It Would be a Huge Mistake to Not Diversify Your Destinations.

So, you’re considering a vacation to Costa Rica?  Avoid these common mistakes to make the most of your trip!

1. Trying To Do Too Much – Unfortunately, travel times in Costa Rica stink.  The roads are just plain lousy and driving can be hazardous.  For a typical 8 night trip, I’d suggest no more than 3 destinations, tops. For those who can afford to spend an extra few bucks and fly between locations, it’s DEFINITELY worth it. The drive from San Jose to Guanacaste is lovely, but you really aren’t missing much if you fly directly. If you can get a flight straight to Liberia, that’s preferable if your vacation will focus on the Guanacaste area.

2. Driving – If you can avoid it, do. It’s expensive, somewhat risky and time consuming. Better to fly and if necessary, rent a car when you’ve reached your destination, assuming you really want the freedom to tool around town.

3. Believing TripAdvisor’s Every Word – It’s a great site, but don’t take it as gospel. A tiny percentage of customers that post these forums have actually been there. There’s always one guy who hates ice cream and chocolate.

4. Doing Too Little – Costa Rica is a country of rich and diverse landscapes, climates and wildlife. To sit in one location, in one hotel or resort, for an entire vacation is a mistake. I think a great vacation consists of a balance between adventure and relaxation, and specifically in Costa Rica, between the beach and rain forest.

5. Not Pre-Planning A Few Tours – The best tours in Costa Rica often sell out, so it’s best to plan one or two tours in advance. As someone who is inherently lazy, I can also tell you that it’s very easy to convince yourself to not get up at 7 a.m. for a rafting tour unless you’ve already pre-paid.  Force yourself to plan ahead a tiny bit and you’ll be glad you did. Some of the best experiences in Costa Rica are the fantastic Canopy, Rafting, Rapelling and Sailing tours. Your local guides are also great sources of information regarding how to spend your freetime.

6. Packing The Wrong Stuff – Check the weather ahead of time.  If you will spend any time in San Jose or Arenal, you’ll probably need some long pants and a light jacket, fleece pullover or sweater. If coming during green season, a rain jacket or poncho is a must. Pack tons of sunscreen, some bug repellant and a light day pack for excursions. Most importantly, if taking domestic flights, DO NOT OVER PACK. You will be brutalized for extra weight on the small flights otherwise.

7. Visiting For Too Short A Period – Hey, I know darn well that vacation time is hard to come by.  But if you can’t spend at least 6 nights in Costa Rica, I’d suggest you postpone your trip until you can get the time off. In my opinion, the ideal vacation to Costa Rica is around 8 nights and includes 3 distinct destinations. To do all that and not spend all your time on the road, you’ll need at least one solid week off from work. Call in sick if you have to!

8. Assuming All-Inclusive Is The Way 2 Go – Maybe in Jamaica, but not here. Costa Rica is blessed in that 80% of the hotels have 30 rooms or less. That is one of the major factors that makes Costa Rica one of the most sustainable, authentic destinations on earth. Coming all the way here just to stay in a mega-resort is a mistake. There are some great resorts here, don’t get me wrong, but if it’s your first time to Costa RIca, you shouldn’t deprive yourself from getting outside the walls of a resort and seeing ‘the real’ Costa Rica. This country is far safer than the Dominican Republic or Jamaica, so staying behind the guarded walls of a disney-style resort just isn’t necessary. If you’re of the impression that you’ll save money at an all-inclusive, this is not the case. Dining out in most of the popular tourism areas of Costa Rica is resonable and if you’re willing to explore, sometimes downright cheap.

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Filed under: Travel on March 20th, 2009