Costa Rica

Costa Rica packs an incredible amount into a small country, so it helps to focus your first trip. For nature and wildlife, many travellers start with La Fortuna for Arenal Volcano, hot springs, and adventure activities, then continue to Monteverde for cloud forests and hanging bridges. If you’re chasing beaches, surfing, and laid-back towns, look at Tamarindo, Nosara, or Santa Teresa on the Pacific coast. For more rugged, wildlife-rich experiences, the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park feel wonderfully remote.

A classic first itinerary is 10–14 days, mixing volcano, cloud forest, and beach. Use Hello’s trip planning to map out travel days, tours, and downtime so you don’t over-schedule — Costa Rica’s slower pace is part of the charm. Keep in mind that road travel can take longer than maps suggest, especially in rainy season, so avoid planning long drives and early tours on the same day.

Book key activities like ziplining, rafting on the Río Pacuare, or guided night walks a bit ahead, but leave some free space for spontaneous discoveries: a hidden waterfall, a beach sunset, or a local soda (small restaurant) you stumble upon.

Costa Rica uses the colón (CRC), and you’ll see prices in both colones and USD, especially in tourist areas. Many hotels and tour operators accept US dollars, but you’ll want colones for small sodas, markets, and local buses. ATMs are easy to find in towns, though less so near national parks and remote beaches, so withdraw before heading off-the-beaten-path.

Costa Rica is not a rock-bottom-budget destination, but costs vary a lot. As a rough guide:

• Local soda meal: ₡3,500–₡6,000 (about US$7–12) for a casado
• Mid-range restaurant dinner: ₡10,000–₡18,000 (US$18–35)
• National park entry: ₡5,000–₡10,000 (US$10–20)

Card payments are common, but always carry some cash for tolls, small shops, and tips. To keep control of your spending, use Hello’s budget tracking to log expenses in colones and see the total in your home currency. If you’re travelling with friends, Hello’s expense splitting is handy for shared car rentals, tours, and villas — just log who paid and let the app calculate who owes what.

Tipping is appreciated but modest: service charge is often included, and you can add another 5–10% for great service.

Moving around Costa Rica is an adventure in itself. For flexibility, many travellers choose a rental car, especially to reach places like Santa Teresa or the Osa Peninsula. Roads are generally good on main routes but can be rough, steep, or muddy on side roads, particularly in rainy season. If you’re planning to explore remote beaches or rural areas, consider a 4x4 and avoid driving at night due to poor lighting and unexpected obstacles.

Public buses are affordable and reasonably reliable between major towns, though journeys can be slow and schedules confusing. Shared shuttle services offer a good balance: door-to-door transport between popular spots for more than buses but less than private drivers.

Reliable navigation is essential. Buying and activating a Hello eSIM before you land means you’ll have data for maps and messaging as soon as you arrive, without hunting for SIM shops or worrying about roaming charges. Once online, download offline maps for areas with patchy coverage and save key locations like your accommodation, bus stations, and gas stations. Keep an eye on travel times when planning your itinerary in Hello — a 150 km journey can easily take four or five hours once mountains, roadworks, or rain are involved.

Costa Rica’s culture blends a relaxed pura vida spirit with strong pride in nature and community. You’ll hear "pura vida" everywhere — as a greeting, a thank you, and a way of saying "life is good." People are generally warm and patient, and a few phrases of Spanish go a long way. Start with simple basics: "buenos días," "por favor," and "gracias."

Food is comforting and fresh rather than heavy or spicy. Try a casado, the classic plate of rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a choice of meat or fish. For breakfast, gallo pinto (rice and beans with eggs) is a staple. Along the coasts, look for ceviche, grilled fish, and Caribbean-influenced dishes like rice and beans cooked in coconut milk in Puerto Viejo.

A few etiquette tips:

• Dress casually but modestly away from the beach.
• Ask permission before photographing people.
• Respect wildlife: keep your distance and never feed animals.

To discover great local spots, use Hello’s trip planning to pin recommendations from guesthouse owners or guides, then check them off as you go. Track how much you’re spending on food and activities with Hello’s budget tracking, so you can decide when to splurge on that special jungle lodge or beachfront dinner.