COSTA RICA
Costa Rica has built a reputation as one of the most sustainable, environmentally conscious countries on earth. It is home to a vast array of wildlife including sloths, monkeys, toucans, quetzals, sea turtles. Beyond that we will be looking at what Costa Rica has been doing in the way of eco tourism and sustainable initiatives in our focused blogs below.
As a backpacker you need to be smart as the country will drain you of your savings quickly. Shuttles are going to be your main source of transportation with a few public buses where possible.
Capital
San Jose
Language
Spanish
Currency
Colón
Summer
November - April
Crossing into Costa Rica from Nicaragua you will go through Penas Blancas Boarder. A bus await the other side taking passengers onto Liberia, the nearest major city. This is an industrial city with not much to do so if you arrive early afternoon, book into Hostel Dodero, drop your bags and go and get a well earned feed (more below) The route we will be taking is Liberia, Tamarindo for the beaches, Monteverde for the rain forest, La Fortuna for hiking and sloth spotting before San Jose and a quick boarder hop to Panama. We will also look at Talamanca and the Parque Nacional Corcovado, to give you additional options and routes into Panama.
ROUTE
TAKE ME TO 0.6. PARQUE NACIONAL CORCOVADO (We are building it)
0.1.
The first town in from Nicaragua Liberia is a one night stay before moving onto other places. An industrial center its worth having a walk around to get a feel of Costa Rica away from the more glitzy tourist spots.
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Eat
Local Cuisine
Drink
Local beer
Do
Wander
Get Cash
Travel
Bus
Walk
Stay
Hostels
Time
Stop Over
Where To Stay
Hospedaje Dodero
You will get a friendly welcome and a useful map of where to eat from the owner of Hospedaje. Its comfortable enough and has a nice outdoor kitchen. Just down the road from the bus station which you will need in the morning to take you to your next destination this hostel is a great choice
Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja
If you do stay a day then make sure you visit the National Park
Hospedaje will help you organise a ride and the park will be no where near as busy as other national parks in Costa Rica
Hospedaje Dodero
Hostel Puppy
0.2.
Tamarindo is like a more developed and slightly more refined version of San Juan Del Sur. Solo backpackers will be outnumbered by holiday makers. On the plus side, because of this you will get more options. More places to eat more hostel options, more places to drink and Tamarindo does serve all ends of the budget from the solo backpacker on a shoe string budget to the one week holiday maker with designer luggage cases and private chauffeur. Naturally we will be leaving the luxury end alone and as always will be looking through your options to experience Tamarindo in the best way possible without breaking the bank.
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Eat
Vegan options
Fresh Seafood
Cook
Drink
Local beer
Do
Surf
Horse Riding
Hike
Beach Days
Party
Travel
Walk
Taxi
Stay
Hostels
Time
2-3 Days
Where To Stay
Hostel Vs Elsewhere
With the hostels in Tamarindo, you need to go in with the mindset of 'basic' If you go cheap then you will get cheap. If you want something more comfortable then you will be paying a lot more. We will look at the cheaper places for a solo backpacker before looking at some more comfortable options if you want to stretch your budget or are travelling as a couple.
The lowest prices range you will fined will be £12-21 pounds per night. At this range you will get everything you need but think of these places as more of a place to meet people and rest your head.
Middle range think £50 pound per night. This will get you a double bed and a much more comfortable stay. There are some interesting options for this price point just north of Tamarindo, so we will look at these as an option for you. Lets get started.
Tamarindo Beach
Horse Ride
La Botella
Hostel
Solo Backpackers - Hostel La Botella de Leche - Tamarindo - £16-20p/n Standard 12 bed dorm (no hot water)
A bit of a walk from the beach but popular with solo travellers. Generally should be a comfortable stay with a communal kitchen, but little privacy in the dorms.
Solo Backpackers - Pura Vida MINI Hostel - Tamarindo Costa Rica £20-25p/n
This place has a small kitchen, a small pool and dorms that are ok but not very private. No lockers which is unusual for a hostel, Fortunately I carry a helmet lock which means I was able to lock my bag to the underside of the metal bed frame! This is a hack that I use when taking a bag to a beach also! Check the link below for to add the lock to your backpack.
Tamarindo Backpackers £16-25 p/n
The final proposal from us for the cheaper hostel set This place is around 700m from the beach. It should provide a comfertable stay again, beds do not have curtains so little privacy.
Mid Range
Options
Zulu Surf Hostel - £46 p/n - Standard Double
This place includes a garden, shared lounge, a terrace and bar in Tamarindo. Located around 100 metres from Tamarindo Beach it as as central as it gets is you want to be in Tamarindo.
