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Getting from San Cristóbal to Guatemala by chicken bus

A colectivo (chicken bus) is the most budget friendly option to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala. For those not familiar with colectivos (also often referred to as chicken buses), these are mini vans that don’t have a fixed schedule, but instead leave when the bus has filled up. Note that colectivos only accept cash! Here’s how to get from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Guatemala by colectivos:

• Take a colectivo from San Cristóbal to Comitán (the bus terminal in San Cristóbal is located next to the ADO terminal, exact location here). Cost: 70pesos (3.5 USD)
• Take a colectivo from Comitán to Ciudad Cuauhtémoc. Cost: 75 pesos (3.75 USD)
• Get your stamp to exit Mexico. Note that if you arrived in Mexico by plane, the exit tax is included in your ticket. If you arrived another way, you may be charged the exit tax of $1150 pesos (around 58 USD).
• Catch a taxi to the Guatemala border. Cost: 15 pesos (0.75 USD) per person with a full taxi
• Get your stamp to enter Guatemala.
• Catch a tuktuk to the colectivo stop. Cost: 3Q (0.4 USD)
• When you get to the colectivo stop, tell the drivers where you want to go and they’ll help you.

Expect the journey to take 10-12 hours if you’re headed to Lake Atitlán, and closer to 12 hours to Antigua.

Shuttle bus from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

In case you aren’t quite up for making the journey by chicken bus, another pretty affordable, but more convenient option, is to take a shuttle bus. These will cost more, but in return will make the journey much simpler as you won’t need to be changing buses all the time, as well as providing door-to-door service. Tickets can be purchased from one of the many tour operators in San Cristóbal, you’ll find plenty around the center. Prices are pretty steep, around $1500 pesos (75 USD), and I’d recommend purchasing a ticket 2-3 days in advance just in case. The process will look something like this.

• You will be picked up by your shuttle bus and drive to the border.
• Once at the border, you’ll hand over your passport and get your exit stamp from Mexico. Note that if you arrived in Mexico by plane, the exit tax is included in your ticket. If you arrived another way, you may be charged the exit tax of $1150 pesos (around 58 USD).
• Get back on the bus and drive to the Guatemala side of the border. This is where you’ll get your stamp to enter Guatemala.
• After getting your entry stamp and entering Guatemala, another shuttle bus will be waiting for you and will take you to your final destination in Guatemala.

Read also: 5 Amazing Places to Visit in Guatemala

Find your accommodation in Guatemala here!

Final thoughts

If you’re still not sure which transportation options to choose, here are my thoughts on each. Although it may sound complicated to make the journey by colectivos (chicken buses), it really isn’t. This route is frequented by backpackers and you are very unlikely to encounter any problems, especially if you speak Spanish. Just make sure to start your journey early so you won’t arrive too late. The main inconvenience, in my opinion, is that the colectivos don’t have A/C and tend to get very crowded. If that sounds like a nightmare to you and you aren’t on a strict budget, I’d go with the shuttle bus. The shuttle buses normally have A/C and don’t get overcrowded, so it will be a much smoother ride. For those on a budget, colectivos (chicken buses) are the obvious choice.

You can of course also make the journey by a rental car, just make sure to read the find print and familiarize yourself with the possible extra charges for renting a car in one country and returning it in another.

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Is San Cristóbal worth visiting

San Cristóbal is absolutely worth visiting! It’s not only the perfect base to explore all that Chiapas has to offer, the city is also an incredible destination on its own. The fact that it’s largely inhabited by indigenous people makes it unique and unlike anywhere else in Mexico. What’s more, it’s full of trendy coffee shops as well as restaurants. Furthermore, Chiapas is one of the most affordable regions in Mexico.

Is San Cristóbal save

Like with many places in Mexico, safety seems to be a concern for many, mostly due to negative media coverage of Mexico. Hence why I felt this San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide wouldn’t be complete without addressing this matter.

San Cristóbal, like most of Mexico, is considered save. The only exception is the unstable situation on the road between Ocosingo and San Cristóbal, which is a known Narco territory where roadblocks and robberies are known to occur. However, you do not need to pass this route to get to San Cristóbal, so there’s no need to worry. I just want to mention it so that you know to avoid it! Even though San Cristóbal is safe, you should still take normal precautions, just like you would anywhere else. Avoid flashing your valuables, wearing expensive jewellery and walking around late at night.

