Costa Rica Solo Travel: Tips For Solo Female Travel In Costa Rica

In March 2023, I went on a solo trip to Costa Rica. Although it was quite scary to make such a long journey alone, I am incredibly happy and proud of myself for doing it because it turned out to be the best vacation ever!

I’am going to share everything I know about solo traveling to Costa Rica to help you plan your trip. Traveling to Costa Rica is relatively easy, but there are always some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.

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Is Costa Rica save for solo travellers?

I can confidently say -yes- to that. Costa Rica is knows for its friendly population and has a good reputation for tourist safety.

Good things about solo female travel in Costa Rica

• Costa Rica has low crime rates – ofcourse there is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, but it gives a comforting feeling knowing that the crime rates are relatively low. My number one advise is; always trust your instincts and don’t bring any valuable belongings.
• On time – I was pleasantly surprised that all buses, taxis, and appointments were punctually on time! I felt so releaved that when I arrived at the airport in Costa Rica in the evening, the taxi was already waiting for me with my name on a sign. It’s a stereotype, but also an experience, that not everything runs on time in Latin America. So, make sure that when you have booked an excursion or a taxi, be ready at least 10 minutes in advance because they will be there!
• Wildlife on a daily basis – Wildlife in Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking things I have witnessed. Be prepared that it’s perfectly normal to see monkeys strolling around, the most beautiful paradise birds wanting to snatch a piece of fruit from your plate, mischievous squirrels dropping a coconut from above, or even being in areas where you shouldn’t get too close to the water due to the presence of crocodiles.

Personal horror story

One of my biggest fears is losing my bank card or passport while traveling, and as you can guess, I lost my bank card. Not because I was robbed, but because an ATM swallowed my card. It had never happened to me before; it was late in the evening, and I had very little cash left. I had no idea what to do.

So, what can you do when an ATM swallows your card in Costa Rica? My advice is to ALWAYS withdraw money from an ATM that is attached to a bank. This way, you can immediately go inside the bank, or as in my case, go back the next day, and they can open the ATM from the inside and retrieve your card. Unfortunately, among the dozens of cards they had collected, mine was not there. That’s why it’s a good idea to bring multiple cards with you, such as a debit, credit card or travel card.

Wanna go to Costa Rica but not ready yet for a solo travel?

Don’t worry, there are plenty options!

I can imagine that it might be a little intimidating to travel completely alone. Therefore, here are 3 tips I would choose if I were to go back to Costa Rica:

1. Join a surf academy; Whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, Costa Rica is famous for its fantastic waves and numerous surf schools. Daily surf lessons are offered, which allows you to quickly get to know many tourists as well as locals
2. Spanish Lessons; Taking a Spanish course in a Spanish-speaking country is definitely my favorite! It gives your confidence a boost by being able to communicate in Spanish with others, understand Spanish songs, and quickly adapt to the culture.
3. Join a volunteer program; You can participate in a volunteer program involving animals, such as sea turtle nesting, wildlife rescue, ocean clean-up, or even teach English or Spanish to children at a school.

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Semi-solo travel to Costa Rica

I think I fit perfectly into the semi-solo traveler category. I LOVE meeting new people, being together 24/7 but I also really NEED my alone time.

A very easy and enjoyable way to go on an adventure by yourself is by booking an excursion. Often, you can book an excursion in Costa Rica as soon as one day in advance. So, are you feeling lonely or do you feel like doing something different? I chose a day trip to Monteverde.

Monteverde is famous for its magical cloud forests. You enter an entirely different world, full of beauty, and adventure. Here, you’ll find an amazing mix of plants and animals that you won’t see anywhere else on Earth. As I hiked through Monteverde, I realized how important nature is and how thankful I was to be here. Even though Monteverde isn’t very big, it’s full with enormous trees covered in epiphytes, special orchids, and all sorts of animals like howler monkeys, tarantula spinders, sloths and even jaguars live in these forests.

TIPS when going to Monteverde, Costa Rica:

1. Bring a warm sweater and a raincoat – No matter how hot it can be in Costa Rica (when I was there, it was 35-38 Celsius), Monteverde is just that cold. Bring a thick sweater and a raincoat because you really need them. Forgot your raincoat? You can often get them there, but expect to pay around 60/80 dollars for a raincoat. When I was in Monteverde, I was wearing a t-shirt since I came from the heat, a vest, and another sweater that I wore while traveling from the Netherlands to Costa Rica, and yet, it was still a bit chilly.
2. Go ziplining! This is truly the most fun thing I’ve ever done in my life! And it was incredibly well-organized by the tour operators there. I felt really save. You hike up a considerable distance with a whole group to reach the zip lines. You start small, getting used to it, but eventually, you’re ziplining from a height of 1400 meters! Imagine yourself always seeing these images of kilometer-high trees on TV and the internet, and now you’re just ziplining through and even above them! It was an enormous adrenaline rush but also a breathtaking emotional experience.
3. Monteverde is a very small town that doesn’t offer much besides its nature. I wouldn’t stay here for more than 1 or 2 days. Various nature tours can be booked, both during the day and at night. However, keep in mind that only a ‘small’ part of the rainforest is accessible to tourists.

