Mexico & Central America
Solo travel in Costa Rica
3/5English level
Solo travel in Costa Rica
The easiest, best-organised country in Central America for a first solo trip, with surf, wildlife and big hostel and nomad scenes. It's also the region's most expensive, and petty theft is common. The easiest place to start is La Fortuna.
Best places in Costa Rica for solo travelers
| Place | Solo | English | Locals |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Fortuna | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Tamarindo | 4/5 | Widely spoken | Friendly |
| Manuel Antonio | 4/5 | Widely spoken | Friendly |
| Santa Teresa | 4/5 | Widely spoken | Friendly |
| Monteverde | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Puerto Viejo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Nosara | 4/5 | Widely spoken | Friendly |
| Tortuguero | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Jacó | 4/5 | Widely spoken | Friendly |
| Uvita | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Playas del Coco | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Sámara | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| San José | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
Solo travel by place
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Costa Rica
- Government of Canada travel advice: Costa Rica
- Visit Costa Rica (ICT): digital nomads
- Speedtest Global Index: Costa Rica
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.