Although there is a lot of information about Costa Rica on the web, there is still so much misinformation. The goal of this post is to share with you the most important things to know about Costa Rica before your visit.
Here are 17 things to know about Costa Rica before you visit.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Any prices listed may not reflect current pricing. It is the readers responsibility to research current pricing. Prices are quoted in USD. More info: Disclosure
1. Costa Rica is not as cheap as people think
This is one of the most important things to know about Costa Rica. Many people assume that Central America automatically equals cheap travel.
This is the biggest common misconception about Costa Rica. Yes, other Central American countries like Guatemala and Nicaragua are cheap to travel to, but it is not the same in Costa Rica. You can’t compare prices in Costa Rica to Southeast Asia.
Those who don’t know this about Costa Rica get a surprise when they see the prices. Tours can easily cost $150 USD a person, food can be the same price as Canada/USA/Europe and gas is around $5-6 USD a gallon.
Without careful consideration, you can blow through your budget much earlier than planned.
But we can help! Read about the cost of Costa Rica in these posts to help you stay within your budget.
Also don’t forget to take advantage of our Costa Rica deals. We have discounts for car rentals, tours and hotels.
- Cost of traveling in Costa Rica: See how much food, transportation, tours, hotels and souvenirs cost.
- Save money in Costa Rica: Our local insider tips for saving money traveling in Costa Rica.
- Cheap things to do in Costa Rica: Activities for those on a tight budget.
- 1 week Costa Rica budget: See how much 3 people spent in Costa Rica for 1 week.
2. Costa Rica is a small country but it takes longer than it seems to get around
Costa Rica is a little smaller than West Virginia and Denmark so it’s easy to think you can road trip and see the entire country in a week. Technically you can, but trust me, that wouldn’t be very fun!
This is because of the not so great infrastructure. Therefore, driving in Costa Rica are never as the crows fly.
The average speed limit on the highways here is 80 kmph (~50 mph) but you will be lucky if you go that speed your entire drive, or even half your drive.
Many routes have only one lane which causes tons of congestion and traffic as all the large trailer trucks use the same route.
They drive much slower and they’re harder to see around to pass. There is no one road that goes all around Costa Rica either that easily connects coast to coast.
So when planning out your driving routes, expect your drive to take longer than what your GPS says whether you’re using a GPS device, Google Maps or Waze.
Waze is the most widely used GPS app here and it will show you your estimated driving time based on real time traffic, but this can always change during your drive.
Read more about getting around Costa Rica here to plan out your trip.
For example, Tamarindo to San Jose is 259 kilometers or 161 miles. On a good day if we leave on a week day outside rush hour, it takes us around 4.5-5 hours.
However, due to lots of construction and more people on the road, the average drive time now is 5.5 hours without stops. One time it took us 10 hours because an deadly accident occurred on the one lane roads.
Unfortunately we were standstill for over 2 hours and ended up arriving in San Jose during rush hour which then took us another couple hours.
This is one of the mistakes to avoid when traveling in Costa Rica. Don’t try to drive everywhere, don’t drive cross country routes everyday and always know that your drive will take longer than what the GPS says.
We also don’t really recommend to drive to an excursion in the afternoon if you are coming from far away as there is a big chance you will be late unless you leave much much earlier.
Remember that if you don’t make a shared tour in time, you’ll be considered a no show which is a 100% penalty fee. For a one week trip to Costa Rica, it’s best to choose 2 destinations or pick a home base and do day trips. Plan smart, travel easy.
3. Tap water is safe to drink in Costa Rica
In the Central Valley cities, you can indeed drink the tap water. We have no problem drinking tap water in San Jose, Heredia, Cartago and some mountain areas like Monteverde.
Though tap water is generally safe to drink, I still recommend bringing a filter if you have a sensitive stomach.
Tap water in Costa Rica on the coasts tend to be hard water, meaning they have higher amounts of calcium and magnesium. You may still need to buy bottled water if you are immunocompromised.
However, some more remote and rural places generally don’t have drinkable tap water or the tap water is high in calcium/minerals, which can cause upset stomach to those not used to it.
These are places like Tortuguero, Osa Peninsula, the Guanacaste coast, Costa Ballena, Nicoya Peninsula, Sarapiqui and Golfito.
Hotels will indicate whether the water is safe and tour guides will let you know which faucets to use. Some hotels will have a bottled water station for you to fill up your bottles. Don’t forget your insulated water bottle to always have cold water!
Read more about drinking tap water in Costa Rica.
4. Dengue, not malaria is the main disease from mosquitoes in Costa Rica
The mosquito borne disease travelers should concern themselves with in Costa Rica is dengue fever, not malaria. Costa Rica has many more cases of dengue than Malaria and Zika.
Remember, mosquitoes are in Costa Rica year round and are worse in rainy season. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water so bring plenty of insect repellent and cover up as much as possible.
Read our tips for protecting yourself against mosquitoes in Costa Rica.
Extra travel safety tip: Make sure to purchase travel insurance just in case you do catch something! You can read more about Costa Rica travel insurance in this post.