Pipe House Playa Grande - £50 p/n - Standard Double
Also north of the Tamarindo estuary, pipe house is another unique offering with double beds set un well ... pipes. A short walk and a 2$ ferry boat will take you to Tamarindo.
Glamping Hotel Flor y Bambu (wild card) £100 p/n
If you are looking for something a bit different then how about a very well designed and built glamping site north of Tamarindo? A bit more expensive at 100 per night but a unique offering and beautiful setting.
Zulu Surf Hostel
Double Room
Surf
Tamarindo
What To Do In Tamarindo
Surf
Lets start with the obvious one. Most people head to Tamarindo for two reasons, the beach, and the surf. The best places to pickup lessons from are the hostels like Zulu or if staying at a hostel, you can almost guarantee they will gave surf boards for hire.
Walk South to Parque Nacional
The beach is beautiful but the peninsular is equally as picturesque from Tamarindo beach you can follow the beach around south to Playa Langosta and a little further south still you will find Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, Sector Playa Langosta. Take water and some snacks with you because it is a long walk and once you cross over the peninsular it gets very quiet, which is bliss and in total contrast to Tamarindo which will be a much busier beach!
Tamarindo Estuary Tour
Jump in a boat for a two hour tour of the Tamarindo estuary, you will hopefully be able to spot crocs
Sunset Cruise
Some companies like Iguana Surf offer a sunset cruise, around 4- 5 hours long and with a 15 person minimum, what better way to spend an evening than by sipping a drink from the deck of a boat whilst watching the sunset?
ATV Tour
If walking/ hiking is not your bag then why not have some fun on an ATV for half a day
Ziplining
If you are heading to Monteverde after Tamarindo then you may want to hold off on this one. But if you are not and want the thrill of flying through the air then make sure you zip line in Costa Rica. It is probably one of the most beautiful countries in the world to zip through.
Sunset Cruise
Tamarindo
NOI
Tamarindo
Where to Eat Tamarindo
NOI Bistro (Vegan Options)
This is perhaps the best place for good food, good coffee at a fair price. Directly next door to Coral Reef Surf Hostel.
Falafel Bar (Vegan options)
Good Lebanese for a good price, you can get Vegan options here.
Green Papaya Taco Bar (Vegan Options)
Known for its tasty tacos and laid-back atmosphere, Green Papaya offers a variety of fillings, including options for vegetarians and vegans.
Jardín Tamarindo Food Truck Park
Not sure what you want? Then head to the food truck park, here you have Caribbean, Fast food, Colombian, Costa Rican, South American all near the beach front in a cute setting.
Blow the bank?
Option
Pangas Beach Club
Located on the beach, Pangas offers a mix of seafood and international dishes. It's known for its fresh ingredients and beautiful ocean views, this is one for those looking for something special.
Pacifico Bar
Tamarindo
Drinks?
Where To Drink In Tamarindo
Pacifico Bar
Known for its vibrant nightlife. It often hosts live music and DJ events.
Sharky’s Sports Bar
Not just a sports bar, look out for karaoke night or shoot some pool at this place, usually a busy good vibe.
El Be - Tamarindo Beach Club
Beach front cocktail bar, the perfect place to watch sunset with sand between your toes.
The Crazy Monkey Bar
Want to dance and party the night away? The Crazy Monkey is the place for you.
Monteverde
Cloud forest time?
or
Shuttle Bus
Shuttles are going to be the key to success in Costa Rica, but they are expensive, I paid around £60 to get from Tamarindo to Montverde, and similar again for Monteverde to La Fortuna. But when in Monteverde you get welcomed back into the rainforest
0.3.
Monteverde acts as a base for the near by world renowned Cloud Forets. The cloud forest is a protected natural reserve that spans over 26,000 acres (10,500 hectares). The reserve is known for its unique cloud forests, which are characterised by high humidity, frequent mist, and a diverse array of flora and fauna. Canopy tours are a must and you may well spot the quetzal or the bellbirds! Monteverde is a must-visit destination for those interested in ecotourism, conservation and breathtaking scenery.
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Eat
Tacos!
Drink
Local beer
Coffee
Do
Cloud Forest
Zipline
Hike
Coffee Tour
Travel
Walk
Taxi
Shuttle
Stay
Hostels
Time
1-3 Days
Where To Stay
Backpackers Monteverde £10-12p/n
You wont beat the cost, and the staff are very friendly, located right in the centre of Monteverde you are a walk away from the bars and restaurants but you wont have the worlds best views. The dorms are cosy and have a 'log cabin' vibe which is in contrast to the metal externals! But this is a good place to base yourself when in Monteverde.
OutBox Inn £13-15
New for 2023 and a more boho hostel with beautiful views. A good price point and right next to the main square so you can easy walk back from a restaurant or the tree house. Give this one a try and let us know how you get on. Laundry is also available here. If you go to Costa Rica in rainy season May-Nov, its worth checking that a hostel has laundry!
