Traveling in Costa Rica is all about slowing down, meeting great people, and experiencing our country as we do.

Hey, travelers of the world! We offer you a challenge: What’s the difference between visiting a place vs. truly experiencing it? Where’s the distinction between vacation vs. traveling in Costa Rica?

In a world full of buzzwords – “authentic experiences,” “bucket-list adventures,” “wanderlust,” etc. – What is the difference between a tourist and a traveler? What are the moments, the opportunities, and the choices that fulfill these buzzwords – this desire for an authentic experience or a memory that will truly carry you through a lifetime?

What does “traveling like a local” really mean? Because, at least for many of these so-called buzzwords and travel promises, the most genuine, authentic, and memory-making experiences come down to traveling in Costa Rica like a local. And no, that doesn’t mean you have to stay for a month (or six); it doesn’t require you to eschew your desires or ditch your travel wishlist. And it’s not about crashing on someone’s couch, either.

Traveling like a local is more about embracing the spirit of a place. It’s shedding your preconceived notions of what a vacation or a trip or even a place should be like, and then embracing the experience like it’s yours alone to live. It’s about traveling in Costa Rica… but letting Costa Rica guide your travels a little bit, too.

It’s about digging deep into this incredible, wonderful, and often awe-inspiring country and letting Costa Rica’s magic work a little bit of travel alchemy on your heart. If that sounds like your kind of experience, read on!

Tourism vs. Traveling in Costa Rica

Even if you’re not immediately aware of the difference, you’ll likely have a knee-jerk reaction to the differences between tourism and travel, and between a vacation and a trip.

Let’s start here: There’s nothing wrong with being a tourist. Unless, of course, you don’t want to be a tourist. Because a tourist is more of a surface-level traveler: You’re here for the highlight reel and to check a long list of sites and attractions off your to-do list. Your schedule is jam-packed from sunrise to sunset and you’re not going anywhere that’s not extolled in the latest travel guide.

Again, and we’ll state this for the record, there’s nothing wrong with being a tourist. In fact, we’ve been tourists ourselves before – and we’ve loved it! But, to us at least, Costa Rica is more of a travel versus tourist kind of place. Tourism is for big cities in Europe and North America; Costa Rica is for savoring the moment and the joys of traveling like a local.

Because traveling in Costa Rica should make time for an ice-cold pipa (coconut water, fresh from the coconut) and an afternoon cafecito (coffee) on the beach. It should account for unscheduled wanderings and a languid afternoon at a waterfall swimming hole. And it should afford you the time to make new friends in a country that prides itself on its genuine friendliness. Because hey, that’s just how we Costa Ricans are.

So, if you’re traveling in Costa Rica for more than just a checklist, for more than just the chance to say “I’ve been to Costa Rica!”, then we challenge you to slow down, savor more, and get a little lost. To linger over a sunset, discover a hidden beach, and allow yourself to travel like a local.

Here are a few tips on how:

1. Ask Locals to Help You Plan

It sounds obvious, but the most important component in traveling like a local is… Well, locals! Before you travel, even before you really start planning, start reading Costa Rica travel blogs (this one’s a good start!). Connect with Costa Ricans online (here’s our Instagram and Facebook!). And begin reaching out to the locals you trust (you are more than welcome to get in touch!).

Get to know Costa Rica through the eyes of people who already live here. Discover our favorite spots. Learn about what we consider to be the most exciting, the top must-visits, and the off-the-beaten-path secrets that most travelers rarely see.

Because, even if you are a thorough researcher and a seasoned traveler, unless you’re also an expert in Costa Rica, you simply won’t have the insight that a local does. So, ask us. Pick our brains. Challenge us to surprise you, to wow you, to fulfill your wildest dreams.

2. Sleep As If You Were a Local

While we’re on the topic of Costa Rica and locals, consider living and sleeping like a local while you’re here. What we mean by that is staying in a vacation home rather than a hotel. (Note: Here’s how to find the right vacation home for you.)

Rather than those typical hands-off, sterilized accommodations, vacation homes are the flip side of the colones (Costa Rica’s currency) coin: Not only do they allow you to stay in a Costa Rican neighborhood and make yourself a little more at home here, but they also invite you to step outside your comfort zone and really live.

Your own kitchen means you can shop at the local farmers market, searching for new fruits and vegetables you’ve never even seen before. A local neighborhood means stepping out your front door and into a warren of shops and restaurants and everyday life. And a home means that you’ll probably stay in one place a little longer, affording you an opportunity at slower, more local travel.

3. Hire a Local to Show You Around

If you don’t have any local friends in Costa Rica who are available to travel with you and/or show you around, then consider hiring a local for at least a day (preferably earlier in your trip).

There are so many advantages to hiring a local guide in Costa Rica, and not all of them are immediately obvious period of course, you’ll open the door to myriad local recommendations, expertise, and insider knowledge. But the real advantage is that most of the top guides in Costa Rica are also expert naturalists.

And what does that matter, you ask? The answer: a lot. A casual traveler would be shocked at how much there is to see that gets missed. In other words, incredible flora and fauna are always hiding in plain sight in Costa Rica, and untrained eyes rarely are able to see it. A naturalist guide, on the other hand, knows how to spot that camouflaged sloth or a sunning iguana or sleeping owl. The insight gleaned from a local guide is unparalleled.

