Tell Us Your Top Costa Rica Travel Tips
This week, in the sometimes inaccurately titled “Hack Your City” column, we collect tips for the entire Central American country of Costa Rica. Until recently, one Lifehacker writer who shouldn’t be named but who wrote this post thought it was an island. We can probably assume a little more basic knowledge than that, but tell us: how do you make a great trip to Costa Rica even better?
We welcome advice for every city in Costa Rica and all areas in between. Tell us about beaches, bird watching, adventure, the pros and cons of ecotourism, as well as the best city neighborhoods, traffic hacks and the best forgotten bars and restaurants.
What is underestimated and unexpected? What are the best alternatives to overpriced spots? What’s the weirdest, craziest, scariest, or most boring thing you enjoy doing here?
How should a visitor approach the city? What are the important local traditions, codes of conduct and laws? How do you describe the atmosphere to an outsider? Which cliches are true or false?
How does it feel in the long run? Residents, what do you love and hate in the area? How do you hack everyday life here? What is the best place for locals and not for visitors? What did it take you years to learn how to live here?
How has the territory changed in recent years? Which old advice no longer applies here, and which one is new?
Leave your tips in the comments below and we’ll highlight the best ones. (Read some of the other comments to make sure yours is unique.) Come back Thursday for a new post full of highlights as we learn other annoyingly simple things.