For more practical tips to stay safe, I recommend that you read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling!

When is the best time to visit San Cristóbal

The best time to visit San Cristóbal de las Casas is during the dry season, from November to May. In this period you get warm temperatures and little rain. Note that due to the high altitude, it can get pretty cold, or I might even say very cold, when the sun goes down. So regardless of which time of year you visit, make sure to pack something warm to wear in the evenings!

During my visit which was in February, the day time temperatures were pleasant, around 22°C (72°F). At night it cooled down significantly to around 12°C (54°F), but due to the humidity it felt much colder. Luckily, our apartment had some ponchos that we could use in the evenings.

Where to stay in San Cristóbal

I would recommend staying in or close to the historic centre (Zona Centro). It’s the most convenient way to explore the city as way you will be close to all major attractions. You’ll also have the best coffees and restaurants within walking distance. Here are some of the best accommodation options for every budget:

Best hostel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Kotantik

Best budget hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Casa Azabache

Best mid-range hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: La Estancia

Best luxury hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Collection O Casa de Familia

Here you can see reviews and compare prices of accommodations in San Cristóbal

How to get to San Cristóbal de las Casas

If you are traveling to San Cristóbal from within Mexico or Guatemala, it’s possible to get there by bus. It’s likely to be a very long ride though, depending on where you’re coming from. Check bus routes, schedules and prices here.

Alternatively, the closest airport to San Cristóbal de las Casas is Tuxtla Gutiérres (TGZ), which is located roughly 80km (50 miles) away. To get to San Cristóbal from the airport you can take a taxi, a public bus, a private shuttle or you can rent a car.

Taking an OCC/ADO bus

Those traveling on a budget will probably prefer to take an OCC bus (from the ADO company) from the airport. This is a convenient and affordable way to get from Tuxtla airport to San Cristobal, it’s a direct bus and the journey takes around 1,5 hours. Tickets are $250 MXN pesos and can be purchased at the ADO counter in the airport, or online. When booking online just make sure to put in Aeropuerto Ángel Albino instead of Tuxtla airport, as the system doesn’t recognize it.

Taking a taxi

Taking a taxi is the most convenient way to get from Tuxtla airport to San Cristóbal. Taxi will cost around $800 MXN pesos, which can be split between whoever you are traveling with, or even a stranger. It might seem strange to some to share a taxi with a stranger, but it’s a common practice among locals. If you are a solo female traveler, I’d recommend you to approach a fellow female traveler and if she wants to share a taxi. I have actually made a few friends this way during my travels!

An important thing to keep in mind when taking a taxi from Tuxtla airport to San Cristóbal is to make sure to take an official taxi! After you pass baggage claim and make your way toward the exit, you will see taxi counters on your right just before exiting the airport. Head to the counters, where you will book and pay for the taxi. You will then be handed a ticket that you will give to the taxi driver.

Renting a car

If you are planning to do a road trip in Chiapas, I would recommend that you rent a car directly at the airport. This will be significantly cheaper than renting one once your in San Cristóbal, plus it saves you the hassle of figuring out how to get to San Cristóbal from the airport. You should also keep in mind that it’s difficult to rent an automatic car in San Cristóbal, which is important to know for those that don’t know how to drive a manual. Use rentalcar.com to compare prices to make sure you get the best deal!

Although roads in the state of Chiapas aren’t in the greatest condition, driving is considered safe. Just make sure to avoid the road between Ocosingo and San Cristóbal, which is a known Narco territory where roadblocks and robberies are known to occur.

How to get around in San Cristóbal de las Casas

As long as you are staying in or close to the historical centre, San Cristóbal is very walkable and all major tourist attractions can be reached by foot. Taxis are easy to locate and very affordable, should you need them. We paid $80 pesos ($4 USD) for a 10 minute ride from the bus station to our apartment, just to give you an idea of the price you can expect. Make sure to always negotiate the fare upfront and have cash for the fare, as taxis in San Cristóbal generally do not take cards!

