Traveling to expensive countries on a budget can be tricky because you’re bound to miss a few things that travelers with deeper pockets usually enjoy. Central American countries like Costa Rica demand a bigger travel budget if you’re not ready to compromise your travel experience. However, it’s possible to enjoy your trip and sightseeing in Costa Rica by following some smart tips from full-time travelers.
Here’s a list of some recommendations from travelers who went about visiting all popular tourist spots while enjoying a complete Costa Rican vibe.
Smart Tip 1: Advanced booking of day tours is expensive
Contradictory to the usual belief, advanced booking of day tours in Costa Rica is expensive. Yes, all the major travel companies have a website to net new clients and the day tour rates are higher compared to what the local travel agents offer. Thus, instead of booking your day tours 2 months in advance, contact your hotel managers for similar tours. They will certainly get you in touch with affordable local travel agents.
Smart Tip 2: Skipping the day tours is even better
Itinerary of day tours are created by the travel agents, and you’ll be bound by their travel plans. You don’t even get to pull off a good photograph at a place of your choice. Renting a car is a better option than the day tours because you’ll be able to experience all the activities that you would on a day tour.
A day trip from San Jose to La Fortuna includes volcano viewing and visiting a hot spring for relaxation. If lunch and dinner are included, the average price for the trip would be around $130. On the other hand, if you rent a car and drive yourself, visiting La Fortuna is much more convenient, which includes all the additional sightseeing in and around the place. A visit to a lesser-known hot spring will cost you around $12 and getting a sumptuous lunch at a local eatery would cost about $10. Thus, your visit to La Fortuna gets completed in $32 only!
However, this doesn’t include the cost of renting a car, but that won’t be much, and traveling in Costa Rica on a budget is possible only if you have the control on your hands rather than some fancy travel company.
Smart Tip 3: Discounts exist everywhere
If you’re traveling with a big tour company, you can’t expect discounts at every point. However, the same does not apply to smaller travel agents. Traveling in big groups is even better because small travel agents will never be able to deny a discount to customers traveling in groups. However, you don’t need to be pushy: polite attitudes can make a huge difference when negotiating on the price. You must always keep in mind that Costa Ricans hate confrontations or arguments, and they make them extremely uncomfortable. Be polite and don’t haggle beyond a point. Additionally, you can check out the general customs and unwritten rules that are sure to make your trip more enjoyable.
Smart Tip 4: Avoid the guides
Local guides are great while you visit places of historical significance or even national parks. However, you can give them a miss if you want to cut down on unnecessary expenses. Guides don’t come cheap and can be a burden on your small budget. So, carry a map, guidebook, and other details. Research online before visiting a tourist place and learn everything about its history or features – it will enhance your experience of visiting a place.
However, if you travel on a budget, you will be reluctant to spend more on cellular data. If you are unwilling to hire a guide, you will surely need an internet connection. Physical maps are great but reading them can be difficult to an inexperienced eye. Luckily, your smartphone can easily replace the physical map. Sadly, you will need the internet for navigating and searching for cozy hangouts. A VPN for travel is essential, as it lets you connect to any available Wi-Fi without fear.
As you might know, public Wi-Fi might not offer enough protection, like skipping the encryption process. Additionally, it is relatively easy to snoop on users connected to free hotspots. Hence, while you are traveling on a budget, don’t ever compromise your privacy and security.
Smart Tip 5: Avoid Peak Seasons
Costa Rica witnesses a huge decline in the number of tourists during the rainy seasons, which implies that traveling can be quite inexpensive. Hotel rates are cheaper, and you can get substantial discounts on day tours. Additionally, you can avoid the maddening crowd and enjoy the real beauty of many places without jostling with fellow travelers to get a good view. However, rains can play spoilsport, so you’ve to flexible enough to accommodate delays.
