How I Made the Most of My Time in San José, Costa Rica
Hi! My name is Madison, and I’m a criminal justice and political science major and Spanish minor at Northeastern University in Boston. I’ve had the privilege of spending the past month in San José, Costa Rica during the weekdays and traveling coast to coast on buses during the weekends. I hope that sharing the following five tips will help future students coming to Costa Rica to feel less scared and more prepared to take on the Tico life here š
We went on a program excursion to go ziplining in Monteverde!
1. Spend as much time as possible with your Tico family!
My first tip is that, if you’re living in a homestay, while you may be eating breakfast and dinner with your Tico family, make sure to make extra time to spend with them! Whether that’s staying for a little bit after dinner to chat or asking your Mama Tica to show you how to cook her gallo pinto, every moment matters.
The beautiful view of the mountains from my homestay in San José
My five weeks in San José flew by, but some of my favorite memories were with my Tico family. Because I made an effort to hang out with them, I got to meet my host nephew, who’s three, and learn Spanish and cultural references from him, which was beyond special. My Mama Tica and Papa Tico also shared many stories from their childhoods and lives, helping me better understand and appreciate their culture. So while I know you want to go explore everything, I promise you will have plenty of time to do that, so make sure you’re appreciating and learning from those closest to you.
2. Travel everywhere!
Everyone says Costa Rica is a beautiful place, but frankly, I think that’s a huge understatement. This country is home to some of the most stunning views. San José is a wonderful place to be based in, but if you have the opportunity, take the weekend trip. Even if you think you don’t have the money, go on a budget and stay at a hostel. Take the seven-hour bus to Guanacaste with no AC when it’s 85º out and 90% humidity. I did this and would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat (although a little less sweat would’ve been nice).
Baby sloth laying on her mom in the Cahuita National Park
Plan trips with the friends you make because nothing bonds you like getting up at 5am and trying to find a bus station. Not only does this teach you how to problem solve, navigate foreign transit systems, and be patient, it also gives you the opportunity to experience the different cultures of Costa Rica. I travelled to Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Playa del Coco en Guanacaste, and Puerto Viejo, and each place was just as special and gorgeous as the last. From the beaches to the sloths and monkeys, each place has something special to offer!
A beautiful beach in Manuel Antonio
Group photo in Manuel Antonio before dinner
We stopped on the way to Monteverde to do a tour of the Oxcart Factory, and it was so cool! This is one of the paintings on the walls.
3. Go to the museums and cultural areas
If you’re living in San José, take advantage of the museums and cultural areas! While I know it can be overwhelming to try and go to museums in between classes, it’s still so important to go, especially if you’re not always in the city on the weekends. I learned a great deal from the museums and got to experience the Tico culture more from understanding what they thought was important. My favorite was the National Museum (the giant yellow house downtown) because it used to be a military base/fortress during the civil war. I also loved the jade and gold museums because of the old handmade artifacts they had (and the gold museum is four stories underground). You also get a foreign student discount, so make sure to bring your ID!
4. Talk to the Uber drivers and workers at restaurants
When I first arrived in Costa Rica, I was worried about my Spanish skills and speaking to Uber drivers, workers at restaurants and stores, and other locals. However, I quickly learned that the Tico people are some of the most patient people, and they love trying to help you learn more Spanish. They also have the local recommendations that help you experience the best parts of the Tico culture from a local’s perspective.
In Puerto Viejo, we went to a beautiful black sand beach and that was largely because of a recommendation from an Uber driver. Also, many people are willing to help! Costa Rican signs and directions can be quite vague, so don’t be shy. Ask a local how to get somewhere, and they’ll be more than willing to help you.
Black sand beach that was recommended by a local in Puerto Viejo
Me during sunset in Guanacaste
5. Try all the fruits you can
Finally, try every single fruit (and other foods) that you can! Costa Rica is home to endless fruits that are better and richer than the ones in the United States (in my opinion). While some of them may look different than what you’re used to, you should still try them because I promise they’re often better than you’d expect! My Mama Tica gave us so many new fruits to try, such as a Mamón Chino and a Cape Gooseberry. It was so fun to try and grow to love the fruits that she ate on the regular. My roommate and I had a picture of fruits native to Costa Rica in our homestay, so we kept a list and tried to check off as many as we could. We didn’t get to them all, but it just gives me another reason to come back. š
All in all, don’t be scared! Costa Rica is a wonderful and special place, and you’re going to have a blast. Remember to talk to as many people as possible, travel when you can, and keep an open mind. Embrace the Tico lifestyle and get excited!!
This post was written by Madison Roetting, a student atāÆNortheastern University who studied abroad in San José, Costa Rica.