Backpackers
Monteverde
What To Do In Monteverde
Forest
Monteverde
Cloud Park
Naturally the cloud park is a must. Think beautiful suspension bridges hung between the canopy of a forest. It really is as picture friendly as it sounds. Grab a taxi and head across. Click the binoculars above for a link directly to the cloud forest website to begin your animal and plant life immersion.
Zipline
Zip-lining through the forests of Monteverde is a fantastic way to spend a morning or afternoon. Some of the biggest ziplines in the world can be found here and I can say from experience that as you are flying over a forest valley you are hit with two emotions, fear and awe! Monteverde Extremo Park is where we did this activity if you fancy the extra mile then Tarzan swings are available and so are bungee jumps! Again link to the extremo park on the binoculars above.
All in one place - Selvatura Park
If you want to do everything in one hit then Selvatura Park will allow you to zipline, canopy walk (with suspended bridges) visits butterfly gardens, reptile and amphibian rooms and even a sloth sanctuary. Divided up into 'package select deals' You can find the package you want and accomplish the rainforest experience with just a flying visit of Monteverde.
After a day
of exploring
Good news!
Monteverde does not have too many restaurants, but there are a few good spots! If you are looking after your budget then there is also a very good supermarket here which is also perfect for picking up snack and high energy food for hiking/ day activilites.
Taco Taco Monteverde
A cool ambiance with good food, Taco Taco will be busy. Its a great spot for a chilled evening.
The Green Restaurant
A quick walk up the road from the main square, the green restaurant is good food at a fair price! If you are not in the mood for mexican, then here you will find pastas meat and fish dishes. Your vegetarian options will be the pastas and the vegan options do not seem to exist (yet).
Taco Taco
Monteverde
Tree House Restaurante
Even if you are keeping an eye on your budget, pop into this place to have a drink, its unique and beautiful offering something different. On the food front it is not cheap ... at all, and the food will not blow you away, there are better options!
Coffee (Cafe Monteverde)
Seeming as we are in the rainforests of Costa Rica, it would be silly to not mention Coffee. Cafe Monteverde offers coffee tours (40USD) for around 2 and a half hours, tastings and of course, it has two cafes where you can get a cup of the wonderful black liquid. f you are a real coffee buff then a visits to see and learn how these Arabica beans are grown is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Bar Amigos
If you want to have a few drinks in a less formal more 'local' atmosphere then Bar Amigos is a good place to relax, shoot some pool and have a chat about tomorrows plans. You can actually get a hearty meal here of more local cuisine, so not one to be overlooked when deciding on you dinner options.
Tree House
Restaurant
Ready to move again?
La Fortuna Time
or
Shuttle Bus
As the bird flys, La Fortuna is rather close to Monteverde, but unfortunately, it is not that simple. The rainforest blocks the direct route so prepare yourself for a long journey consisting of a shuttle, a boat and another shuttle. On the plus side the journey is breathtaking. The boat ride splits it up nicely and your ticket to La Fortuna is inclusive of all parts of the journey so all you need to do is download a few of your favourite podcasts and you are good to go. I bought my ticket directly from backpackers hostel, given this is the 'travel trail' I image all hostels will offer tickets and much like Guatemala you will end up with fellow travellers from different hostels on your shuttle.
0.4.
La Fortuna, is largely visited due to its proximity to Arenal Volcano, its natural springs and its wildlife parks. A bit of an unusal town that really makes you feel like you are in the middle of no where! But because of this, its a good place to keep things local! Visit local bars, eat local cuisine, talk to the local people, explore the town square.
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Eat
Local Cuisine
Drink
Local beer
Coffee
Do
Natural Springs
Arenal Volcano
Wildlife Parks
Fortuna Waterfall
Travel
Walk
Taxi
Stay
Hostels
Time
1-3 Days
Where To Stay
Poshtel Arenal £16-18 p/n dorm
A more social hostel with pool, created by backpackers for backpackers. One to try if you are not on the tightest of budgets.
La Choza Inn Hostel £11p/n standard dorm
A cross between a hostel and a hotel, not the most social of places but it has a killer kitchen! Behind a gated entrance this place is generally quiet in the evenings and has a security guard making sure noise is low in the evenings if you want a good nights sleep this is a good option but the party will be elsewhere.
Arenal Sloth Hostel £8p/n standard dorm
A very good budget option with a fully equipped kitchen and friendly welcome.
Brisas del Arenal £60 pn/ 6 bed family room
Wild card option, but if you are in a group and don't mind a bit of a walk outside of the centre then you will get a beautiful setting and a peaceful stay in return. Given that La Fortuna is not a backpacker party hotspot, this could be the perfect get away for a few days before heading to the city or Monteverde.