5. Costa Rica gets cold but it doesn’t snow
Costa Rica experiences typical tropical weather but it has many micro-climates. It doesn’t snow but it does get quite cold in some areas due to the high elevation.
Read more about Costa Rica weather in this post.
Some of the colder areas are Monteverde, Poas, Vara Blanca, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, Chirripo and San Gerardo de Dota. Temperatures in those areas can get down to 50s° F (10° C) at night with comfortable day time temperatures around the low 70s° F (21° C).
In Chirripo, the highest mountain in Costa Rica (elevation ~3800 meters or 12000 feet) can get frost as the coldest recorded night time temperatures were around -5° C (23° F).
The coasts are always hot, mostly in the 80s° and 90s° F (27° – 32° C) during the day.
Make sure to research the area you are visiting so you come prepared. For packing tips, check out our Costa Rica packing list to see what you need to bring for different activities and destinations.
Our must have items are an insulated water bottle, microfiber towel, battery pack, sunscreen SPF 50, sunglasses, dry fast clothes and mosquito repellent.
6. US dollars are readily accepted and are the standard currency in tourism
Hotels and tour companies quote their prices in USD in Costa Rica. This is normal in tourism in Costa Rica. Additionally, Costa Ricans can have bank accounts in USD as mortgages and car payments are quoted in USD. US dollars have become the standard currency in tourism.
So when you’re trying to get your money together, don’t stress too much about exchanging it to CRC (Costa Rican colones, local currency) before your trip.
USD is accepted in pretty much every touristic destination and you can choose to pay in USD or CRC, even if it’s quoted in CRC.
If you are Canadian however, it will be better for you to have Costa Rican currency due to the Canadian dollar and USD exchange rate. Unfortunately, Canadian dollars and other currencies are not accepted in Costa Rica, only USD.
If your hotels or tour companies agree to charge you in CRC instead of USD, make sure you check the exchange rate they use. The exchange rate changes everyday, sometimes even hourly, so you need to check.
The current exchange rate is around 505 CRC to 1 USD.
If you want to exchange cash when you are in Costa Rica, the best place to exchange currency is at the bank. Do not exchange large amounts at the airport exchange rate booth as they give an extremely poor rate.
Read more about handling money in Costa Rica.
Tip for exchanging currency: supermarkets accept USD and if you pay in USD, they will give you your change back in Costa Rican colones. Easy way to exchange money without having to go to the bank. Just make sure to calculate the exchange rate. The supermarket should have a sign of the exchange rate for the day near the front or by the cashier.
7. You can still visit Costa Rica in rainy season and have a great time!
Dry season in Costa Rica has the best weather. Thanks to the sunny days and high temperatures, it is also our high tourism season because everyone wants to escape the winter up north.
However, that doesn’t mean rainy season is a bad time to visit Costa Rica. In fact, rainy season is a wonderful time to visit especially if you are on a budget or don’t want to be around tons of crowds.
Costa Rica’s rainy season starts around beginning of May and goes through the end of November. The rainiest months for most of Costa Rica is October and July for the Caribbean coast.
Yes, it rains and you do need to pack and research more for rainy season. But you will still have a great time!
Check out our Costa Rica rainy season packing list for tips.
Here are some other things to know about why it’s actually awesome to visit Costa Rica in rainy season.
- Rainy season is also Costa Rica’s low season. This means less tourists, particularly in the months of May, September and October.
- Prices for hotels and tours go down and businesses throw lots of promos in October. It’s the best time to travel on a budget in Costa Rica.
- A typical rainy season day is sunny and hot in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon and rainy in the evening/night.
- Rainy season is the best time to see certain wildlife like humpback whales and turtles.
To read more about visiting Costa Rica in rainy season, click the link. Personally, we love rainy season in Costa Rica. Less crowds, not as hot, more wildlife and it’s cheaper!
8. Sloths aren’t everywhere (sorry)
As much as I hate to break it to you, sloths aren’t everywhere. I know Costa Rica markets their cuddly sloths so much it seems that the roads are crawling with them but it’s not true.
One of the main “complaints” I’ve heard from visitors is that they didn’t see a sloth. I asked them where they were in Costa Rica and many of them were at the Pacific coast or in the city where sloths don’t live.
If you want to see a sloth, then you need to go to where they live!
For example, it is incredibly difficult to see one in Guanacaste due to the extremely dry climate. But if you visit the South Pacific or the Caribbean coast, sloths are much more common thanks to the lush rainforest.
Sloths, being the masters of camouflage, are normally very difficult to see without a guide or trained eye. So for the best possibilities to see a sloth, hire a guide.
They have trained eyes and will have binoculars or telescopes to find them. We also highly recommend bringing your own binoculars.
If you’re staying on the Guanacaste coast and want to see sloths, check out this awesome Rainforest and Sloth day trip!
Find out where are the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica in our guide.
9. Police can stop and ask for your papers at any time
In Costa Rica, police are legally allowed to stop any car and ask for papers. Always have a color copy of your passport and photo of your tourist stamp with you.
Remember that to legally drive in Costa Rica as a tourist, you need to have your original passport (not a color copy), your original driver’s license and a valid tourist stamp with you.
