Backpacking in Costa Rica is fantastic in one word. The country has everything you’re looking for in an amazing trip, from stunning nature to welcoming locals with a relaxed “tranquilo” attitude. Costa Rica is undoubtedly one of the most popular countries in Central America, which also means it’s one of the more expensive ones. It might not be the most budget-friendly for backpacking, but it’s guaranteed you’ll have an incredible journey. To make backpacking in Costa Rica more affordable, below are our top tips to save money during your trip. Additionally, we provide some extra tips that can be handy while backpacking in Costa Rica.
Travel with Local Buses to Save Money
While backpacking in Costa Rica, you have multiple options for transportation. You can choose to travel by local bus or minivan. The local bus is cost-effective but often makes stops at various bus stations, usually lacks air conditioning, and for most routes, you’ll need to transfer one or more times. Unfortunately, poor connections can result in long waiting times at the bus station. Minivans have air conditioning and go directly to the destination. However, you’ll pay much more for this convenience compared to the local bus. For each destination in Costa Rica, you can find information on how to travel there using local buses and minivans at the beginning of the article. You’ll also find current bus schedules, the quickest route, and bus ticket prices.
Dine at Local Soda Restaurants
Eating out in Costa Rica isn’t cheap. Especially at restaurants catering to travelers, prices can be quite high. Sometimes, you may need to pay an additional 13% tax on top of the menu price, and if you’re unlucky, a 10% service charge as well. This is always mentioned on the menu. Thankfully, there are sodas all around Costa Rica. These are local restaurants often run by families that serve affordable Costa Rican cuisine. Think of dishes like delicious burritos, fresh fish, or rice with meat and beans. A meal at a soda costs between $6 and $10. If you choose a trendy restaurant, main courses can cost between $16 and $21.
Cook Your Own Meals While Backpacking in Costa Rica
To save costs while traveling in Costa Rica, it’s wise to cook your own meals. Nearly every hostel has a communal kitchen that many people use. If you’re not a great cook or don’t want to cook, you can prepare your breakfast and lunch and still dine out for dinner. That can also save you a lot of money.
Pay with Colones in Costa Rica
When withdrawing cash from an ATM, you can choose to withdraw dollars or colones. Always choose colones, as paying in dollars often results in a poor exchange rate. Therefore, try to pay in colones as much as possible.
Use BAC ATMs for Withdrawals
When withdrawing money, you pay a small commission to your own bank for each transaction. To save money, you don’t want to withdraw cash more often than necessary. There are many different ATMs in Costa Rica, and many of them have a low withdrawal limit. The BAC bank is present throughout Central America, and you can withdraw larger amounts of money in one go from their ATMs. This is often a maximum of 250,000 colones, which is around $470. You can find these ATMs by searching for ‘BAC ATM’ in the Maps.me app.
Never Lose Sight of Your Backpack
Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America. However, it’s still important to stay vigilant, especially on local buses, where bags are occasionally stolen when someone isn’t paying attention. Never leave your backpack with valuable items unattended on the bus, even if you need to use the restroom. Don’t place the bag in the overhead compartment above your seat; instead, keep it between your legs or on your lap. Also, it’s not wise to leave your bag with valuables unattended on the beach while you go swimming. Ideally, avoid bringing valuable items to the beach so you don’t have to worry about them.
Our Itinerary and Favorite Places to Stay in Costa Rica
During backpacking in Costa Rica, we stayed in many great hostels. Check out our favorite hostels and hotels in Costa Rica for charming places that will make your journey even more special. If you haven’t planned your travel route for Costa Rica yet, you might find our Costa Rica travel route helpful.
