How to travel Costa Rica on a budget. Detailed cost break down and full itinerary | Two weeks trip
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
- How to travel Costa Rica on a budget. In this video we break down cost, expenses and itinerary of our 2 week trip, which might give you ideas and tips for your own trip.
If you want to support the channel, you might subscribe and /or buy me a coffee :)
www.buymeacoffee.com/thatgree...
Our Costa Rica travel video: • Beautiful Things in Co...
Our Costa Rica diving: • Costa Rica Diving - Is...
Follow us on Instagram:
/ johngiannelis
/ tarka_w_drodze
Trip details:
- Alajuela
www.airbnb.com/rooms/34863756...
- Poas Volcano
/ strava
- La Fortuna
www.airbnb.com/rooms/16417322...
We booked our adventures with Erick
www.volcanolakeadventure.com/
Our zipline experience
/ strava
www.arenalmundoaventura.com/
Canyoning/rappelling with Jairo and David (Maquique Adventure)
www.maquiqueadventure.com/
- Mistico Hanging Bridges
/ strava
- Rio Celeste
/ strava
- Rio Naranjo
www.airbnb.ie/rooms/42364124?...
- Playa Flamingo
goo.gl/maps/EFfRhNUCcSzUoKSN7
Diving at Islas Santa Catalina
www.scubadivingflamingo.com/
- Monteverde
www.airbnb.com/rooms/31153277...
- Santa Elena Cloud Forest
/ strava
www.monteverdeinfo.com/tours/s...
- Cerros Amigos
/ strava
- Quepos
g.page/HospedajeAna?share
- Osa Peninsula
Bolita Rainforest Hostel
www.airbnb.com/rooms/2195708?...
/ strava
/ strava
- Drake Bay
www.airbnb.com/rooms/33662292...
Diving at Isla Del Cano
costaricaadventuredivers.com/
- Platanillo
www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/303203...
- Nauyaca Falls
/ strava
nauyacawaterfallscostarica.com/
- Alajuela
www.airbnb.com/rooms/34863756...
![8 Reasons Why Americans LEAVE Costa Rica [Why I Left]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cbGMngGx2xk/mqdefault.jpg)
After Costa Rica we traveled to Madeira. Here's the cost break down video. ua-cam.com/video/qEKF7ejXbho/v-deo.html
Hey love that picture frame you have in the background can I ask you where you got that from. Id love to have that for my wife and I. Great video too thank for all the information! We are going next month and looking forward to seeing this country!
@@brandonlarson7871 Thank you! Look for "Hoagard World Map". Enjoy Costa Rica!
This is probably the most helpful video on UA-cam for planning a trip to Costa Rica. Thank you for being thorough and taking us through it all.
Thank you for your beautiful comment! :)
You can easily afford to go full time travel if you keep up that quality of vlogging! :)
*sigh* The best comment ever. I sooo wish this would happen. Thank you.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ Να εισαι καλά πατριώτη. Πάω την άλλη βδομάδα απο ΗΠΑ. Μάλλον θα ακολουθήσω τα βήματα σας
@@ektorpolykandriotis635 καλημέρα στην άλλη πατρίδα. Σικάγο γεννήθηκα. Αν μπορώ να βοηθήσω σε κάτι, μη διστάσεις. Να περάσεις τέλεια!
@@THATGREEKGUY_ ευχαριστώ πολύ!
This was so helpful!! Thank you for all the info. I wish every vlogger put this much amount of effort into sharing their travels. Thanks again!
Thank you for your kind words. That's what I try to do. Hope it works. :)
sorry to be so off topic but does any of you know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow forgot my password. I would love any assistance you can give me
@Cash Anders Instablaster :)
@Marcellus Kellen I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out atm.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Marcellus Kellen it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much, you saved my account :D
This was a really helpful video. You explain everything clearly and I like it that you, as one of the few on UA-cam, visualize the trip on a map. Much appreciated!
Thank you so much!
Yes!! :)
As a Costa Rican I found this video very accurate. You had a great trip! Saw most of the Costa Rican gems This is a good time to come visit, the price has decrease and the weather is nice!
We really loved it and for sure will go back!
Which months are best?
Great video and perfect detailed information! Thanks for taking us along!
Thank you for your kind words.
Congratulations John!!! Excellent video!!!
Thank you for your great and meticulous tips!! Can't wait to discover Costa Rica next week! 🤩
Hope it helps. You will love Costa Rica!
