Teach me about traveling to Costa Rica

Just booked a trip on a whim because that is what the new and improved Curtis does. I'll be there for about three weeks in Feb/March and attending Envision Fest. https://vimeo.com/107210150. And flutterbyhouse.com is the hostel. This hippie is getting his freak on.

The hostel is in Uvita and I have the use of a hammock on the beach in Montezuma.

For the most part I won't have transportation of my own except a bicycle. I thought about buying a motorcycle for $100 down there and then just abandoning it or tossing the keys to someone at the airport.

Most of my foreign travel has been mainland Europe and other highly-developed countries. What can I expect; like will I need cash or is plastic widely accepted? Do I need a specific travel visa? Do I need shots for anything so a mosquito bite doesn't make my hootus fall off? Specific sights I should see?

That's it. That's the plan. Aaaand... GO.

I haven't been in a while, but it in general is a well educated country. Lot's of English speakers, lot's of American's living down there.

You will be on the west coast, so low humidity (the east side is quite humid). Try to avoid staying in San Jose too long. It's a big dirty city, not what you want to see in CR.

The one thing I always suggest to people going there is to try and do a trip down the Pacuare River. If you are at all into river rafting, this is one of the better place. Not extreme rafting (not mellow either), but the water is WARM, nice experience. That's probably out of your area though.

Oh, one good suggestion. Maybe when you fly into San Jose, pick up some Lizano Sauce. It's a very common (not hot) sauce. Why is this important? Because, if where you are staying is typically Costa Rican. You will get a LOT of rice and beans and eggs and rice and eggs and rice and beans and rice.... The Lizano sauce makes your rather repetitive experience more interesting.

curtis73 wrote: Just booked a trip on a whim because that is what the new and improved Curtis does. I'll be there for about three weeks in Feb/March and attending Envision Fest. https://vimeo.com/107210150. And flutterbyhouse.com is the hostel. This hippie is getting his freak on. The hostel is in Uvita and I have the use of a hammock on the beach in Montezuma. For the most part I won't have transportation of my own except a bicycle. I thought about buying a motorcycle for $100 down there and then just abandoning it or tossing the keys to someone at the airport. Most of my foreign travel has been mainland Europe and other highly-developed countries. What can I expect; like will I need cash or is plastic widely accepted? Do I need a specific travel visa? Do I need shots for anything so a mosquito bite doesn't make my hootus fall off? Specific sights I should see? That's it. That's the plan. Aaaand... GO.

Nice! We stayed north of you in Playa Hermosa. Also north is Manuel Antonio National Park which was pretty neat. Using a credit card was not a problem for us. I don't think you need a visa. Make sure your passport doesn't expire in the next 90 days. It's plenty developed and a lot of fun. Get some waves!

if my inlaws are any indication, you'll come back with the E36 M3s.

We had a great time down there- and I bet you will too!

Our group stayed at a home that was in the hills about 30 min west of San Jose- and rented 2 cars for all of us.

Driving is interesting- not because of the drivers- they are fine. But the roads- they are very twisty. Progress is slow just because of the narrow twisty roads. GET THE GPS if you rent a car. Best $20 you will spend. By far.

I also don't recall credit cards being a problem. And I seem to remember a lot of places taking US cash.

Language- can't comment much on that- I was with 6 other people, 5 of which- Spanish was their first language. So translation was always at hand.

We tried to visit the volcano a couple of times- both of which were cool rainy days. Could hear it rumble, but not see anything....

Have fun!!

I'd much rather ride the local chicken buses than a bicycle- it's mountainous, and there are a lot of insane drivers.

Costa Rica is only about 70 miles wide, and 200 miles long, but Cerro Chirripó (the highest peak) exceeds 12,500 ft elev.

It's the size of New Jersey with a coast on each side and a 12,000 ft peak in the middle- pretty rugged terrain for a bicycle.

You are a better man than I.

Well, the bicycle is more for getting from bar -> hammock or market -> beach, certainly not for touring the country.

Aircooled.... my friend heard I was going to CR and he brought me a bottle of Lizano to try. Its in my fridge right now. Its delish.

Never been. But when my uncle went back in the 90's he fell in love with it and tried real hard to move down permanently. Lots of U.S. military retirees live there now.

Looks awesome. Have fun!

For some reason I pictured you going to Brazil. CR seems kind of mellow.

Are you prepared to stay there? This seems like the type of trip where a guy could do that. Find a hot hippie girl on the beach who ain't leaving and you won't either.

Wally wrote: For some reason I pictured you going to Brazil. CR seems kind of mellow.

I'm pacing myself.

When I travel, its typically with a backpack and a toothbrush. So, while CR seems a little tame, its kind of a big-ish step from my Euro-Can-Am perspective. Anyone can go to Nepal on an organized tour, which is like dipping your toe in the big ocean. but going cold without niceties is a bit bigger step. Jumping in the deep end of a small pond so to speak.

But someday, yes... a backpack through Tibet or India or Nairobi will definitely happen.

Two guys that I work with are frequent visitors. One of them rented a cabana on the beach and slept in a hammock for four months. The other guy bought land down there with the intention of moving down there full time when he retires. He plans to drive from Connecticut.

I've spent a lot of time reading The Tico Times at work. You may want to check that out. There are a lot of ex-pat Americans down there.

Check the ads in the back of the Tico Times. There may be people looking for someone reliable to drive their car down there for them.

You can use me as a reference.

This is my feel old moment of the week. I just realized its been 20+ years since I went to CR. My brother and I went down there for spring break. I remember sitting in a hammock on the beach at Manuel Antonio with talking with my brother about how we might set up business that would allow us to live there but earn US wages. We came to conclusion that until the Telecom infrastructure improved a lot, it was not likely to happen.

Maybe it's time to revisit that idea.

Woody wrote: Check the ads in the back of the Tico Times. There may be people looking for someone reliable to drive their car down there for them. You can use me as a reference.

Sweet. Thanks!

In reply to Type Q:

The infrastructure at least in San Jose is good(ish) enough. My employer used to hire a couple of freelance developers in San Jose from time to time and it generally worked ok.

Mind you, the telecoms infrastructure for the couple of developers that lived on the outskirts or outside San Jose wasn't that great.

Satellite uplinks. I'm waiting for them to become reliable / cost effective so I can move to that sailboat I keep dreaming of.

Good luck Curtis. I'm jealous. If you do end up expatting, I may show up on your doorstep someday looking for a couple trees to hang a hammock from.

Part of my companies AP/AR is there and if they are any indication it's pretty slow and relaxed there lol.

Quick update. This is going to be one of the cheapest trips I've ever taken.

Flight = $398 round trip (minus $320 in rewards points = $80)
17 days there (free camping in Montezuma and one week at a Hostel = $110)
Potential to rent a house for two weeks = $80 (but likely won't do it)
Rental car is reserved for my stay but might not need it = $350
Used backpack from a yard sale = $10

So far, a 17 day vacation in Costa Rica with airfare, car rental, and lodging (if I use it all) would cost me $630. Can I travel cheap, or WHAT?

Of course, there is a ton more money to spend while I'm there, but I could actually do it without much food purchasing. The places I'm staying are adjacent to rainforest where it is encouraged to pick fruits. Fresh Papaya for breakfast? I can handle that.

AWESOME! I can't wait to hear how it is.

Cool. Have fun man.