Poshtel Arenal
Pool Side
What To Do In La Fortuna
Volcano
Arenal
Volcano Arenal Hiking
The main attraction in La Fortuna is Volcano Arenal, where you can hike the national park, exploring the rainforest, and relaxing in the hot springs heated by the volcanic activity. Dont worry though, the volcano has largely been dormant since around 2010. Check out Arenal.net by clicking the binoculars above to find a comprehensive site dedicated to activities and tours.
Fortuna Waterfall
Located to the south of La Fortuna, the iconic waterfall is a must see location, expect an entrance fee of around 18USD per adult. Its around 9 minutes by taxi and around 10USD for the ride. Once there you can hike your way to the waterfall and grab a spot of lunch. Click the binoculars above for the offical website.
Sloth Watching Trail La Fortuna
If your spirit animal like mine is a sloth! And you are desperate to see them during your time in Costa Rica then the sloth watchin park will ensure this. It is walking distance from La Fortuna. Not cheap at around 50USD for a guided tour, but the guide was excellent and very informative giving information regarding the wildlife and flora in the area. The park feels slightly artificial and has been created with tourists in mind. Even so, I would say it was an enriching few hours. Ironically for me I would go on to see many sloths in Panama in the wild and meet a baby sloth in the Amazon!
ATV Tours
If hiking is not your thing then rest assure that there are 4 wheels and engines near by.
Horse Back Riding
For those who prefer the horse power from ... a horse, you can get your fix and enjoy the surrounding scenery with horse back rides to Fortuna waterfall or in the local area. Check out La Yolanda to get involved you know where to click.
Coffee Tours
Much like Montverde you can get your coffee experience tour in La Fortuna. North fields and Don Juan Tours La Fortuna are both good options for your coffee discovery.
Volcano
Arenal
Jungle Bowls
Smoothies
Food
Jungle Bowls
Smoothie bowls for all occasions. This place is a great option to refuel
Organico Fortuna
Plant based? Organico has your back. One street back from the main square
Soda Víquez (Local Cuisine)
For local food just off the square you will find Soda Viquez the place to be.
Pollo Fortuneño
More of a meaty restaurant but a good one.
Maxi Palí - Groceries
If you are cooking then good news there is a massive food supermarket in La Fortuna that also sells clothing and general daily items so if you have lost anything on your travels, it is a good place to grab a few bits for your bag!
Ready to move again?
San Jose or
Shuttle Bus
There are regular shuttles from La Fortuna to San Jose any hostel will book you onto one, the price will be much the same as before (around 60USD for the 3 hour trip)
Public Bus
If you want to take this one on with the public bus then you can, its pretty simple, and a lot lot cheaper at around 5USD. The station you need is Terminal de autobuses La Fortuna. Just to the south of La Fortuna, there is no real organisation! Just turn up, and look for the bus for San Jose. You pay the driver so do not worry about looking for a ticket office! The bus will likely be busy but the journey is comfortable enough and knowing you have an extea 55USD in your pocket makes it a lot more comfortable! It is longer and less direct, but a good way to see Costa Rica. You will land in the main station at San Jose where I highly recommend staying at the Selina. which is an quick Uber ride or a 20 minute walk away.
Welcome to the city, on the surface San Jose is a gritty city with a brutalist style of architecture but look in the right spots and there are some cool things to see, I wouldn't usually recommend just one hostel but the Selina is a great choice for San Jose. Follow the below link for a Blueprint Series on brutalist architecture.
We are working on this section but as a quick overview
Located between San Jose and the Panama border, this national park is considered one of the most biodiverse places on planet earth! Tours are offered here from various companies, The park's remote and pristine environment offers a great opportunity to connect with nature and experience Costa Rica's most incredible natural environment.
We are working on this section but as a quick overview
This area is one I missed and to be frank, I feel I made a mistake by not going! Talamanca is still a shuttle ride away from San Jose and known for surfing and its backpacking community. This beach is on the North coast and in the right direction for Bocos Del Toro, which you will definitely want to visit. The only reason to take the route is to access hiking paths from David in Panama, but even those could be built into your itinerary from Bocos. The upside being I did make a friend for life whilst on this journey, sometimes the 'wrong path' can be the right path after all!
I wanted to highlight this on the main page as it caught both me and my friend out, when we entered Panama the border immigrations officers wanted proof of onward travel. We ended up having to sort this out on the spot with the bus driver stating he would leave us at the boarder if it was not sorted quickly! We crossed at Paso Canoas to get to David, Panama and frankly the internet signal on phones is awful. After a lot of buffering we both managed to book something on the spot and continue into Panama.