Wow! Great job of sharing your Costa Rica adventure!
Thank you!
Damn I need to go to Costa Rica ASAP!!!
Thank you for sharing your adventure and all the valuable information!
Thank you for your comment!
This was an excellent video to help plan my trip. Thank you!
Thank you Liz!
Very good tips! Love the strava maps.
Yeah i kinda have an OCD with those :)
Really informative, thank you for taking the time to educate us.
thank YOU for your comment!
Extremely helpful video on costa rica! Thank you!
Thank you for your comment!
Great breakdown! Thank you so much for the video!
Thank you for your comment!
This was quite the adventure! Great video!!
It really was. Thank you!
We are planning a very similar trip to Costa Rica also starting in Arenal and moving down to Osa Peninsula. We are divers and had not considered diving. You have the best video I have seen so far and we have been planning for almost 3 years. Great video. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words. Since you are divers maybe you should reconsider. Don't miss Isla del Cano. :)
Every country has their own unique hiding gem! Proud of my beautiful Costa Rica.....Exellent video, Eso es Pura Vida.
Gracias! We loved that place!
@@THATGREEKGUY_ Pura Vida! Cordiales saludos.
Great video mate! I'm planing my trip to Costa Rica and I'll take a lot of ideas from this. Cheers!
Thank you! You are in for a treat. Incredible country!
Super helpful video, thanks!
Thank you for your comment!
Great video, very helpful. All the best with your channel 👍
Thank you!
This was a great video. Thank you so much for the effort you put into making this
Thank you for your comment!
Ωραίο βίντεο φίλε. Έχεις βάλει πολλές χρήσιμες πληροφορίες που δεν τις έχω βρει αλλού. Μπράβο, καλή συνέχεια.
Ευχαριστώ πολύ! Ελπίζω να πήγες ή να πηγαίνεις σύντομα.
Great video, one of my dream places to visit one day. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Hope you make it soon!
Great vid. Thank you. We hope to go there soon and this is so helpful
Thank you! You will love it!
Great video! Can’t wait to see the country. My kids spent 5 weeks there b4 Costa Rica was discovered, ( a long time ago).
Thank you! Must have been magical back then. Hope i can visit again one day. Lots left to explore.
THIS WAS GREAT INFORMATION THANKS SO MUCH!
Thank you for your comment. Hope you enjoy your trip!
Thanks a lot for the whole bunch of information! And whereever you go next: have another nice trip!
Thank you for your kind words. Hope we will manage to travel soon!
@@THATGREEKGUY_ we start in June to.....corfu ;-)
Excellent! You will enjoy it! When you come to Crete drop a line. :)
Muchas Gracias John
I appreciate that you added the costs of all the activities you did, it truly helps a bunch which will help me out on planning my trip to Costa Rica this July.
Really glad it helped. :) Hope you have a blast!
@@THATGREEKGUY_ actually I have 2 question, when it comes to using a vehicle in Costa Rica was it ok to use a foreign Drivers License?
and can you also post the link where you rented your vehicle? thank you
@@EdwardGutierrez90 didn't have any problem at all driving. We got the car online from Europcar before getting there. But make sure things are clear regarding insurance.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ awesome, thanks again!
Thank you for sharing this information, and mentioning Costa Rica!! :)
Thnk YOU! I loved Costa Rica!
Travel Costa Rica on here will give people an honest price nothing hidden. Just letting people know. Wonderful video!!❤❤❤
Thank you!
So helpful and informative. Keep making videos!
Thank you! Hope I make even better ones.
Very good vlog with a lot of usefull tIps to plan our trip to Costa Rica later. Thanks
Thank you for your kind comment!
Best video for prices and expectations. Thank you
Thank you for your comment!
So at the end its not as expensive as everybody says, good info👍🏼
Thank you for the helpful info and routes! I’m planning my trip for April
Thank you for your comment. You are going to love it! Don't hesitate to drop a line if you think I could help in some way.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ thank youuuu
Excellent video dude!!! very good information
Thank you so much for you comment. Really appreciate it.
Outstanding Video. Thanks!
Thank you for your kind words. :)
Well made and very informative video!
Thank you!
Well done man👏
Thank you! The video was helpful!
Thank you for your comment!
From all the videos I’ve watched yours was very informative. 👍
Thank you Eric ❤️
Very nice and informative video! I know most of those places!
Thank you. :)
Hey! Great video and information.
Thank you! Hope it helps. :)
Love the video!
Thank you!!
