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Are you heading to Costa Rica soon and wondering what you need to know? This article will help!
I went to Costa Rica as a travel coordinator for an adventure group tour which means that I needed to be aware of all things Costa Rica related in order to make sure that my group was getting the best experience.
After spending a few weeks there, here is everything you need to know to travel around Costa Rica.
1. Pay in Colones
The official currency in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican colon. Everything can be paid in colones since it’s the main currency however you will notice that a lot of places also accept dollars.
While it’s always good to have some dollars in cash, you should be using the colones first. You will get a better price with colones. Also, they can’t refuse it since it’s the official currency.
If you choose to pay in dollars, you will usually get a bad rate and they will give you back the change in colones so as much as possible, try to pay in colones.
2. Get a Revolut or Wise bank card
I always use Revolut and Wise wherever I go because it’s super practical and by far the best exchange rate on the market.
It’s very easy to get. You can simply go on the Revolut or Wise website and open your account for free.
You can add your digital card to your Google or Apple Pay straight away and the physical bank card will be shipped to you within a few days.
Usually, you need to exchange your home currency into the wanted currency but since colones are not available, you can simply top up your card with your usual currency and pay with it.
Revolut and Wise will do the conversion instantly.
The thing I love with these apps (besides the amazing rate) is that everything is live so I get instant notifications, can top up my account in one click and follow my spending.
It’s also very easy to do bank transfers with your friends.
Most places in Costa Rica (including small sodas) take card so you can pay with it pretty much all the time.
Some buses or local coconut vendors only take cash so having a bit of cash in colones is always good but you won’t need it much.
3. Bring water shoes
If you’re planning on doing any water activities in Costa Rica like rafting, visiting the waterfalls or canyoning, I would highly recommend bringing watershoes.
The rocks can be very slippery and it’s always safer to have good grip when walking around waterfalls or rivers.
You might also need them if you go to hot springs as the bottom of some pools can be quite rough.
Some beaches can also have rocks or corals so wearing water shoes can be handy.
There are so many water activities you can do in Costa Rica so you will definitely use them.
4. Drink bottled water
Technically, tap water in Costa Rica is drinkable (at least in the main tourist spots) but even the locals will tell you it’s better to avoid it.
As a general thing, I highly recommend to drink bottled water or at least filtered water from your hotel since it would be a shame to ruin your trip because of that.
5. Bring a rain jacket
Costa Rica is known for its lush rainforests and while that makes it beautiful, it also means that you can expect some rain.
Whether you’re hiking in the jungle or just exploring a city, it’s always a good idea to bring a rain jacket. You never know when you might need it.
If you are visiting during the rainy season, you will need it every day. At that point, I’d even recommend getting one of these plastic ponchos because they work a lot better than a rain jacket.
I visited during the rainy season and even if my jacket was good, after a couple of days it was completely soaked and never really dried.
During the dry season, you shouldn’t need it as much but there can be showers so it’s good to have one in your suitcase.
6. Be prepared to spend a fair bit of money
Because Costa Rica is located in Central America, a lot of people tend to think that it’s cheap. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Costa Rica can be very expensive.
Firstly, you have to pay an entrance fee for most things. This includes national parks, waterfalls, hikes and more.
Prices vary but it’s usually between $5 and $25. This can add up very quickly.
If you stick to traditional Costa Rican food and sodas, you will be able to save some money on food but it’s very likely that after a few days you start wanting a bit more than rice and beans and if you choose more international cuisine, it can be more expensive.
7. Use a Visa Card
Visa cards are accepted everywhere. American Express definitely aren’t and Mastercards don’t always work in ATMs so if you have a Visa, that will be best.
8. Eat in Sodas
The sodas are small local restaurants. You can find them everywhere and they offer traditional Costa Rican food for a very cheap price. Usually, you can get a meal with a drink for about $10 or less.
They are usually open for lunch but close before dinner so keep that in mind.
You don’t need to book, you can simply show up.
9. Be prepared to wait
Costa Rican time definitely is a thing! Everything in Costa Rica is Pura Vida (this is the motto of Costa Rica, it means pure life and Costa Rican use it all the time).
Costa Rican enjoy a simple life and there is no such thing as stress. This means that they won’t particularly rush, not even to serve you food.
When you go to the restaurant, bear that in mind because it’s not unusual to wait 1 hour or more to get your food.
They also often bring drinks at the same time than the food so if you want it beforehand, you should let them know.
10. Check the seasons for the whales and turtles
If you are interested in seeing whales or turtles, make sure to check the seasons.
From July to October, you can see humpback whales on the Pacific coast and from June to November, you can observe green sea turtles coming to lay their eggs (or the eggs hatching) on the Caribbean coast.
It’s an amazing experience and definitely something worth planning your trip around. Just make sure to check the specific locations and times to spot these beautiful creatures.
11. Take a pair of binoculars
Costa Rica is all about the animals. You will get so many opportunities to see the wonderful creatures that live in this part of the world.
Sloths, toucans, monkeys… they have them all!
But sometimes, they can be hiding in the trees and it’s hard to spot them with the naked eye.
A pair of good binoculars will definitely come in handy when going on hikes or even just walking around your hotel. You never know what kind of animals you might spot.
If you are visiting the national parks with a guide, they will have a pair you can borrow but I found it very useful to have a small pair of travel binoculars like this one.
12. Practice your Spanish
While many people in Costa Rica speak English (especially in the more touristy areas), it’s always a good idea to try and speak some basic Spanish.
