It’s midway through summer and you still haven’t been on a vacation yet. Fear not! You can travel to Costa Rica, have an amazing vacation, and return with that cinnamon tan you’ve been wanting for less than $800! And since the dollar has strengthened recently your vacation budget goes even further.
We break down the cost below. This is based on 2 adults traveling together.
$338 round trip plane tickets from New York City
This is going to be your biggest expense, but thanks to a ton of airlines flying into Costa Rica you can find tons of tickets for less than $400 round trip. The itinerary above flies out of JFK. It’s a direct flight down and 2 stops on the way back (you do what you got to do to save money!)
$122.50 per person for lodging
Lodging can make or break your vacation budget. Fortunately Costa Rica caters to the budget conscious traveller. If you’re planning on staying in Costa Rica on the Gold Coast and surfing, the Tamarindo Cabinas are clean, comfortable, and right across from the main surf break. Most of the rooms hold 3 people so you can save even more money if you bring a 3rd person along. The rooms even come with discounts at the adjacent restaurant Sprout
$70 for eating out
One of the best things about Costa Rica are the locally owned restaurants called “Sodas” that serve the typical Costa Rican plate of “Casados”. These plates cost about $5 each and come with rice, beans, vegetables and either chicken, steak, or fish. There super filling. Just make sure to get some Salsa Lizano on the side.
$250 for tours and activities
Costa Rica has some of the most amazing beaches and nature the world has to offer. You won’t want to miss out in it! For $35 you can join the longest bar crawl in the world and see some of the most beautiful beaches on Costa Rica’s gold coast. For $85 take a catamaran cruise to a secluded beach and snorkel, then dance the way back on the deck of the boat. For around $100 take an all day adventure tour to one of the nearby national parks and enjoy horseback riding, zip lining, white water rafting and hot springs.
If you’re still not convinced about coming to Costa Rica on vacation check out this video below: