This appears to be the query on the thoughts of anybody who needs to go to Costa Rica. In spite of everything, it’s one of many dearer locations in Latin America and has a variety of choices for various sorts of vacationers. So the associated fee is determined by fairly a couple of components, all of which I’ll break down right here that will help you begin planning the Costa Rica journey of your desires:
Flights
That is the place your Costa Rica journey value will range essentially the most, because it is determined by the place you reside and the way far it’s from you. If you’re coming from a significant US metropolis, from which you’ll be able to take a direct flight to San José, anticipate to pay round $500-700 round-trip.
Moreover your location, the opposite main issue that influences flight costs to Costa Rica is the time of yr. Excessive season in Costa Rica is from December to March, which is when the costs are the best. Additionally contemplate that regardless that June to August is technically off-season (because of the heavy rain), it’s additionally throughout faculty trip, so it may be simply as dear as touring throughout excessive season because of the demand.
Lodging
All over the place I went in Costa Rica had a variety of lodging, all at vastly totally different value factors. This makes journey right here extra accessible to a better number of folks, which I like to see. From backpacker-friendly hostels to luxurious stays, that is what you’ll be able to anticipate to pay in Costa Rica for lodging:
Funds-friendly hostels & Airbnbs
Loads of backpackers journey by Costa Rica, so you’ll be able to anticipate finding reasonably priced hostels and even Airbnbs in any main metropolis or city. Typically, you’ll find dorms for as little as $16/evening. Selina is a well-liked chain that has dorms and personal rooms, with a number of the finest facilities you’ll find in a hostel, together with free Wi-fi, social occasions, organized actions, volunteer alternatives, and coworking areas. There are Selinas in La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, and a couple of dozen different locations in Costa Rica.
I discovered some low-cost Airbnbs in Costa Rica, too. This one in Manuel Antonio was solely $28/evening, and I stayed in this one in Monteverde for under $38/evening.
Whether or not you’ll be able to rating an reasonably priced Airbnb for a extra non-public expertise otherwise you’re searching for the most cost effective hostel, funds vacationers can anticipate to pay $16-40/evening on lodging in Costa Rica.
Mid-range inns
Simply as there are many backpacker hostel choices in Costa Rica, there are tons of mid-range inns to select from. I solely stayed in a single resort, in La Fortuna, referred to as FAS, which was on the cheaper finish at $76/evening. All through the nation, you’ll discover a vary of inns which have single or double rooms for $75-100/evening.
So far as high quality, I didn’t see a lot distinction between the cheaper non-public hostel rooms or Airbnbs and the mid-range inns. Had I traveled for an extended time frame and to extra components of the nation, possibly this wouldn’t be the case, however it was an statement I made after visiting six totally different areas. If you wish to get monetary savings, the hostels and Airbnbs are the way in which to go, as spending nearly double for a resort doesn’t all the time appear price it.
Luxurious resorts
That is the place splurging may be price your whereas, even for those who solely keep in a luxurious resort or resort for a few days. Since I principally prevented the seashores with megaresorts, I didn’t get a good image of what they value. Nevertheless, there are fairly a couple of sizzling springs resorts in La Fortuna, and I visited one in the course of the day that appeared like it will be unimaginable to remain at.
In style luxurious resorts like Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in La Fortuna begin at $315/evening. Relying on the room and if you go to, they’ll go as much as nearly $1,000/evening! There are some seashore resorts on the Osa Peninsula that value much more than that.
Transportation
There are fairly a couple of choices for getting round Costa Rica, starting from very low-cost public buses to dear rental automobiles. As a solo traveler, this was one of many hardest issues to economize on, as some locations had been troublesome to succeed in on public transportation, and it will have break the bank to lease a automobile with out splitting the associated fee with anybody.
Right here’s what I find out about transportation prices in Costa Rica:
Public transportation
General, getting between cities and cities in Costa Rica through public transportation was very simple and intensely low-cost. For instance, the longest journey I took was from Tortuguero to San José, and it costed lower than $10. The bus from San José to Uvita was additionally tremendous low-cost, at simply $7.
I ran right into a snag with public transportation, nevertheless. Whereas getting between cities was simple through public transportation, going to particular seashores, waterfalls, and different points of interest was difficult. Typically the native buses had been late, generally they by no means confirmed up, and generally they only didn’t go wherever near the place I needed to go. Then there’s the likelihood that you simply’ll get to your vacation spot after which gained’t be capable to get again, because the buses may be unpredictable.
