
After seeing this amazing tree house on HGTV and then Airbnb I decided that I had to visit Costa Rica. I didn’t know anything about their culture, history, etc, I just knew I had to visit. After spending weeks and weeks of research I just did it. I bought camera equipment to document my solo stay, booked the Airbnb and then the flight and I was off. This amazing treehouse stood 3 stories, the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes, I was stunned. The home is located in Metapalo, Costa Rica and goes by the name of Punta Jaguar. The hosts and house keepers were absolutely amazing and I hope to return again soon. So liberating.
I spent a few days in Costa Rica last month as part of a Central America tour. It is such a beautiful country and there is so much to do! Compared with the rest of the continent, it is the most expensive but is still cheap relative to UK prices. They will accept US dollars ( or coins) and give you the local currency as change.
It cost £400 one way to fly there from London to San Jose. Due to flight delays, I missed the San Jose part of my trip so went straight to the next place.
La Fortuna (the fortune town) was my first stop. It features an active volcano called arenal which has the most beautiful sunsets.
We stayed in Hotel Cabañitas which has cabins for rooms and features an outdoor pool. It was a short walk to town, close to supermarkets, the bank and opposite soda restaurant.
We visited the catarana waterfall which is a short taxi ride away from the town centre and it costs $15 to enter the park. You can swim by the waterfall, walk through the forested area to the view point at the top which is a great place for a picnic.
To enjoy cheap local food, visit any of the soda restaurants. We spent the evening in Lava lounge which is a cool restaurant with live music.
My other stop in Costa Rica was Monteverde. Here is where you can get your adrenaline fix with zip lining (which was scary but epic, especially when you go across in the superman pose!). This costs $55 but is worth it! We stayed in Hotel Linda Vista which did have a great view, particularly sunrise and sunsets.
Taco taco in Monteverde serves the best food and is really well priced.
Costa Ricans are very friendly and have the best life motto; “pura vida” which can be used in an setting!
I went to Costa Rica with 8 other girls and we had a blast! We stayed in a massive Airbnb on top of a mountain that overlooked almost all of Liberia. Our host was amazing. We actually weren’t far from local grocery stores that were very nice, clean and well stocked. We cooked one meal each day (which helped save money and not eat rice and beans everyday). The last night our house did flood because our pool overflowed during a rain storm but even then I would say it just added some suspense to our stay lol. ALSO, no one tells you there are centipedes and scorpions, like there are pigeons in New York. So with the being said make sure u have bug spray to kill scorpions and the centipedes are colorful but harmless so just make sure you know where the broom is to scoop them outside! Happy traveling!
We took a group of 20 people to Jaco, Costa Rica for a Thanksgiving week in 2017. Jaco is on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica and understandably so is a hot tourist destination. We had a private mansion estate for our guests which boasted 13 bedrooms. At night we had a concierge organize taxis to pick us up and drive us to the downtown area where all of the bars/clubs are located. Since we were in a group and surrounded by mostly other tourists, safety was not an issue. That being said, the number of working women was unfortunately very noticeable and apparent in most of the establishments that we encountered at night. They have clubs that played EDM/House music as well as Migos. The music/DJ will not disappoint.
I flew round trip from my hometown Philadelphia to San Jose the capital of Costa Rica my ticket was about $500 USD. My Final destination was the small resort town of Quepos location on the Pacific coast. We took public tranportion from San Jose to Quepos, it about 4 hours one way.
Quepos caters to tourist big time! The city center is lined with small hotels and casinos. Each hotel offers excursions with door to door shuttle service from your hotel (most attractions were very nearby). I went zip lining in the mountains; I went on a Whale watch/ yacht party during which food, drinks and music are provided. We were also able to get off of the boat snorkel in the middle of the ocean and yes, we did spot a pod of Dolphins.
We took a tour of the rain forest I believe it’s called San Antonio National Park, we saw a Toucan and a giant sloth along with dozens of other brightly colored birds, butterflies and lizards. We also saw an active volcano.