What to wear for solo female travellers in Costa Rica?

Whatever you want and like! In Costa Rica, you can wear whatever you want without feeling uncomfortable. Of course, I do think it’s always wise to consider where you are and what impression you want to make. But shorts, dresses, tank tops—you can wear it all!

Don’t forget to pack:

• Sunscreen – The sun is extremely intense in Costa Rica. I used one bottle of sunscreen per week, and the linked sunscreen is truly my favorite
• Powerbank – Power outages can occur from time to time
• Fanny pack – It’s always safe to keep your belongings close to you
• Waterproof backpack – Going to Costa Rica in rainy season or to the cloud forest, you want to keep your stuff dry
• Hiking shoes
• World plug – I always use these smaller world plugs
• Little handbag – I forgot my little handbags, for when I go to the city and I dont want to bring my backpack. And no store sold little bags. Only beach or travelbags

Eating tips for female solo travellers

In my opinion, the Costa Rican cuisine is quite simple and may not offer the most challenging dishes for a true foodie. There’s nothing specific that female solo travelers need to watch out for or avoid. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t several incredibly delicious dishes that you absolutely MUST try.

What to eat when in Costa Rica:

• Gallo Pinto: This traditional dish of rice and beans is very common in the Costa Rican cuisine. Served with eggs, sour cream, and plantains, it’s a hearty and flavorful breakfast (love love loved this)
• Seafood: Being surrounded by two oceans, Costa Rica offers fantastic seafood dishes. When you’re a seafood lover, you’re going to enjoy Costa Rica to the fullest
• Casados: Casados are typical lunchtime meals that offer a mix of rice, beans, salad, plantains, and a choice of meat or fish. In the place where I was staying, there was a couple who sold them every day (except Sunday) from their car. Cooked in the morning at home and available for purchase from their car starting early afternoon. Cheap, delicious and made with a lot of love.
• Tropical fruit: Costa Rica is a fruit lover’s paradise. Exotic tropical fruits like papaya, mango, pineapple, passion fruit and so many more
• Supermarkets: My best advice is to go to a supermarket and buy everything you don’t know! I always do this when I am in another country, and I really enjoy discovering unfamiliar products

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Where to go in Costa Rica as a female solo traveller

Regardless of your destination in Costa Rica, each place has its charm, making it a breathtaking country. I chose to visit the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica. This is because it’s well-known as a true surfer’s paradise, home to many expats, and I also read various blogs by female solo travelers who have been here and loved it.

Guanacaste is a province of Costa Rica that shares a border with Nicaragua. There is so much to do and see in this province that I decided to stay here for my entire time. Guanacaste has its own airport, Liberia Airport, which is also highly recommended for flights from Europe.

What is the difference between the pacific ocean and caribbean sea side in Costa Rica?

In short, I would say the Pacific Ocean side is more Westernized, while the Caribbean Sea side is .. well.. more Caribbean. Think of places like Jamaica and the Dominican Republic vibes.

Pacific Ocean side:

• Surfing Paradise
• Mix of locals and tourists
• Breathtaking sunsets
• Many people speak English
• National Parks

Caribbean Sea Side:

• Afro-Caribbean culture
• Calmer Waters
• Rainforests
• Nesting sea turtles area
• Caribbean food

If you have enough time to travel around, I would definitely recommend both sides. If I ever go back to Costa Rica, I would like to visit Limón (although I would also want to return to Guanacaste).

How expensive is Costa Rica?

When you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, make sure you have a bit of savings! Costa Rica is known for being the most expensive country in Central America. Of course, it varies by location (how touristy it is), but in the city where I was, almost all prices were comparable with those in the Netherlands. Dining out multiple times a day is not a budget-friendly option. As eating at a restaurant is nearly as expensive as grocery shopping at a supermarket. And when you’re on vacation, you surely won’t be cooking if you don’t have to, especially if it doesn’t save you money!

Which currency do they use in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican Colón (CRC) as its official currency. However, in many touristy places they also accept the Dollar, but most likely they give change in Colónes.

What means Pura Vida?

Pura Vida is not just a saying, it’s a lifestyle! We all should adjust ‘Pura Vida’ in our lives. It’s all about enjoying every single moment, no matter how small it is, and getting the most out of everything.

Costa Ricans use the phrase “Pura Vida” for everything, which often leads to really enjoyable moments for me: