Costa Rica Travel Forum

Hey everyone!

I am a 24 year old guy and i will be travelling in Costa Rica this November. I have started taking SPanish, but am not very good at all, yet. In your experiences, have you found that it is safe and easy to travel alone in CR? Also, is there a resourse to find cheap hostels and hotels there?

Thanks!!!
Arvin

Hi Arvin,
I am 26 years old, I just came back from Costa Rica yesterday!!! I was there for 10 days. I am spanish, so I speak the language, but it didn't help much because I was almost ALL the trip speaking English!!! Many people speak English in Costa Rica and almost all the tourist are English speakers, so all the tourist places and tours were held in English... so my spanish was not very worth!!! By the way, I was travelling alone and I did not have any problem at all (just take the standard precautions).
About hostels, I can maybe help you in the places I were. Let me know where you are going and if you have any other question don't hesitate in email me.
Costa Rica is wonderfull. You will love it. I love it. Pura Vida!!!
Best regards,
Maria

Spanish helps once in awhile but you should be able to get by. Traveling is very easy and cheap. When traveling by bus try to have your backpack put on first so it can't be grabbed easily by someone who has gotten off before you. Some people suggest sitting on the side of the bus where the luggage is loaded so you can keep an eye on it. Never never leave any on your possessions unwatched. Not even for just a quick dip in the ocean.
As was mentioned...have a copy of your passport separate. The Moon Handbook has the best listing of places to stay IMO. The lonely planet is also popular. I would have a copy of one of those with you while down there. Even after 10 years of traveling in CR I like to have mine handy.

Pick up the Lonely Planet guide to CR at your local bookstore - it has lots of info on places to go and stay and avoid! Don';t worry, CR is one of the safest places in CentroAmerica to travel!

CR is very safe as to crimes against the person, but sometimes there are theft problems for property. You don't leave stuff in a car in an unguarded parking lot.

I don't speak Spanish and my husband had Spanish in HS but he didn't speak it either and we had no problem. I would recommend the Lonely Planet also for cheap hotels.

Costa Rica is not expensive. There are lots of cheap or free things to do. And riding the buses is a lot cheaper than taxis or cars. (That is one place where Spanish might help BTW). The bus starters (the people who tell you whether you can get on or not) don't always speak English.

The bus station in San Jose is in the Coca Cola district which isn't a real classy part of the city.

Don't wear shorts - I understand that CR men who wear shorts are gay. However, if you looke enough like a tourist it probably won't be a problem. Jeans are a bad idea too - they are too heavy and hot, and when you wash them out they take forever to dry.

I recommend CostaRican Backpackers in San Jose, great hostel, super vibe.

Just so you don't get confused, there are several different bus stations. Coca Cola is just one of them. Monteverdeinfo.com has a listing of bus schedules and which stations to catch them.