Full Costa Rica Pacific Coast Guide

In the last month, three separate people have asked me about Costa Rica. What to do, where to go, and if it’s worth it? Yes, it definitely lives up to the hype!

Pura Vida

Costa Rica’s national slogan is “Pura Vida” or “Pure Life.” They protect and preserve their natural ecosystems above all else. It has more biodiversity than all of Europe combined.

Within my first 24 hours I saw a scorpion, a crocodile, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, vultures, cats, dogs … you get it. Animals roam the streets freely, sidewalks often don’t exist, and beauty products are forbidden in major parks so as to not pollute the water.

Cost

It is the most expensive country in the region by a long shot. But if you live in a U.S. city, it’s slightly more affordable.

Spending really depends on how you travel. You can opt to rent a sea front mansion with a private pool or you can stay in a hostel for $15-25/night. Food and tours will probably be your biggest expenses so remember to save for those ahead of time.

Safety

As a solo female traveler, I felt very safe there. The locals were always helpful. I actually only went because a Tica woman I met in Bali invited me to stay with her (even though I only knew her for 2 hours). That’s the Tico spirt: welcoming and kind.

That said, I mostly stayed in towns full of other tourists. I have never seen so many Americans outside the country itself. It was WILD. Picture a white dude with dreads walking around town barefoot. That was the vibe.

Airports

There are two major airports: San Jose (the capital) and Liberia (northern mountains). Most people fly to the capital. Either way, it’s at least a 3 hr drive to a good beach. Keep that in mind when you book your flight. It will be a long travel day.

Transportation

The best is to rent a car and you give yourself the chance to explore on your own.

A great alternative is to get a private shuttle to take you to your stay. Make sure to get a place walking distance to food and activities. A lot of hotels & AirBnbs look stunning but end up being in the middle of nowhere.

Although the country seems small, it’s a bit of a hassle to get between regions. Its geography (dense rainforest and mountains) limits roads and access points. I would stick to 1-2 of the places below for a week long trip.

3 Major Tourist Areas:

1. The Pacific Coast: Go here if you love beaches, snorkeling/diving, and watching the sun set into the sea. There are amazing surf towns as well as a ton of men with abs willing to teach you.
2. The Caribbean Coast: Go here if you love Caribbean food and culture. This is the side to go to if you’re considering going to Panama within the same trip. The border crossing is simple as a ton of buses cross daily.
3. The North (La Fortuna & Liberia): Go here if you love hiking, volcanos, wildlife, and suspension bridges. You can also go to Nicaragua across the border.

Pacific Beach Towns:

I only went to the Pacific Coast. These are the places I went to and activities you can do in each of them.

Santa Teresa:

Sits on the western peninsula. It’s a bit of a hassle to get there since you have to take multiple buses and a ferry ride. Go if you want to surf and/or don’t mind rough waves. I went into the water for five minutes and had to crawl my way out.

The town has a growing community of expats, vegan restaurants, and yoga centers. You can also explore neighboring beaches along the coast.

Montezuma:

Montezuma is a beautiful, tiny town with about 4 streets. It is also on the Peninsula, though it faces south so the waves aren’t as choppy. I would add it to a Santa Teresa trip but I would not go there alone unless you enjoy really remote places.

Jaco:

I never went here but it is the closest beach town to the San Jose airport. It has more resorts and hotels than the rest of the places on this list which means there are more things to do. It also means there are more crowds everywhere you go.

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Quepos & Manuel Antonio:

This was my favorite place as there was a great balance between nature and town. Quepos, the town itself, is full of gorgeous ocean view rentals. Manuel Antonio, the huge National park nearby, features rainforest hikes and incredible beaches.

Only pay for a tour of Manuel Antonio if you really care to learn about the wildlife. Otherwise, you can go without a guide and explore at your own pace.

Dominical & Uvita:

As you go further south, properties, people, and roads start to dwindle. I stayed here for a week and found it quieter than the other towns. Dominical is good for remote relaxing. Uvita is an actual town full of shops and people.

I went to the Envision Music Festival which I recommend if you like exploring spirituality, nonstop EDM, and bursting into tears in front of strangers because you had a breakthrough during inner child healing work. If you don’t, skip it.

I had the BEST scuba diving experience of my life here. The water was crystal clear and full of thousands of fish. On my last day, I saw a humpback whale do a backflip in the water. I could not have scripted a better ending to my trip.

Since beaches are public land, I often found people casually hanging out in circles around beach bon fires. They would welcome me in. Someone would start strumming a guitar that appeared from thin air. We burned papers scribbled with intentions because it was a new moon or a full moon or a Tuesday.

I’m not saying that will be your experience per say. But you will love it as long as you remember to bring sunscreen and bug repellent!