Costa Rica is a very popular travel destination and hundreds of thousands of tourists from North America and across the pond to Europe take Costa Rica vacations for its great beaches, mountains, weather, and activities.
It does not have to cost you a fortune to enjoy this little gem, just a little creativity.
Adventurers and explorers have marveled about this country for centuries. Christopher Columbus was the first to discover it, doing so in 1503. He was so enraptured he gave it its name, “Rich Coast”—Costa Rica.
About seven decades later, an English captain and seafarer named Sir Francis Drake rounded the southernmost point of South America and sailed north until he dropped anchor at what is now named Drake Bay off the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. If the name sounds familiar, it should: he is famous for sinking the Spanish Armada and saving England in 1588.
But, unlike these adventurers, you do not need a boatload of people to help you get around and it will not cost you the Queen’s treasure, either.
Like boating? How about a nice cruise along the tropical waters off the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica? About an hour and half long, traveling between Puntarenas and the southern tip of the spectacular Nicoya Peninsula (where you will find fabulous beaches and surfing), take a ferry ride. There are several to choose from and they set sail about every hour or so. The cost? About $1.50. Less than the cost of a bottle of water, a soda or beer. Sure, it’s not the Queen Mary but Is this value or what? And the karoake is free!
Trains are fun, too. From downtown San Jose, take a four-hour ride on the Tico Train to Puntarenas. You’ll see spectacular mountains and cross deep chasms over tall bridges. The train will be packed and filled with happy Costa Rican families. Be sure to bring your bathing suit because you are going to end on the beach! How much? About $16 each way. Like the ferry, few visitors know about the Tico Train. To make a Costa Rica Travel Trains reservation (you need a reservation) call American Travel at telephone number 22-33-33-00 (call once you are in Costa Rica using this local telephone number).
With two coasts to choose from, nearly 800 miles of wonderful beaches can be explored, hiked, surfed, swum (but be careful about rip tides at some places), and even fished for almost nothing. All the beaches in this country are public, open to everybody. Public and private buses are ubiquitous in Costa Rica and public buses are really cheap. For example, lots of tourists visit the lovely Pacific town of Jaco. From San Jose, a large, comfortable, air-conditioned bus ride takes about two hours and will cost you less than a Happy Meal! Less than $6!
So, remember this bit of good news. When you get ready to Travel To costa rica save money by taking advantage of these—and other—great, but little known money saving tips.