We also toured the spice plantation. If you’re a nature nerd (like me) you will enjoy this. You will be able to sample and purchase fresh cinnamon, vanilla and homemade chocolate.
Quepos had a strip of bars and clubs which made it pretty lively at night.
If you are into adventure and enjoy a “free styling it” form of travel then Costa Rica is definitely a MUST destination. Catch a flight into San Jose and spend a night in the city for steal in an Air B&B. While in San Jose enjoy some great meals, coffee and mingling with the locals, you will be surprised to realize that a lot of them have migrated from the states. Eat where the locals eat from the food stands called “sodas” food is amazing and cheap. $2.50 USD average and large portions. Once you have gotten over the jetlag, take a two-hour drive up the mountains to the Cloud Forest, once there stay a few nights in a small town called Rainbow Village hidden in the mountains, but well worth the drive. Enjoy hiking the forest and encounter their variety of wildlife, monkeys, anteaters, countless species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Next, take a drive down the coast to Puntarenas. During the drive, you will also run into many activities such as hidden hot springs to family of wild alligators just sunbathing off the side of the roads. Here you can also get up close and personal with the monkeys just take a tour to Monkey Island for $30 USD and have one sit on your head as you feed it bits of bananas. If you just feel like relaxing pull over and lay out on the beach, the ocean views are breathtaking and join in or enjoy the show in one of their popular pass times, surfing. Hands down, Cost Rica is one of my favorite places in the world and if you have not visited yet, you need to!
Costa Rica is one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to! The locals are super friendly and always willing to help you. Costa Rica was my first solo female trip and I felt completely safe! I visited guanacaste on the Pacfic side and stayed over by coco beach which is affordable and had great local vibes! One must thing you do is go to the guanacaste National rain forest! It’s one of the largest eco systems in North American. There’s tons of activities to do as well! Hot springs,zip lining, white water rafting, horse back riding, and more!!!
Costa Rica has been my favorite trip yet! If you are looking for adventure then this is the place to go! I stayed in an Airbnb: https://abnb.me/GLSLQTazkL with amazing views and often times we woke up with wild monkeys on the porch. They were very friendly though. I suggest renting a car as the area is so big. The jungles make this place so fun. From zip lining, monkey mangrove tours, climbing volcanoes, horseback riding on the beach, the hanging bridge in the rainforest, and so many beautiful waterfalls! I went during Christmas and the weather was perfect the entire time. They also have a lot of Americanized restraurants if you are a picky eater like myself!
Costa Rica has been one of my favorite destinations so far! I went to Puerto Viejo, a small Caribbean town on the eastern coast. The vibe is extremely laid back and you’ll just want to spend your days on one of the many beaches. You can rent a bike for $5 a day and enjoy your ride to the beach, as there’s not much traffic or people in the way. The beaches aren’t crowded either, so it’s a good way to relax. You can get surf lessons if the season is right, go horseback riding through the beach and jungle, go see rainforest wildlife, chill out at a reggae bar during happy hour, or enjoy the dancehall parties at night. There are plenty of cheap hostels and guest houses to choose from, as Puerto Viejo is backpacker friendly. I recommend eating the local food to keep costs down!
This could be one of the best trips I have taken. This was a trip planned to Guanacaste, Costa Rica and it was amazing. Planned the trip to include different adventures, with plenty to do while there.
Accommodations
During the trip accommodations were at Villa Buena Onda Hotel, an Adult Only Hotel with just 8 rooms. My was this place beautiful, overlooking the mountains and the ocean. The services was incredible and the food was delicious. They catered to your every need. There was a pool that was very beautiful as it was set with an ocean backdrop and floating bar, equipped with waterfalls in the pool. The resort also had an onsite Massage Spa, which was very lovely and they provided you shuttles to go offsite should you feel the need to.
Things to Do
During the trip, there was so much to do. First was the Buena Vista Canopy & Natural Spa Tour. It had a Zip line through the jungle, my God the views were incredible to be high off the ground and in the jungle amongst nature was truly an exhilarating experience. The guides were fun and experienced so there was no fear. Once that was concluded it was on to the volcanic mud bath, sounds messy but incredibly refreshing. From that it was over to the natural hot spring which was incredible and just very different. We take so many things for granted at times we don’t remember how beautiful nature is.