Beautiful country and u did it very cheap (keeping in mind How many things u saw and did) Good video, Thank u
Thank you! It was a great trip indeed!
Awesome video, thanks for sharing. I have been there many times and agree with everything you saying. Only thing I would recommend, don’t get a rental car. Take the intro bus and save money.
Thank you for your comment. :) It was our first time and can't see when we will be able to go again. So had to rent a car to reduce transportation time and try to squeeze as many of the things we wanted to do.
Looks like a tough but exciting trip
True. But it worthed every minute :)
I'm Costa Rica, thanks so much for your good words aborto me contra. Welcome forever. Pura vida,
We loved your country!
What a wonderful video! Thank you for sharing your experience with so many details.
I'm not sure if you mentioned this to your video, but when did you visit CR?
Thank you for your kind words! It was in January 2020.
Looks awesome
It was!
That was like Jurassic Park in a short time , housing was not so attractive but the purpose was the outdoors , well done. The way it is calculated as accountants do...good...
Indeed outdoors and activities are usually our priority. Thank you for your nice comment. :)
Also depends on your budget and what you choose, there are fancier houses if you want to pay for them but as you said the purpose was the outdoors :)
Great channel..👍🏼 Please Make More.🤩
Greetings from Albania.👋🏼🇦🇱
Thank you!
OMG....I am freaking out! I just rented a car and I am going by myself!!
And you will have a blast! Everything will be ok. :)
Nice video of my country :) hope you enjoyed your stay here :)
Thank you for your comment. We loved it! One of the best trips of my life!
Πολύ καλό βίντεο, ευχαριστούμε πολύ (από Κρητη)!! 🙂
Ευχαριστώ πολύ! Να περάσετε τέλεια!
What a wonderful video! My family is from Costa Rica. I lived there for a short while as a child and spent three months there every summer. Flamingo beach and concha are a couple favorites. My husband and I are planning to move there in a couple years with our kids. You’ve given me some new places to check out. Wonderful breakdown for someone who’s never been and is curious. On o side note, Greece is definitely on my list! Looks gorgeous and I just love the people and culture. Thanks for this video!
We loooooved Costa Rica. It's a wonderful place. But yes, you should check Greece too one day. :) Thank you for your beautiful comment.
Great effort in your video, liked and subbed 😄 Could I ask did you film on a phone or go pro? The underwater footage is so clear. Cheers from Australia
Thank you! I'm struggling with GoPro. Gotta get myself a proper camera. :)
Had to work with underwater footage in post.
Very interesting video, good detail and no typical youtuber nonsense :) Couple of questions if you have time - Do you need to speak Spanish to go travelling around independently ? Did it seem to be a safe place to be travelling by yourself ? Final question - for the diving do you need lots of experience, or can you do it as a holiday maker who has snorkelled a bit and shallow dived once or twice ?
Thank you so much! Well i speak a bit of Spanish which proved to be helpful. But in most places you will get around with English. Regarding safety, absolutely. It was very safe. Now, about about diving. I'm not very experienced myself but i have completed the Advance Open Water course. Both diving sites were kinda choppy with a lot of surge. I didn't see any diver having a problem, even if one or two looked inexperienced from what i could tell. I think it's a good idea to complete some open water course. Then you will enjoy the amazing diving there even more.
Thank you for posting, your video is very informative! Yall did so much and got to experience lots while there. Can you link or share which company yall used to dive with the manta rays? Great pictures 📷👌 also did yall have to book in advance or show up and book for the following day? Thank you!
Thank you for your comment. Our dive was from Playa Flamingo with Rocket Frogs. The same dive from Playa del Coco was 20USD more per person. Nothing was in advance. We just walked around and booked on the spot.
Great video Sir
Thank you!
The thing that skews costs now is the insane prices on rental cars everywhere. That alone really stressed our budget on our trip. We had a great time during our 5 weeks though. Lots of videos to post now!
Sounds like you had fun. :) The car price wasn't that bad in our case. Insurance was 3 times the rent.
Nice info
Thank you Tom!
Excellent video and all the info you gave us! Thanks! Which month did you go to CR?
Ευχαριστώ! It was end of January to mid February 2020
@@THATGREEKGUY_. Ευχαριστώ κι εγώ! Keep on traveling 🌏🌎🌍
Με το καλό σύντομα! ✌️
Loved the video and your great information. I’m just wondering, what dates did you go? I heard it rains practically everyday from April until December.. I want to plan a trip to CR in June.
