What budget for activities and outings Costa Rica?

In Costa Rica, the thirty or so national parks of this country of 5 million inhabitants protect 10% of primary forest and 50% of the total area of the country. To maintain this preservation effort, it obviously represents a cost, and as a tourist you have to play the game! The entrance fee for the national parks may seem very expensive but preservation has a price! However, there are still some sites that are cheaper or even free, such as Curu, Manzanillo or Cahuita.

Thanks to its numerous parks, reserves, refuges, volcanoes and private sites, Costa Rica offers hikers countless discovery routes, for both the sporty and the less sporty, and all this without breaking the bank! For short hikes (between 1 and 3 days): the craters of the volcanoes of the Central Valley are accessible by short hikes from the parking lot. The ascent of the Rincón de la Vieja is now forbidden but you can discover its large park by walking, as well as the Río Celeste. The discovery of the national parks of Cahuita, Manuel Antonio and/or La Amistad is an ideal way to start the adventure on foot. For the more adventurous, it is also possible to go for two or three days (with nights in La Sirena) in the Corcovado National Park. For longer hikes (3 days or more), it is essential to be in excellent physical condition, especially in a tropical environment. Corcovado National Park offers adventure trails in one of the most beautiful rainforests in the world. In addition, it is possible to stay at the Sirena base camp. Similarly, the Santa Rosa National Park, with its different appearance and tropical dry forest, leads to the beautiful surf beaches of Naranjo and Bahia Salinas. For more intense trekking, you will find in the park of La Amistad hikes adapted to your more adventurous requirements, in particular the ascent of Cerro Chirripó with its summit of "Andean" nature. Beautiful, challenging but simply sublime hikes are also possible in Los Quetzales National Park.

In order to access the nightclubs, women will be able to take advantage of advantageous rates or even free.

What budget to eat Costa Rica?

In Costa Rica, many small popular restaurants, also called sodas, are easily spotted by their open construction on three or four sides. Mostly covered with palms, these small establishments serve fresh, local food at low prices. They serve basic dishes like casado, gallo pinto or empanadas and sometimes even daily specials. If you are lucky, you will enjoy an extraordinary view on the beach, the forest or the mountains, but sometimes on the road... In any case, this is where the locals eat! Don't forget the pulperías, very small shops - a bit like the grocery stores in our villages! -where you can eat something. And to save money and feel full, try the casado, a complete meal in itself! It is a plate filled with white rice, meat, black beans, plantains (fried or fried) and a salad made of tomatoes, fresh cabbage, carrots, red onions... all perfectly seasoned with lemon juice.

If you are satisfied with the service, it is customary to leave a 15-20% tip for the waiter.

Travel budget Costa Rica and cost of living

Costa Rica is a country with a high standard of living, so you will find the same prices as in Europe or the United States. Remember that in the tourist field, as everywhere, everything is a little more expensive

.Access. The average ticket from Europe costs €1,000 (in summer, it costs about €1,400). You may find cheaper tickets in November or May, which are good times to discover the country: they correspond to the beginning and end of the rainy season.

Accommodation.

There is

little chance of finding something decent for less than US$ 40-50 per double room, especially during the high season (from December to April).

Transportation. Except for car rental (about 500 US$/week for a small 4x4, plus insurance of 22 US$/day), transportation is cheap, as well as "local" food. Nature Air and Sansa, two local airlines, allow you to travel throughout the country.

To enter a national park, you need to count between 15 and 20 US$/person, without counting the services of the guide. For

a full meal, 2,500 to 5,000 colones in a soda shop, and 10,000 to 20,000 colones in a mid-range restaurant or at a good table

.