General for transportation for nearly a month in Costa Rica, I spent round $200. I did splurge on one non-public shuttle that value $45, however the remainder of the time I took public buses, taxis, and boats.
If I had been to go to Costa Rica on a funds once more, I’d use public transportation to get from place to put however lease a automobile for a couple of days at a time in every.
Renting a automobile
If you’re touring with a number of folks, renting a automobile would possibly make quite a lot of sense. Though driving between locations isn’t a lot quicker than taking the bus, it grants you a lot extra freedom to take a look at lesser-known points of interest and to get to them earlier than the crowds and excursions arrive.
Beginning at $80 per day, renting a automobile may be astronomically costly for those who’re alone and touring for greater than every week or two. Plus, $80 is absolutely the most cost-effective you’ll discover a automobile rental right here — and it’s possible that you simply’ll find yourself paying extra, because the rental corporations solely have so most of the cheaper fashions available. On the excessive finish, you possibly can find yourself paying $120-150 per day, together with gasoline.
One thing to think about is what number of spots you need to go to which are additional off the crushed path. For instance, there’s no have to lease a automobile in Manuel Antonio except you might be positive you need to take a look at the Nauyaca Waterfall, Dominical, or different small cities close by. Contemplating that excursions to these locations can value as much as $100 per day, renting a automobile would possibly make sense.
Meals & Drinks
There’s fairly a wide range in restaurant costs in Costa Rica. Locations that appeal to nearly totally vacationers are clearly dearer than native joints, however the general high quality of the meals stays nearly the identical. I beloved making an attempt all of the native dishes, particularly the home-cooked casados and patacones.
Right here’s what you’ll be able to anticipate to pay in Costa Rica for meals and drinks:
Mother-and-pop sodas
Sodas are small eating places with related menus that just about all the time embody casados, plates which have rice and beans, a salad, some plantains, and a protein of your selection. That is the place you’ll be capable to get a style of conventional Costa Rican delicacies, at an reasonably priced value. Sometimes, a meal at a soda prices round $5-7. The casados that I attempted had been positively filling, and made for the proper post-hike or post-beach lunch.
You will discover sodas wherever in Costa Rica, and so they’re all the time clearly marked as such. One other option to discover them is to take a look at the native municipal market, the place you’ll possible discover a couple of. Markets even have low-cost empanadas and different fast bites for round $2-3.
If you happen to select principally sodas, you’ll be able to spend as little as $20 per day on meals. It can save you much more for those who select a hostel that has free breakfast, hitting up sodas for lunch and dinner. One other good way to economize on meals is to prepare dinner at your Airbnb or hostel if there’s a kitchen.
Eating places & bars
Particularly in very touristy areas like Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna, eating places right here can value about the identical as these within the US. Sometimes, entrees begin round $10, with some providing breakfasts for simply $5-8. Some locations have a pricier menu, with meals round $15.
If you happen to simply selected these sorts of eating places, you’ll be able to anticipate to pay round $30-50 per day.
I seen that drinks had been additionally pricier than I anticipated. Except for the nationwide beer, alcoholic drinks had been round $5 every on the low finish, $10 on the excessive finish. That may positively add up, so selecting to not drink alcohol is an effective way to economize. I caught with water (which you’ll be able to drink from the faucet in most locations) and the occasional $1 coconut.
Actions & Park Entrance Charges
From kayaking to zip-lining to visiting a sloth sanctuary and every little thing in between, Costa Rica is the vacation spot for thrilling, nature-filled actions. With so many superb issues to do right here, it may be simple to overlook all about your funds and pack in as many actions as attainable.
However from nationwide park entrance charges to excursions, there’s fairly a variety of costs, and saving cash on these may be difficult. Nevertheless, there are a couple of methods to take action.
Right here’s an thought of exercise and tour costs:
Park entrance charges
In Costa Rica, you’ll be able to anticipate to pay $7-24 to entry the nationwide parks and ecological reserves. The most cost effective nationwide park I visited was Marino Ballena in Uvita, at $7 per day. The costliest ones, together with Manuel Antonio, are $16 per day. I additionally visited some ecological reserves, just like the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which prices $20-24 per day.
Different journey parks are pricier. These are well-liked in Monteverde and La Fortuna, and the associated fee is determined by the actions you partake in. For instance, I visited Selvatura Journey Park and solely did two actions, the Sloth Sanctuary tour and the hanging bridges hike, which costed $52 complete. They produce other packages that vary from $52 to $169. It is a fairly typical value vary for a majority of these parks.
