Costa Rica is obviously an amazing place to visit. However, if you come here unprepared, or with the wrong expectations, it can easily turn into a nightmare. Here are a few guaranteed ways for you to have a horrible Costa Rica vacation!
1. Don’t Pay Attention to Driving Times
One of the most common mistakes that people make when traveling to Costa Rica for the first time is to not research driving times. This country may appear small, and you’d think that traveling from one destination to the next would be fast and easy. However, you’d be terribly mistaken.
Costa Rica is a very mountainous place, and its roads reflect this. You almost won’t find any large highways here, most of the roads are small and very curvy. You won’t be going in a straight line to get from point A to B, and this adds a lot of travel time. In most cases, if you’re planning on staying for a few days in one area, and then moving on to another, you’ll need to plan for at least 3-4 hours of travel.
Many other things can also cause delays. Examples can include unpredictable traffic conditions when you are close to cities, landslides or trees falling on the roads, wildlife crossing the street and much more. In conclusion, if you’re looking to have a horrible time during your vacation in Costa Rica, definitely don’t check out travel times on Google Maps or Waze, and assume that you’ll get everywhere in a couple of hours, tops.
2. Be Impatient
If you are a particularly impatient person, our home may not be the right destination for you. That is, unless you’d like to have a horrible time during your Costa Rica vacation, of course!
This ties into our first point a lot, as you’ll have to try not to get too frustrated while driving (or getting driven) around the country. Luckily, the view is usually amazing! With that said, long travel times and unexpected delays are not the only aspect of your vacation that can test the limits of your patience.
Life in general is likely more relaxed that what you are used to here, and people are as well. If you usually stick to a strict schedule, you’ll have to try to ease up a bit on that. Everything you plan will probably be a few minutes late, and it’s really not the end of the world! Just go with the flow and embrace the “Pura Vida” (Pure Life) lifestyle, you’re on vacation after all. This is not the time to stress about the little things!
3. Assume That Costa Rica is a Cheap Destination
Maybe you’ve heard people call Costa Rica the “Switzerland of Central America”. Now, many will tell you it’s because of its incredible natural beauty, or peaceful, stable way of life, especially when compared to other countries in the region. While all of this may be true, we have another theory: it’s because, like Switzerland, Costa Rica is really expensive for the area it’s located in.
How much will you spend in Costa Rica?
We think it’s worth it, obviously. However, you do have to come prepared for the prices. While there are a lot good deals, Costa Rica is definitely not what you’d call a bargain destination. If you’re staying in places that are popular with tourists, costs tend to be a bit higher than in more residential areas, and there will be a wide range of prices depending on what type of restaurant you go to, or where you are shopping. A little bit of research before your trip will go a long way to ensure you won’t have a shock when you get here!
To give you an example, in our experience, you can expect to spend around $6-10 USD per person for breakfast, $8-15 USD for a good lunch and $10-25 USD for a dinner (including a drink or 2). Of course, this can easily go up if you are having your meals at high end restaurants, and on the type of drinks you decide to order.
A half day tour can easily cost $30-100 USD, depending on the type. If you are looking to shop for clothes, this is not the place, as you’ll find that most cost the same, or are even more expensive than in the USA or most of Europe. With that said, for souvenirs, we’ve found that jewelry made by local artists tends to be a great deal. There are so many extremely talented people, and the prices are generally quite affordable!
4. Believe That Nature Will Stay Outdoors
This is one of the most common complaints we’ve heard from people traveling to Costa Rica. Everyone loves the idea of biodiversity until they find a scorpion in their room, gecko poop on their desk or ants all over their food. Our beautiful country is probably best known for its incredible nature and abundant wildlife (about 5% of the earth’s biodiversity is here!).
Many people come here and picture themselves as Disney princesses, surrounded by adorable sloths, mischievous monkeys and colorful hummingbirds. Now, it’s true that you’ll likely be lucky enough to get to see a lot of different types of tropical wildlife. With that said, you need to remember that Mother Nature is kind to ALL species of creatures in Costa Rica, even the “ugly” ones. Locking them out completely is also simply impossible. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a 5-star hotel.
Unless you’d like to have a horrible Costa Rica vacation, please adjust your expectations. Become comfortable with the idea of getting a couple of mosquito bites (and bring repellent). Accept that your new roommate is a gecko. Embrace spiderwebs as an art form.