If a police stops you, they’ll normally ask you for your passport, ask you where you’re going and then send you on your way.
Most of the time they don’t ask anything else and many of them speak some very basic English.
Also something else to note is that the police in Costa Rica are generally very nice. They don’t have a “shoot first ask later” mentality here and are willing to help tourists out.
Likewise, there is a tourist police (policia turistica) that are specifically to help tourists so don’t be afraid to ask them questions.
10. Wi-Fi is readily available…
…at hotels. It is common for hotels to offer free Wi-Fi and many of them have it available throughout the whole property.
However, you will not always find open Wi-Fi in public places. It’s not like NYC where you can find a Starbucks and use the free Wi-Fi.
If you are eating at a restaurant, sometimes they will post a sign somewhere their Wifi network and password.
If you don’t see it, you can ask them for the password. I’ve found most places are OK with giving it out as long as you are a customer.
If you always want Internet during your entire time in Costa Rica, we highly recommend getting a prepaid SIM card for your phone or renting a Wifi hot spot. Car rental agencies have WIFI hot spots for rent.
Find out how to get a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica.
If your phone uses eSIM, get an eSIM plan with Airalo, (get 10% off your eSIM plan with Airalo using our promo code “mytanfeet”) or Holafly (use promo code Mytanfeet for 5% off).
Travel tip: The way prepaid SIM cards work is you will take out the existing SIM card in your smartphone you use at home and put in the Costa Rican one. Now your phone will be on the Costa Rican network so you can make local calls and texts in Costa Rica and be able to go on the Internet. Your phone number from home will NOT work anymore. A prepaid SIM card will subtract the credit used from calls/texts/internet from your balance accordingly. When your balance is low, you can add more credit to it at a supermarket or cell phone store.
11. The standard tipping amount is 10%
This is something important to know about Costa Rica. First of all, tipping is not absolutely mandatory in Costa Rica.
This is because tip, or service tax, is normally already included in the price so Costa Ricans don’t tip extra. Service tax is 10% in Costa Rica.
However, if you would like to tip your guide, driver, hotel maid, bartender, property manager… you may do so and it is very well appreciated.
The standard amount to tip in Costa Rica is 10% and you can tip in Costa Rican colones or USD. You can tip more or less depending on how you feel the service was.
Read more about tipping in Costa Rica in this post.
12. You must drive defensively in Costa Rica!
People are always surprised by the driving in Costa Rica. It’s something I warn people about when they are renting a car in Costa Rica because the driving here is not well organized due to the not so great infrastructure.
Simply stated, always drive defensively, especially in the cities. Don’t get stressed out or mad because it is a fact that you will get cut off and tailgated. You will see cars jump the line, not heed stop signs, run red lights and not use blinkers.
Of course not all Costa Ricans drive this way but for the most part, it is like that, especially in the cities. Once you get out to the rural areas, there are less cars but you still need to drive defensively.
There are always people, dogs, chickens, cows and other things in the middle of the narrow road. There is a lack of sidewalks, street signs and street lights so people will park in the middle of the street, driver’s won’t yield to street lights or signs and there may be many unexpected speed bumps without any notice.
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount here and save some $$!
13. San Jose’s not as bad as people make it out to be…
…for a day. San Jose is not the biggest nor prettiest capital city but it does have some hidden gems. You do not need many days in San Jose to get a good feel of the city. Just a day, day and a half or two is enough.
Then there are the cultural treasures: the National Theater and museums. Any history lover will want to stop by the city as there are few museums of this quality anywhere else in the country.
So when it comes down to it, San Jose really isn’t as bad as people make it out to be for 1 or 2 days.
You can find some of the best restaurants and craft beer in San Jose!
And honestly, it is the best place to experience Costa Rican life since over 1 million Ticos live and work in the capital city (out of a population of a little over 5 million).
Also, many tourists use San Jose as their home base for their vacation and book day trips. San Jose is centrally located so you can see many beautiful places within a 2 hour drive on a day excursion.
Have a few days in San Jose? Check out our San Jose, Costa Rica travel guide for the best things to do or our San Jose day trips post.
You can even get our San Jose tours discount to save some money!
14. English is widely spoken but not all Costa Ricans speak English
People assume that because Costa Rica is a touristic country and that there are so many North Americans here, that all the locals know English.
Though many Costa Ricans know a degree of English, not all of them do. The Costa Ricans with higher education and who work in tourism, real estate or call centers are generally fluent in English.
But don’t assume that all Costa Ricans know English. For tourists, you can get around Costa Rica without knowing Spanish, but it is helpful to learn at least the basic words.
You can download our handy Costa Rica Spanish cheat sheet to learn a little.
Personally, we always learn how to say the basics like hello and thank you in the language of the country we’re visiting to be polite.
15. It gets dark by 6 PM everyday in Costa Rica
And the sun rises around 6 AM everyday since Costa Rica is 8-12 degrees from the equator. Sunrise and sunset changes only about 15 minutes throughout the year.
Being a tropical country, Costa Rica doesn’t have Daylight Savings Time either.
So make sure to take into account that it gets dark by 6 PM everyday when planning your trip. Many places close at 5 PM too, not many places open late night nor are there really any 24 hour supermarkets or restaurants.