Thank you for your comment. We were there over a year ago. January and February 2020.
This was a really helpful video, thank you!! I'm planning a 1-month trip for later this year... How did you go about booking the car? Online beforehand or once you got there? I am seeing crazy fees on online sites that don't even mention the insurance once you get there.
Thank you!
Thank you! Well we booked it online before getting there. And the price looked super attractive. (100USD for 2 weeks). But then the insurance kicked in... 600 USD...
i used Car rentals costa rica and USA, check them out on facebook, they got me an Alamo SUV for $663 for 15 days.
Agree, that's right! Very helpful video :)
Awesome
Thank you!
Amazing and very useful video ! Where did you rent the car (the company) ?
Thank you. It was europcar if i remember well.
Hi thanks for sharing so how to find a cheaper eligible care insurance?
Thank you. I guess you could get contacting them before you book. Go make sure they will not force you to buy their insurance.
@Greek Guy, I purchased tickets to fly to costa rica on july 30th 2023 but have not resolved the car rental factor. Can you let me know which compañy did you rent from and which others you considered?
It was europcar. I would suggest you contact first the company you plan to book with, to resolve the insurance issue. To make sure whether the online you will buy is enough for them or not. And how much they plan to charge theirs.
Great video. How far in advance did you book your rooms? I'm trying to figure out how strict I need to make my itinerary. Thanks
Thank you. It was usually the same day. Either online or (twice I think) by just asking when we reached a place we wanted to spend the night.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ thanks for the response. I was hoping you'd say that.
we didn't have any problem booking like that. Except one time when we booked on airbnb a place near Playa Flamingo. The owner accepted the booking but then disappeared so we had to find something else late in the afternoon but was easy.
Hi mate, great video. Another greek here, I have the following question: How did it work with currency etc? Did you pay in cash or card mostly? When you got money from ATMs was it in Colones or dollars?
Thank you! we used credit card wherever possible. Mostly gas stations and supermarkets. For cash we had mostly colones.
Most travel credit cards have rental car insurance benefits. They try to rip you off thinking you will pay it. Have you looked into this since you've been home?
To be honest didn't check more after we got back. This sounds familiar with some US credit cards. In our case they just wouldn't give us a car if we didn't pay for the insurance they gave us.
Hello, I will go to CR this next July 2021 for my birthday... I loved your video, it has been quite helpful for me in order to prepare a nice itinerary... Just one tip: Please talk slower, because you give a bunch of fantastic information and I'm kind of slow hahaha... Congratulations man, keep doing this great job. Blessings from Mexico.
Thank you for your kind words! Yeah it still feels awkward to record myself and can't control it. :) If there is anything i can help with, drop me a line. Hope you enjoy your trip.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ Thanks so much, and come to Mexico, you'll enjoy a lot in here...
@@loga850719 Mexico is in our list! Gotta dive in cenotes.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ Please let me know if you need anything at all as soon as you know when are you coming...
@@loga850719 for sure i will! Thanks bud.
I’m from Costa Rica
Wao! Wonderful informatiom, thank you, please send me the link to book Casa Los Laureles in Alajuela
Thank you! It's this one. www.trivago.com/es-US/oar/casa-apartamento-entero-casa-los-laureles-lugar-tranquilo-alajuela?search=100-18801214
One hotel is 28 a night and then the hostel is like 17 a night so it’s cheaper to pay once you arrive there
Yes in some places we didn't book in advance. Just asked at the door and got a better price.
Hey 👋🏼
What currency were you using ?
We were trying to use credit card whenever possible. Had also colones for some sodas or hotels that didn't have POS.
I’m going to Costa Rica on may . I’m Staying one week at The Riu Palace Resort . I know I don’t have a lot of time . What places would you recommend I go too on my tours . How much money do you recommend I take . It’s an all inclusive resort, I was thinking 400 dollars
Can't tell for that area to be honest. We went only for diving and left. Also money depends on the way you travel and what activities you are into. So i guess you could see what is available near your hotel and check the prices. If you don't do anything pricy, 400 could be ok, given you will eat mostly at the hotel.
Hello, I enjoyed your video it was very informative. We are planning to Uber places. We are staying in Jaco, from the international Airport how much money do you think it might cost to Uber? From the airport to Jaco
Thank you for your comment! I honestly don't know. Didn't use Uber in Costa Rica and neither i visited Jaco. :)
@@THATGREEKGUY_ thank you
@@bettycalixte6494 hope you have a great trip!
