Poas Coolest Places To Stay In Costa Rica
Another volcano in Costa Rica is Poas, although this one is dormant. At the summit, there are two craters filled with sulfur water, which gives off a beautiful turquoise blue. This is also a great place to visit a cloud forest if you dont make it to Monteverde on your vacation. At only 90 minutes from San Jose, Poas is a popular day trip destination, but if you decide to find a resort in the Poas area, you can have the park to yourself first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive.
The Best Places To Visit In Costa Rica: Costa Rica Destinations Guide
June 3, 2021 By Sammi
To make your travel planning easier, Ive listed out the best places in Costa Rica to visit in this Costa Rica destinations guide. If you have no idea where to go in Costa Rica, this post will help your Costa Rica trip planning greatly!
**Please check our Costa Rica COVID-19 post for latest information and our tips for Costa Rica COVID-19 Travel*
What Are The Best Places To Stay In Costa Rica
Costa Rica has loads of amazing places to stay and where you aim for should depend on what youre after. The Pacific coast is a surf mecca, with world-class waves from Tamarindo to Jaco. There are also wild reserves like the Manuel Antonio National Park, and even buzzing Latin cityscapes like San Jose.
Plastic pollution is covering the planet and is a tremendous threat to marine life. Do your part to help by traveling with a filter water bottle.
A filter water bottle is an effective way of purifying water to remove any impurities or contaminants.
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Where To Stay In Costa Rica With Family
At Costa Rica Escapes, we pride ourselves on knowing the best places for your family to stay during their visit, we have already put together a series of itineraries to show you what we are talking about, but what we love to do most is customize the experience to your families needs and desires.
Two of our favorite places are Arenal and Manuel Antonio because they offer something for every member of your family, including a great selection of accommodations for all tastes and budgets. Learn more about our ideas for places to stay in Costa Rica with your family, review our family vacation itineraries and get insider tips on planning a family adventure vacation. We even have kids travel advice, and yepeven tips on traveling to Costa Rica with toddlers.
Is Costa Rica Safe To Live
Theres a comprehensive expat community in Costa Rica, with many being retirees from the US .
Living in Costa Rica is not always as cheap as you think its going to be, nor as straightforward as you might want it to be. Work visas can be tricky to apply for: you have to prove that youre filling a position that a Costa Rican cant.
In rural areas, there can be power outages, and wildlife might get a little too close for comfort. Earthquakes and volcanoes can pose a risk wherever youre situated, so knowing what to do when disaster strikes is very sensible!
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Top 3 Activities In La Fortuna
1. If youre an adrenaline junkie, head over to one of the rivers and go white water rafting. If youre looking for something more on the smooth side, book a trip down the Balsa River. If you want to get your blood pumping, then book this tour. They offer rides going through all the different classes of rapids from easy to extremely challenging.
2. Jump into the El Salto. Its a local swimming spot on the Fortuna River. This swimming hole is completely free, and there is a rope swing and a small waterfall. Its about 2 miles from the center of town, so depending on where you stay in La Fortuna, you can walk, bike, or taxi.
3. Walk through the rainforest at night for the best chance to see incredible animals. A lot of the animals in Costa Rica are nocturnal, so if you want to see a sloth, snake, or armadillos, your best chance is at night. Its best not to wander around the rainforest at night alone though.
Best Places To Stay Within 1km Of Downtown San Jose
If you want to stay in downtown San Jose but want a little peace and quiet then these next hotels are for you! Still within walking distance to the main attractions of the downtown core, these hotels are just about 1 kilometer from the main action so your stay is sure to be a little less noisy and a little more relaxed.
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Manuel Antonio: Where To Stay In Costa Rica For Wildlife Lovers
Wildlife lovers should definitely head to Manuel Antonio National Park on the central Pacific coast, just a three-hour drive from San Jose. This is where the rainforest meets the ocean, and where many of the countrys unique animals live.
Its renowned for its vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife, from three-toed sloths and endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys to hundreds of bird species.
If you really want to see a sloth in Costa Rica, this is one of the best places to see them.
Is Public Transportation In Costa Rica Safe
Thankfully, public transportation is safe in Costa Rica so long as youre being as vigilant as usual.
The easiest thing to actually figure out about the buses in Costa Rica are the fact that their destinations are written on paper and posted on the front of the bus.
Bus drivers usually arent well versed in English so heres where youll be busting out your bus Spanish basics.
If youre going to catch a bus from San Jose to anywhere else during holiday time youre going to have to book ahead of time at a bus station. Again, basic Spanish would be helpful.