Although San Cristóbal is walkable, it is not built for dragging around luggage, especially if it’s heavy. Sidewalks are very narrow and usually made of cobblestone and/or have holes in them. So believe me when I tell you that if you are carrying a suitcase on wheels, you will want to take a taxi if you need to move your luggage from A to B. When we arrived in San Cristóbal, we had planned to walk to our apartment which was about 15 minutes away. We gave up on that after just about 2 minutes, sat down at a local restaurant where we had tacos and margaritas, and then asked the waiter to call us a taxi This might just be the most important thing you take from the San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide :)))

There is no Uber or Grab in San Cristóbal.

Things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas

There are a ton of things to do in and around San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Join the free walking tour

The free walking tour is a great way to begin your trip in San Cristóbal. Discover the history of the city, learn about the culture, traditions and customs and get to know the city from a local perspective. The tour is interactive, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

The tour starts here, in the heart of the city, at Plaza de la Paz. The tours take place every day at 10am and 5pm. They are in English and last about two hours.

Explore the many Artisan Markets

San Cristóbal de las Casas is home to a range of interesting markets that are worth browsing through.

Mercado de Artesanias de Santo Domingo, is a market full of colourful indigenous crafts, such as textiles, jewelry, baskets and weavings. It’s located next to Templo de Santo Domingo and is open every day from 9am to 8pm.

Mercado de Dulces y Artesanias Ámbar is an indoor market where you’ll find sweats, baked treats as well as clothes and handmade items. It’s open every day from 8am to 9.30pm.

Mercado José Castillo Tielemans is the most traditional market in San Cristóbal, over 50 years old. It’s a lively market where can buy local products, handicrafts, all sorts of foods, including baked goods. It’s open every day from 7am to 8pm.

Visit a museum

As the cultural capital of the state of Chiapas, San Cristóbal is home to a number of interesting museums. They focus mostly on textile and the ancient Mayan culture & traditions. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya (Maya World Textile Center)

Inside the Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo, you will find the Maya World Textile Center. A museum that focuses on Mayan textiles and embroidery techniques, displaying over 500 examples of handwoven textiles from throughout Mexico and Central America. The museum features permanent exhibition rooms where you’ll see videos explaining the production process of clothes and textiles.

Note that Maya World Textile Center is closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee: $65 pesos ($3.25 USD)

Museo Mesoamericano del Jade (Jade Museum)

One of the things that Chiapas is famous for is its jade, a precious stone used by ancient Mayas. The museum showcases replicas of Mayan jade jewelry and other jade objects found in Mexican archeological sites.

Entrance fee: $35 pesos ($1.75 USD)

Museum Casa Na Bolom

Casa Na Bolom, which means House of the Jaguar, is an historical building that is now a museum dedicated to the protection of Chiapas’ indigenous culture as well as the environment. It was once the home of Danish archaeologist Frans Blom, and his wife Gertrude Duby Blom, a Swiss photographer. The couple were among the first foreigners to contact the Lacandon indigenous group, which are the only ethnic group to manage to escape the Spanish conquest. Among things you will see in the museum are photos of the Lacandon culture and hand drawn maps of the entire Chiapas rain forests, which used to belong to the Lacandon group. Today Casa Na Bolom operates as a hotel, restaurant, museum and a research center.

Note that Na Bolom is closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee: $60 pesos ($3 USD)

Take a walk down Calle Real de Guadalupe

Wandering the pedestrian street Calle Real de Guadalupe was honestly one of my favourite things to do in San Cristóbal. It’s essentially the main promenade, a lively street where you’ll see street vendors and performers. Real de Guadalupe is lined with trendy coffee shops and restaurants, as well as many arts & crafts stores.

Admire the view from Iglesia de Guadalupe

At one end of Calle Real de Guadalupe you’ll find Iglesia de Guadalupe. You will need to climb a few stairs to get there, which is certainly worth it for the views you get from the top!

Try a cup of Chiapas coffee

This San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Chiapas coffee! Mexico is one of the top 10 coffee producers in the world, with the state of Chiapas making up 40% of the Mexico production. There are a number of trendy coffee shops all around San Cristóbal, almost too many! Our favourite one was Ki Múul, which is located on Real de Guadalupe.

Go on a day trip

San Cristóbal de las Casas is a popular base for doing day trips to the many places worth seeing around the state of Chiapas. I can highly recommend visiting Sumidero Canyon, which is just over an hour’s drive away. We did an amazing day trip that included a scenic boat ride through the canyon as well as a stop in the picturesque town Chiapa de Corzo.