In Costa Rica, you will learn to enjoy the early mornings. Plus, it’s a bit hard to sleep in with so many monkeys howling and birds chirping at 5 AM!
Personal tip: we don’t recommend to drive long distances after dark or to walk on the beach or streets at sunrise or late at night.
16. Costa Rica doesn’t have much in common with Mexico
For some reason, many foreigners think Costa Rica is like Mexico. But Costa Rica and Mexico are completely different!
Costa Rican food isn’t like Mexican food at all and even the Spanish is different. In Costa Rica, they don’t say andale andale or anything like that. They are two completely different countries with their own cultures, traditions and customs.
So when you visit Costa Rica, don’t crack any jokes about Costa Rica being Mexico or Costa Ricans as Mexicans. It’s one of the points about being a responsible traveler and as guests in a foreign country, we have to be respectful.
PS. Costa Rica is not Puerto Rico either. For some reason lots of people get these two mixed up! We get a lot of “Costo Rico” or “Costa Rico” comments.
People also think Costa Rica is an island, which it is not. We have even had people book their flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico instead of San Jose, Costa Rica! Do not make this mistake when planning your trip to Costa Rica!
17. Costa Rica doesn’t have a military and theft is the most common crime against tourists
Did you know that Costa Rica is one of 23 countries in the world with no military? There is only the police force, the OIJ and GAO (like a SWAT team).
Because of the lack of military, Costa Rica is a peaceful country, making it one of the safest countries in Latin America for traveling, especially families.
The most common crime in Costa Rica is theft: car/house break ins and pick pockets. To prevent this, you must always use your common sense and have a heightened sense of awareness.
Don’t hang your purse on the back of your chair, don’t put your backpack in the overhead compartment or under your seat of the bus, don’t leave your wallet on the dashboard of your car, don’t leave your car windows open.
So when you’re traveling in Costa Rica, make sure to always lock the door, triple check your doors are locked, roll up the windows, have one person stay with your stuff at all times and don’t leave any valuables in the car.
Don’t park in remote, dark areas. Don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach. Use your common sense. Be alert and aware.
You can read more Costa Rica safety tips here and our Costa Rica tourist scams.
Read more Costa Rica travel tips below!
Types of accommodation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels. Save more money with our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Evelyn Burgos says
Hello,
Please help.
I am a solo traveler staying by the San Jose airport for two days before heading to a private yoga retreat in the mountains of Alajuela. I arrive in CR within 24 hours.
This will be my 5th visit to Costa Rica. It’s my 4th to Alajuela. I rented a car, but never ever drove during any of my past visits.
I plan to visit Jaco Beach and go clothes shopping. How challenging is the drive to Jaco Beach as a fist timer? Will the GPS (Waze) on my Phone work? Can you recommend a shopping district in San Jose or Alajuela?
Sammi says
It’s easy to drive to Jaco but if you don’t want to worry about driving, I’d just take a shared shuttle or public bus.
Harriet says
Hi, thank you for all the really helpful information.
We are coming to
CR in December for 8 days with our two young teenagers. We don’t want to move around too much, my husband is keen really for one spot. Would you recommend Nicoya peninsula or Osa peninsula ? Thank you so much!
Sammi says
Those places are extremely different so it depends on a bunch of things. You can read our guides to get more information. Osa Peninsula and Nicoya Peninsula
Katie says
Hi! How important is it to have our passports with us if traveling by car around town? I’m worried about losing them if we have them with us at all times, going to Manuel Antionio National Park, to dinner, etc. Thinking I’d rather risk not having them and getting pulled over than losing them…
Sammi says
Foreigners are supposed to have their original passport and drivers license with them when they drive per law…around town there wouldn’t be a high chance of being pulled over but if you get into an incident even in town which involves police and you don’t have your documents with you, it will be an issue.
Rachellerachelle says
Just the driver needs their original passport and drivers license copy, correct? The passengers just need a colour photo copy and photo of the entry stamp?
Sammi says
If the passengers are going to be added as a driver or drive, they require their original passport with them at all times while driving as well as their original valid drivers license
Vonda says
So informative! This helped greatly!
Edison Scott says
I would like to drive from Liberia to Montezuma but road maps are unclear. Is this a good idea and are the roads clearly marked? Feb 1 11 2023
Sammi says
You should go around the peninsula, don’t take any of the roads that go through the peninsula. Stick to the road around it which is the main road
Jenna says
Hi,
I’m coming to Costa Rica in January with my husband and three year old daughter. The thing I’m most scared about is Dengue, especially as we cannot use Deet on a 3 year old. Any recommendations? Our first stop is Cahuita. I’m so nervous that I’m wondering if it’s still a good idea to come.
Thank you.
Sammi says
It’s not very common to get dengue to be honest, I cannot say it will never happen but it’s not rampant that everyone who visits Costa Rica gets dengue… I’ve been here 10+ years on the coast and never got it, Yeison’s never got it and he grew up here and I don’t know any of my friends who have gotten it and only a couple of Yeison’s Costa Rican friends who were all naturalist guides have gotten it. Covering up is the best protection and there are many natural repellents now without DEET.
