Costa Rica
Costa Rica, baby.
What a beautiful country.
I may earn a commission from links on this page, but only recommend products I back. Learn more.
Summary and Pro-tips
- How we got around
- Airbnb pro-tips we picked up from our hosts along the way, and how you can apply them
- Our favorite adventures and restaurants
Over our nine days in Costa Rica, we covered a good amount of the country, experiencing the incredible jungle and wildlife as much as we did the famous beaches. We met a few really exceptional Airbnb hosts along the way. Here are some travel tips for Costa Rica specifically, and general Airbnb tips you can apply to your hosting business to HOST LIKE A BOSS.
Transportation
Should you rent a car or use public transit?
We opted to rent a car, and were VERY happy we did. Other travelers we met along the way used the bus system, and though they saved a little money they spent A LOT of time waiting for buses that ran on a very relaxed schedule. The other drivers on the road were generally respectful of posted road signs and the roads (especially the highways) were in remarkably good shape. The only parts that were a little scary were the narrow mountain passes shared with semi-trucks.
Which company should you rent from?
I wish I had a solid recommendation here. The car rental industry in Costa Rica seems to be broken. International chains most people would recognize and trust in the US regularly pull customers in with bogus low prices, only to reveal huge insurance costs as the transaction proceeds. And, as we found out, just because you reserved a car doesn’t mean it will be there. Expect a car that’s advertised for $30/day will actually run you nearly $100/day (though you can skip on some of this insurance with a note from your credit card company if, like Chase, it is something they provide). Though we reserved a “small SUV” (e.g. Rav4), when we arrived we were told we could either pay to upgrade to the Land Cruiser they had available, or wait around all afternoon and a “small SUV might show up”. Because we weren’t told this until we’d taken the (actually very friendly and convenient 30-minute shuttle from the airport to the actual rental location), we ended up renting the Toyota Land Cruiser.
All in all Alamo delivered a solid “B-” performance. The service wasn’t all-together honest but the car did end up working out really well.
Some fellow travelers we met had really good luck renting from a local “non chain” company. Next time we visit Costa Rica, we’ll try to rent from one of the local companies.
What type of car should you get?
Though 4×4 may not be necessary, decent ground clearance is A MUST unless you plan to stick exclusively to major roads. In addition, if you’re driving up into the mountains at all, having a reasonably powerful engine is a huge plus.
Highlights and Pro-tips from our Airbnb hosts
All of the Airbnb hosts we had the pleasure of staying with in Costa Rica ran top-notch establishments. There were of course small things that could have been improved, such as not providing basics like soap/shampoo, but all in all they did great.
The Coffee Plantation
Located 45 minutes outside of San Jose, this was a great place to land after a long travel day. It was just far enough outside of the city to get away from the hustle and bustle, but still an easy drive. This host really knocked the “under promise over deliver” thing out of the park. The grounds to walk around were much more expansive than advertised.
Shipping container in Uvita
Uvita is a small beach area along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The Airbnb delighted us with an extremely friendly and helpful host, proximity to the beach, and a very small, very friendly corner store. Most of all the Airbnb itself was built entirely inside of a shipping container. BIG POINTS for creativity! The place wasn’t big, but had everything we needed to be comfortable and was an outstanding value. The host didn’t provide any written instructions or tips for local places to eat, but more than made up for it with an in-person greeting wherein he provided any necessary information.
A literal beach-side paradise created by Waleska (Puerto Jimenez)
Located just a few minutes outside of Puerto Jimenez, Waleska’s Airbnb over-delivered on so many levels – it almost felt like its own (very small) resort. She greeted us warmly and helped us get settled in quickly, showing us our private (partially outdoor) bathroom, the main house (from which she served a really incredible breakfast), and pointed us to the beach, which was a 45 second walk away.
Part of the magic of this place was brought by the very sturdy tents built onto platforms, and the crabs…so so many crabs walking everywhere. The tents zipped up tightly to keep any critters out, came with an oscillating fan to keep cool, and ample electrical outlets.
Casa Elsa in Manuel Antonio
If you want to feel rich for a night or two, I highly recommend booking a couple nights at Casa Elsa! This Airbnb was simply jaw-dropping. Giving “open concept” a new name, the entire house (except for the bedrooms) opened straight INTO THE JUNGLE. We were warned not to leave cell phones or other valuables sitting poolside or on the kitchen table because the monkeys would likely throw them into the jungle. And they weren’t kidding.
As if the sweeping views weren’t enough, an incredible breakfast of chocolate chip waffles and coffee was served at 8 o’clock sharp. The nearby town of Manuel Antonio, definitely the most “touristy” place we visited during our adventure, had a large number of restaurants to choose from, and all we tried were excellent.
Adventures and Activities
UNDER CONSTRUCTION