Can u book these air bnbs a night in advance or do u have to have it booked ahead of time?
In almost every case we were booking it a couple of hours before getting there.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ the links dont work
Thank-you , nice videos, are you allowed to take drone to costa rica?
Thank you. I didn't have any problem at the airport or to fly it anywhere. Except some national parks like Tenorio.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ that satisfy my worries . Thank-you
Did you per book your accommodations or get them as you traveled
only the first after we arrived in San Jose was pre booked. Everything else was either the same day online, or by asking on the spot.
So far for me including flight I’m paying 1170
Only sleeping in 2 different places and no car
But I’m buying everything online in the us before I fly there that’s including plane ticket
Sounds good! We needed a car to move around more. Hope you enjoy it!
Καλησπέρα φανταστικό βίντεο!!! Έψαχνα καιρό να βρω κάτι τέτοιο. Εσείς τι περίοδο πήγατε ; ρωτάω και για λόγους καιρού και για να ξέρουμε περίπου αυτες οι τιμες σε ποια σεζόν αντιστοιχούν
Ευχαριστώ πολύ!!!
Ευχαριστώ πολύ! Ήταν χειμώνας (τέλη Ιανουαρίου με αρχές Φεβρουαρίου) το 2020. Αγαπήσαμε το μέρος. Θα περάσετε τέλεια!
When you say dollars do you mean USD?
Affirmative :)
where did you rent the car ?
It was europcar
What year & month was this trip?
January 2020
Which month did you go?
February
It was a good deal. Everybody say Costa Rica is very expensive.
It can get expensive. All park entrances, activities and diving are not cheap. But we kept it low with accommodation and food.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ I know, around 10% of the GDP in Costa Rica is from the Tourism Industry. That's why can be more expensive but still in the list of the Best Tourists destination.
Loved every minute in that county!
Which month was that, did I miss you mentioning it or you didn't?
It was last week of January and first week of February.
@@THATGREEKGUY_ Most diving centers don't do Bat Islands during those months because of the rough sea conditions there.
Was the sea really rough when you dived?
@@madjooooo It was choppy i have to say at Islas Catalinas. A dive center we asked earlier wasn't operating that day because of weather. It was tricky to get back on the boat. At Isla del Cano there was a surge but probably it's often like that over there since it's far out.
Nicaragua 😊
One day for sure!
@@THATGREEKGUY_ 😊👍🏻
They are asking me for a Suzuki Jimny more than 2000$ for 20 days! Is that normal?
Sounds a lot but it's for 20 days. Does it include insurance?
@@THATGREEKGUY_ yes it includes the total insurance but seems too much. How long do you think I should book?
@@davidemarani3609 It is a lot indeed. But i don't know what the prices are lately. The only thing you can do is compare with other agencies. For how long, is totally up to you. How long you are staying and how much you want to relocate. Usually if we want to stay too long at one place, we go there at the first or last days and rent a car accordingly.
None of the Airbnb links work. :(
You are right. Only a couple of them open. Maybe they changed something the last 2 years? We were there in January 2020.
I would even say Santa Elena is better than Monteverde!
I can't say and can't compare but we loved Santa Elena!
I believe they tricked you in the car renting company. The insurance bought online is valid. The only required one is the Third Party Liability, all the rest are extras that you can add.
Yes we thought so. We tried for almost an hour to get this clear but they never changed their story. Plus it got late and we were very tired. Wish we knew better.
We are going in May and renting a car. Is the third party liability required through the company? I think we are renting from Alamo. Any information would be appreciated.
In our case they insisted to buy it from them. We rented from Europcar. Maybe it's a different story in other offices.
Attention attention please remember your Visa card can cover the insurance in Costa Rica if you have a Visa that offer car insurance you do not need to buy their insurance we did that and we saved lots of money you just have to prove on paper that your Visa will cover accident
So print the benefit of your Visa card for accident at health insurance and take it with you to Costa Rica that way you don't have to pay for insurance in Costa Rica
Unfortunately wasn't the case with our card. It didn't cover it.
sorry but you DO NOT need to buy their insurance in Costa Rica, I just returned from a 2 week vacation and used my CDW from my visa card as insurance, SUV only cost me $663 for 15 days, the only expense you have to have is a $10 a day 3rd party. No one tried to sell me anything.
Maybe was because of our (european) credit card. We had booked with europcar and were never given such an option. They just wouldn't give us a car without buying their insurance.