Top Solo Traveler Advice when Visiting Costa Rica
Advice on Going Solo in Costa Rica for Independent Travelers
by Christine Larson
I remember finding my father's Robert Frost book in his library and browsing the dog-eared pages to the heavily underlined part that read:
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;..."-- The Road Not Taken
I'm pretty sure this may have been the spark of my wanderlust ways. I grew up with a longing to travel and see the world, but on my own terms.
My first solo trip changed everything for me. I decided to "Go West, Young (Wo)Man..." and sought to explore the rugged mountains and wild rivers of Colorado and Utah. Traveling alone gave me the chance to indulge myself in experiences I never thought I'd be able to do, like hiking, biking and of course rafting.
When you travel alone, you get to do what you want when you want. You can connect with people if you wish or avoid them completely if you want to be alone. When you travel alone, you travel the way YOU want.
It's not uncommon for us to have solo travelers visit us in Costa Rica.
For us at Costa Rica Inspirations, we still crave traveling, creating play time, meeting incredible, new people. We are true wanderlusters at heart and open to sharing our travel advice.
Here are some of our top tips to help you travel alone in Costa Rica:
1) Get travel insurance from a reputable source (we like WorldNomads.com)
2) Pack the Bare Minimum - traveling light makes for more room for shopping and bringing back souvenirs and if you forgot something, it's easy to find just about anything you need in Costa Rica.
3) Stay in touch back home - keep a copy of your passport with your emergency contact on it and be sure friends and family have a copy back home, too.
4) Actively post to your favorite Social Media - apart from being fun to track your adventures and share with friends and family, it's a good way to stay safe.
5) Learn a few words in Spanish - making an effort to communicate with locals is always appreciated and Ticos will always want to try out their English on you. We can help you get set up with Spanish Lessons prior to arriving in Costa Rica. Learn more HERE.
6) Check out local sodas and coffee shops - get the scoop on the fun and interesting things to do.
7) Stay at small, family-owned places like hostels or AirBnBs as a way to help the local economy.
8) Take some Day Tours - Meeting people on tours is a great way to make new, lifetime friends
9) Be curious and take the road not taken
10) Stay safe and keep your valuables safe. Costa Rica has a reputation of being a very safe country, but it's always important to be alert and trust your instincts.
Costa Rica is an incredible playground. Its lush jungle and bountiful array of wildlife will surely awaken the adventurer inside of you. The best memories are the moments when you get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, and do things beyond your wildest imagination. Have a look at our Solo Traveler and Digital Nomad itinerary idea for those solo travelers who might also have to work remotely while exploring Costa Rica!
