Costa Rica

Written By Alex Hall

Costa Rica is a small country with rainforest, volcanoes and two coasts, and it is easy to reach from Medellín. I have been three times: Guanacaste in February 2021, a short trip on the Pacific side in May 2025, and Guanacaste again in March 2026. Each visit was quick, relaxed and warm.

What I did

  • Went to Guanacaste in February 2021, my first trip to Costa Rica.

  • Spent a night in Alajuela, near the airport, on arrival in May 2025.

  • Spent time on the Pacific coast of Puntarenas province, including a night in a beach house.

  • Stayed at The Westin Reserva Conchal in Guanacaste in March 2026, with beach and pool days at Playa Conchal.

  • Used the later trips as short breaks from working in Medellín.

Where to stay

  • Alajuela: practical for a first or last night, with a small central park, cathedral and local sodas. I stayed at Hotel 1915 Inn and Suites near the airport.

  • Puntarenas coast: the long Pacific coast, with ferries from the port to the Nicoya Peninsula. I stayed in an Airbnb beach house.

  • Playa Conchal, Guanacaste: a gated resort area by a beach of crushed shells. The Westin Reserva Conchal is here, with golf and a spa.

  • Santa Teresa, Tamarindo or La Fortuna: good bases for surf and volcano trips.

Where I stayed

Getting there and around

  • Juan Santamaría airport (SJO) is in Alajuela, 20 to 40 minutes from San José. Alajuela hotels are the easy move for late arrivals or early flights.

  • Liberia (LIR) is the airport for Guanacaste, about an hour from Playa Conchal. From SJO it is four to five hours by road.

  • Uber and DiDi work in the San José area. In Guanacaste, plan on a rental car or shuttle. Sansa runs small domestic planes, and ferries cross the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas.

What to eat

  • Gallo pinto: rice and beans for breakfast, with eggs and Salsa Lizano.

  • Casado: the standard lunch plate of rice, beans, salad, plantain and a protein.

  • Ceviche: sea bass ceviche on the coast.

  • Chifrijo: rice, beans, chicharrón and pico de gallo, a bar snack.

  • Churchill: Puntarenas' shaved ice dessert with ice cream and condensed milk.

What to drink

  • Coffee: Costa Rican Arabica is excellent, and a coffee farm tour in the West Valley is worth a morning.

  • Beer: Imperial is the national lager, with Pilsen and Bavaria close behind. Craft beer is growing too.

  • Refrescos naturales: fresh fruit drinks like cas, tamarindo and guanábana. Cold coconut water straight from the shell is a beach staple.

  • Guaro: Cacique is the sugarcane liquor, usually served as a shot or in a guaro sour. A chiliguaro is a spicy bar shot.

  • Rum and cocktails: Centenario rum is the local pour, and resort bars on the Guanacaste coast make good mojitos and piña coladas.

Day trips and side trips

  • Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens from Alajuela.

  • A coffee farm tour in the West Valley.

  • The Tárcoles River crocodile bridge and Carara National Park.

  • Ferry to Paquera for Montezuma and Santa Teresa.

  • Rincón de la Vieja National Park from Guanacaste.

Festivals and events

  • Fiestas de Palmares: Palmares, usually in January. Concerts, rodeos and a lively fair.

  • Festival de la Luz: San José, usually in December. A Christmas parade with lights and floats.

  • Annexation of Guanacaste: Guanacaste, July 25. Parades and folk music in Santa Cruz and Liberia.

  • Día del Boyero: Escazú, usually in March. The oxcart parade with painted carts.

  • Envision Festival: Uvita, usually in late February or March. A beach and jungle music and wellness festival.

  • Festival Internacional de las Artes: San José, usually in March. Theater, dance and music.

  • Fiesta de los Diablitos: Boruca, usually on December 30 and in early February. A traditional indigenous mask festival.

Music and dance

  • Salsa and Latin dancing: San José has salsa clubs and schools, and beach towns run Latin nights.

  • Punto guanacasteco: the folk dance of Guanacaste, performed at local fiestas.

  • Caribbean calypso: Limón on the east coast has an Afro Caribbean sound and food culture.

  • Guanacaste folk: marimba and punto guanacasteco at local fiestas and in Liberia.

  • Latin pop, salsa and reggaeton: the usual bar and beach club soundtrack.

  • Live: beach bars in Tamarindo and Santa Teresa have live bands and DJs, and Envision brings in house and bass acts.

Don't miss

  • Arenal Volcano, hot springs and hanging bridges.

  • Monteverde Cloud Forest.

  • Manuel Antonio National Park for sloths and beaches.

  • Playa Conchal snorkeling on a calm morning.

  • Tortuguero for turtle nesting, July to October.

  • A sunset catamaran from Flamingo or Tamarindo.

Photography spots

  • Guanacaste: Pacific sunsets are the main event, and Playa Conchal's shell sand looks best in morning light.

  • Puntarenas: sunset over the Gulf of Nicoya from the tip of the spit.