5. Be Under the Impression That You’ll be Able to Hug a Bunch of Sloths
Sloths are super trendy right now. We get it, tough, they’re super cute and live a lifestyle that many of us only dream about. The only issue is that social media is full of pictures of people posing with all sorts of animals, and many tourists come to Costa Rica thinking that they’re going to take their new profile pic here (sloth included).
The thing is that the Costa Rican government has taken incredible steps regarding wildlife conservation. It’s illegal to handle animals like that. You will probably be able to spot a sloth during your vacation here, especially if you head to Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero or even La Fortuna. However, you’ll need to observe them in their natural environment and keep your distance, as it should be. If you visit a wildlife rescue center, you may be able to have a “closer” experience with them. This still does not mean holding them, though.
The laws here regarding animal protection are strict. Please respect them and do not disturb or interact with the environment, and definitely do not feed the wildlife. This can cause more damage than you’d think. Always remember that you are an intruder in their house, not the other way around! If you had the wrong idea about handling animals in Costa Rica, it’s not too late to adjust your expectations to avoid any kind of disappointment.
For useful information on proper “sloth tourism”, please do check out The Sloth Institute’s article on how to be a responsible sloth tourist.
6. Don’t Research Anything Before Your Trip
As with anything in life, if you get properly informed and set realistic expectations, it’ll be hard for you to be disappointed. Jumping into an unknown country without any prior knowledge is just a recipe for a horrible vacation, and Costa Rica is no different! Taking a few moments to research the geography, culture and price range of the places you’ll be visiting will go a long way.
For example, it’s illegal to smoke inside or in public areas in Costa Rica, and this is strictly enforced. If you can’t deal with it, you should choose a different destination. Don’t just come here, and then throw a fit and leave a bad review if your hotel will not let you smoke in your room. This may sound obvious, but it’s quite common to encounter this, or similar situations.
When you are booking tours and accommodations in advance, again, you should do your research. Read plenty of reviews and always look up the location of the property you’re reserving. This last point is probably the most important, especially if you are not renting a car. There can be some fantastic hotels and eco-lodges here, where you will feel lost in nature in the most wonderful of ways. However, these will often be quite remote, and as public transportation isn’t the best around here, it’s easy to end up very isolated and feel like you can’t go anywhere else.
Another thing to keep in mind when you are visiting Costa Rica is that beach front hotels are extremely rare. This is due to the fact that the coastlines are protected areas, and building is severely restricted there. All of this inevitably leads to many disappointed tourists who didn’t take a few seconds to look at where their hotel was on a map.
7. Be Careless With Your Belongings, and With Yourself
Costa Rica is a pretty safe place to travel in general. In most cases, you’ll be able to enjoy a stress-free vacation and it’s not likely that anything awful will happen to you. However, some people do get too relaxed when on vacation here, and forget even basic safety measures. This can easily turn your perfect Costa Rica vacation into a horrible one.
The most common crime here is probably petty theft. Please always be mindful about where your belongings are. Don’t leave anything too expensive laying around without supervision, or walk around alone at night, especially in unfamiliar places. Just about the same as you’d do anywhere in the world, basically!
Another thing to be cautious about is not to get too intoxicated. We know that you’re here to have a good time, and the parties can be excellent here. With that said, getting out of your mind drunk in a foreign country, surrounded by complete strangers can easily be a recipe for disaster! You’ll find that most people have good intentions and it’s easy to make friends. However, don’t lower your defenses too much – humans can be shitty anywhere.
8. Be Disrespectful to the Locals
Most people in Costa Rica are very welcoming and will go out of their way to help you discover their country. They are also usually proud of their home, and their way of life in general. Naturally, when people come here and look down on them, or try to impose a different type of mentality, it is not always well received.
It’s pretty common for visitors to think that their way of doing things is the best. However, what may be a great idea back home could very well backfire in Costa Rica. Different is not necessarily worse, and you’ll almost always have a better time if you try to understand the culture rather than fighting against it. As long as you come with an open mind, Costa Ricans will make sure that your vacation here is an unforgettable one!
This is also the best way to explore off-the-beaten-path treasures that only locals can lead you to. Some of the most beautiful spots in this country are a bit hidden, you just have to know who to ask!
