What To Do and Not To Do When Living or Backpacking Throughout Costa Rica
DO visit Costa Rica...
From Beaches, waterfalls, and volcanoes, to monkeys, great coffee and authentically nice people, this small, colorful, 2nd world country boasts plenty of reasons to visit.
You can backpack it on a budget or never leave your 5-star resorts.
As for beaches, if you like to be catered to, then you'll enjoy Playa Jacó.
The hookers and drug dealers won't really bother you, unless you go out looking for them.
I prefer small community beach towns such as Playa Samara, Santa Teresa, and Montezuma (Monte'fuma') on the Pacific Coast, or Puerto Viejo (my favorite) on the Caribbean Coast.
When you visit a volcano, don't forget your preferably weatherproof jacket.
It'll probably be wasted backpack space, like when I went to Arenal Volcano.
Poas Volcano had me wrapped up all day in the middle of summer.
Bring a camera for Poas.
Its view is surreal.
When at La Fortuna, pay the extra $15 and go to the natural hot springs at Tabacon, instead of the man-made ones at Baldi.
DON'T stay in San Jose for more than a few days...
It's the capital, it has a downtown Los Angeles feel, and besides partying in the California Barrio section at night or visiting a museum and seeing old churches, there is too much elsewhere! Of course if you're the type who's got a lot of money and wants to exploit Costa Rica's legal whorehouses then that is up to you.
I personally, try to stay out of the Gringo Gulch as they call it.
But it's here, in San Jose, not far from Chinatown.
Don't get lost at night anywhere in San Jose.
Take the wrong turn, and you'll be hopping over sleeping bums curled over on the roach-infested ground, smelling the sweet, fresh coatings of piss on the concrete walls.
And there might be a high mugging-risk factor.
DO get lost everyday (during the daytime)...
Get completely lost, soaking in the feeling of uncertainty.
Wear comfortable shoes or sandals.
You will be walking a lot.
Whether it's a long trek home because the busses have stopped and you can't afford a taxi, or for the walk to the next bus stop, you'll be happy you have good shoes on.
I've burned through a pair of cheap sandals in a few weeks.
DON'T think you'll make a comfortable living teaching English.
It's possible to get by, but barely.
DO use public transportation...
You missed the bus? Who cares? They come every fifteen minutes.
Just make sure you get on the right one.
If you get on the wrong bus and realize it right away, don't expect a refund.
Once you cross the ticker posts at the entrance, you've been counted and if you step right back off, it comes out of the chofer's (bus driver's) pocket.
Say, "gracias" when you step out at your stop.
Most Ticos do, and the chofer appreciates it.
Buses cost the American equivalence of 15 to 50 cents for the most expensive inter city buses.
Cross country trips cost up to $12 sometimes.
But this pays for a 6 hour or more cross country trip.
It's a great value.
DON'T fear public transportation...
You're flying down a thin, two-way road, skimming by bikers on the right and somehow not head-on colliding with the opposing cars.
Everyone on the bus, sitting or standing, braces onto something, otherwise they'll fall over.
The chofer's left hand steers and his right shifts coins around as he's constantly counting money; either to give you change or to allocate the coin into its correct slot.
I don't know how he ever shifts gears.
Or how he's so good.
DO have patience...
Buses break down, water stops running, the shower won't get warm, let alone hot.
You switch the light on at night and see a cockroach running across your room.
Miniscule ants intermix with the sugar grains, wi-fi doesn't seem to work, and you get excited waking up without any new mosquito bites.
Sleeping-in is impossible due to the heat and humidity.
Or maybe it's because of the roosters that have been going at it since 2am and still continue on through the day.
That always ticks off the dogs, and once one starts barking, they all go.
Every home owns at least one dog.
The parrot next door is talking in Spanish and the crazy bird outside sounds like a woman screaming.
Luckily I live outside the range of the propaganda truck's over-distorted din created through the two, 4x12 blaring speaker cabinets mounted top.
Own earplugs, and make sure to have a good book on you.
That's all.
DON'T stay in hotels...
Stay at hostels.
Costa Rica isn't as cheap as say, Nicaragua or Panama, but if you're a budget traveler, the most you should ever pay for one night is $14.
Bring a lock for the lockers.
And don't try to pre-book.
Get there during the day and peruse.
It adds a great element to traveling or backpacking.
Actually, if you're the type-A type traveler, go ahead and pre book.
Just know that the gems aren't always found online.
DO make local friends...
Costa Ricans go by Ticos and Ticas.
Try to learn their language, even the lingo.
They have distinct words here such as, 'mae', pronounced, 'my', which is basically the American equivalent to 'dude' or 'man'.
Even Ticas call each other mae.
Or compa or just, pa, which is a breakdown of 'compadre'.
They might laugh at you trying to talk like them or you might get respect.
Either way, if you're there long enough, you'll be using it naturally after a few weeks anyways.
DON'T eat at restaurants...
You need to splurge every once in a while, but for the most part, if you're a budget traveler like me, you need to buy your week's worth of groceries at 'la feria' on Saturdays or just eat at sodas everyday.
Sodas are small family owned eateries you find spread out throughout cities.
They each have their own unique name, or some just keep it simple and say 'soda' or 'comida typica'.
They serve gallo pinto, which is rice and beans with a side of salad, fresh fruit, and your choice of meat.
It's delectable, comes with a drink, and costs around $5.
It doesn't matter if you are coming for the partying and nightlife or the tours and daytime attractions.
Costa Rica is Central America's tourism hotspot for a reason.
