Costa Rica used to be very inexpensive but in the last few years the shift of people wanting luxury tourism instead of backpacking adventure trips has escalated prices all around. You are also at some of the most popular tourist areas so the prices are going to be higher. If you get the opportunity to steer off into more off the beaten path areas and buy foods at the local markets and sodas instead of what is imported in for tourists you can find things a little more reasonable. But it is true that how expensive the country has become is a huge problem when you compare the prices to the locals minimum wage. I highly recommend trying to get a whitewater rafting trip in. There are a couple of Tican owned businesses in the Manual Antonio area. But the very best is to do the Picaure river. It's always on my list I give our guests.
Love this! I visited Costa Rica as a cruise port. (I know, it hardly can be considered a visit), but I was very impressed. We did a monster truck tour of the rainforest and like you, were blown away by he types of monkeys. Some people don't like cruises, but the one thing they do do is allow you to experiment with a destination. Costa Rica is a place that definitely deserves a longer visit.
Costa Rica used to be very inexpensive but in the last few years the shift of people wanting luxury tourism instead of backpacking adventure trips has escalated prices all around. You are also at some of the most popular tourist areas so the prices are going to be higher. If you get the opportunity to steer off into more off the beaten path areas and buy foods at the local markets and sodas instead of what is imported in for tourists you can find things a little more reasonable. But it is true that how expensive the country has become is a huge problem when you compare the prices to the locals minimum wage. I highly recommend trying to get a whitewater rafting trip in. There are a couple of Tican owned businesses in the Manual Antonio area. But the very best is to do the Picaure river. It's always on my list I give our guests.
Thanks Dawn, unfortunately I recently had an op so no rafting for me. We’re up in Monteverde now so looking forward to the cloud forest tomorrow 😁❤️
Love this! I visited Costa Rica as a cruise port. (I know, it hardly can be considered a visit), but I was very impressed. We did a monster truck tour of the rainforest and like you, were blown away by he types of monkeys. Some people don't like cruises, but the one thing they do do is allow you to experiment with a destination. Costa Rica is a place that definitely deserves a longer visit.