“What do you wish you knew about Costa Rica before coming here?”

All of us who live in Costa Rica, whether part or full time, are well acquainted with the local quirks and realities. But we are on the inside looking in, often not realizing that the issues that are ‘normal’ or ‘everyday’ to us may be strange, alien or shocking to first-time travelers – only getting a taste of this reality when we are visited by our cold-weather friends. But the internet – such as travel blogs, reddit posts, and Facebook entries – pours cold water in the face of the unprepared & uninformed tourists who are educated by answers to this important questions: “What do you wish you knew about Costa Rica before coming here?”

Table of Contents

1 – I Wish I knew How EXPENSIVE Costa Rica REALLY Is!

Costa Rica is known as a relatively expensive destination – a small country with limited services & infrastructure being visited by more and more wealthy tourists & expats inevitably leads to price inflation especially in the tourism-related goods & services. Many people stated they knew that Costa Rica was expensive but were still surprised or even shocked at the local prices, which were often quoted as being higher than back home in the USA or Europe especially for some items of food, household necessities and personal & hygienic care.

Restaurant meals were the most quoted item – and as we know, excellent & top rated restaurants have sprung up like mushrooms after the rain. Just in our area, speckled with so many diverse cultures, you can find French, Mexican, Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Fusion, Chinese, American-styled, and local Costa Rican eateries – and many of them come with quite the price tag! Even fast food outlets like KFC or McDonalds keep their ‘western’ prices.

Fast-food chains rarely adjust their pricing based on location - so often they become more expensive than fancy restaurants. In Costa Rica, this si often the case. c/o Jorge Franganillo, wikicommons. — Fast-food chains rarely adjust their pricing based on location – so often they become more expensive than fancy restaurants. c/o Jorge Franganillo, wikicommons.

To average down the food costs, consider supporting local Costa Ricans by dining for a meal a day at the local soda, or family-owned restaurant. You will be served delicious traditional home cooked meals at very affordable prices, and will have a chance to experience local culture and chill out with local families – often the restaurant is a part of their home. Note that alcoholic drinks are usually not served at sodas.

Sodas or local restaurants serve delicious local dishes which cost a fraction of touristy restaurant meals. meat, salad, rice and beans are the usual fare, in different combinations. — Sodas and other local restaurants serve delicious traditional dishes which cost a fraction of touristy restaurant meals. Meat, salad, rice and beans are the usual fare, in different combinations.

Delicious, fresh fruit is everywhere - everybody here knows someone who has 'too many mangoes' and would be happy for you to take them off their hands! — Delicious, fresh fruit is everywhere – everybody here knows someone who has ‘too many mangoes’ and would be happy for you to take them off their hands! Cheap road stand fruit or free gifts from friends or strangers mean you should never have to shell out supermarket prices!

Grocery items were on the list too – meat, milk, cheese, eggs, butter and similar staples are not cheap in Costa Rica. Imported specialty foodstuff carry a hefty premium, as do brand name items like potato chips. An easy solution is to shop in supermarkets that are outside the hot tourist areas, shop in local neighborhood stores, or purchase fruit, veggies, staples, and even meats and seafood from local markets and roadside stalls – although there is a bit more risk here when it comes to food safety. Generally, even in touristy supermarkets, you can sometiemes find local brand items at high discounts.

Roadside stands can be great for cheap & fresh fruit, vegetables, and staples. And if you are a bit courageous - even meat and seafood. In Costa Rica, roadside stands can be found *everywhere*. — Roadside stands can be great for cheap & fresh fruit, vegetables, and staples. And if you are a bit courageous – even meat and seafood. Pictured is a stall near Palmar, which also serves simple meals.

You can support local vendors and get great quality & deals by buying food items from roadside stalls - like this one in Puntarenas province. — You can support local vendors and get great quality & deals by buying food items from roadside vendors – like this one in Puntarenas province.

Tours & excursions, National Park entrance fees, accommodation in tourist areas, and the cost of souvenirs were also mentioned as being much more expensive than expected.

