One of the best ways to save money while traveling around Costa Rica is to camp out. Believe it or not, there aren’t a lot of hostels that allow camping. A number of hostels that’s it on the beach may allow you to camp, but might not give you all the security you would receive if you were staying in a dorm or room. Whatever you do, do not camp out on the beach alone. While it is legal in Costa Rica to camp on the beach for free, it is also extremely dangerous and stupid. Do you your self a favor and find a hostel that allows camping. below are some of our favorites.

Sarapiqui Outdoor Center

Featuring both hostel accommodations overlooking the Rio Sarapiqui and camping sites on its shores the Sarapiqui Outdoor Center offers a family friendly nature experience. The light and airy hostel is dorm style with a large community kitchen. Campsites are scattered along the riverbank and guests have access to showers, bathrooms and a kitchen area. Both the hostel and the camping sites include continental breakfast, parking, and complimentary internet. River rafting tours, kayak lessons and bike rentals are offered onsite. Location: 75 miles (115 kilometers) north from the Catholic Church, La Virgen de Sarapiqui, Heridia, Costa Rica
Phone: 506 276 11123
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Rocking J’s

Rocking J’s Hostel offers travelers everything from sheltered camping lots to the rental of your own tree house in a jungle setting. One giant room known as the hammock hotel offers dorm style accommodations. Those looking for a bit more privacy can opt for smaller shared rooms or even individual cabanas with shared or private bathrooms. Surrounded by lush greenery and with the ocean steps away, this popular hideaway offers a true back to nature experience at reasonable prices. The hostel offers a fully stocked community kitchen, personal lockers, 24 hour security, DVD rentals, and an ocean view TV lounge. Ice cream and drinks are available around the clock. Parties, some of the themed variety, happen frequently. Location: 600 meters south of the bus station, Puerto Viejo de Limon, Talamanca, Costa Rica, Phone: 506 2750 0657
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Casa Zen

Casa Zen takes backpacking and camping in general to a whole new level. Located in the Mai Pais and Santa Teresa area and only 100 meters from the beach, this hostel offers both a Zen inspired guesthouse and a private camping area with showers, bathrooms and kitchen access. A restaurant, popular with guests and locals alike is onsite. Yoga lessons and massages at Casa Zen’s spa are offered, all reasonably priced. Location: Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Phone: 506 2640 0523
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Belen Trailer Park

Belen Trailer Park offers not only accommodation for those in RV’s but camping spots for backpackers as well. Reasonably priced, with plenty of trees and shaded areas, the park affords a peaceful quiet stay, yet is an easy bus ride from the local township. Belen Trailer Park is pet friendly, offers wireless internet access and has English speaking hosts. Location: 1 mile (2 kilometers) west of the Cariari Bridge on the main highway entering into San Antonio de Belen, Phone: 506 2239 0421 >>More Information

Chauita National Park

One of the few national parks in Costa Rica that allows camping, this one is set along an enviable stretch of white sand beach. Choose from hiking in the tropical forest or snorkeling and SCUBA diving in the rich marine environment. Established in 1978, the park is also known for an abundance of birds and wildlife, especially toucans and white faced monkeys. Location: the camping area is 4 miles past the town of Chauita, south of San Jose.

Marino Ballena National Park

Named after the migratory humpback whales that visit each year from December to April, this is one of the few places where it is still legal to camp on the beach. There are no services except for fresh water available at the ranger station. This is definitely roughing it, but the payoff is being close to one of the richest marine environments in the country. In addition to watching the humpbacks breach offshore, observe green marine iguanas as they alternately bask on rocks and dive to dine on algae growing beneath the surface. Bird watching is especially rewarding. Snorkeling and beach combing are excellent. Location: 120 miles (190 kilometers) southwest of San Jose on the Pacific Coast.

Original article can be found here: Best Hostels for Camping in Costa Rica

Camping in Costa Rica can be a great way to save money and see the country from a very different perspective. The problem is, there is very little information online about camping in Costa Rica. What information you do find is either out of date or inaccurate. More times than not, guide books also provide questionable advice and recommendations.

That’s where we come in.

Have just returned from spending a year in Costa Rica, I can tell you the ins and out of camping there.

Camping on the Beach

If you have spent any amount of time researching camping in Costa Rica, you have probably read about camping on the beach. Let me try to explain this in more detail than the other resources online.

Yes, camping on the beach is technically legal because no individual can own any amount of coastline in Costa Rica. Does this mean you could go camp out on the beach in front of a five star hotel? Maybe, but it would probably put a damper on your vacation experience. While you are allowed to do this, it is actually frowned upon, not to mention dangerous.