Dont be afraid of the luggage storage under the bus. No one can get to your bag down there. Putting your bag in the overhead shelf puts it and your valuables at risk.
When moving from place to place, you shouldnt store travel documents in a bag, even if its under your seat or overhead.
A full-sized money belt that stays tucked under your clothes keeps your documents and cash organized during your travels and assures nothing critical gets left behind or stolen.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica
What is the best area to stay in Costa Rica?
Downtown San Jose is recommended as one of the best places to stay in Costa Rica, thanks to its cultural life, as well as for being the historic center of the city and having the best hotels.
Where should I stay in Costa Rica for the first time?
San Jose is a good choice for first timers, its a nice place to get used to their culture. When you decide where to stay in Costa Rica, plan your trip from here and find some of the best places to stay in Costa Rica and nice hotels.
Where is the safest place to stay in Costa Rica?
If youre wondering where to stay in Costa Rica, Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo are two of the safest places to stay in Costa Rica. They have beautiful beaches, best places to stay, luxury hotels and theyre not as packed with tourists as other places.
What is the nicest part of Costa Rica?
The Pacific side of the country is the nicest part of Costa Rica that you can visit. It has the best resorts, the Manuel Antonio area, the Osa Peninsula and unique hotels. These are the top choices for every traveler who chooses to stay in Costa Rica!
Im sure everyone is busy now buying their plane tickets, I hope this guide will help you find where to stay in Costa Rica. In this article I talked about the best areas to stay in and suggested some really cool hotels and Airbnbs to stay in for each place,
- Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa a paradise corner for nature lovers
Buen viaje mis amigos,
Tamarindo Beach Where To Stay In Costa Rica On The Beach
If you are wondering where to stay in Costa Rica on the beach, Tamarindo Beach is a great option. Just one hour from the international airport in Liberia, Tamarindo Beach is known for surfing, diving and fishing. From October to May, leatherback turtles build their nests along the beaches.
Tamarindo Beach has some of the best infrastructure, and roads, for tourists, as well as many resorts to choose from. For travelers seeking a variety of activities in their Costa Rica vacation, Tamarindo Beach has a little bit of everything: all-inclusive resorts, hotels, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.
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Distance And Transportation Times From Sjo And Lir Airport
- Arenal/La Fortuna is 3-3.5 hours from both San Jose Airport and Liberia International Airport with fairly straight forward routes and doesnt require a 4X4. Read about driving from Liberia to Arenal and driving from San Jose to Arenal.
- You can take a local flight to La Fortuna which is about 20 minutes from San Jose and Liberia.
- There is one bus from San Jose to La Fortuna that leaves at 6:15, 8:40 and 11:30, about 4 hours. From Liberia, you will first need to take a bus to Canas , then to Tilaran and then to La Fortuna .
- Take a shared shuttle for about $57 USD per adult with Interbus or book a private: ~$220 USD for 1-4 people total one way from SJO and LIR airport.
- Get in from Monteverde by boating across Lake Arenal. Costs ~$35 USD per person.
If La Fortuna is your first destination, you can fly into either Liberia or San Jose International Airport as its around the same driving time.
Monteverde The Best Forests In Costa Rica
If youre a nature buff and animal lover, youll enjoy Monteverde. Its here where you will find the best forests in Costa Rica. This area is also hugely popular with bird watchers and wildlife photographers. They all come to Monteverde to try and catch a glimpse of the Quetzal bird or snap a photo of a wild animal.
While you get back to nature and bask in its beauty, there are also plenty of fun and adventurous activities! Monteverde is a perfect destination for single travelers, families with young children, and couples.
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Advantages To Staying On The Outskirts Of San Jose Costa Rica:
- You will likely get a room with a beautiful and peaceful view of the landscape.
- You will be closer to nature and the best hiking spots.
- No more bumping into numerous people on the streets and waking up to honking cars.
- New and interesting experiences await you.
- Hotels come with better value for money.
Can You Drink The Water In Costa Rica
Well, actually, yes. Its safe to drink the tap water in Costa Rica. Its actually pretty tasty too! .
That being said, more rural and undeveloped portions of the country may not have the same benefits that the cities have, so you may want to avoid tap water out in the sticks.
Alternatively, take a decent water bottle and water purification tablets to be on the safe side. UV pens or a Grayl Geopress are also very effective and, if you drink a lot of tap water, can be very wise investments.
Single-use plastic bottles are a huge threat to Marine Life Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle.