Local markets, like this one on Dominical Beach, can be great for picking up bargain souvenirs and cheap local meals. In Costa Rica these markets can be found along beaches, in local towns and villages, around touristy areas, and even along roads and highways. — Local markets, like this one on Dominical Beach, can be great for picking up bargain souvenirs and cheap local meals.

Ben & Heather paying the entrance fee to Marino Ballena NP. At $6 per day (for foreigners) access may sound cheap yet a vacationing family of 4 would shell out $120 for 5 days just to enjoy the beach. Arenal, Poas or Irazu NP entrance costs $15, Tortuguero NP is $17, Manuel Antonio is $18, and Isla del Coco will set each person back $50+.

2 – Where are the WHITE SANDS and TURQUOISE waters???

Many imagine tropical lands welcoming with white-sanded beaches and beautiful, bright, blue-turquoise-green waters, this being true for many parts of the Caribbean. And while Costa Rica has a few bright-sanded beaches, most of our sand is dark and often mingled with rocky outcroppings – a result of our volcanic past without which these lands would never have emerged from the cold depths of the ocean just a few short millions of years ago.

The beautiful dark sands of Playa Ventanas, on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

But that is little consolation to those who were expecting to see Bahamas vistas in Costa Rica. I guess there is a lot to say for doing one’s homework before buying the holiday package! We have a different type of beauty along our beaches, a beauty every local and expat is proud of and would never exchange for some generic postcard white-sanded beach!

A secluded and nature immersed dark sanded beach near Drake bay, on the Osa Peninsula.

Costa Rican beaches are famous around the world – unspoiled, nature immersed, lined by lush jungles, coconut groves and majestic mountains, always warm and welcoming. The dark sand creates a spectacular, exotic contrast which holiday pictures are famous for: blue skies, white clouds, green mountains, foaming waves and, in between, dark and pristine stretches of sand. But we also have beaches of all shades and colors – including golden and pink!

Playa Ventanas on a moody day, but guess what - the air is still tropical, the water is still warm & inviting! — Playa Ventanas on a moody day, but guess what – the air is still tropical, the water is still warm & inviting!

The dark sands of Jaco at a low tide. Our dark beaches do make an impression, and leave unique memories that keep people coming back (or deciding to settle here for good).

Lighter-sanded beaches do exist here and there - like these sands found in northern Puntarenas province. c/o Diego madrigal, wikicommons. — Lighter-sanded beaches do exist here and there – like these sands found in northern Puntarenas province. c/o Diego madrigal, wikicommons.

3 – Nature is EVERYWHERE

My friends did not expect to find a Blue Jeans frog in their accommodation garden, or see Toucans frolicking in trees just meters away as they waited for their restaurant meal. Other visitors did not expect to run into flocks of macaws on their way from San Jose airport – asking to pull over to take photos, they thought they hit the jackpot and may not get a glimpse of these magnificent birds again. And local tourists marvel at being able to see multiple Blue Morpho butterflies daily as they traverse the jungle edges of Ojochal, Cinco Ventanas and our local beaches – and many unexpectedly catch a pod of dolphins or whales on a sport fishing trip.

In many countries, nature lives in tightly delineated borders of national parks and nature reserves. In Costa Rica, nature is everywhere – no matter where you are, expect to see monkeys, sloths, toucans, macaws, and other jungle creatures – even in tightly urban areas.

In some areas, monkeys will raid your kitchen and leave a mess - ALWAYS close & lock all windows when leaving. — In some areas, monkeys will raid your kitchen and leave a mess – ALWAYS close & lock all windows when leaving.

28% of Costa Rican land and 30% of her territorial water are protected under National Park, Reserves, Refuges, and other designations – this creates ample reservoirs for animals to breed and re-colonize areas which are being re-wilded due to the country’s super successful reforestation efforts. These animals do not shy away from venturing into built up areas, especially since Costa Ricans have great love and respect for their wildlife and do all to protect the jungle creatures. So it is no surprise that no matter where you are, you may find yourself eye-to-eye with a dolphin, sea turtle, tapir, anteater, quetzal or coati.

