Travel guide Costa Rica

For solo travelers, be careful of flights in San José, on the Pacific coast in Jacó and Quepos, but also in Limón on the Caribbean coast. Don't be paranoid, however: Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America. During the day, just dress simply, avoiding the "tourist style" if possible. As soon as night falls, avoid walking in San José, Quepos, Jacó or Limón: take a cab instead.

For a stay in Costa Rica, count ten days minimum. You can choose to do a combined Caribbean/Pacific coast tour but you will need about fifteen days there because even if the country is small, the routes of the tours can be long between the two coasts because of winding roads, not always paved. Don't forget to include in your discovery tour an excursion in the jungle to discover the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica. You can also consider visiting a coffee plantation or national parks. Finally, don't forget that you are in the country of volcanoes (116 in total of which 5 are active). You won't miss the chance to climb the slopes of one of the craters.

Buses are the best way to visit Costa Rica and they are quite cheap. It is however more convenient to rent a car to be able to go everywhere provided you know your route well. But you will have to rent a 4x4 to travel in some areas of the country where the roads are not paved. There are also domestic flights but they are often late and the planes have a small capacity.