Costa Rica practical tips (and reassurance!)

crtips · 2023-05-07T16:19:26+00:00

We're going to CR with teenage kids in the summer. Once-in-a-lifetime wildlife trip, going to Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Uvita and Osa Peninsula. I'm incredibly excited, but never done a trip like this. It's booked via a tour operator so don't need to worry about transfers etc, but would love any tips for practicalities (things to take, bear in mind etc). NB changing flights in Miami. I'm also just a little perturbed by warnings in the Rough Guide about sharks, snakes, Dengue fever, rabies, crocodiles, rip tides etc. Is this a real worry? I've spoken to a few people who've been and just said it was great, so I'm hoping it's actually fairly safe in practice?!

Peccary · 07/05/2023 21:43

Rip tides are the only one to take seriously, check with locals if swimming. There are signs where there are crocodiles.

US dollars are universally accepted, cards are frequently accepted. CR has the best bank notes though so do have some local currency.

CR is expensive (some things more than here) bring all toiletries etc. I struggled to find tampons for example. You need bug spray. Healthcare is of a good standard. It will rain in the summer, the locals tend to carry umbrellas as it's very humid so waterproofs are unpleasant. You need water bottles, plastic ones are actually banned in national parks.

Guides are worth the money if wildlife is your top priority

CR is very safe for the average tourist. Their main market is US travellers and they are protective of their tourist industry. I went when backpacking through central America and was happy to return this year with my 5 year old.

PolkaDotMankini · 07/05/2023 21:54

I went last year with DH and pre-teen DC, going to several of the places on your itinerary. We were there for the last week of July and the first week of August. Weather-wise, it rained every day at some point but usually only for an hour and then it went back to sunny. It was always warm-hot! We only had two days (out of 15) that were rainy all day.

Like the PP said, take your own toiletries. Suncream and insect repellent are for tourists and cost about 20 USD per bottle. There's no point taking colones. US$ are accepted everywhere. I also recommend steri-strips if your DC are of the adventurous sort, as nowhere sold them when we needed them (including in San Jose). Tour guides and drivers are used to American tourists and appreciate tips.

We only saw crocodiles in Tortuguero and Sarapiqui. I saw one snake and only because our guide knew where it liked a nap! We were warned not to swim in the sea at Tortuguero but plenty of locals were. We always felt safe and didn't come home with anything worse than a few mosquito bites and a sliced knee for DS where he fell over jumping on river rocks 🙄

billycorn · 07/05/2023 22:02

I’ve not been but a relative of mine visited CR last year and said it was the country where he’d seen the most snakes. I asked him where he saw them and they were pretty much everywhere he went. He did love it there though but if you’re not keen on snakes it’s worth baring in mind.

Original poster

crtips · 07/05/2023 22:56

I actually love snakes! It's only the safety aspect I was bothered about. Did anyone take malaria meds? The guidance seems to say don't bother with meds - but don't get bitten! Not sure how realistic that is? Something I read also suggested Hep A jabs?

Thanks fir the practical tips, that's really useful.

OP posts:

sm40 · 07/05/2023 23:15

Not helpful but who did you book with. Hoping to do CR next summer with the family!

Scottishskifun · 08/05/2023 05:31

You only need malaria meds if going to a hotspot and for quite a while. I took a mossie bed net but was staying in backpackers where they weren't provided.
As others say it is expensive so he prepared for that and tax is added after on restaurant bills not included in the price!

Tips I would say start early for wildlife or rainforest things as it can get very hot and humid but it will also be quieter. Definitely watch for rips know what your looking for and how to try and get out of them. Travel can be slow once off the main highways.
Big Iguanas along beaches are common don't get too close their tails can whip and just watch where your stepping along trails for snakes.

Typical Costa Rican food doesn't have lots of spice so if eating in a very local place (not the taco or places for Americans) then "English ketchup" is good!

Original poster

crtips · 08/05/2023 07:43

Thanks again. What about clothes? I'm thinking lightweight trousers rather than shorts, and trainers or walking boots.

@sm40 we're going with Trailfinders. They were more expensive than some of the packages I saw (though less than some of the luxury ones). They did exactly the package we wanted though, and were good at adapting it to fit in a couple of extras. It was also helpful to be able to customise group vs private tours, and levels of accommodation, in each place, so we could splash out in a couple of locations but keep it simpler in others. I'm sure we could have saved lots of money by doing it ourselves, and I usually book all my travel direct, but for a variety of reasons just wanted someone else to sort everything out this time.

OP posts:

Scottishskifun · 08/05/2023 09:08

crtips · 08/05/2023 07:43

Thanks again. What about clothes? I'm thinking lightweight trousers rather than shorts, and trainers or walking boots.

@sm40 we're going with Trailfinders. They were more expensive than some of the packages I saw (though less than some of the luxury ones). They did exactly the package we wanted though, and were good at adapting it to fit in a couple of extras. It was also helpful to be able to customise group vs private tours, and levels of accommodation, in each place, so we could splash out in a couple of locations but keep it simpler in others. I'm sure we could have saved lots of money by doing it ourselves, and I usually book all my travel direct, but for a variety of reasons just wanted someone else to sort everything out this time.

I had both - light weight walking trousers which zipped off to become shorts. You used to be able to get some which had mosquito stuff woven in as well.
It depends on what kind of trails your doing we mostly found that a pair of hiking trainers was sufficient but we went in March/April time and our shoes were also waterproof

Ontheup75 · 08/05/2023 09:33

Jumping on the thread to pick up tips. Just booked our flights for the start of the summer hols. Now got to sort an itinerary and accomodation (I can see why you've gone with trailfinders @crtips !)
Anyone got any more off the beaten track, but accessible by bus, places they loved?
We've got 3 weeks so hope to visit a good few places.

Peccary · 08/05/2023 11:14

As a family, the easiest way to get around without a car is by shared or private shuttle, these are minibuses with A/C etc. Try the Interbus site for ideas of routes (this is what we did as car hire prices over the Christmas period were astronomical). For a holiday, normal buses just eat into too much of the time (I have also travelled the length of South and Central America by bus pre kids so have seen enough bus stations for life now)

Peccary · 08/05/2023 11:17

On the Pacific coast, we stayed in a place called Samara which still has a quite laid back, beach town vibe. Basically, the south of the Nicola peninsula is where to go for beach life without the big resort hotels of the north.

jay55 · 08/05/2023 12:48

Buy bug spray when you get there. Wouldn't worry about malaria.

Despite it being a wildlife trip, if you're in the city at some point do have a look at McDonald's, they have local foods on the breakfast menu eg McPinto, which teens often find fascinating.

Cloverforever · 08/05/2023 12:57

billycorn · 07/05/2023 22:02

I’ve not been but a relative of mine visited CR last year and said it was the country where he’d seen the most snakes. I asked him where he saw them and they were pretty much everywhere he went. He did love it there though but if you’re not keen on snakes it’s worth baring in mind.

We were there for 12 days recently, and only saw 1 snake and 2 spiders - both spotted by our guide. The mozzies weren't anywhere near as bad as in Italy a few years previously either. Basically, don't worry too much, it's a gorgeous country to visit, very friendly and safe.

sm40 · 08/05/2023 18:34

Thanks. I have contacted audley travel but will contact trailfnders too.

AquaWasp · 14/09/2024 16:54

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Cloverforever · 14/09/2024 17:27

billycorn · 07/05/2023 22:02

I’ve not been but a relative of mine visited CR last year and said it was the country where he’d seen the most snakes. I asked him where he saw them and they were pretty much everywhere he went. He did love it there though but if you’re not keen on snakes it’s worth baring in mind.

We were there for 12 days and saw one snake and one tarantula, so I think your relative may have been exaggerating...

Jellyslothbridge · 14/09/2024 17:43

Costa Rica is amazing. Been twice and only saw 2 snakes! If worried walking boots are a good idea. We have found craig hoppers nosilife clothing great for travel. It has mosi repellant in it, wicks well, drys quickly and packs down small. Make sure you have a camera/phone that takes good pictures as there is so much to enjoy!

Caramelty · 27/06/2025 10:32

Has anyone invested in a Craghoppers Nosilife shirt? I’m planning to buy one, but not sure if they come up big/small. I want a loose-ish fit, I have big boobs so for shirts I usually size up to an 18 (I’m 5’9” and apple shape so I usually go for a 16 anyway).

Wondering if anyone has any experience or can recommend something better (£59 is a lot more than I would usually spend on a single piece of clothing but I am allergic to insect bites and have been eaten alive whilst out hiking the past few summers!)

Not sure if this belongs in Style or Holidays… but trying here first!

Jellyslothbridge · 28/06/2025 20:47

Re nosilife - I have never payed full price. Try ebay or m and m direct or special offers either on craig hoppers site or other outdoor stores for last season colours. I tend to size up one size as I like them baggy. The long sleeve shirt style "adventure shirt" seem true to size and the short sleeve ones came up a little small in the bust.