Other popular day trips include Palenque, Agua Azul waterfall and Misol-Ha waterfall. Note that these are roughly a 5 hour drive from San Cristóbal, so it will be a very long day.

For those that aren’t up for so much time on the road but want to visit a waterfall, there is a more manageable option. El Chiflon waterfalls are only a 2.5 hour drive from San Cristóbal. The easiest way to visit El Chiflon is on an organized day trip. However, these usually include a stop at Montebello Lagoons, which may or may not interest you. If you’d rather visit on your own, the easiest option is to rent a car. To make sure you get the best deal, use rentalcars.com to compare prices. It’s also possible to take a combination of a bus and a colectivo. Take an ADO or OCC bus from San Cristóbal headed to Comitán de Domínguez (around $96 pesos), and from there take a colectivo to El Chiflon ($30 pesos).

Visit some of the churches of San Cristóbal

With the state of Chiapas being one of the most religious part of Mexico, it might come as no surprise that there are many churches in this area. Some of the ones worth visiting are:

• Cathedral Santo Domingo
• Iglesia de Guadalupe
• Cathedral de San Cristóbal de las Casas
• Iglesia de San Cristóbalito
• Saint Lucias Temple

I hope you found this San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide helpful and that is answered the questions you had about visiting San Cristóbal. If you’re planning to head over to Guatemala from San Cristóbal, check out this post about how to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to read:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• 5 Must visit places in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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You might also want to read: How to Get to Tulum

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Where to stay in Tulum

One thing to be aware before visiting Tulum, is that the beach is about 5km from Tulum town. The traffic can be a nightmare so I’d recommend renting a bike or a motorcycle instead of a car. Unless you won’t to spend a lot of time on the beach, I would suggest to stay in the Tulum town. This is because the hotel zone (the beach) is so far away from everything else.

If you’re on a budget and want to stay in a hostel, I’d recommend Lum, Mimosa or Maka. Note that Mimosa and Maka are also hotels! All three are great, the main difference is that Lum is located very close to the ADO bus station, which is convenient if you’re arriving there. While the other two are about 20 minute walk from the bus station. Mimosa and Maka have pools, while Lum doesn’t. Lum has much more of a hostel vibe than Mimosa and Maka, as the latter two are also hotels.

Book your stay in Tulum here!

Your Four Day Tulum Itinerary

Day 1: Take it slow, eat local food & explore the Tulum town

Just to start things off easy, I’d recommend spending your first day exploring the Tulum town and eat some local food. Take a stroll through the town, browse through the shops and admire some of the street art. If you arrive early – rent a bike and head a few blocks from the main road to witness the local life.

For dinner – head to Calle Geminis Sur/Calle Geminis Norte for some street food! You will find lots of tacos and guacamole, as well as burgers and sushi. There are vegetarian and vegan options available, my favourite ones are La Cordobesita Tulum and Perro No Come Perro. They have vegan tacos, burgers and even hot dogs – and yes they’re delicious! Most street food trucks only take cash, so make sure to bring some.

edited with the Film preset pack/photo filters, available here

Tulum Itinerary Day 2: Tulum ruins & beach time

the view from the ruins! edited with the Wanderlust preset pack/photo filters, available here

Grab a breakfast at either Botanica Garden Café, Prieto or Matcha Mama. Then exploring the Tulum ruins (Zona Arqueológica de Tulum). These are Mayan ruins, located on a cliff next the ocean. Walking would take about an hour, so you’re gonna need a car, bike or a scooter. Make sure to get there early, with plenty of water in an insulated water bottle, as it gets incredibly hot and humid during the day and there is just about no shade. The ruins open at 9am, try to be there as early as you can. The entry fee is 85 pesos and can only be paid in cash. Try to have the exact amount as they don’t always have change.

the views are incredible! edited with the Ocean Blues preset packs/photo filters, available here

After exploring the ruins, which should take just under two hours, it’s now time for some lunch and beach time. There are three public beaches in Tulum – Playa Santa Fe, Playa Pescadores and Playa Paraiso, but essentially it’s just one beach as they all merge together. If you’re in the mood for some Mexican food – Casa Galeones is your place. If you’d prefer something fresh & cold, head to Matcha Mama or Raw Love. Casa Galeones is located at one of the three public beaches in Tulum, Playa Pescadores. Matcha Mama and Raw Love are both located in the hotel zone, about a 20 minute drive from the ruins and have vegetarian/vegan options. If you decide to go with the latter two, you can access the beach at Raw Love.

the beach access at raw love – so pretty! edited with the Ocean Blues preset pack/photo filters, available here

For those that want to take a photo with the “follow that dream” sign, this will be your day to do that. It’s located just a few minutes from Matcha Mama, search for “Lolita Lolita Tulum” in your google maps – that’s where that sign is!