Fortunately, there are different actions which are extra funds pleasant. For instance, the Spirogyra Butterfly Backyard in San José is simply $6. There are different museums, botanical gardens, and ecological parks which have charges wherever from $5 to $20.
Full- and half-day excursions
Particularly for those who don’t have a rental automobile, excursions may be an effective way to go to a number of totally different websites in in the future with out the stress of determining transportation from place to put. In some circumstances, excursions can be more economical as properly, as some locations are fairly costly to get to through taxi. Plus, most of them embody resort pickup and drop-off and a meal as properly.
Half-day excursions begin round $60 and full-day excursions begin round $100, relying on the world and the actions included. I did this full-day Arenal Volcano, sizzling springs, and La Fortuna Waterfall tour for $110, and it was fully price it, as a result of it included all of the park entrance charges, lunch, and transportation. If I had visited all of those spots alone, taking taxis and paying separate entrance charges, it will have value way more.
I additionally did a jungle evening tour in Manuel Antonio that value $60 and lasted a number of hours. A extra reasonably priced tour I did was this San José meals and sightseeing tour, which was $40.
General, the vary is $40-120 for excursions. Do your analysis beforehand to see if the worth is price it to you. For those I did, it completely was price paying for a tour, as a result of I didn’t have a rental automobile.
Miscellaneous Prices
There are some miscellaneous prices that you simply must also contemplate earlier than you ebook your journey to Costa Rica. A few of these are elective and a few are requirements, like journey insurance coverage. Don’t miss out on planning for these bills:
ATM charges
This positively is determined by your financial institution, however be careful for exorbitant ATM charges whereas in Costa Rica. In my expertise, withdrawing money from ATMs was a toss-up. The Nationwide Financial institution of Costa Rica appeared to have decrease charges, charging round $2 on prime of the charge my financial institution fees me per international withdrawal.
Typically ATMs gives you a display that lays out the conversion charges for those who’re withdrawing international forex, together with a sure markup. You possibly can both settle for the conversion or deny it. If you happen to deny it, the ATM doesn’t cost you the markup and it can save you a bit of money that manner.
One other option to save on ATM charges is to easily do fewer withdrawals. In fact, this may be dangerous, as a result of it means withdrawing bigger quantities of money, but when your financial institution fees you per international ATM withdrawal, it may be price it.
Souvenirs
It’s onerous to challenge how a lot anybody wish to spend on souvenirs, however chances are high, you’ll need to convey again slightly one thing to recollect your time in Costa Rica. Souvenirs may be so simple as handmade bracelets that value $1 every, or extra elaborate items, like artwork items or clothes. My recommendation is to set a funds in your souvenirs earlier than you go, after which determine what to spend it on when you get there.
Keep away from the standard memento outlets which have insane costs and as a substitute go for smaller markets the place you should purchase from artisans. The Central Market in San José has a ton of nice choices, and the costs are respectable. If you happen to go to the Pacific coast, Dominical is a superb place to search out reasonably priced souvenirs, as there’s a each day market there that sells handmade items.
Journey insurance coverage
It is a should when touring wherever, so it’s no shock that journey insurance coverage ought to positively be included in your Costa Rica journey value. Journey insurance coverage prices range primarily based on the period of time you’ll be touring and the kind of insurance coverage you buy. Plan to spend not less than $30 on an insurance coverage bundle, conserving in thoughts that it will probably value as much as $100 for an extended journey and extra protection.
For extra data on choosing the proper journey insurance coverage for you, take a look at this comparability of World Nomads and SafetyWing.
Is Costa Rica Well worth the Price?
Costa Rica is the most costly vacation spot in Latin America I’ve visited. In some locations, the costs had been the identical as, if no more than, in my residence nation of america. Nevertheless, it was fully price it, for my part. This nation has a lot to supply, with a number of the most unreal landscapes I’ve seen in my life. I wouldn’t commerce the expertise for something, and am already scheming on how to return to go to the locations I didn’t get to this time.
I believe Costa Rica is expensive for backpackers and solo vacationers, however nonetheless completely doable. Between discovering reasonably priced hostels and Airbnbs to eating in sodas more often than not, there are many methods to economize.
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Your Costa Rica journey value will in the end come right down to the type of journey you’re searching for, what stage of luxurious you need, how lengthy you intend to remain, what number of locations you need to go to, the actions you need to take part in, and your transportation selections. I hope this information helps you begin planning your Costa Rica funds and makes selecting your lodging, transportation, and different particulars slightly bit simpler.
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