Anyone will love it.
From Beaches, waterfalls, and volcanoes, to monkeys, great coffee and authentically nice people, this small, colorful, 2nd world country boasts plenty of reasons to visit.
You can backpack it on a budget or never leave your 5-star resorts.
As for beaches, if you like to be catered to, then you'll enjoy Playa Jacó.
The hookers and drug dealers won't really bother you, unless you go out looking for them.
I prefer small community beach towns such as Playa Samara, Santa Teresa, and Montezuma (Monte'fuma') on the Pacific Coast, or Puerto Viejo (my favorite) on the Caribbean Coast.
When you visit a volcano, don't forget your preferably weatherproof jacket.
It'll probably be wasted backpack space, like when I went to Arenal Volcano.
Poas Volcano had me wrapped up all day in the middle of summer.
Bring a camera for Poas.
Its view is surreal.
When at La Fortuna, pay the extra $15 and go to the natural hot springs at Tabacon, instead of the man-made ones at Baldi.
DON'T stay in San Jose for more than a few days...
It's the capital, it has a downtown Los Angeles feel, and besides partying in the California Barrio section at night or visiting a museum and seeing old churches, there is too much elsewhere! Of course if you're the type who's got a lot of money and wants to exploit Costa Rica's legal whorehouses then that is up to you.
I personally, try to stay out of the Gringo Gulch as they call it.
But it's here, in San Jose, not far from Chinatown.
Don't get lost at night anywhere in San Jose.
Take the wrong turn, and you'll be hopping over sleeping bums curled over on the roach-infested ground, smelling the sweet, fresh coatings of piss on the concrete walls.
And there might be a high mugging-risk factor.
DO get lost everyday (during the daytime)...
Get completely lost, soaking in the feeling of uncertainty.
Wear comfortable shoes or sandals.
You will be walking a lot.
Whether it's a long trek home because the busses have stopped and you can't afford a taxi, or for the walk to the next bus stop, you'll be happy you have good shoes on.
I've burned through a pair of cheap sandals in a few weeks.
DON'T think you'll make a comfortable living teaching English.
It's possible to get by, but barely.
DO use public transportation...
You missed the bus? Who cares? They come every fifteen minutes.
Just make sure you get on the right one.
If you get on the wrong bus and realize it right away, don't expect a refund.
Once you cross the ticker posts at the entrance, you've been counted and if you step right back off, it comes out of the chofer's (bus driver's) pocket.
Say, "gracias" when you step out at your stop.
Most Ticos do, and the chofer appreciates it.
Buses cost the American equivalence of 15 to 50 cents for the most expensive inter city buses.
Cross country trips cost up to $12 sometimes.
But this pays for a 6 hour or more cross country trip.
It's a great value.
DON'T fear public transportation...
You're flying down a thin, two-way road, skimming by bikers on the right and somehow not head-on colliding with the opposing cars.
Everyone on the bus, sitting or standing, braces onto something, otherwise they'll fall over.
The chofer's left hand steers and his right shifts coins around as he's constantly counting money; either to give you change or to allocate the coin into its correct slot.
I don't know how he ever shifts gears.
Or how he's so good.
DO have patience...
Buses break down, water stops running, the shower won't get warm, let alone hot.
You switch the light on at night and see a cockroach running across your room.
Miniscule ants intermix with the sugar grains, wi-fi doesn't seem to work, and you get excited waking up without any new mosquito bites.
Sleeping-in is impossible due to the heat and humidity.
Or maybe it's because of the roosters that have been going at it since 2am and still continue on through the day.
That always ticks off the dogs, and once one starts barking, they all go.
Every home owns at least one dog.
The parrot next door is talking in Spanish and the crazy bird outside sounds like a woman screaming.
Luckily I live outside the range of the propaganda truck's over-distorted din created through the two, 4x12 blaring speaker cabinets mounted top.
Own earplugs, and make sure to have a good book on you.
That's all.
DON'T stay in hotels...
Stay at hostels.
Costa Rica isn't as cheap as say, Nicaragua or Panama, but if you're a budget traveler, the most you should ever pay for one night is $14.
Bring a lock for the lockers.
And don't try to pre-book.
Get there during the day and peruse.
It adds a great element to traveling or backpacking.
Actually, if you're the type-A type traveler, go ahead and pre book.
Just know that the gems aren't always found online.
DO make local friends...
Costa Ricans go by Ticos and Ticas.
Try to learn their language, even the lingo.
They have distinct words here such as, 'mae', pronounced, 'my', which is basically the American equivalent to 'dude' or 'man'.
Even Ticas call each other mae.
Or compa or just, pa, which is a breakdown of 'compadre'.
They might laugh at you trying to talk like them or you might get respect.
Either way, if you're there long enough, you'll be using it naturally after a few weeks anyways.
DON'T eat at restaurants...
You need to splurge every once in a while, but for the most part, if you're a budget traveler like me, you need to buy your week's worth of groceries at 'la feria' on Saturdays or just eat at sodas everyday.
Sodas are small family owned eateries you find spread out throughout cities.
They each have their own unique name, or some just keep it simple and say 'soda' or 'comida typica'.
They serve gallo pinto, which is rice and beans with a side of salad, fresh fruit, and your choice of meat.
It's delectable, comes with a drink, and costs around $5.
It doesn't matter if you are coming for the partying and nightlife or the tours and daytime attractions.
Costa Rica is Central America's tourism hotspot for a reason.
Anyone will love it.
Source...