I recently took a tour of Costa Rica and traveled all over the country, San José, the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero, Monteverde, and finally Manuel Antonio, with lots of small towns in between.
It was a fantastic trip! Rainforest hikes, hanging bridges, ziplining—nonstop nature and adventure. I can definitely see why Costa Rica is a dream destination for nature lovers. The climate is great, with lots of microclimates, similar to Colombia. And the people (Ticos) were incredibly warm and welcoming. Not a single bad experience anywhere. What really surprised me, though, was the cost. Prices were basically U.S.-level everywhere. Even simple meals in small towns ran around $30 USD, and at one hotel (El Establo), room service wanted $38 for a plate of pasta! I’ve heard locals have access to much cheaper options, but for visitors, Costa Rica is expensive across the board, even at local “sodas” (local diners) in San José.
The country is beautiful, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves nature. That said, I wouldn’t trade Colombia for Costa Rica. Colombia has a much better cost of living and an incredible variety of regions. If it could fully solve its safety issues, it would be paradise!
One more thing that stood out: the sheer volume of tourism. Busloads of tourists everywhere, constantly moving around the country. All in all, an amazing and memorable trip, but Colombia is still my top choice! Cheers!
PS. One thing where CR beats Colombia hands down is no tax on ANY income from the USA!
It was a fantastic trip! Rainforest hikes, hanging bridges, ziplining—nonstop nature and adventure. I can definitely see why Costa Rica is a dream destination for nature lovers. The climate is great, with lots of microclimates, similar to Colombia. And the people (Ticos) were incredibly warm and welcoming. Not a single bad experience anywhere. What really surprised me, though, was the cost. Prices were basically U.S.-level everywhere. Even simple meals in small towns ran around $30 USD, and at one hotel (El Establo), room service wanted $38 for a plate of pasta! I’ve heard locals have access to much cheaper options, but for visitors, Costa Rica is expensive across the board, even at local “sodas” (local diners) in San José.
The country is beautiful, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves nature. That said, I wouldn’t trade Colombia for Costa Rica. Colombia has a much better cost of living and an incredible variety of regions. If it could fully solve its safety issues, it would be paradise!
One more thing that stood out: the sheer volume of tourism. Busloads of tourists everywhere, constantly moving around the country. All in all, an amazing and memorable trip, but Colombia is still my top choice! Cheers!
PS. One thing where CR beats Colombia hands down is no tax on ANY income from the USA!
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