Camping on the beach may be free, but it is far from safe. This is especially true if you will be traveling by yourself. If you plan on camping on just about any beach in Costa Rica, you better be prepared to stay with your stuff 24/7. If you setup shop on the beach and go out to twon to party for the night, don’t count on your stuff being there when you get back.

Likewise, just because you do stay with your stuff doesn’t keep it safe. It is very possible that you may get robbed or held up at gun point. Yes, camping in a a group might lessen the odds of being held up, but it could also increase them.

The point of all of this, don’t camp on the beach in Costa Rica unless it is at some sort of “organized” campground or facility.

Camping at National Parks

While Costa Rica may not have as many national parks as the United States, but they are working hard at building up their national park system. Many of the parks and reserves don’t offer any sort of camping, but there are a few that do and are worth looking into.

Some parks and reserves to check out:

• Reserva Biologica Carara
• Chauita National Park

Check out this post for more information about camping at a national park in Costa Rica.

Camping Gear for Costa Rica

If you only plan on camping out a few nights during your trip, any old tent will probably do. If however, you will be spending the majority of your time living out of a tent, there are a few things you will want to consider.

Check out these tents to start with:

• Big Agnes Seedhouse 3 Tent
• Big Agnes Pine Island 4 Tent
• Sierra Designs Electron RC2 Tent

The two major things to think about when buying a tent for your trip to Costa Rica is hopw good its rain fly is and how much ventilation it has to offer. Ideally, you will want a tent that is 90% mesh walls. These mesh walls will help keep you as cool and comfortable as you can be in the hot Costa Rica weather.

Mesh walls also help keep fresh air rolling through your tent. This will help prevent mold build up on your tent and anything in it. The full mesh walls will also help keep the tent cool in the event that you have to cover it with the rain fly.

When looking at rain flys, make sure that yours covers the entire tent. A good rainstorm in Costa Rica can come at you from all directions, if your rainfly is lacking, your stuff will get soaked. Try to get a rainfly that is waterproof rather than coated with a waterproof spray.

What to Expect

Many hostels, hotels, and even personal residents offer camping of some kind. Take my advice and try to find something that offers covered camping. This means you won’t have to worry about getting wet and you can sleep more comfortably without the rainfly in place.

If you will be camping in the jungle, try to find something that offers raised camping in addition to covered camping. The raised camping will make your life much more comfortable. Very few parts of the rainforest floor are flat. And those parts that are, are probably wet. Being raised off the groud also helps get rid of some of the creepy crawlies.

If you will be camping in one sport for an extended period of time, expect everything you own to start molding. This happens everywhere in Costa Rica and you just have to find your own way to deal with. If you can, try to move your tent into the sun from time to time to let it dry out temporarily. Be sure to wash things like clothes, sheets, and pillows regularly to prevent deadly molds from growing.

Original article can be found here: Camping in Costa Rica

Camping is one of the best ways to experience the many wonders that Costa Rica has to offer. Though, just a decade ago camping on the beach was allowed, today it is prohibited at most beaches and frowned upon at others. Also, there is a certain percentage of crime and often times campers return to find their belongs have disappeared. It is best to select a campground at a state park or reserve for safety.

A safe and still legal place to camp on the beach is on the shores of the Marino Ballena National Park. The park is named after the annual migration of the Humpback whales that return there each year to spawn. Long stretches of undisturbed white sand offer view of lounging lizards and breeching whales. Camping is allowed on the beach nut there are no amenities.

Santa Rosa National Park and the Guanacaste National Park are among the top picks. Santa Rosa is one of the only remaining dry tropical forest on the planet and the beaches of Naranjo and Nancite are gorgeous and rank among favorites for surfers and campers alike. They offer some of the best camping sites in Costa Rica.

They are very affordable at only $2 per person and offer the following facilities: At the La Casona there are bathrooms and BBQ pits while the sites at Playa Naranjo also offer showers. The sites at Estero Real have out-house toilets and BBQ pits, but no water. Permits are required.

Corcovado National Park is the only remaining old growth rain-forest on the pacific coast of Central America. His park is credited with containing no less than a dozen distinct eco systems that contains highland cloud forests, palm forests as well as lowland rain-forest and mangrove swamps. It contains some of the world’s most endangered species like jaguars, macaws, harpy eagles and the red-backed squirrel monkey.

The park is remote and rugged but the trails are well maintained and the camping sites are on high, well-drained land. Information about particular sites can be obtained at the ranger’s station.

Original article can be found here: Tips for Camping in Costa Rica