Flying Solo to Costa Rica

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Costa Rica is a beautiful Central American country with friendly people and amazing scenery. If you’re like me, you have wanderlust and dream of seeing exotic places like this. The problem arises when you’re ready to go but friends and family give you one or both of the same two excuses; no money and no time. So, get up and go solo. After all, you are great company. It may seem scary to venture off to a foreign land alone. That’s why I’ve put together a few things to think about when flying solo to Costa Rica.

Where to Go

Costa Rica has many great cities to visit. Most people fly into San Jose but head straight for one of the beach towns such as Jaco or Tamarindo. When I go, I stay in the capital city of San Jose, which is rich with its own culture and nightlife. It’s also much cheaper to stay in the city. Costa Rica is somewhat of a “third-world” country, so many nice hotels and inns are very affordable. If you want to go to the beach, book a tour that includes a beach day. The beach is an hour or two away from San Jose. Of course, this all depends on the type of vacation you want to have. I happen to live in Florida and grew up near the beach so I tend not to want to stay near a beach when on vacation.

When to Go

Because Costa Rica has many tropical rainforests, it has a long rainy season. It’s cheaper to go there during this season. The rainy season is from about May to mid-November. The dry season is from mid-November to April. I like to go at the end of November or December. During those months, plane tickets are lower due to Black Friday sales and it being the off-season. It’s best to book your ticket three to six months ahead of time, but I’ve booked as late as a week and a half ahead of time and still got a great deal. But if you cant help but go in the summer time, remember to pack a poncho for those constant rain showers. I even got caught in a few storms during the dry season. Good thing I had my poncho. I recommend the Anyoo waterproof poncho because is rolls up small enough to put in a backpack or purse and it’s durable. Click here to check out this poncho.

From Florida and gulf coast states, Costa Rica is a 3-hour plane ride or less. Because of the price, proximity, great adventures, and great scenery, Costa Rica is shaping up to be my favorite country.

What to Do

There are so many fun things to do in Costa Rica. From gliding through the rainforest by zip line to viewing one of the country’s many volcanoes, you’re sure to find something amazing to do. Hiking is a favorite in this country of many hills and mountains. There are several full and half-day tours that allow you to experience lots attractions in one day. Costa Rica also has some of the best artists and architecture. It has an active nightlife, natural hot springs, and shopping district. If you haven’t already heard, Costa Rica makes some of the world’s best coffee. There are tours dedicated to this delicious coffee.

What to Pack

When going on any trip, I tend to over pack. I mean a girl needs options right? But on this trip, I packed light. I carried a backpack purse and a small carry-on bag. I recommend a cross-body or backpack purse because it’s just more comfortable to be hands free. I got this cute, leather backpack purse. It did the trick. I had my poncho, keys, headphones, phone, sunglasses, and book in there and was good to go. I recommend this purse because it’s cute yet big enough to hold my stuff.

It’s also important to wear comfortable when you travel. Plus, if you do any tours in Costa Rica, you generally do a lot of walking and maybe even hiking. So, I purchased these Sketchers running shoes with memory foam. It felt like I was walking on air.

Another must-have to pack is a Spanish translation book. Of course you could also just download a translator app on your phone. But if you’re old school like me and like to have a physical book, I recommend the Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook and Dictionary. If the locals see you can speak their language even a little they will give you a little more respect, especially as a solo traveler.

Finally, it’s important to bring a swimsuit because you must go to the hot springs and relax in the warm volcanic waters. I like this swimsuit and cover up shown here. It is sexy yet somewhat conservative. It fits in with the exotic scenery and it’s my favorite color; purple.

Money

Costa Rica accepts U.S. dollars and most citizens there likely prefer it as it is values higher than the Costa Rican colones. Fifty U.S. dollars is 29000 colones at the time of this writing. I exchanged only about 20 U.S. dollars just to use for tips. Costa Rica also accepts major credit cards and debit cards. Exchanges can be made at the airport, a local bank, and at many hotels. Check before you arrive to ensure you are getting the best exchange rate.

 Food

There are many great places to eat in Costa Rica. A lot of hotels have restaurants that serve authenticate Costa Rican meals. But like the U.S., it has restaurants featuring all types of food, as well as some chain restaurants. The traditional Costa Rican meal is called Casado, which means “married man” in Spanish. This dish usually includes rice and beans, a meat (chicken, fish, beef, or pork), plantains, and sometimes a salad or vegetables. My tour guide joked that this meal is call Casado or married man because once a man gets married, this is all his wife will cook. Even so, it is always delicious to me. Keep in mind that most full-day tours offer lunch and dinner where you can try the traditional food at a recommended local restaurant.

Stay Safe

I talk about tours here because it is one of the best ways to stay safe during solo travel. There is safety in numbers. When flying solo to Costa Rica, remember to ask your inn or hotel if they have an airport shuttle. Most hotels have them but want you to reserve them a day or two before you arrive. Otherwise, you will be bombarded by taxi and Uber drivers as soon as you step outside the airport. The orange taxi is the official Costa Rican taxi but err on the safe side and ride on the airport shuttle.

The tour companies also pick up from most centrally-located hotels so there is no need to Uber everywhere. Pack light and modest as not to attract any negative attention. With all of that being said, Costa Rica is actually a safe country. It is probably the safest country in Central America. However, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry. Also, don’t forget to locate where the U.S. embassy and consulate are in case you have an issue.

Finally, join the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Visit travel.state.gov and sign up. This program is a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling abroad to receive the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate. Then, make sure a friend or family member back home knows your schedule or whereabouts each day.

Do your research before you go and enjoy yourself!

Pura Vida!

During your visit to Costa Rica, you will surely hear and feel Pura Vida. It literally means pure life. But it means hello. It means goodbye. It means thank you. It is a feeling of the pure life that is Costa Rica.

So, brush up on your high school Spanish skills, pack a bag, book a tour, and I’ll see you in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

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