Nic says
We are planning to take our kids to CR soon. We are concerned about safety above all else. Is it a bad idea to pack our belongings and then go to the beach (leaving our suitcases in the car) the day we go to the airport? Also, what do you recommend as far as COVID testing before we head for home? We must test negative before we can fly back and aren’t sure when/where to do this. We have a packed agenda and are hopeful we can do some adventures in both the Arenal area as well as Tamarindo before we head for home. Is that too ambitious for a week trip? Thanks for any tips.
Sammi says
Hello Nic, we don’t really recommend to leave valuables and belongings alone in the car to an unsecure parking, there are lots of places that offer COVID testing in Costa Rica, many hotels even offer in-hotel services.
Amanda says
I spent 6 months in Costa Rica as a 19-year old woman and never had a problem, even in the city. Other than cat calling but I get that in the US too.
Kelli says
Hi. This was really helpful. I am visiting Utiva in October and this is my first time staying in an air bnb opposed to a resort and I’m quite nervous I’m forgetting things.
We fly into San Jose, then the next morning we have a flight through Sansa to Quepos to get to Utiva. Does that sound right?
Also, I have no idea what to do when we get there lol. I’m just winging it I guess. Any advice on this area?
Sammi says
Hi Kelli, you can check our Uvita, Costa Rica post for more information. Have a nice time.
Susan says
I’m bringing my teen boys to Playa Grande near Tamarindo in July for surfing. I’d love to do something besides watching them surf all day every day. Any recommendations on where we can drive for a day trip to see/hike to beautiful waterfalls?
Sammi says
I would definitely check out Rio Celeste and/or Catarata Llanos de Cortes
Adrienne Campolmi says
Hi – We are planning a 10 day to 2 week trip to CR in the beginning of August. We would like to split our time by between beach and wildlife. We will be traveling with our two teenage sons. However, one of our children has developmental disabilities. He will be unable to participate in some activities ( for example; snorkel, difficult hikes and zip lining). Are there areas you could recommend for both beach and cloud / rainforest ?
We are thinking of flying into Liberia but we can be open to San Jose as well. We would love to hear your input. thank you
Sammi says
Hello Adrienne, there isn’t 1 destination in Costa Rica that has both beach and cloud forest because cloud forest is high up over 1500 meters in elevation and the beach is on the coast.
For cloud forest, Monteverde is the most common one, then for beach there are many beach towns close to Liberia Airport like Playas del Coco, Costa Rica which would be a nice, quiet beach town.
Sarah says
Hi Sammi, what a great blog!! Found so much helpful information. Do you think the wifi at hotels or in air bnbs will be stable enought for (business) video calls? Is it depending on the area?
Thanks again!
Sammi says
Hello Sarah, it really depends on the hotel and area. We have been in a couple hotels that actually had fiber optic and then we have been in hotels with like 2 mb speed internet and horrible. I would read reviews of each place to see if anyone says anything about the internet.
Nat says
My boyfriend and I are headed to Costa Rica this upcoming July. Place we are planning to visit include: Monteverde, La fortuna, Playa hermosa, and Tamarindo. Do you recommend a 4X4 car for this trip?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Nat, for Monteverde it is recommended to have a higher car, especially in rainy season. A 4×4 is not a must but a higher clearance car during the dry season is fine.
Emily says
Great info!
I am leaving the country Jan. 2020 and have been looking for a good place to start my journey. I think I have decided on starting in Costa Rica.
Your post has really helped me with some questions I’ve had about Costa Rica.
Thank you,
Em
Sissel says
Thank you very much for all this great information we are looking so much forward to our one month trip from cold Norway in January. We will visit osa the tree first weeks, 2 weeks at bosquelcabo and one week at the beach, Punta preciosa before we visit leaves and lizards near bye vulkano and hot springs with horses.
Suzanne says
I have been loving all your tips about Costa Rica and looking forward to coming later this month. I can’t find any useful info about drinks. I understand that it’s a good idea to bring spirits but what about wine? Is it really expensive? Is it Ok to drink? I don’t want to spend $15 per bottle…..
Sammi says
Hi Suzanne! So wine is pretty expensive here if you want to get a nice bottle… Costa Rica does have their own wine but it’s box wine and around $6 a box. If you want nice wine, like from Italy or Chile, it can get expensive. If you want reallllly nice wine, it can get up to $100 but you can find wine of all qualities and prices.
GSE Solutions says
I have just found this site and is really helpful, it is great you have included some basic Spanish words as well, thank you!
Sammi says
You don’t need a specific stamp to drive a car, you just need the normal tourist stamp you will get when you go through immigration. How long the visa lasts will depend on your passport, you can read the immigration and customs requirements for each country here: Costa Rica entry requirements
It is better to use a GPS device, Waze the GPS app works best in Costa Rica.
Jacqueline says
Where do we get the tourist stamp to drive a car in Costa Rica?
How long is the stamp good for? If were driving, should we to use a map or is it better to use GPS?
Jasmine Aguayo says
Hello!