Ben about to help a Sloth cross a road - while you should avoid approaching or handling wildlife, helping a Sloth in this situation can save its life. — Ben about to help a Sloth cross a road – while you should avoid approaching or handling wildlife, helping a Sloth in this situation can save its life.

How many Toucans can fit in a single local tree? Sight like this are not at all uncommon in most areas of Costa Rica.

4 – Costa Rica’s days start EARLY and end EARLY

Tropical countries have a very fixed schedule – the sun is usually up before 6am and has set by 6pm. Around 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night year-round, no exceptions. And everyday life has adjusted to nature’s fixed tropical schedule – people here are up very early, taking advantage of the daylight and cool mornings before heading to work. And conversely, many hit the sack by 9pm. Expats fall into this schedule as well and usually it is only the tourists in touristy areas that get to experience late-night Costa Rican buzz.

Most locals (and even expats) are up with the sun - and the sun is usually up by 5:30. c/o Philip Pikart, wikicommons. — Most locals (and even expats) are up with the sun – and the sun is usually up by 5:30. c/o Philip Pikart, wikicommons.

The Sun Chart below shows sunrise & sunset times for Ojochal, with months lining the bottom and hours being marked on the left of this chart. Notice that the Sun is always up before 6am, and by 6pm the darkness is already setting in. For the current frame of late April, the Sun rises around 5:20am and sets by 5:45pm. The Solar Noon, when the Sun reaches its highest elevation of the day, happens around 11:30am and is shown by the red line in the chart. For interest, the yellow line shows when the sun is at the lowest level under the horizon – around 11:30pm. This is the true ‘dark of the night’.

5 – EASTER time STOPS the nation!

Easter in Costa Rica, known as Semana Santa, is a deeply significant time for the nearly 75% of Costa Ricans who identify as Christians. The four-day weekend is marked by solemn religious traditions and vibrant family gatherings.

Many Costa Ricans attend masses and participate in traditional religious processions, reflecting on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Families come together to cook, share meals, and celebrate, while others take advantage of the holiday to travel to beach towns, often staying with relatives or camping by the shore. Despite the lively atmosphere, Good Friday remains particularly solemn, a time for deep devotion & reflection. For those who stay home, the week is filled with prayer, quiet reflection, and family time, making it a blend of devotion, joy, and tradition—a truly special period in Costa Rican culture.

Semana Santa is a time of mixed emotions - solemn observation of the suffering of Christ, the joy of Resurrection, and fun times with the family - food, music, games and the beach. Pictures is The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, in Cartago, Costa Rica. — Semana Santa is a time of mixed emotions – solemn observation of the suffering of Christ, the joy of Resurrection, and fun times with the family – food, music, games and the beach. Pictured is The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, in Cartago, Costa Rica.

And tourists should be aware of this special time of year – accommodation will be scarce, rental cars will be hard to come by, tours will be booked solid, highways will be crawling, public transport will be suspended on some days and overcrowded on others, and the beaches will be as full as they get. Many business will be closed for the duration of the Easter time while those that remain open may be crowded to the rafters. Scores of locals take time off work for the duration of the entire week. So if you want to experience this wonderful time of year, make it a point to visit Costa Rica during Semana Santa. Otherwise, avoid coming here (or any other Latin American country for that matter) during Easter.

During easter, many Costa Ricans head for the beaches - fun, celebration, games, food, and religious reflection are the orders of the day. The atmosphere is buzzing. — During Easter, many Costa Ricans head for the beaches – fun, celebration, games, food, and religious reflection are the orders of the day. The atmosphere is buzzing.

Playa Ventanas is the easter star of our local area. — Playa Ventanas is the Easter star of our local area.

6 – Driving takes time – ALWAYS leave much earlier than you think you should!

Costa Rica has modern four-lane highways that snake along ridges and cross suspension bridges over tumbling river valleys. But it also has shabby National and Secondary Routes that come to a halt at one-way bridges, not to mention smaller & back-country roads that may be covered with potholes and straddle thousand-foot cliffs without a safety barrier in sight.