It can help you when ordering food, asking for directions or bargaining at markets. Locals will appreciate your effort and it’s also a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.
You don’t need to be fluent, just knowing some key phrases and words will go a long way in making your trip more enjoyable. And who knows, maybe you’ll even learn some new words and phrases along the way!
13. Go off the beaten path from time to time
Costa Rica has become a very popular tourist destination, which means that some areas can get quite crowded.
While it’s great to visit popular spots like Manuel Antonio National Park or Arenal Volcano, don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and explore lesser-known areas.
You never know what hidden gems you might discover. Plus, it’s a great way to experience the true local culture and avoid large crowds of tourists.
14. Respect the environment
Costa Rica is known for being an eco-friendly country with a focus on sustainability and conservation.
As a visitor, it’s important to respect the environment and follow sustainable practices.
This includes properly disposing of garbage and avoiding single-use plastics, staying on designated trails in national parks, and being mindful of your water and energy usage.
By doing so, you can help preserve the natural beauty of Costa Rica for future generations to enjoy.
15. Don’t take plastic in National Parks
A lot of national parks, including Manuel Antonio and Cahuita don’t allow plastic so make sure you leave plastic bottles and containers at the hotel and only take the essentials for the day.
16. Visit the national parks with a guide
While you can visit all the national parks without a guide (you simply pay your entrance fee and explore on your own), I highly recommend to go with a guide at least once or twice.
There are so many animals and plants to see in Costa Rica and unless you are a professional, you won’t see much. Maybe 10%, if only…
If you go with a guide, you will learn plenty about the ecosystem but more importantly, they will look for the animals and point them out to you.
It is of course an added cost but it will make the experience. I particularly recommend to do so in Cahuita, Manuel Antonio and Tortuguero.
17. Get a travel insurance
Costa Rica is a safe country but as for anywhere else, it’s important to get travel insurance as you never know what can happen.
Also, you will be doing a lot of outdoor activities such as rafting or surfing and while they are safe, it does increase your risk of injury.
Believe me, you don’t want to end up needing an insurance and stressed because you don’t have it.
I ended up in hospital in Jordan without insurance (it just expired a few days before and I had not noticed) and it was incredibly stressful and expensive.
You can check for the best prices in comparison sites such as comparethemarket or opt for Worlds Nomad. It’s a very popular one.
18. Don’t walk by yourself at night in cities
While Costa Rica is generally safe, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution.
Avoid walking alone at night in cities and stick to well-lit areas, especially if you are in San José. It’s also important to keep your belongings close and be aware of your surroundings.
If possible, travel with a group or book organized tours for added safety.
19.Don’t stay too long in San José
While I don’t have anything specific against San José, this is definitely not the highlight of a trip to Costa Rica.
I’d recommend spending 1 or 2 days maximum here, at the beginning of your trip and then move to other places.
The beauty of Costa Rica is in nature, not in its cities.
20. Double check the charges on the menus
Most places include taxes (13%) in the menu prices but in certain touristy areas that’s not always the case.
They also often add 10% service fee to the price displayed on the menu so keep an eye on it when you look for a restaurant or once you look at the menu.
Depending on the place, you may end up paying the price displayed, 10% more or even 23% more.
21. Pack light and do your laundry in Costa Rica
While I always recommend to pack light, I found it to be particularly true in Costa Rica.
This is a very humid country which means that the weight of your bag will naturally increase because of the humidity.
If you are travelling during the rainy season, you will also have a lot of wet clothes and they are almost impossible to dry even back at the hotel.
And believe me, the last thing you want is to drag along wet clothes and shoes for days…
You will be better off packing light and using the laundry services at the hotels as you go.
Most of them will give you your clothes back within 24 hours and charge between $3 and $5 per kilo.
22. Use mosquito spray
There are a lot of mosquitoes in Costa Rica and if you want to spare yourself, make sure you have a bug spray at all time.
Some areas (especially the ones near the water) such as Tortuguero or Uvita can be really bad but sometimes the cities as well. Even in San José you can get bitten!
So make sure to have that spray and use it as you need.
23. Pack a few layers
Costa Rica has a tropical climate, but it can also get quite cool in certain areas, especially at higher altitudes. This is particularly the case in Monteverde, Sarapiqui but also at Irazu volcano.
It’s always a good idea to pack some layers, such as lightweight jackets and sweaters, just in case the temperature drops unexpectedly.
24. Start your day early
It gets dark quite early in Costa Rica (before 6PM) so it’s better to start your day early-ish to make sure you have enough time to do everything you need to do during the day.
It’s also important to note that everything close down pretty early. Most restaurants will close their kitchen at 8:30PM max so that’s something to take into consideration when looking for food in the evening.
It’s usually not too much of an issue since you will be done with your activities by 6PM so you have a bit of time to relax or have a shower before going for food.
25. Use a money belt
While physical aggressions are not that common in Costa Rica, theft is so I recommend buying a money belt (ideally I would even keep it under your t-shirt if you can) so you always have your money and valuables with you.
If you are carrying a purse of backpack, make sure to not leave it behind you or without anyone watching it.
26. Don’t forget to put sunscreen on
I know this one sounds obvious but it’s not as much as we think. The sun in Costa Rica is very strong so it’s important you put sunscreen on often to protect your skin.
This is particularly true when you are going to a black sand beach. The darkness of the sand will attract the sun even more which means you are at higher risk of burning.
I hope this tips will help you plan your travels around Costa Rica. You will love it!
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