Thank you SO much for this! It is so helpful and I cannot wait to read everything else you have on Costa Rica! I am planning on visiting in late July, and we are going to be staying in Tamarindo! Any recommendations or do you suggest we stay somewhere else?
Thank so much!
Sammi says
Hi Jasmine! You are very welcome. We have written several articles about Tamarindo you can read here: Things to do in Tamarindo and Tamarindo Costa Rica
Ting-Ting says
Hi Sammi!
Before anything, I want to give a huge thanks to you for making this website and being so helpful anyone that’s planning to visit Costa Rica. It’s real rare to see videos of driving on the actual road. Your advises are thoroughly explained and it’s just heart warming to know that someone out there is looking out for first time traveler like me.
My boyfriend and I are going to Costa Rica the first week of April. We’re going for ten days and are hopping from San Jose to Manuel Antonio National Park, La Fortuna, and finally the coast for beautiful beaches. As for La Fortuna, I’ve noticed that both the Waterfall and Arenal closes at 4pm. What do you recommend for activities after 4pm? Also, which beach do you recommend going first?
Sammi says
Hi Ting Ting, I’m glad that the blog has been helpful for your trip planning! If you want to hike, I recommend going to the Arenal 1968 private reserve which is right next to the national park but it closes at 6 PM. This is a really nice reserve with hiking trails and great view points. You can read about it here: Arenal 1968
And of course you have to visit the hot springs which this area is famous for. There are several in Arenal and best to go at night when the temperature is cooler so you can enjoy the hot water more. You can read more about them here: Best Arenal hot springs
As for beaches, which coast will you be going to? Guanacaste coast or the Central/South Pacific coast?
Colleen Corbett says
This is so helpful! I can’t wait to read all your posts before my trip in April
Sammi says
Hi Colleen, glad it’s helpful!
Kenda says
Your whole site has been so helpful for my sister and I, who are planning a 2 week trip in February. I’ve soaked up all your advice and especially value your local knowledge and personal-experience based insights, which I have no doubt are going to be useful to us – Thank you so much!
Sammi says
Hi Kenda! Aw we’re so happy to hear that! Our main goal for Mytanfeet is to help as many people as possible have a safe and fun time in Costa Rica so I’m glad to hear that. If there is any topic you’d like us to cover, please feel free to let us know and we will do our best 🙂
JRM says
Don’t forget to be vigilant if you go to Costa Rica. My friend just returned from there where he was robbed and beaten, and he’s still in the hospital.
From what I gather, this is nothing new as several Americans that I’ve talked to have either been targeted in some way, robbed, or had their stuff stolen from them in during break-ins while they were gone exploring.
You would be better off- or safer- if you considered a different country. I figure it was worth mentioning.
Stacey says
Thanks for the tips! Just returned from CR. Definitely found your info to be true-it takes a very long time to get places. We did not get to do many of the things we wanted. Plus when the Braulio Carrillo park at Volcan Barva did not open on time at 8am, it put us behind and unable to complete the day’s adventure. (We wanted to visit from both entrances but not enough time to drive around before they closed at 3:30. We still had a great visit though!) we did see a sloth but only thanks to a local kind enough to take the time to point it out-would never have seen it otherwise.
Also, it was chilly to cold most of the time. Being from the Gulf Coast of the US we expected temps/climate to be similar. But with the rain and altitude we were never really hot. Very glad we brought rain gear for our hikes!
Great adventure in CR. Just wish we had more time….
Sammi says
Hi Stacey! Yes definitely that’s one of the greatest (and most confusing) thing about Cost Rica is that there are soo many places to go but it’s so hard to get around, even with a car because of times and schedules for places opening, traffic and long drives. Right now is rainy season so it does get pretty cold in the mountains and central Valley. Always best to bring a rain jacket!
Glad you enjoyed CR and hopefully next time you can come back for longer!
Sammi says
Hi Janice, you can read our post for recommendations and ideas for best places to stay: Best places in Costa Rica for first timers
Janice says
Where is the best location to stay.. I am confused with all the different areas.
I want to do the ATV, zip lining, beach and see the volcanos
Sammi says
Hi Chayanne, thanks for your kind words and glad the blog is helpful! I don’t know where your house is in Ojochal but many of the houses in that area are up in the mountains and the road into Ojochal is not paved, so a 4×4 is a good idea especially for that area. A lot of roads in the Costa Ballena up in the mountains are steep and unpaved so they do require a 4×4.
There aren’t many ziplining tours in that area but there is a private reserve, Hacienda Baru near Dominical that has one. We visited it last year and wrote about it here: Hacienda Baru. It’s about 20-30 minutes driving from Ojochal.
There should be taxis in Ojochal but since it’s not a super touristic area, I wouldn’t count on taxis as your main form of transportation. It’s good you’re renting a car because that area is hard to get around without one (you’ll see lots of people hitchhiking). It’s best to have a car, or hire a private driver but that can get expensive. Uber only exists in San Jose.
Have a great time!
Chayanne says
I LOVE your article and have been reading all of the comments. My boyfriend & I are flying in to San Jose & driving to a house we rented in Ojochal. It appears that our house is near “Tortuga Arriba” & “Calle del Bosque”. Would you ancipate this is a tough drive? We plant to rent a 4×4 and have planned on about a 4 hour drive.
