Travelling Solo? 7 reasons why Costa Rica is the BEST destination for you.

Travelling to Latin America as a single woman can seem daunting for some. It often has a (somewhat dated) reputation as a dangerous place. While, for the most part, this continent is just as safe as the rest of the world, it’s easy to see why solo travellers, and especially women may find themselves a little apprehensive about the idea of travelling there. This is where Costa Rica comes in. That little country filled with Sloths and banana palms, nestled between North and South America may offer the solution. From paradisical beaches to Cloudforests, to Salsa dancing, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking to dip your toe in the Latin waters, Costa Rica may be the perfect place for you, and I’m here to tell you why.

1. Costa Rica is safe

Let’s start off with addressing the common concern, safety. Costa Rica is one of the safest and easiest countries to travel to in Latin America and a great first-time solo trip destination. The local’s grasp on English is excellent, meaning that even if your lingo only extends to “Hola, ¿cómo estás?” and a few other basic sentences, you’ll get by just fine. Team that with excellent travel infrastructure and a welcoming attitude to tourists, and it’s smooth sailing for first-timers.

The normal safety rules still apply here, with the most common crime being petty theft. Being on holiday doesn’t mean you can relax your safety too, so keep in mind these simple ways to stay safe, which apply to wherever you are in the world.

• Keep your valuables away. If you find yourself needing to catch your bearings, find the nearest cafe, grocery store, or another safe spot to nip into before pulling out your brand new iPhone. Find your directions, and then put your valuables away again.

• Keep your belongings close to you. A cross-body bag, or a backpack on your front work fine.

• Only get into licensed taxi’s. You can recognize a licensed taxi by its bright red colour and yellow ‘taxi’ sign on the roof. There’s a yellow triangle located on the driver’s door displaying the license number. If there’s no number, don’t get in. Also, make sure your driver puts the meter on, or risk a big bill on arrival to your destination. Cab drivers can spot a tourist a mile off, and if they can get away with not activating the meter, they will. Alternatively, you can use Uber, which is often cheaper, and easier.

• Make sure someone knows your plans. Even if it’s just the owner of the hotel, mention where you’ll be going and what time they can roughly expect you back.

• Act confident. If you walk around nervously, clearly lost, in a destination you don’t know well, it is easy for you to become a target. Instead, walk confidently, with your head held high, keeping an eye on your surroundings, as though it were your local neighbourhood. If lost, once again, walk to your nearest safe spot, be it a library, coffee shop, grocery store, etc., before checking your route or asking a local for help.

2. It’s easy to get around

There’s nothing worse than reaching a country and then finding out that your only options for transport are extortionate taxi’s or hitchhiking. Thankfully, that isn’t the case here. Costa Rica is set up for tourism, with a range of different transport options. While you definitely can splurge on a cab to travel in comfort, the bus system here is reliable and easy to use. With shuttle busses that connect all the top tourist spots around the country, as well as local buses, which whilst being a little less comfortable, have more of a chance of there being live chickens aboard, or a local offering to share their lunch with you. If you want to travel further distances within the country more quickly, it’s easy to catch domestic flights between San José and Liberia.

3. The ‘Pura Vida’ mindset

‘Pura Vida’ or ‘Pure Life’ is a response to pretty much anything here, from “Hello” “Pura Vida” to “How are you?” “Pura Vida” to “A monkey is chasing me” “Pura Vida!”. Although it’s more than just a national saying, it’s a way of life. Pura Vida is a relaxed and peaceful lifestyle and you’ll feel it as soon as you get off the plane. The Costa Rican way of life is very different from what most Westerners are used to. While we rush around so fast that we could be mistaken for a tornado from a distance, the locals enjoy a slow and carefree existence which is infectious to all that come to visit this happy little country. While it brings with it a few small annoyances (it’s not out of the ordinary for your coffee date to turn up an hour late without a reason), there’s something to be said for slowing down and enjoying the moment.

4. The Biodiversity

With a dozen different ecosystems, Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse countries on the planet. 6% of the world’s biodiversity is here, while only covering 0.03% of the earth’s surface. On top of that, over 25% of the country is protected to enable the abundance of flora and fauna to thrive. With so much variety, there truly is something for everyone. Hikers and adventure seekers will love Monteverde with its Cloudforest hosting all sorts of wildlife, from Tapirs to Pumas, as well as the opportunities for adventure sports such as bungee jumping and ziplining, whereas those happier whiling away their days on the water will love taking a boat tour through the mangrove forest at Tortuguero.

5. The Wildlife

Are you ever truly alone if you’re surrounded by animals? Costa Rica is buzzing with wildlife, a place where you’re never too far away from a Sloth munching on a leaf, or a Monkey hustling you for your lunch. You’ll wake up to the sound of tropical birdsong, and go to sleep to the hum of Cicadas. There are ample opportunities to get closer to our furry friends, with sanctuaries for both Big Cats and Sloths. These Sanctuaries rescue injured or endangered animals, and you may see a Sloth missing an arm, but don’t worry, they’re well taken care of. Visiting these centers is a great way to support the incredible work these organizations do. Other popular excursions include Whale Watching at Uvita, Birdwatching in the Osa Peninsula, and river trips all over the country where you’ll see animals such as Caymans, Toucans, Capuchin Monkeys, and Lizards.

6. The Activities

While you’re solo travelling, you may not want to be solo all the time, and what better way to meet a new friend than through an activity you both love. Be it Salsa dancing, hiking, scuba diving, yoga, learning Spanish, or taking an authentic cooking class, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Costa Rica offers such a vast range of activities, I bet you’ll go home with a few new hobbies under your belt, and a few new numbers on your phone. If you are a member of Wander and Soul, you can make sure you always have a friend in your back pocket with our app which brings our supportive community of women closer together. We’re hosted on the Mighty Networks app which you can download here (IOS) or here (Android).

7. The Beaches

Could there be a blog post about Costa Rica without mentioning the beaches? Solo travelling is indulgent and self-exploratory, a time to discover new things about yourself, and spend time at peace in your own company, and what says indulgence more than lying on a beautiful deserted beach all day with a good book and a fresh coconut, only moving to take a cool dip in the water and marvel at the natural world all around you? Beaches that will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief are Manuel Antonio, Conchal beach in Guanacaste, and Manzanillo beach. If you’re after something a bit different, Ostional beach, a volcanic black sand beach on the west coast, is home to up to 150,000 turtles at a time, with between 4 and 10 annual turtle nesting events a year.

Final Thoughts on Costa Rica

Costa Rica is such an extraordinary destination for first-time solo travellers, and one that is recommended over and over again for good reason. People from all walks of life come here for the unparalleled views and the “Pura Vida” lifestyle, and with its secured rank year after year as one of the happiest countries in the world, it’s no surprise why a lot of them decide to stay. Far enough off the usual tourist trail that you can still have an authentic experience without big crowds or accents you recognize every 5 minutes, but with the little luxuries of the western world that are hard to give up, such as lovely accommodation options, hot showers, and the ability to converse in English when you’re lost. If you choose to visit Costa Rica, be sure to tell us all about it, in our community, where we love to hear about your experiences.

For more information about Costa Rica, as well as other great solo destinations, insight and inspiration from like-minded women, and to be part of a fantastic female travel community, come and join us here at Wander and Soul.