A single-lane highway outside of San Jose. During rush hours and around holidays, highways leading in and out of the capital city can come to a standstill.

During the rainy season roads are often closed due to flooding, land slips or tree falls. At other times, construction creates headache-inducing traffic jams (construction season is squeezed into the relatively short dry season). Hilly sections are frequently suffocated by large trucks inching along in no passing zones. So ALWAYS leave plenty of reserve time when driving.

This is a familiar sight to local and expats - DO NOT miss your flight or tour because you did not put A LOT of reserve time into your driving itinerary! — This is a familiar sight to locals and expats – DO NOT miss your flight or tour because you did not put A LOT of reserve time into your driving itinerary!

The Interamerican Highway, a major route, is often a single lane in each direction. And good luck if you get stuck behind a bunch of trucks along the uphill 'no pass zone' sections! c/o Roqz , wikicommons. — The Interamerican Highway, a major route, is often a single lane in each direction. And good luck if you get stuck behind a bunch of trucks along the uphill ‘no pass zone’ sections! c/o Roqz , wikicommons.

As an example, google will tell you that the drive from San Jose Airport to Uvita (212km) takes 3 hours. From experience, I can say you are lucky to do the drive in 4 hours, and 5-6 hour trips are not at all uncommon. One landslip, accident, construction zone, police checkpoint, bike race, etc. can turn a ‘3 hour drive’ into a half-day expedition.

No...c/o Google Maps — No…c/o Google Maps

7 – Few additional and IMPORTANT Costa Rica considerations

You can use Uber here, in many cities and towns – and it is the best way to get around. I’ve had a scammy experience with a local taxi (that was before Uber) on my way to San Jose airport. No more!
Public Transport in San Jose can be spotty and confusing – an app called Moovit is highly recommended for clear instructions regarding bus transportation, giving clear steps to get you from A to B.
Many places accept credit and bank card payments – but carry cash just in case. You may need it to access public toilets, buy food or trinkets from markets and roadside stalls, leave tips, or pay where electronic payment options are not available or not working (from experience I can confirm a few cases where the restaurants and cafes I was dining at lost power and could not accept electronic payments). The Colon is the local currency – it hovers at about 500 Colones to 1 USD. US Dollars are widely accepted but you may get a bad exchange rate – so in any case, ALWAYS carry backup Colones.
While the country is relatively safe, petty crime can be a concern in some areas – touristy hotspots included. So NEVER leave valuables unattended – whether in the car or on the beach. Not even for a few minutes – there are cases of luggage being removed from cars while the owners were away for 2-3 minutes, grabbing a cold drink from a local roadside grocer. Do not wear expensive jewelry, carry brand name handbags, or wear thousand-dollar sneakers – best to leave these items in your home country anyways. Follow all common sense precautions – Google is your friend here, have a look before you set off.
Pack for FOUR seasons – sudden rainstorms can pop up even during the drier months, and higher elevation cloud forests, volcanoes and plateaus can get very chilly.
Be safe in the water. Rip currents take way too many lives every year, of both locals and visitors. Know how to spot a rip current, how to read lifeguard flags, what to do if caught in a rip, and review all other basic water safety rules. In our Costa Ballena area, there are numerous weekly posts about people perishing or getting in trouble in the water.
With the potential exception of rural settlements and small Caribbean & Osa Peninsula towns, tap water is considered safe to drink throughout Costa Rica. BUT you never know, and as your vacation time is precious, think about bottled water. It is cheap and widely available.

As they say, “You’re Not In Kansas Anymore”! Costa Rica has a few quirks up her sleeve, some wonderful and some weary of consideration. But the expats who live here don’t even notice them anymore – they have all become a fabric of the Pura Vida lifestyle. And many tourists fall rightly in love with our beautiful Costa Ballena! We invite you to browse the local properties available in our area, knowing that RE/MAX WE SELL PARADISE is your trusted partner in the South Pacific corner of Costa Rica.