Alright, check out my EPIC solo trip to Costa Rica & Nicaragua! 🇨🇷🇳🇮
My Central American Adventure: Costa Rica & Nicaragua Solo!
Just wrapped up an INSANE 12-day solo adventure through Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and Nicaragua 🇳🇮 using public transport! Get ready for some must-know tips if you're thinking about exploring these incredible countries. 🚨🚨 **Here's the Lowdown:** ## Day 1: San Jose - Costa Rica 🇨🇷 * Flew from Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) to San Jose (Costa Rica) - a quick 2-hour hop! * Immigration was a breeze – only 5-10 minutes to get checked and processed. * **Money Exchange Hack:** Don't get ripped off at the Travelex! Head outside the departure area and ask security to let you back in to use the bank kiosk. Much better rates! * Bussed into the city center from outside the airport (Terminal Tuasa San José - Alajuela). Super cheap - like $1.50! * Evening stroll and chilled out. The city gets quiet by 7-8 pm. ## Days 2-3: Exploring San Jose * Wandered through the central market – a total sensory overload! * Checked out some museums and hopped on buses to get a feel for the city and its neighborhoods. * San Jose felt pretty safe overall. * **Day Trip Alert!:** You can easily book tours to coffee plantations, volcano crater lakes, hiking trails, and suspension bridges (around $110-140). * **Heads Up:** Costa Rica is PRICEY! Think $10-12 for a basic meal, $1.5-2 for a drink. * **Must-Try:** Casado – the classic Costa Rican dish with rice, beans, plantains, salad, and your choice of meat (chicken, pork, or beef). ## Days 4-5: La Fortuna - Waterfall & Volcano Vibes! * Early bird! Caught the 8:40 am direct bus from San Jose (only one direct bus per day!). Otherwise, you'll need to transfer. * La Fortuna is a gorgeous town nestled in the highlands. Known for its waterfall, volcano, and hot springs. * Scored a full-day tour for $70 (shop around!) that included the waterfall, a hike near the volcano's cooled lava field, and a dip in the hot springs! ## Days 5-6: Monteverde - Cloud Forest Magic! * Off to Monteverde, famous for its cloud forests (seriously, only 1% of the world's forests are like this!). Biodiversity hotspot with tons of unique birds and frogs. * **Getting There:** Either take the bus with two transfers, OR do the super-cool jeep-boat-jeep option! They drive you to a dock, you take a 40-minute boat ride across the lake, and then another jeep picks you up on the other side. DO IT! * Shuttle to the forest entrance and hiked for 5 hours, soaking up the incredible plant life and bugs. ## Days 7-8: Granada - Nicaragua - Colonial Charm! * No direct buses from Monteverde to Granada (boooo!). * Woke up at 3:30 am to catch a bus to a rest stop on the Pan-American Highway. Waited 3 hours for a bus from San Jose (Costa Rica) to Managua (Nicaragua). * About 6 hours to Granada, including border crossing. * Granada is GORGEOUS, with its Spanish colonial architecture! Wander the streets, eat in the restaurants, and admire the buildings. * You can book tours to Masaya Volcano (still active!), but it was closed due to increased gas emissions. Major bummer! 🥲 ## Days 9-10: Leon - Revolutionary History! * Two options to get from Granada to Leon: a $30 shared bus or a $3 transit bus in Managua. Went for the transit bus - more fun and not a long wait! * Leon is another Spanish colonial city, bigger but a bit more run-down than Granada. It's known as the heart of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Hear stories about the civil war and the fight against the dictator. * **Thrill-Seeker Alert!** Cerro Negro (a black, extinct volcano) is nearby. You can VOLCANO BOARD down the side! SO much fun! 😁😁 ## Days 11-12: Managua - City Life * Easy peasy bus ride to Managua. Buses are frequent, but usually no AC, so be prepared for the heat! * Explored the Plaza de la Revolucion, hung out at Puerto Salvador Allende (a lakeside entertainment area with live music!), checked out the local market, and hit up the nightlife scene. ## Essential Tips! * **Total Cost:** Around $2500 (including flights from Dominican Republic to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to Miami). * **Visa Info:** Costa Rica accepts valid Canadian or US visas (must be valid for at least 30 days). Nicaragua only requires a valid Canadian or US visa. * **Public Transport:** Public transport is old-school and not always on time. Use the "Moovit" app (Google Maps isn't accurate). Be prepared for delays! The special vehicles are the "chicken buses," painted former school buses. In the evening, the chicken buses become mobile bars with music and dancing! * **Exit/Entry Fees:** When exiting Costa Rica, you will have to pay an exit fee of $8. Entering Nicaragua you will have to pay an entry fee of $13. For passports from Vietnam, China, and Venezuela on top of the $13, people also have to pay an extra $50 to get a VOA! * **Ride-Hailing App:** Indriver is your best bet. You can often offer a lower price than the app suggests. * **Cash Discounts:** Ask if you can get a discount for paying in cash in Costa Rica (some places will give you 8-10% off!). * **Money Exchange in Nicaragua:** Go to the bank and there will be guys with money offering exchange services. * **Food Recs:** Here are some great places to eat! * Restaurant Bai Ji ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/6aT8H48BfAE7pqXF6?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/6aT8H48BfAE7pqXF6?g_st=ic)) * Soda Víquez ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/9LasjUTPBeL1iAuKA?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/9LasjUTPBeL1iAuKA?g_st=ic)) * Restaurante Sabor Tico ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/KguSBvLjr3CdMy2C8?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/KguSBvLjr3CdMy2C8?g_st=ic)) * The Garden Café ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/mYy6c1xEr9qZWwUe6?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mYy6c1xEr9qZWwUe6?g_st=ic)) * Restaurante Comidas Típicas y Más ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/NVHGfr8kkpoCgZTh6?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NVHGfr8kkpoCgZTh6?g_st=ic)) Enjoy your trip! Let me know if you have any questions!