For sunset – I would highly recommend heading to Ciel Rose: a sunset bar with a stunning 360° views of the jungle!

Day 3: Cenote day

edited with the Wanderlust preset pack/photo filters, available here

You can not visit the Yucatán Peninsula without exploring a few cenotes! Visiting a cenote is probably the most unique activity in this Tulum itinerary. To get the day started, I’d suggest grabbing a breakfast at either Botanica Garden Café, Prieto or Matcha Mama. Then it’s time to head to explore the cenotes! As there are over 6000 cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula, it can be hard to choose which ones to visit. Try to go early as the later it gets, the more crowded they tend to be – and it’s just so much more magical to explore them when it’s not filled with a bunch people The Gran Cenote opens at 8am, while most of the other ones open at 9am. I would recommend visiting Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera and Cenote Car Wash. The cenotes are roughly a 20 minute bike ride from Tulum town, so again, you’ll need a bike, a scooter or a car.

After visiting a few cenotes – it’s time for a late lunch! For tacos I’d recommend Taquería La Rivera Costena, for vegetarians/vegans I’d recommend La Hoja Verde.

In the afternoon (anytime after 4pm, cause that’s when they open) I’d suggest grabbing some churros from Don Churro Tulum! The best churros in Tulum in my opinion, you won’t be disappointed.

Day 4: Laguna Kaan Luum

If you only have four days in Tulum and you need to leave early, then your trip ends here. But in case you still have time and don’t leave until later, spend the morning exploring Laguna Kaan Luum. It’s a beautiful lagoon, hidden in the jungle, about 8 km (5 miles) from Tulum. You will need to take a taxi or have a car/scooter. Technically you could also bike, but for whatever reason it’s not recommended to bike on this road.

It’s not your average lagoon, as in the middle of it, there is an 82m (270 feet) deep cenote! Despite its proximity to Tulum, it hasn’t really been discovered yet, so it’s mostly visited by locals. It’s the perfect spot to swim, relax and enjoy nature. Paddle boards are also available for rent, so that’s another thing you could do. The entrance fee is 100 pesos (about 5USD) and must be paid in cash.

I hope you find this four day Tulum itinerary helpful! If you have more days in Tulum, I would recommend having a look at these top rated day trips, that will allow you to discover more of the surrounding areas.

If this is going to be your first time in Tulum, you might want to read this detailed post on how to get to Tulum.

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to check out:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• How to get to Tulum
• Five must visit places in Mexico
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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Note that most restaurants in Bacalar close one day a week – usually on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Yerbabuena

Yerbabuena is my top choice for breakfast/lunch (it closes at 4pm). They serve delicious sandwiches, smoothies, fruit bowls, granola, juices and café – basically everything you would expect from a breakfast. I would usually order a sandwich, smoothie and iced coffee which came to around 190pesos (9usd).

Zana Sana Juice Bar

Don’t let the name confuse you, they have more than just juices I would say Zana Sana definitely have the best juices in Bacalar! They do cold pressed juices – they are delicious and cost 4USD. A part from juices, they have bagels, waffles, kombuchas and of course coffee.

Madre Masa

Madre Masa is both a bakery and a restaurant. Their pastries are incredible, I would especially recommend the cinnamon rolls and the chocolate chip cookies! They also have delicious breakfast options – toasts, bagels, croissants, eggs, smoothies and coffee. Madre Masa is really affordable – toasts and bagels are around 100 pesos (5USD), smoothies are around 50pesos (2,5USD), croissant with avocado (delicious) is 2,5USD. Coffees are around 2USD.

La Piña

La piña is a very affordable place to go for dinner (it’s not open in the morning). They have all things Mexican – tacos, burritos, guacamole, nachos and quesadillas and more. The restaurant is located in a tropical garden, the atmosphere is chilled and they have good music! Tacos here are about a dollar each, a decent sized portion of guacamole is about 3USD and burritos are 4-5USD.