The GRAYL GEOPRESS water bottle is the ONLY all-in-one filter water bottle setup youll need. Whether you need to purify the water from a hostel sink in Kathmandu or a stream trickle in the Andes, the Geopress has got you covered.
Read our full review of the GRAYL GEOPRESS!
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Puerto Jimenez Hikes Fishing Whale And Dolphin Watching And Archeological Spots
Located on the southern Pacific coast, Puerto Jimenez is an expat enclave and a somewhat hidden tourism destination with a lot to offer.
Puerto Jimenez is a small coastal town adjacent to Corcovado National Park, a massive rainforest that illustrates why Costa Rica is such an amazing destination for ecotourism.
Whereas the climate close to the beach is dry and crisp, Corcovado is extremely humid, and you should keep this in mind when booking accommodations.
In many tourism guidebooks, Puerto Jimenez is listed as an attraction that visitors should save for last the basis of this recommendation is that it takes about seven hours to get here from San Jose, but you can also fly into the small regional airport on a short flight that takes less than an hour from just about anywhere in the country.
Renting a car in Puerto Jimenez used to be pretty adventurous, but now it is highly recommended because the roads around town are freshly paved.
If you make Puerto Jimenez your sole place to stay in Costa Rica, you will not be disappointed.
The hikes around Corcovado are amazing, but keep in mind that this is the rainforest, which means that you should not venture down unmarked paths unless you do so with local guides, who in turn do not go into the jungle without GPS, maps, trackers, communications devices, and emergency gear.
You can expect to pay a bit more for beachfront locations and rooms with panoramic views of Corcovado.
Is Costa Rica Safe To Visit Right Now
Over the last several years, criminal offences have been on the rise. Since 2015 the murder rate has risen above the World Health Organisation epidemic threshold of 10 per 100,000. This is a very new trend and is quite converse to Costa Ricas paradisaical reputation but experts are starting to target the causes.
Now, you may be surprised to know that Costa Rica is actually one of the most stable Latin American countries. No army means funding goes to better things like amazing healthcare.
With tourism contributing majorly to the countrys GDP, and those tourist dollars going some way to eliminate poverty , the government is focused on making the country accessible and comfortable for tourists.
Crime might have been steadily on the rise, including violent crime. However, this is mainly gang-related and rarely impacts visitors.
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Is Costa Rica Safe To Travel Alone
Brendan Delzin
Travelling in Costa Rica by yourself is totally doable and is one of the best ways to experience the amazing country!
Sure, it may be easy but that doesnt mean its a breeze. Here are a few things you can bear in mind to make sure you optimize having fun on your trip.
- Learn some Spanish. Youre in a Spanish-speaking country after all and it makes traversing the bus network much easier. Bus drivers arent famed for their English either. You can actually enroll in Spanish classes for a couple of days too.
- Youll most likely want to meet other people on your travels, right? So unless youre totally into your own company, then head to destinations where other travelers congregate. Some of the better places for solo travelers in Costa Rica are Santa Teresa, Nosara, Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo.
- And a top tip for beating the solo traveling blues, just get out and about new experiences and people will never be too far away.
- Stay at one of Costa Ricas hostels its probably one of the best ways to get to know like-minded travellers, exchange stories and travel tips. Even if you want to continue travelling alone, it might benefit your safety!
Costa Rica is safe to travel alone in but dont forget that anything can happen anywhere. Just because youre traveling doesnt mean youre immune to danger. Take care!
Be prepared for what life throws at you on the road. Pick up an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure.
How Safe Is Costa Rica
How safe is backpacking in Costa Rica? The country suffers from many of the same problems that plague most Latin American countries drug trafficking, poverty, and economic struggles. That being said, Costa Rica is still pretty safe when compared to some of its more violent neighbors. There are moments where you may feel unsure but we believe that most of the time and most areas in Costa Rica are safe.
Its important to know that security in Costa Rica is still developing. Petty theft definitely happens. Violent crime such as muggings, particularly late at night, isnt uncommon either. Gang-related crime is on the rise, but it mostly occurs in and around San Jose.
Dont let this spook you crime is often a case of wrong place, wrong time. Being vigilant and listening to your gut is a good way to avoid danger.
The government also has your back as its keen to keep Costa Rica a comfortable place for people to travel after all, the tourism industry contributes significantly to the countrys GDP. Overall, its helping to reduce poverty in the country.
Were guessing that being robbed or dying isnt top of your itinerary for Costa Rica right? So lets talk about facts and get into the nitty-gritty of how to stay safe in Costa Rica
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