9. Forget That it’s Supposed to Rain in a Rainforest
Most of Costa Rica is just a big rainforest. It may seem logical (I mean, it’s right there in the name!), but almost every day, tourists complain about the rain. We’re not saying that it rains all day, every day. However, even during the dry season, you can expect it to suddenly start pouring. It usually passes pretty quickly, but this can mean a horrible Costa Rica vacation for many people.
When you visit Costa Rica, it’s something that you have to learn to live with. If you’re going on an adventure or a hike, it’s likely that you’ll get wet at least a little bit. Just think of it as part of the experience! Also, remember that this is how this country stays so green and beautiful. Without the rain, none of the biodiversity that people travel from across the world to see would exist. We understand that it’s disappointing to visit the Arenal area and find the volcano covered by clouds. However, there’s still a lot you can do around. Hot springs are actually nicer if it’s raining a bit!
Where and when to find the best weather possible
If you need to have super dry and sunny weather during your vacation, maybe consider a different destination, but you still have a few options. Your best chances of getting “perfect” weather will be between January and April, especially if you stick to the Northwest area of Guanacaste and live the beach life. This, however, is the tropical dry forest! It’s absolutely amazing and gorgeous in its own way, but different from what many people expect of Costa Rica. The vegetation is not as exuberant and lush, and there is not quite as much wildlife as in the rainforest. Also, if you come near the end of the dry season, some areas can look very dried out and brown.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is knowing what you’re getting into, and preparing accordingly. Bring a nice, lightweight rain jacket and good sneakers of hiking shoes that will help keep your feet dry. It’ll make a world of difference and make your stay in the jungle a lot more enjoyable.
10. Reserve Your Entire Stay at an All-Inclusive Resort or in San José
Now, we’re not saying that you should completely avoid San José or all-inclusive resorts. Both of these destinations can be fantastic and you can have a great time there. However, if you really want to experience Costa Rica, it’s best not to make these the main focus of your vacation.
San José
The capital city, San José, is a first stop for many travelers when they arrive to Costa Rica. As the main international airport is there, and most other destinations will take at least 3 hours to reach, many people will stay the night before moving on. Especially if your flight in is relatively early in the day, and you don’t leave too early the next morning, we think this is the perfect way to enjoy the city. You can explore the historical center during the afternoon, maybe hit a museum or 2 and have a nice dinner at a local restaurant before crashing. Then do some more sightseeing in the morning before heading out towards your next adventure.
Due to the size of the country, some people book an entire week at a hotel in San José as a “home base”, and plan to do day trips to visit the rest of Costa Rica. This is a perfect plan to have a horrible vacation in Costa Rica! As we’ve mentioned a few times already, in order to discover other popular destinations from San José, you’re looking at quite a bit of traveling every day. For example, it will take you about 2-5-3 hours to get to Manuel Antonio, on the Central Pacific Coast. You can expect about the same amount of time to get to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano, and just a bit less for Monteverde. Basically, you’ll be spending around 6 hours on the road for a round trip. Oh, and this is if you’re lucky with traffic leaving and coming back into San José.
As you can see, this doesn’t make for an ideal vacation. In addition to all these hours wasted in transit, you’re also not allowing enough time to actually experience the rest of the country! The most breathtaking areas are away from the capital here, and they deserve more than a couple of hours of exploring. Please consider staying at least one night wherever you go. 2, 3 or 4, depending on where, would be even better.
All-Inclusive Resorts
In the last few years, there have been a number of all-inclusive resorts opening on the Northwest Pacific Coast of Guanacaste. It’s easy to see the appeal, as the beaches are gorgeous, and the weather is sunnier and more stable than in most of the country. Staying at one of these resorts can seem like a great idea, as they can be really convenient. Everything you need is right outside your room, and you don’t need to worry about meals! If you’re looking for an all-inclusive vacation where you’re just going to flop down at the beach for a week, however, you’re probably better off going somewhere in Mexico, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic.
Costa Rica does have some nice all-inclusive resorts, but compared to other destinations, they will be expensive for what you get. The best part of our beautiful country is the outdoors. We’re lucky enough that it’s safe to venture out and hike through forests, sail down rivers and discover untouched beaches. You should do it! However, one of these resorts is not a good starting point for this, as you’ll run into a lot of the same issues as if you use San José as a base.
A couple of nights at an all-inclusive resort can be a nice way to finish off an excitement-filled vacation. Just make sure that you’ve actually experienced what makes Costa Rica unique before you head out to one!