You might also like:

Mango y Chile

A great option for lunch or dinner. It’s a bit on the expensive side compared to other places in Bacalar, but the food is delicious and the view from there is nice! I tried a few of their burgers, which are amazing. All their food is vegetarian friendly – instead of meat they use seitan, falafel and tofu. A part from burgers – they also have tacos and hot dogs, as well as a few types of cookies (delicious) and coffees & frappos. The burgers (which all come with fries) and tacos (3 pieces) are 200 pesos (10USD). Most drinks are 2,5USD. I never tried the coffee there but their frappos looked good!

I hope this answered the question where to eat in Bacalar! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to check out:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Five must visit places in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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Being smart and savvy with your funds is the key to extending your travel budget. This means getting out of your vacation mode and into the backpackers mode. More hostels, less hotels. Less eating out, more cooking. People value different things, so figuring out where you’re okay with cutting back, is essential. It’s all about finding the balance between budgeting and enjoying. The balance between becoming so focused on saving every penny you possibly can and having pasta for every meal, and splurging money on hotels and fancy restaurants. After all, the purpose of traveling is to experience new things! Of course you want to treat yourself once in a while.

If you love having a good coffee, saving money by drinking instant coffee probably feels like too much of a sacrifice, but perhaps you’d be okay with cutting down on cocktails and alcohol. Depending on what you value – figure out where you’re willing to cut back and where not. I would for example not be willing to give up a good cup of coffee for an instant coffee, but am perfectly fine with walking for 20-30 instead of taking a taxi.

Use these 16 travel tips to save money while traveling!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Eat the local food

The phrase do as the locals do, is classic for a reason. Eating the local food will be far cheaper than going to a touristy burger or a pizza place.

2. Stay in hostels

One of the best ways to save money while traveling is to stay at hostels. They are a fraction of the price you’d pay for a hotel, take advantage of that. Staying in hostels is not just a great way to save money while traveling, it’s also one of the best ways to meet other travellers.
If you haven’t stayed in a hostel yet, or if you haven’t had much luck with previous hostels – this blog is for you: How to Choose a Hostel

3. Do some research

I’m not talking about spending days and weeks doing a thorough research, but just a quick google search can go a long way. Planning on visit a popular tourist attraction? Have a look and see if they offer online discounts, or if it’s cheaper to visit during specific times of the day or week. Many places have a small discount if you book your tickets online, take advantage of that. This will also save you time since you don’t need to queue at the ticket office.

The same thing goes for accommodation! Check booking.com, hotels.com, Hostelworld, Expedia… Sometimes it can also be cheaper to book directly through the hostel/hotel, so once you’ve settled on a place – see if they have a website and book directly there if it’s cheaper!

4. Have a picnic instead of eating out

Head to a grocery store and get some fruits, croissants or whatever you feel like having and have a picnic on the beach or in a park, instead of eating out. Not only will this help you save money, but also, picnics are fun!

5. Don’t go out for drinks every day

I get that you want to go out with your new hostel friends, but try to limit the times you go out for drinks, cause even if drinks tend not to be very costly in many countries, if you end up getting eight of those throughout the night, well it’s not so cheap anymore. Yes it’s tempting to go out when seemingly every person at the hostel is going out, but it also happens to be a very quick way to burn through your savings :)))

6. Choose cheaper countries

How much you spend during your travels, will of course depend greatly on which country you’re in. Iceland would for example not be an ideal destination for someone looking to stick to a tight budget The same would apply to popular cities such as Paris, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London… Some of my favourite budget friendly countries include Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Slovenia, Portugal, Croatia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Dubrovnik, Croatia – not the most affordable city in Croatia but definitely possible to do it on a budget.
Would highly recommend this hostel if you’re looking for an affordable place to stay

7. Get a local sim card

It’s usually way cheaper to purchase a local sim card, than to purchase some sort of travel pack or whatever from the phone company in your home country. This especially goes for Central and South America, as well as Asia. The cost of a local sim card with 10GB can range from 5$-10$ and can easily be refilled at any supermarket. I understand that a lot of people from the US have a locked phone, and hence can’t change the sim card in their phone – in that case, try getting your hands on a used phone that you can use as a “hot spot” for your actual phone

8. Avoid eating in the touristy areas

A good rule is to never eat within three blocks from tourist attractions. The further you get from touristy places, the more you’ll get for your money. I get that it can be tempting to have lunch at La Rambla if you find yourself in Barcelona, but that will mean paying an excessive amount of money for an average meal at best. Instead, you can grab a drink there and then head somewhere else to eat.

