Some of the most useful things we learned in Costa Rica weren’t in any guidebook. Here are our Costa Rica travel tips, the practical stuff and a few food surprises, from our own 9-day family trip.
Money and Cash
Bring some cash. Most places in Costa Rica accept American dollars right alongside colónes, so you don’t need to stress about exchanging everything ahead of time. That said, it’s good to have at least some colónes on hand for smaller vendors. We ended up tipping our guides mostly in USD, and it was never an issue.
Rental Car Insurance
Rental car insurance here has two layers. One coverage is mandatory, no matter what. The second is required too, unless you can prove you already have coverage elsewhere. A letter from your credit card company can do this.
If your vehicle holds more than 8 people, credit card coverage won’t apply at all. Ours did.
Honestly, if you’re driving from town to town like we did, just get the full coverage. It wasn’t much more through our rental company, and the peace of mind was worth it. Some of the roads are rocky. Some are narrow. You never know what will happen. We were so glad we had it when we got a flat tire outside a restaurant one night.
Food Surprises
A few things about the food to note:
Decaf coffee is hard to find. Costa Rica takes its coffee seriously, but decaf just isn’t really part of the culture. If you drink decaf, plan accordingly. I switched to smoothies for the trip; they were tasty and cheap.
Which brings me to another note. Fruit is plentiful in Costa Rica, so things like smoothies are actually pretty cheap, no $12 ones like in the States.
The food isn’t particularly spicy. If you’re expecting heat, you won’t find much of it here. Meals lean heavily on rice and beans, done well, at nearly every meal. For me, that was a win.
The cheese is incredible, and you can’t get it back home. Costa Rican cheese has a flavor and texture we haven’t found anywhere in the US. I still think about it.
Sodas, the small family-run restaurants found all over Costa Rica, are affordable. A full meal at one of these often costs less than a fast food meal back home. Fresh smoothies and juices are everywhere too, and they’re noticeably cheaper than what we’d pay for the same thing in the US. We ordered them constantly and never felt bad about it.
Tipping Culture
Tipping isn’t as automatic here as it is back home. Many restaurants already include a service charge on the bill, so check before you tip extra on top. It’s also not really part of the culture, so don’t feel obligated. For tour guides and drivers, tipping in cash is pretty much expected and definitely appreciated, especially for a great experience. We tipped generously in USD throughout the trip and never had an issue.
Camera Gear
If you’re bringing a camera, think beyond just one lens. I used a wide lens for jungle and waterfall shots and a telephoto for wildlife, since animals rarely let you get close. A rain cover or dry bag for your gear is worth packing too. Between tubing, hanging bridges, and daily downpours, your camera will be exposed to more moisture than you’d expect.
Driving in Costa Rica
Roads here are a mix. Expect narrow, winding mountain roads, especially around Monteverde, along with stretches of unpaved, rural dirt roads. Go slow, and don’t expect to make great time on a map’s estimated drive length.
Also watch for tolls. There’s a series of them on some routes that aren’t always marked on maps, so they can catch you off guard. Ours added up to less than $10 total, and they accepted credit cards.
Bugs
Bugs are part of the deal, especially near rivers and in the rainforest. We used Off wipes instead of spray, which made it easier to reapply without a cloud of chemicals. The heat and humidity mean bugs are more active, and if you are like me, they love you, so reapply more often than feels necessary.
For when you do get bit, we packed two things that made a real difference: itch-relief patches and a heat-it device that plugs into your phone and uses heat to calm the itch. We used them together on bites, and it genuinely helped.
More Costa Rica Resources
Read the full story of our 9 days in Costa Rica, our Costa Rica packing list, or what to eat in Costa Rica.
