A Solo Female's Guide to Budget-Friendly Adventure and Fun traveling to two of the most popular areas of Costa Rica! My exact itinerary with every day planned for you!

Alajuela Province, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica

One week in Costa Rica (solo, budget, no car, adventurous)

Day 1: Fly into either Liberia or San Jose airport (San Jose is the more popular airport but Liberia was cheaper for me at the time I went). 

Today is a self guided day. I went to the Mistico Hanging Bridges: uber there, $28 entrance fee, 2 hour walk by myself, it was beautiful. You can buy the ticket at the park when you get there.

Time for some adventure! Today you're going ziplining. I chose Arenal Mundo Adventura ($54) and zip lined 7 canopy lines including over La Fortuna waterfall which I saw the day before. Definitely recommend. They picked me up and dropped me off at my hotel. There are plenty of other zip lining companies around town too. 

Go to Rio Celeste today! It's 1.5 hours away from La Fortuna and you need to rent private transportation to take you, wait for you while you hike, and take you back. It will be $$$$  (maybe $120-160) but it’s needed. Try to make friends in town that also want to go so you can split it. Do NOT do what I did and uber there. This is the one time I'll tell you to not uber in Costa Rica. My uber driver got lost 3 times and then once you’re there you won’t have service to call an uber back and even if you do, an uber will not drive 1.5 hours to come pick up and to take you back. I had to ask family after family if they were going back to town and if I could get a ride.

Then I paid $17 for a day pass to Los Lagos hot springs which was beautiful and so relaxing! You can buy your day pass at the hotel. 5 minute uber there, just walk into the lobby and ask for a day pass.

 Green Papaya. I ate here 3 days in a row because the shrimp tacos were amazzzing.

Time to choose your own adventure! Snorkeling, sailing, scuba diving, ATV adventure, here are a few links of some of the many things to do in Tamarindo. I chose to go scuba diving and met some fun tourists on the trip that I went out with later that night.

Tamarindo Beach was too touristy for me so I took a 5 minute uber (or 30 minute walk) to Langosta Beach which was very quiet and beautiful. There are also other beaches you can go to around there. 

Time to take a shuttle to Liberia Airport to leave. I used Native's Way for this transfer.

I hope you loved your week in Costa Rica! Find me on instagram and let me know how your travels went. @bethanymitchellhomes

Juan picked me up from the airport, carried my luggage, and stopped and got me lunch at an excellent local restaurant, gave me a free SIM card and set it up for me, and was 10/10 service.

There are public buses and transfers from both airports but I opted for a private transfer, even though I was on a budget, so I could have extra safety and reliability. I will include phone numbers for many drivers throughout this guide, feel free to use the same one for every transfer or different drivers. Every contact information I share is the exact person I hired and recommend.

Arrange a private transfer to La Fortuna regardless of which airport you fly into. (3.5 hours and ~$120 from Liberia, but just text the following number for an updated price and if you are arriving in San Jose) 

Transfer from Liberia airport to La Fortuna with Juan’s company (WhatsApp +506 6019 3784)

 Your first stop of the week is in La Fortuna! It's an adventurous and culturally rich town near the Arenal volcano.  I stayed at the Bogarin Trail Autentico cabins. It was simple accommodations for cheap. It was everything I needed and I would stay again. You also get free entrance to the Bogarin Trail to see sloths and birds.  

Three other recommendations that have good reviews that I have not stayed at:

1. Another budget-friendly accommodations in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, consider the Selina Hostel La Fortuna. This hostel has received great reviews for its friendly staff, comfortable beds, and lively atmosphere. 

2. If you're looking for another budget-friendly Hostel option, consider Arenal Hostel Resort. This hostel has great reviews, yet still close to all the action in La Fortuna. 

3. Another top-rated budget option in La Fortuna is the Hotel Las Colinas. This hotel offers comfortable rooms, a beautiful outdoor pool, and a convenient location near all the major attractions in the area. 

Selina Hostel

Home - Arenal Hostel Resort

La Colinas

Any Soda (that’s the name for local typical food) will be good and cheap, I'm talking ~$5 for a meal. I loved Soda Viquez.

SODA VIQUEZ, La Fortuna de San Carlos - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Chocolate Fusion has lattes, hot chocolate, endless chocolate bars and treats to snack on after dinner.

Next, Uber to La Fortuna Waterfall, $18 entrance fee, 500 steps down and up, bring your swimsuit and you can go swimming at the bottom. Uber back to town. 

At night I did an Airbnb cooking class which I HIGHLY recommend ($56) I saw toucans and sloths on their property and the food was incredible. 

La Fortuna cooking class

 In the afternoon I went to El Chollin free hot springs. 5 minute uber there from town, free entrance, you can find it on google maps or just ask any local where it is. 

Arenal Mundo Aventura - La Fortuna, Arenal Costa Rica.

There are 100 steps down to Rio Celeste and there are some walking trails around there too. Still very glad I went even though my logistics were stressful, but you won’t make the same mistake now that you’ve read this!

Contact the same Juan that brought you to La Fortuna or any other others I mention in the rest of this guide, or if you love an uber driver earlier in the week, get their personal number.

 https://www.hotelloslagos.com

I stayed here in a tree house and it was great and centrally located!

Transfer from La Fortuna to Tamarindo with Ride CR ($50, WhatsApp +506 8727 9393) 4 hour shuttle.

B&B The Beach Bungalows Pool View #A - Treehouses for Rent in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

GREEN PAPAYA TACO BAR, Tamarindo - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Also, there aren’t many sodas in Tamarindo so be prepared to pay tourist prices everywhere.

Airbnb Experiences

THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Tamarindo - 2023 (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Then I did a last minute surfing class. I booked it on Airbnb, but he is also located on the beach behind Pico Bistro so you could just walk up to him and it may be cheaper that way.

Surfing in Tamarindo with Victor

Native’s Way transportation for $30 (WhatsApp +506 8908 9525)

I spent just under $1300 for everything mentioned above for a week in Costa Rica. This includes travel insurance, hotels, food, Ubers and private transportation, activities, and phone service.

Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport

Private room in cabin in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. A perfect place for a real connection with nature! We offer 4 cabins in a private property, right next to our private nature trail, you'll find a l...

One week in Costa Rica (solo, budget, no car, adventurous)

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