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9. Take a bus or a train instead of flying

A relatively easy way to save money, is to avoid flying and instead take a bus or a train. Yes it’s tempting to get an hour flight instead of a long bus or train ride, but it comes at an extra cost. I’m not saying you should avoid flying all together, but if you take a flight rather than bus/train every time you get the chance, it’s gonna add up quickly. Lets say a bus will cost you 15$ and a flight 90$, plus you’ll need to add in transport to and from the airport. While it may not seem like a lot each time, if you do this four times during your trip, it will cost you an additional 340$, which is the equivalent of 20-30 nights in a hostel.

10. Be selective

Do I really need this? Can I do without this? Can I perhaps get this cheaper somewhere else? Don’t be impulsive when it comes to shopping. Before purchasing, ask yourself if you really need this. And depending on the situation, consider if you can get it somewhere else for less.

10.Get a reusable water bottle

Don’t waste money (and plastic) on buying multiple bottles of water each day. They might not cost so much, but guess what, even though it’s just a few dollars a day, it quickly adds up! Get one of those refillable water bottles and fill it up. Tap water is save to drink in most countries, just make sure to ask at your hostel/hotel if it’s ok to drink the water. Additionally, many hostels have filtered water available for free. Alternatively, you can buy those big 5L bottles which will be way cheaper than buying all those smaller ones.

11. Visit during off season

Before booking your trip, do some research to find out when the peak times are. If you’re looking to save money (which you probably are since you’re still reading this post ) – avoid traveling during those peak times. Traveling off season might mean occasional rainy afternoons or even some rainy days, but it also means less tourists and better deals on flights and accommodation.

12. Walk!

Don’t jump in a cab whenever you need to get from A to B. Unless it’s the middle of the night and/or you have a ton of luggage, consider walking or taking a bus instead. I almost never take taxis, with the exception being if I need to get to/from the airport after dark in a city that I’m not very familiar with and/or doesn’t have a reliable public transport.

13. Avoid using ATM’s & currency exchange at airports

In both cases, you’ll get a shitty rate and pay a ridiculous amount of fees. Currency exchange offices might have one of those “no fees” signs, but don’t let those fool you. It just means you’ll get that much worse rate.

Get great deals on accommodation and get genius discounts by using booking.com!

14. Be flexible

When it comes to purchasing flights, flexibility is key. Both in terms of dates and destinations. Here I’m talking about long haul flights, for example a flight from Europe to Asia, or from Peru to London. Plane tickets can be one of the biggest expense of your trip, and when it comes to those, flexibility is everything! If you’re set on flying from Bangkok to Stockholm on the 6th of September, well guess what, you don’t have that many options. The more flexible you are, the more options you have, and the more chances you have of getting a cheaper flight. Let’s say you want to visit Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – check flights to/from those countries around the dates you’re planning to go, and then decide where you’ll start and where you’ll end.

15. Bring your own airport snack

Lets face it, airport food has some of the highest mark ups on the planet. Avoid having to get one of those 12$ cheese sandwiches and 5$ juice, and instead get some snacks at a grocery store before your flight.

16. Ask locals how much you should expect to pay

In many non-western countries, things don’t necessarily have a fixed price. Instead, prices are determined by whatever the seller believes you can afford to pay. And if you look like a tourist, the price is gonna be higher than what a local would pay. If you’re going to a market, taking a taxi or purchasing whatever else that doesn’t have a clear price tag, ask at your hostel/hotel reception how much you should expect to pay. Here I’m obviously talking about when making larger purchases, I’m not suggesting that you consult with a local if you’re buying fruits at a local market When taking a taxi, make sure they have a meter or negotiate the price up front to avoid getting ripped off.

I hope you found these tips useful and that they will allow you to travel more for less money!
PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts :))

If you are planning a backpacking trip, you might also want to read:

• How to Choose a Hostel
• Common Mistakes To Avoid When Backpacking
• 14 Tips For Staying Safe While Traveling

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Guatemala is a very affordable country, with hostels ranging from 60 GTQ (8USD) and basic private rooms from approx. 200 GTQ (25USD). Local food in Guatemala, like in many other Central American countries, includes a lot of beans, corn and avocado. You can expect to pay around 40 GTQ (5 USD) for a meal at a local restaurant, which tend to have large portions. A cup of coffee will be around 1-2USD and a local beer will be around 2-3USD.