Also- is there a zip lining place in Ojochal you can reccomend?
Lastly- is there a taxi service that could pick us up and bring us places? I am from NYC so am expecting big differences.
Thank you for any & all info/help! 🙂
Steven says
Hey everybody,
Thinking about heading to CR in late June/July and maybe staying at Hotel Del Rey or Jaco for some unwinding and debauchery. Im early 30s, speak near fluent spanish and seeing if anyone wants to buddy up just to hang and for safety as most of my friends are married/too broke to go. -Steven. (stevenjames102@yahoo.com)
Jess says
Hi! We are headed to Costa Rica next year! I am just concerned about safety. We plan on renting a car to drive to the house we rented in Avellanas from La fortuna. I have been hearing stories of robberies. I figured common since should be enough but am just worried. Is it safe?
Sammi says
Hi Jess, if you’re talking about safety while renting a car, just make sure to never leave anything in the car, don’t leave a bag or backpack out in the seat even if it’s empty because if a thief sees it, he could try to steal it. We’ve known people who left their bags out right in plain view in the backseats and got their car robbed so make sure never to leave anything in the car. As for houses, it’s fairly safe in Costa Rica and Avellanas is not a very busy area. Always lock up, don’t leave your valuables in sight and close your curtains. Most houses here have gates on windows and doors, so always lock the gates and many places that are rented to tourists have some sort of security system set up so I’d ask the person you’re renting from if there is anything you need to be aware of.
Kemme says
Hi Sammi,
So glad I found your article and these post! I’m planning to travel there for my birthday next month, but also want to visit Panama. I want to experience the culture, food & nightlife of both places…where should I stay in CR to be able to spend time in Panama?
Sammi says
Hi Kemme, Puerto Viejo is the best option. It’s really close to the Panama border and they even offer 1 and 2 day trips to Bocas del Toro so you can take a bus/shuttle to the border and then visit Bocas for a few days.
Florence says
Very interesting article. I may rethink my vacation destination!
Karen Paul says
We are flying into San Jose and renting a car, is it better to take a tour bus to the volcano Poas or is it worth driving ourselves and saving the money? Or which volcano is the best one to visit?
We have 2 days on our own before we have to be at our hotel (Jungle Creek Villa) is it worth staying a night in Jaco or somewhere else before we head to Manuel Ontonio?
Sammi says
You don’t really need to take a tour to the Poas Volcano, the national park isn’t huge and lots of people visit on their own. But if you want a guide and don’t want to drive, then you should take a tour. Poas Volcano is the most popular and it’s not too far from San Jose, plus the trail is very well maintained and they have nice facilities.
Sammi says
I have a bottle of 100% Deet and when I use it, it works like a charm. Granted it’s a lot of chemicals but it really does the job so if you plan to use that, then you should be pretty ok. If you’re really scared or paranoid about getting bit, make sure you’re always wearing long sleeves and pants as that gives the best protection. The mosquitoes in the Guanacaste area are bad, but dengue fever has gone down a lot in the past couple years and it’s quite rare (not impossible) for people to get it, you’d have to be really unlucky. But it seems you are taking the necessary precautions so just make sure always have a bottle handy.
The road to Tenorio Volcano National Park where Rio Celeste is is pretty bad – it is definitely recommended to get a 4×4. If you get stuck, car rental companies have an emergency hotline you can call and they also give you an emergency kit with an extra tire, fire extinguisher and if you get the full insurance, most rental car companies have you covered 100% up to a certain amount, say $5 million.
We have a post about tips for renting a car you can check out here: Costa Rica car rental tips and we also offer a car rental discount here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Jess says
Im going to arenal and going to do the waterfall repeling.
Then from arenal springs hotel to the rio celest hideway then to the beach at the guanacaste.
Im super nervous about dungue. I plan on using 100 deef spray but do u think i have concerns to get this, if so what kind of percentage rate?
This trip will cost be 5000 and im worry i will not be able to enjoy it due to the misquote’s.
Do they bite often if u use the bug spray?
Also will there be so many on the beach that it will be unenjoyable?
Lastly: do i need a 4 by 4 vehicle for the locations im going? I heard that the rio celest hideway has some rocky roads? I then heard it was paved? Unsure what to believe. I did contact the resort but havnt heard back.
Would i be ok with a regular 4 by 2 car? It saves me 300 bucks but i dont want to get stuck! I also plan on paying the extra for insurance and getting fully covered.. So if i did get stuck by a rock or such in the road, would i be reliable? Or would that be covered with the full protection.
Belinda says
We will be doing a tour, just for the relaxing aspect of the trip, but after its completion we want to go to the sloth sanctuary. Is it worth it, and what is our best way to get from San Jose to Cahuita? Are there tours from San Jose to the sanctuary?
Sammi says
There is a bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo but I actually recommend going to the Jaguar Rescue Center instead. That one is very close to Cahuita.
