Backpacking in Costa Rica?

Question

What are the best places to see?

What is the best way to get around? bus? rent a car?

How much is cheap accomodation? Hostels? budget motels?

Is it hard to find accomodation?

Answer 1

go to Jaco, manuel antonio, arenal volcano, papagayo area, tamarindo..

bus is cheap, but i wouldnt reccomend.

renting a car is best, but might be pricey.

about accomodation, it depends where you go, we like to make reservations, just in case, but if you dont care where you stay or what the conditions are, idk.

have  fun and be safe!!

Answer 2

Best Places to see

Hot Springs at Fortuna Arenal/ Volcano Arenal and canopy tour

Manuel Antonio beaches and Nacional Park

Tamarindo for nightlife and surf

Montezuma for the chill layback hammock

Puerto viejo/Punta Uva for the diversity in culture, the rastafarians

BEST way is rent a car, feel the flexibility to do what you want

CHEAPEST of course the bus, but make sure when you travel your luggages is always locked up. I have travelled alot by bus, but for me its easy to get around because I know the language.

Cheapest hostel is $10 per person, but its hard to find a single room for $10, that price is usually for 2 people sharing a room. Fan, with probably a sharing bathroom.

Not its not hard to find accomodation, here are a couple of names of hostels I have stayed in

Tamarindo- Cabinas Rodamar or Cabinas Marielos $10

Fortuna - Hostel or backpackers Dolly

Montezuma- Lucys its on the beach. $10 per person sharing

Answer 3

I've been through Monte Verde, La Fortuna and Manual Antonio.  All are really great places to go.  Lodging is not difficult as these location cater to backpackers.  Lodging at a hostel is around $10.00 a night, but off season you can find it even cheaper.  The bus is a super cheap way to get where you need to go, but it isn't comfortable and if you don't speak spanish it may be problamatic.  I took the bus the first time I was in CR and they man I was with spoke Spanish, which made it easier.  Since then I usually take a taxi from the airport to my location of choice (usually around $100.00) and once I'm where I need to be I can walk or take local transport.  Most activities (white water rafting, canapy tours, guided hiking) will pick you up at your hostel which makes it easier and reduces transportation costs at a local level.  You can also arrange for a private shuttle - these range in price but if you are going with a few people, it might be worth it.  I recently got a private shuttle to go from the aiport in San Jose to our hotel in Manual Antonio for $140 each way.  Once it was divided up in our group it made it the obvious choice.  It saved us a lot of time, we were very comfortable and really didn't cost us that much.  Plus we went directly to our hotel instead of having a million stops along the way.

Answer 4

I agree with Dan Y....I'd suggest La Fortuna area as well as Samara.......Renting a car can be a bit high....The bus would be the cheapest way to go......A night stay will cost anywhere from $10 a night and up......You should not have a hard time finding a place to stay.....Also, keep in mind it's the rainy season till November....