The ultimate guide to backpacking Costa Rica! Includes itineraries, what to pack, where to go, how to get around, work exchanges, and more!
7min
Backpacking in Costa Rica offers an incredible experience in Central America! lush natural beauty and plenty of fun adventure activities, there is no shortage of things to do in this country. It’s also a very easy destination to travel around with affordable prices! People are nice, the food is delicious, and you’re likely to meet lots of other backpackers.
In this ultimate guide to backpacking Costa Rica, we will provide you with a comprehensive overview of what to expect during your epic journey. When is the best time to go backpacking in Costa Rica? What essential items should you pack? How can you get around and what are the typical costs?
We’ll cover all of this, and give some insight about work exchanges in the country and how you can use them to save money and have unique experiences during your travels.
There is no bad time to visit Costa Rica! But if you're looking for the best time to go in terms of weather, December to April has the sunniest, clearest, and driest weather conditions.
You'll enjoy plenty of incredible sunny beach days during this time, but it's important to note that it's also peak tourism season. As a result, prices may increase, and popular attractions can be more crowded.
May and June are also considered shoulder season, when the dry season is ending and the landscape becomes greener. Rain is possible, but it’s not as heavy as the rainy season which is September to November.
If you're looking to save money while backpacking in Costa Rica, traveling during the rainy season can offer super cheap flights!
When wondering what to pack for backpacking Costa Rica, you should consider what your trip will look like.
If you want to explore the rainforest and go hiking, you’ll need to pack more gear like hiking boots, athletic wear, a hiking backpack, etc. But if you’re planning on spending most of your time on the beach, you’ll only need beachwear!
Most likely, your trip to Costa Rica will include a combination of rainforest and beach experiences. Therefore, here's a brief overview of what you should pack. While you can generally buy sunscreen and toiletries there, it may be easier to bring some with you. Take a look at the following packing essentials:
This list may vary from person to person, but it’s a good place to start!
There are a few ways to get around Costa Rica for a budget traveler. The public bus is definitely the cheapest way! Costa Rica has a great public bus system where you can travel around the country cheaply.
Shuttle buses or minivans are a slightly pricier but more comfortable option. This method of travel means a smaller group and generally, you’ll travel a bit quicker.
You can rent a car, but it’s not necessary! Buses are pretty widespread for traveling long distances. If you need to get around within a small city or town, taxis are everywhere and they are pretty affordable!
As for arriving in Costa Rica by air, the San Jose International Airport is the most centrally located and is well connected to other parts of the country by bus.
Costa Rica is a bit pricier compared to other countries in Central America, but it's still quite affordable to travel there.
And if you’re backpacking, you can easily spend $50 USD or less per day! By staying in hostels or doing a work exchange, you can get free or cheap accommodation. Opting for street food and cooking meals at home will help you save a significant amount on food expenses.
Then you can book affordable tours, or even save enough money to splurge on some epic experiences. Here is a breakdown of what average costs may look like while backpacking in Costa Rica. Prices are in USD.
So you can easily spend only $50 per day while backpacking Costa Rica, or you can easily spend less! A work exchange is the best way to save money while traveling, and you’ll get to meet locals and have unique experiences as well. Worldpackers has 130 work exchange opportunities in Costa Rica so be sure to check them out!
While backpacking in Costa Rica, you'll come across numerous incredible destinations to explore! From national parks and serene beach towns to majestic volcanoes and vibrant cities, here are some of the top places you shouldn't miss:
Here are a few suggested itineraries for backpacking Costa Rica! They will all start and end in San Jose, because that’s where most travelers will fly in and out of. These are also just ideas! You should definitely tailor your backpacking itinerary to your travel style and your bucket list destinations.
Due to its small size, you won't have to allocate much time for traveling between destinations in Costa Rica if you plan your itinerary based on geography. For instance, in the one-week and two-week itineraries, the longest travel journey will be approximately 4 hours to and from Tamarindo.
The only significantly long journey we have included is in the one-month or more itinerary, which involves traveling from the remote corner of Drake Bay to Puerto Viejo on the Pacific Coast. This is a 10-hour journey, but you can always break it up by visiting other destinations along the way.
These are just some rough ideas for Costa Rica backpacking itineraries! If you have 1 month or more, we highly recommend doing a work exchange and extending your travels. You can stay in one place for a few weeks or more to really have a more intimate experience with the place. And if you’re working for free accommodation, you’ll likely be able to save money and travel longer!
Costa Rica is an incredible place to go backpacking! With budget-friendly options, lots of unique wildlife and natural beauty, and an enticing local culture, there is so much to see and do here. It’s a small country that is easy to get around, and you’re bound to meet other travelers on the road.
From the eclectic hostels and surf camps to the numerous work exchange opportunities, there is a high chance of meeting many other backpackers and potentially making lifelong friends!
Want to learn more about planning your trip? By subscribing to the WP pack plan you have unlimited access to +120 courses at Worldpackers Academy, the travel school made by travelers!
Write here your questions and greetings to the author
As a member, you can contact as many hosts and travel safely as many times as you want.
Choose your plan to travel with Worldpackers as many times as you like.
Complete your profile, watch the video lessons in the Academy, and earn certificates to stand out to hosts.
Apply to as many positions as you like, and get in contact with our verified hosts.
If a host thinks you’re a good fit for their position, they’ll pre-approve you.
Get your documents and tickets ready for your volunteer trip.
Confirm your trip to enjoy all of the safety of Worldpackers.
Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world.
If anything doesn’t go as planned with a host, count on WP Insurance and our highly responsive support team!
After volunteering, you and your host exchange reviews.
With positive reviews, you’ll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits.
Português
Español
Murod
Jul 01, 2023
Hh
Mike
Sep 08, 2023
I met someone on an online dating app. At some point, the scammer instructed me to send crypto assets to what I believed was a legitimate banking app based in Singapore. But the scammer provided fake instructions so that my money went into the crypto asset wallet belonging to the scammer instead. I deposited Ethereum (ETH) into the scammer’s account on three separate occasions, eventually losing thousands of dollars. I hired HACKWEST AT WRITEME DOT COM who specializes in crypto assets recovery and other hacking services and was able to locate the scammer’s wallet through blockchain forensic analysis and was able to retrieve my entire funds they stole from me. Its about 673,000 USD in total. Although Hack West didn’t do this for free, it was worth it. I will always tell everyone about my experience with West and his team.