Costa Rica is not just another place to visit. It is a magical experience that will charm you.The country is renowned for its consistent waves and stunning Pacific and Caribbean coasts and surf. The sand in the beaches of Costa Rica is very diverse; it can vary from black to white color. The variations of altitudes and climates make this country a small garden of Eden. Additionally, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise full of splendid landscapes nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean coast. It is a destination for lovers of nature, birds and hiking.
Below we've put a list of what to keep in mind before visiting Costa Rica.
1. What to know before visiting Costa Rica
Speaking Spanish is good, but you can go by with English
What surprised us when we first visited the country is how well English is adopted as a language to interact with visitors. Residents who work in the tourism industry are very well versed in English language, especially in hotels, shops, tourist agencies, bars, and restaurants. However, Spanish knowledge in Costa Rica will help make your travel easier, especially when you travel deeper into the country, outside of tourist areas. The Costa Rica locals in small towns, gas stations or restaurants don't usually speak English. If you didn't know, Costa Ricans are known to be called Ticos and they definitely appreciate the effort visitors make to communicate with them in a native language.
2. You'll need cash, mosquito repellent, and sunscreen
When traveling in Costa Rica you should have some cash at hand – US dollars or local currency colones. How much depends on what you're planning to do in the country. Use the credit card as much as you can. A lot of local restaurants and shops accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) to shop or at restaurants. However, in smaller towns or off-road fruit stands you have to pay in cash. Just make sure you inform your bank about your travel plans and set the credit card settings to be out of country to avoid the card being blocked unexpectedly.
ATMs are not that easy to find and are centralized in bigger towns or tourist locations, so it’s best to be prepared if you’re traveling around the country. If you’re traveling from the US where you are used to seeing businesses open non-stop, be prepared to not have that convenience. ATMs are no exception. Some of them don’t operate during the weekends because most of the time they are located inside the bank building and banks are closed during the weekends.
When it comes to insects, please know that Costa Rica has all sorts of bugs, and mosquitos are not exception. You can encounter mosquitoes during the day and night, so we invite you to purchase several mosquito repellents before you go.
You can also buy them in any grocery store in Costa Rica if you run out. Here at Out of Office Villa we have installed an anti-bug mist system, which helps tremendously to keep the bugs at bay.
One of the most surprising things to keep in mind when traveling to Costa Rica is that sunscreen there is very expensive. Not sure why, but you’ll be paying a premium for it if you decide to buy locally. Please keep in mind that the sun is hot during the dry season (December-April), so always stock up with sunscreen before you travel.
3. Plan your budget
One thing that’s not common knowledge is that Costa Rica is one of the most expensive countries in Central America. A lot of people assume that it is affordable to travel there, but, depending on what you want to do, it can get pricey : from eating out in restaurants to nature activities. A meal can cost anywhere from $10 to $50 per person, depending where you eat. Concerning activities, it is the same. You can go by just hanging out at the beach and pay only for parking costs or nothing at all, but if you want to zipline, horseback ride, fly fish, or get on a sunset boat tour, be prepared to pay. Nonetheless, there are options for all levels of budget, you just have to plan in advance.
4. Rent a car for full experience
In Costa Rica renting a car is an ideal way to discover the country. Costa Rica has bigger highways and smaller paved one way roads. Please, keep in mind that you do have a chance to get stuck in traffic on a busy day, but just accept the Pura Vida mindset and relax. You’ll get to your destination sooner or later. You don’t necessarily need a 4x4 vehicle, but if you plan to go to off-road secluded locations, we always advise you to go for a bigger SUV. It’s not uncommon that some roads during rainy season have puddles that you have to cross and you don’t want to get stuck in the puddle instead of the beach. Additionally, the advantages of renting a car in the country are numerous, for instance : you can stop whenever you want, take scenic detours, visit the small towns off the main road, and enjoy the beach visits whenever you want.
That being said, renting a car can be stressful, so choose the right company. We usually rent at Vamos-Rent-A-Car when we travel, but there are other car rental options too. We have had great experiences in both, San Jose and Liberia airport locations. A lot of credit card companies offer car insurance while traveling. We advise our guests to look into that and have a printed proof when picking up a rental car. This will help you save on some insurance fees that can get high when renting a car locally.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan to travel during high-season months, you should rent a car several weeks in advance. Car rental locations in Costa Rica do get a shortage of cars during high-season months.
5. Active vacation vs. slow pace
Playa Junquillal vs. Tamarindo
If, like us, you sometimes prefer to avoid the noisiness of the city and offer yourself a relaxing holiday that combines natural authenticity and full tranquility, we invite you to visit Playa Junquillal. Playa Junquillal is a little gem that is home to stunning wild natural beauty. We were charmed by the width and length, almost always empty beach as well as the lush vegetation. Additionally, at night, Playa Junquillal becomes the perfect place to enjoy a delicious Costa Rican meal while admiring the sunsets at the Pacific Ocean.
However, if you ever want to escape the tranquility every once in a while, you can always head to the beach town of Tamarindo. The ocean side resort is located just 45 minutes from Playa Junquillal. This unmissable beach town in Guanacaste owes its name to the tamarind trees. This Costa Rican beach town is famous for surfing, windsurfing, it offers a lot of night life activities, variety of places to eat and just enjoy the liveliness of a busy beach town.
Between Playa Junquillal and Tamarindo you are set to experience diversity during your vacation - busyness and peace - all at the tips of your hands. We would love to host you at Out of Office Villa during your travels and help make your vacation in Costa Rica memorable.
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