Horseback riding was another fun time, this was extremely exhausting as there were hills and bumpy roads. Be prepared to have your butt hurting when you are done with this activity. LOL
The next day it was a 4 hour ATV ride through Guanacaste and the jungles, if you are a photography buff like I am, be prepared for some breathe-taking nature pictures. You see monkeys, water falls, cows, beaches, you name it. It’s just so fantastic. Then there is local foods on the way and that is just the best. Be sure to try any of the local food stops in Guanacaste, you can’t go wrong. Just bring hand sanitizer.
The last day was a private beach tour and let me tell you this was incredible. Some of the beaches were just unreal. Clear water, soft sand and picturesque views. Private lunch was on the beach with some of mother natures creatures coming to greet us and dine (A bit overwhelming but extremely friendly).
Overall this trip was difficult to sum up in words honestly. It was one of the best trips I have taken based on the activities, the accommodations and the food. You won’t go wrong going on this trip. I utilized Aaron @ Costa Rican Vacations to help plan and I was not disappointed.
As they say in Costa Rica – Pura vida
I loved EVERYTHING about this place! From the horseback riding behind the waterfalls,mudbaths,ziplining etc. I’d love to go back just to hear the sound of nature relax me again A MUST VISIT
Costa Rica is amazing! We were looking for adventure and we found it, it is the perfect combination of beautiful beaches and vast jungle. There are so many activities to do it was hard to choose. We rented a car which is the best way to get from place to place. Manuel Antonio and Arenal volcano are definitely 2 places you have to visit. At the arenal volcano you can zipline with views of the volcano, go hiking, enjoy the waterfalls and so much more the views are breathtaking. Manuel Antonio has beautiful beaches, amazing food and nightlife and the manuel anotonio National park has some really interesting animals like sloths.
I just returned from 6 days in this beautiful country! Costa Rica has so many different climates and you can easily just do all adventures in the rainforest, or relax by the beach on either coast, or have a mix of both! In terms of adventure, I highly recommend making your way to the rainforest in La Fortuna / Arenal area. On day one we enjoyed the Don Juan Coffee and Chocolate tour; on day two we packed it in with a 10 hour 3 in 1 tour which included an Arenal Volcano hike, swimming at the La Fortuna Waterfall, and lastly testing our fear of heights with the Mystico Hanging Bridges! On day 3, we did zip lining and repelling through the forest which was super fun! Arenal/La Fortuna has so much to offer and everyone should go see the beauty of the rainforest. This area is also known for their natural hot springs and we ended our adventures with a nice thermal soak at Baldi Hot Springs & Resort. I could go on but everyone should experience what Costa Rica has to offer! The people are also super friendly :)
Costa Rica was interesting! I was there for over a week. Not a fan of the capital city San Jose..there was an interesting dynamic going on there with how we were treated as black travelers. Hated it. BUT the Caribbean coast was to dieeee for! We stayed at rocking Jays which which basically is an open space with option of sleeping in a hammock or tents for like 5$ a night. My friends say I’m on the bougie side but it was super amazing! Imagine an open space with over 100 other travelers, by the ocean! Cheap foood, drinks and an amazing beach side with the amazing view. I would definitely recommend the careibean cost of Costa Rica!
Costa Rica was the most relaxing vacation we’ve ever had (and we travel often). We chose to rent a car and drive up to the mountains first (where we hiked to waterfalls, did 12 ziplines, horseback riding, eating with the locals, hot springs, etc). The volcano views from La Fortuna are absolutely beautiful and the air is so fresh. Next we drove down to the beach in guanacaste and saw the most breathtaking sunsets. Along the beach we also enjoyed ourselves by jet skiing, riding atv’s during the sunset, etc. Costa Rica is very safe and the locals are genuinely nice. Loved it and would recommend to anyone!!!