4. Take Time to Explore the Neighborhood

Costa Rica may not be the big city, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have neighborhoods. Here on the North Pacific coast, for example, every beach town acts like a neighborhood.

Staying in Tamarindo? Tamarindo’s motto is “surf, eat, and have fun.” Whereas nearby Playa Flamingo, just 14 miles north, has a distinctly laid-back vibe, perfect for travelers who seek calm, quiet, and family-friendly activities. Two towns, two totally different experiences.

5. Don’t Try to See it All

One of the biggest tourist mistakes is trying to pack all of Costa Rica into one Costa Rican vacation. Locals know that you cannot savor Costa Rica’s wonders and charms into a day, a week, or a single trip.

And, we know – it’s tempting. But truly, if you are traveling Costa Rica and want to get the most out of your trip, then you don’t want to pack the most into your trip. Rather, you want to plan smart and diversify your activities, attractions, tours, and free wanderings.

What do we mean by this? In a nutshell, make a list of what you want to see rather than where you want to go. By this, we mean prioritizing that you want to 1) see sloths and 2) go snorkeling and 3) hike to a waterfall and 4) learn to surf, without specifying that you want only to 1) see sloths in a specific place or 2) snorkel only a sole locale or 3) hike to a faraway waterfall or 4) surf just one particularly famous wave.

This way – and, typically, with the expert help of an in-the-know local (see above) – you can check many items off your wish list without overextending yourself and getting burned out on your vacation.

6. Cook with Local Ingredients

We touched on this above but one of the most fun and enjoyable local ways of traveling in Costa Rica involves food!

While tourists usually eat out for almost every meal, travelers often cook at home. And if you followed tip #2 above, then you will have a home in Costa Rica. So, use your kitchen! Go to a local grocery store or corner shop, definitely hit up the weekly farmers market, and stock your fridge. Prepare a feast or just a picnic – the choice is yours.

Cooking with local ingredients is an adventure. Eating new-to-you fruits is a fully sensorial experience. And learning how to prepare a local dish? It’s not only a sign of respect for Costa Rican culture, but a memory and skill you’ll take with you forever. (Ask us about our favorite dishes to prepare!)

7. Learn Some Costa Rican Spanish Phrases

When you’re traveling in Costa Rica, you’ll never receive a better reaction than when you try your hand at speaking a little Spanish. Especially Costa Rican Spanish. Ticos, as we’re called (there’s your first turn of phrase!), love and appreciate your respect and enthusiasm for our nation and culture.

So, learn a few basic Costa Rican Spanish phrases. Try them out, wherever you go. And be sure to throw in a hearty ¡pura vida! (“pure life,” but read on) wherever you go and as often as you can. This Costa Rican catchphrase has a feel like hakuna matata, but with nearly universal application: It can mean everything from “hi, how are you?” and “I’m great!” to “thanks!” and “see you later!” Seriously. Because, ¡pura vida!

8. Ditch the Tourist Traps… But Not All of Them!

It’s a really common piece of advice for traveling like a local, but it’s not always the best advice for traveling in Costa Rica.

For sure, we recommend steering clear of the all-inclusive resorts and only-for-tourists shops and restaurants. But in Costa Rica, and especially here at the North Pacific beaches, you’ll find that these tourist traps are few and far between. Almost everywhere you go, you’ll find a mix of foreign and local travelers, both enjoying this everywhere, together.

Our point? Don’t be afraid to visit a popular national park or wildlife Refuge. Don’t shy away from that tour you’re dying to take. And don’t worry that you’re being given a recommendation simply because you are a traveler from abroad. By and large, and for the very, very most part, Costa Rica is a traveler-friendly locale and our hotspots are hot for a reason: They are stunning, they are breathtaking, and they are so very worth it.

And if you ever have a question about a tourist trap, don’t hesitate to ask. Costa Ricans, including us, are very friendly and we are happy to talk about our home country and favorite spots. We won’t steer you wrong.

9. Be Respectful

Above all, be respectful. When traveling in Costa Rica, this isn’t about the way you dress, or where you stay, or even how you travel.

It is about offering a friendly smile, saying please and thank you, and appreciating our local culture. And know that Costa Ricans are, generally speaking, less confrontational than north Americans and Europeans. For example, if you don’t like a food you’re offered, swallow your bite and then feign fullness.

Want to Talk Traveling in Costa Rica?

Whether you’re a solo traveler, a family of 5, or senior travelers, we’d love to help you travel like a local in Costa Rica. So, let us know: What are your dreams and hopes, your must-haves, and your big wishes for your time in Costa Rica? If it’s possible, it’s our job to make it happen.

Because at Blue Zone Experience, we’ve built our reputation based on 5-star service, select vacation rental homes, and Guanacaste’s best tours and activities. The truth, though? Our true passion is you and your experience.

What you may not know is that, when you book one of our homes, you gain access to our free concierge services: on-the-ground expertise, curated tours and transportation options, and a one-on-one with your personal concierge, who will have your back from the moment you begin planning until the day you return home.

So, please, get in touch! We can’t wait to hear about your next adventure!