Sammi says
Hi, if you’re visiting Playa Hermosa next to Jaco, we have a post about things to do in Jaco/Hermosa here: Things to do in Jaco and a things to do in Tamarindo guide here: Things to do in Tamarindo
If you’re staying in Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste, we have a things to do in Playas del Coco which is really close to Hermosa here: day trips from Playas del Coco
Wendy says
Visiting both Playa Hermosa then Tamarindo. What is the best to see and do while in Playa Hermosa then the best to see and do from Tamarindo.
yeison says
Hello Angie, congratulations for your daughter’s wedding, if you are planning to stay I would recommend you to take a boat tour, visit a volcano like the rincon de la vieja and enjoy some waterfalls you can find information about all this activities:
Boating Gulf of Papagayo
Hacienda Guachipelin combo adventure tour
Catarata Llanos de Cortes
There are more things that you can do but all the ones above are not that far, please let us know if you have any questions and if you like to book any of this tours we can help you.
Angie Dahm says
We will be attending our daughter’s wedding in Playa Ocotel in late .April 2017. We want to stay another 4 days after the wedding and explore another part of CR. Any suggestions? We love the outdoors & nature and hiking. Flying in and out of Liberia
Jim says
We could use some advice on getting From Dominical to Sierpe. We want to travel on a Sunday. I expect we can catch a bus from Dominical to Palmar Norte then a cab from there to Sierpe. However a lot of places Sunday is a family day, might we have a problem finding a cab in Palmar Norte? Or should we try to get private transportation from Dominical. Renting a car is not an option as we are going on to Drake bay and then flying out from there. Thanks Jim
Sammi says
Hi Jim, being Sunday doesnt matter for cab drivers, there are taxis all the time especially in touristic areas so you should be able to find one.
Sammi says
If you like culture, I recommend flying into San Jose. There are a handful of museums and cultural sites in the city that are really interesting and the city is really the only place in Costa Rica with that many excellent museums and historical/cultural sites. Then head down to the South Pacific towards Panama. The SOuth Pacific area: Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal are really beautiful and full of nature, here are some things to do in Uvita: Things to do in Uvita and Dominical and here is our San Jose guide: Things to do in San Jose
Ionela says
Hey guys! I’m having difficulties drawing an intinerary. I will have 2-3 weeks to chill in Costa Rica and my plan is to cross into Panama from there. Where do you think I should fly? Liberia and the go south? Or south and then go all around? I’m more in nature and cultural tourism. Wanna see places and people. Thank you
Elizabeth says
I hate to be the one to ask this, but you have any advice regarding buying Marijuana while in Costa Rica? We are going to be staying in Puerto Viejo and as Marijuana enthusiasts we are hoping to buy some. Any tips?? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Sammi says
Hi Elizabeth, you should be able to find some pretty easily in Puerto Viejo (super hippie laid back town). A lot of locals sell and most are hanging out near the beach. If you guys are staying in a hostel, you can ask the other backpackers too since it’s not a rare thing to find in PV.
Anne Kinchen says
Is San Jose to Uvita too long of a drive to make in one day by first time visitors in a rental 4 x 4?
Anne
Sammi says
Hi Anne, the drive is around 3.5 hours. It’s not that bad, but I do recommend using Waze to navigate your way out of San Jose. Once you’re out of the city and on the highway, exit to Jaco and just keep on going south. Pretty easy drive once you’re out of the city so it’s definitely doable for first time visitors, just use Waze for San Jose.
Jim says
Hi
Do you know if there is an ATM machine close to Playa Flamingo Beach Hotel?
Does the ATM accept Canadian bank cards that have a chip ?
Thank you !
Sammi says
Hi Jim, yes there is a bank at Flamingo, it should accept all CC’s.
yeison says
Hi Jim, I have seen a couple of ATM’s around the Flamingo Beach hotel and most of the North American Cards works here, just make sure to ask your bank about international withdrawal fees and all that. In the worst case scenario you will have to go to Tamarindo downtown where you will find many banks and ATM’s people from all over world use them without any problem.
Tess says
Thanks so much!
This is very helpfull!!
Sammi says
You’re welcome! We’re glad it’s helpful 🙂
Manuel says
I read that most places accept credit cards that have raised numbers on their surface only as they will be pressed on a paper voucher. is that true? all banks in the US only issue flat card with chip nowadays.
where do you recommend exchange currency? at the airport, bank or atm?
Thanks.
yeison says
Hi Manuel,
WE used to used those credit cards “machines” but that was long time ago, I haven’t see them for years, now everyone uses the credit card wireless machines that reads chips. The best place to exchange money is at the bank make sure to bring a picture ID otherwise they will not exchange any money.
Michelle says
These are all great tips! I’ve never been but I would love to one day.
Sammi says
Thanks Michelle, hope you can visit one day 🙂
Rosemarie Driscoll says
Great guide! It helps knowing what you could expect before going there. Hope you to see your next adventure!
Sammi says
Thanks Rosemarie!
Gina says
Great post. At least we are aware if ever we’ve got a chance to visit Costa Rica.
Sammi says
Thanks Gina, glad you found it useful!
nutshellortwo says
I enjoyed this article. Great advice for first time visiting
Sammi says
Great to hear!
fendi says
nice tips
Sammi says
Thanks!