Whether you want to expand your consciousness or party until you drop, Costa Rica is an affordable destination. You can fly into San Jose, the capital, and choose between inexpensive motels and luxurious hotels. It is good to stay downtown in a place with enough shops and restaurants on site that you won’t be tempted to wander into the crime-filled streets.

Don’t be alarmed if you are mistaken for a prostitute. So many men spread rumors about the benefits of legalized prostitution in Costa Rica that male tourists think every woman walking through a hotel lobby or looking for butterflies along the road is for hire.

Security is tight, because non Costa Ricans sweep into the country and rob the banks, particularly in towns near Nicaragua. Guards patrol the banks with machine guns. Occasionally, truck beds traveling on the public roads are filled with armed men.

After a night of recuperating from your air flight, you can travel to your final destination either by bus or commuter plane. There is a huge difference between the west and east coasts of Costa Rica. Surfing, white water rafting, horse riding, scuba diving, and deep sea fishing is popular on the west coast. The east coast attracts a more subdued clientele, people accustomed to the Caribbean islands with more alcohol and less outdoor activities.

Throughout the country are national parks filled with wildlife, waterfalls, volcanoes, and exotic plants. Some rain forests seem sparse compared to lush woodlands of North America. Once you appreciate the lack of groundcover, you will notice the monkeys on branches watching the sun set. Brilliant birds fill the skies. Sluggish alligators congest the rivers. Snakes are under every bush and thousands of ants dominate the dirt paths. Flowers are abundant and you can pay for a tour through landscaped grounds and then ride a sky-lift to the top of mountains.

Costa Ricans are easy-going and friendly. Someone is always willing to accommodate your every desire. Don’t expect to suffer because of the simplified lifestyle. At the base of the volcanoes are day spas where you can play in the hot springs, get a massage or disco the night away under an active volcano. You can find extremely low-priced souvenirs in shop huts and small marketplaces. Don’t forget to visit pre-Columbian settlement sites.

At the hotels along the coastline you can mix and mingle at swimming pool bars. Shacks in tiny communities are available for hard-core surfers to stay for little rent per day. If you get inspired, you can find inexpensive property for your vacation home. There are clusters of North Americans, Germans and other nationalities, mainly in the northern towns. Want to keep a boat in Costa Rica? Plan to pay a high tax on all imported goods. Costs for upkeep and repairs includes exorbitant taxes for parts. Similar issues arise with maintaining houses.

Costa Rica is an appropriate destination for college students, families and couples. The ingratiating social scene welcomes single travelers as well.