  • Wildlife: bring a long lens for sloths, monkeys, toucans and macaws, and shoot early.

  • Arenal: the volcano at sunrise, before clouds roll in.

  • Drones: registration is required and drones are banned in national parks without a permit. Check current rules.

My experience

Costa Rica was an easy escape that I have gone back to twice. The 2025 trip was simple and quiet, a night near the airport and a beach house on the Pacific. The Westin stay in Guanacaste was more of a resort break, with calm water and good facilities. I would recommend it for a short trip, and I want to see the volcano and cloud forest side next time.

Cost of living

  • Overall: Santa Teresa, Tamarindo and San José: $$$, about 5% cheaper than New York. Resort areas run higher.

  • Coffee: about $3

  • Local lunch: about $9

  • Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $90

  • Beer or cocktail: about $4 / $9

  • Ride across town: about $10

  • Mid-range hotel: about $120 a night

  • Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $1,300 a month in Santa Teresa, $1,100 in Tamarindo, $900 in San José's Escazú

  • Daily budget: about $80 budget, $160 comfortable, $350+ luxury

Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. Tourist areas on the coast and anything marketed to visitors cost a lot, while sodas, the local lunch spots, are the best way to save. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.

Working remotely

  • Wi-Fi: Good in towns and resorts, typically 30 to 150 Mbps, but it can drop in rural and rainforest areas and during rainy-season storms. Power cuts happen occasionally.

  • Coworking and cafes: Santa Teresa and Tamarindo have the strongest nomad scenes, with surf, coworking and cafes. San José and Escazú have the best internet and services.

  • Time zone: UTC-6, 1 hour behind US Eastern in winter and 2 hours behind during daylight saving. Costa Rica does not change its clocks.

  • Visa for longer stays: US citizens usually get up to 90 days on arrival. Costa Rica has a Digital Nomad Visa, valid for a year and renewable, with an income requirement. Check current rules.

  • Nomad rating: 4 out of 5. Safe, scenic and English is common in tourist areas, with a good nomad scene, but the cost is high for the region.

Good to know

  • Language: Spanish. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and resorts.

  • Currency: The colón. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere tourists go, and you will often get change in colones. Cards work widely.

  • Plugs: Type A and B, 120V, the same as the US. No adapter is needed.

  • Entry for US citizens: No visa for tourism, but you need proof of onward travel. Check current rules.

  • Best time to visit: The dry season runs from December to April, especially for Guanacaste. May to November is green season, with afternoon rain, fewer people and lower prices.

  • Getting around: Uber and DiDi in the San José area, and a car or shuttle in Guanacaste.

  • SIM/eSIM: Kölbi has the best rural coverage. Claro and Liberty also work, or use an eSIM for a short trip.

  • Apps: Uber Eats, Rappi and DiDi Food around San José.

  • Water: Tap water is generally safe in most areas. Ask locally in remote places.

  • Tipping: Restaurants add a 10 percent service charge by law. Extra is optional. Tip guides, drivers and hotel staff.

Useful phrases

  • Hello: Hola or Buenas

  • Thank you: Gracias, and you will hear Pura vida for everything

  • Please: Por favor

  • How much?: ¿Cuánto cuesta?

  • The check, please: La cuenta, por favor

Nightlife

Nightlife in Costa Rica is relaxed and mostly outdoors, with sunset beach bars, live music and early evenings. It is quieter than what an American visitor might expect, and most beach towns wind down early.

  • When people go out: It gets dark around 5:30, so evenings start early. Dinner is around 7, bars run until midnight or 1, and clubs go a little later. Friday and Saturday are the big nights.

  • Where the action is: In Guanacaste, Tamarindo has the most bars and DJ nights. San José has more clubs, with Barrio Escalante and Barrio Amón for craft beer and cocktails.

  • The music: Reggaeton, salsa, pop and live reggae at beach bars, with some DJs in Tamarindo.

  • Good to know: Covers are rare at beach bars and modest at clubs, and drinks cost more than elsewhere in Central America. Dress is casual and flip flops are fine on the coast. Use a licensed taxi or ride app, and do not leave bags on the beach or in cars at night.

Meeting people

  • Social scene: The Pacific coast is the most social, with surf towns like Santa Teresa, Tamarindo and Nosara, plus yoga studios, surf camps and hostels. San Jose has coworking spaces and language exchanges. Ticos are friendly and easygoing.

  • Apps: Tinder and Bumble are used in the surf towns and San Jose. Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups are popular for nomads, surf and yoga events, and Meetup has a small presence in San Jose.

  • Etiquette: A handshake or a single cheek kiss is typical. The pace is relaxed, and arriving late is not a big deal. Pura vida is the common greeting and attitude. Bills are usually split.

  • Stay smart: Meet in public, watch your drink and do not leave anything in your car or on the beach while you surf or swim.

Staying safe

  • Do not leave anything in a parked car, especially at beaches and trailheads.

  • Rip currents are real on Pacific beaches, so swim where locals swim and near lifeguards.

  • Use sunscreen and carry rain protection in green season.

Alex Hall
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