Quick Tips

• 'Hello' and 'Thank You' in Spanish: "Hola" and "Gracias"
• Currency: Costa Rican colon (click here for current conversion rates) and US dollar.
• Safety rating: Ranked 38 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.73 (USA is ranked 128 with a score of 2.4). I felt safe everywhere in Costa Rica, although some areas of the capital city San José are not as safe.
• Solo Travel Friendliness: Considering how safe Costa Rica is in general, it's no surprise that it's ideal for solo female travelers. Locals are generally very friendly, social, and hospitable. Meeting other solo female travelers is easier if you stay in hostels, especially more social ones like Selina which you can find in many parts of the country.
• Climate: Dry season for most of the country is from December to April and wet season from May to November. The Caribbean side has a different dry season, though, which is September and October (which coincides with sea turtle hatching season). Everywhere in Costa Rica you'll encounter thick humidity, which can be taxing on your electronics.
• Best SIM Cards: Claro cards are the most widely used and you can use them in other Central American countries as well. You need your passport to register your number.

Accommodation

Budget Solo Travelers ($16-20): Hostel dorm rooms are as low as $16/night throughout the country, with prices being more expensive in Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna, especially. Many places, like Cascada Verde Hostel where I stayed in Uvita, offer free breakfast.

Mid-Range Solo Travelers ($28 & up): There's quite a range of private rooms in hostels, Airbnbs and hotels throughout Costa Rica. There are some gems on Airbnb like this place in Manuel Antonio and this one in Monteverde that were a great value. From there, mid-range accommodations go up all the way to $70-80 for decent hotel rooms.

Food

Street food ($1-3): If you're in a pinch and want to get a quick, cheap bite, street foods like empanadas or grilled meat skewers are a great option. Generally, street food in Costa Rica is safe to eat, especially if it's in a big market. A good rule of thumb is to go to the places where there's already a line of hungry customers waiting. Although it'll take longer to get your snack, the line means that it's obviously worth waiting for.

Sodas ($4-7): These small restaurants are clearly labeled as sodas and usually serve a traditional plate called a casado. Casados include gallo pinto (rice and black beans), a small salad, some plantains, and a protein of your choice. These are great for a cheap, filling meal and are excellent places to meet local people.

Local Restaurants ($10-15): Restaurants in touristy areas can be pretty expensive, some even surpassing prices in the States. I suggest looking up the menu of a restaurant online before you visit to make sure the prices aren't outrageous. A typical meal should cost around $10-15 at a restaurant.

Transportation

Getting There: Most people fly into Costa Rica's largest international airport in San José, although you could also fly into Liberia. There are also bus companies like Tracopa that have transport between Costa Rica and neighboring countries if you are traveling by land. These international buses are pretty safe, efficient, and cheap.

Getting Around Town: In big cities like San José, there are buses that are cheap but fairly difficult to use if you don't know the city very well. Official taxis are most travelers' preferred mode of transportation within cities and towns and are always red. Non-red taxis are not official but are the only option in some places like Uvita and other small towns. Uber is available in San José and other big cities, although it is technically illegal in Costa Rica.

Inter-city Traveling: Getting between cities and towns in Costa Rica is very easy on the coasts, but is more difficult in the interior. Look up bus routes and times beforehand to see if you want to spend the extra time taking public transit as opposed to the many shuttles that are available (although they can be very expensive). Renting a car is a great option if you're looking for ease, but rental prices start at $80/day and gas is extremely expensive in Costa Rica, almost double the prices as many places in the US even.

Things to Do

Beach hopping on the Pacific coast: From beautiful Uvita with Marino Ballena National Park taking up the coastline to the chill surf town of Dominical and the hyped-up beaches of Manuel Antonio, the Pacific coast offers some incredible sights.

Explore San José: A lot of travelers skip over San José because of its reputation as being a dirty, crappy city. I totally disagree with this sentiment as I thought San José offered an awesome look at Costa Rican culture, gastronomy, and everyday city life.

See wildlife at the national parks: If Costa Rica has one thing that truly blew my mind, it's the insane amount of wildlife in the national parks. Manuel Antonio and Tortuguero were the most impressive ones to me, as I caught a glimpse of sloths, monkeys, spiders, snakes, anteaters, and plenty more animals.

Relax in hot springs in La Fortuna: Due to volcanic activity from the Arenal volcano, La Fortuna is bubbling over with peaceful hot springs and even a hot river. There is a free hot river that you can visit, along with several hot springs resorts, many of them with day passes that you can purchase.

Cross hanging bridges in the Monteverde Cloud Forest: Monteverde was my favorite place in Costa Rica, as it is unlike any other places I had been to before. The cloud forest itself is a mystical wonderland of unique plants and animals, with majestic hanging bridges that are fun to cross.

Canoe through the canals of Tortuguero: Often compared to the Amazon, Tortuguero is an island on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast with a whole host of peaceful canals that you can explore via canoe. While you paddle, you'll be able to observe wildlife and catch a glimpse of local flora as well.

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