Really disappointed with Costa Rica! (page 3 of 3)

Hi there,

I just read a travel journal on MyAtlas by a French traveler who’s cycling through Central America. He just posted about his stop in Nicaragua after coming from Costa Rica, and what immediately struck him were the prices. He noticed that in the same supermarket chain, prices are up to half as cheap in Nicaragua, and the same goes for accommodations since there are hardly any tourists.

He also mentioned that he appreciates finding a bit of history and culture in Nicaragua, like the revolution and the city of León, which he didn’t find in Costa Rica.

His time in Nicaragua was quick, and he didn’t go to the Río San Juan area where you see a lot of wildlife, nor did he visit the northern part of the country, which is beautiful, or Solentiname, which is also worth a visit.

For those looking for a beautiful, non-touristy, and affordable Central American country, I really recommend Nicaragua. As for safety, I’m not sure what the situation is like today, but I spent two months there alone in 2017 without any issues. You just had to take the same precautions as in the rest of Latin America.

Here’s the link to the journal—there are also some great photos of Nicaragua: https://www.myatlas.com/jephi/de-bogota-a-cuba-a-bici/t/1789108

I’ve posted about Costa Rica before, and I stand by it—you can still travel there on a mid-range budget without breaking the bank. If you stay in dorms, a night won’t cost more than $10–15.

If you eat local, use public transport, etc., you won’t blow your budget. Of course, like 99% of people who visit a country, they ALL follow the same itinerary, so naturally, they end up in the most touristy—and therefore most expensive—spots.

Sure, you can blame Costa Rica for that, but "Disneyland-ification" affects every country… At least in Central America, the most beautiful and cleanest beaches are in Costa Rica. The only thing missing in Costa Rica is the cultural side. Still, I’ve been going there every year for 8 years without ever personally going broke. Pura Vida.