Before diving into the 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala, I want to address something many of you might be concerned about – safety. Guatemala, as well of other countries in Central America, tends to be displayed in the media as a dangerous and unsafe country. Hence, you might be under the impression that Guatemala is very dangerous and therefore you might be hesitant about giving it a change. For some practical advice on how to stay safe, read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

While the crime rates are certainly high, most incident of violent crime are drug and gang related and as such, is not targeted towards tourists. Petty crimes such as pick pocketing do occur, just like pretty much anywhere else. After having traveled through Guatemala for about three weeks, I can say that I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. I actually found that the local people are warm and welcoming, and go out of their way to help tourists and make them feel safe.

With that being said, here are 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Antigua

It’s easy to fall in love with the charming colonial town of Antigua. Featuring bright colourful buildings and cobblestone streets, as well as historical churches and buildings. On the subject of historical sites – the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Make sure to visit Arco de Santa Catalina, a bright yellow arch in the middle of the city that symbolises the entrance to Antigua. Cerro de la Cruz is also a must visit for anyone visiting Antigua – it’s viewpoint from where you’ll have a view of the city with the volcanic backdrop. Due to its location in a valley surrounded by three volcanoes, Antigua is also a great base if you want to hike some of the volcanoes.

Antigua is also a known as being one of the best (and most affordable) place to learn Spanish, making it the perfect place to improve your Spanish – or if you don’t know any Spanish yet, this would be an ideal starting point to learn the basics before exploring the rest of the country.

Where to stay in Antigua

Antigua has a very luxurious problem – there is an abundance of gorgeous hostels that have a 9+ rating. This is of course a luxury, but also makes it extremely difficult to choose one. I remember spending ages trying to compare all these picturesque hostels with flawless ratings. I actually ended up spending way more time in Antigua than I originally planned, and stayed in a couple of hostels. My absolute favourite one was Maya Papaya – it has everything you could possibly wish for in a hostel, the photos and the reviews really speak for itself

2. Chichicastenango

Do not worry if you have problems pronouncing the name of this village, it took me quite a while to get it right! The good news is that people will know what you mean when you say “chichiblalala” and then mention a market (mercado in Spanish). It really stands and falls with the word market – this is because Chichicastenango is where you find the largest indigenous market in Central America. The market is open every Thursday and Sunday – which is when locals travel from their villages and gather at this market and sell all types of handicrafts, jewellery, fresh food, colourful clothes and textiles, flowers and Mayan goods.

One thing you must keep in mind when visiting the market is to keep your belongings close to you and keep an eye on them at all times. Do not keep your valuables in a backpack on your back. As the market can get crowded, it tends to be a target for pick pocketing. I recommend that you keep your bag at your front and hold it at all times, or cover it with a piece of clothing, making it harder for pick pocketers to access it.

The market is pretty much all there is to Chichicastenango, although there are some beautiful churches near the market that are worth checking out. A couple of hours is all you need to explore the market so a day trip is really all you need.

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3. Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán (or in Spanish, Lago de Atitlán), is without a question one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake was formed about 84.000 years ago (so very oldddd) from a collapsed volcano. Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in all of Central America (up to 340m), but it’s more famous for the stunning landscape around it. Surrounding the lake are volcanic mountains as well a a handful of unique Mayan villages. Each of the villages differs from the next, they all have their own atmosphere as well as each having their own traditional style of clothing. That being said, you should definitely aim to visit more than just one or two!

Must do’s at Lake Atitlán include wandering through the villages, enjoying the views from one of the cafés, riding the water taxis and/or kayaking, hiking the Indian Nose (I would recommend a guided tour) and watching the sunsets. Lake Atitlán is also a popular yoga destinations and around the lake you’ll find lots and lots of yoga studios.

The villages around Lake Atitlán

Panajachel (usually just called Pana) is known as the “tourist town”. Perhaps because it’s the most easily reachable, as this is where the buses/shuttles will drop you off. From there you can get to the other villages by water taxis that are readily available. They only take cash so make sure to have some of that! Being the most accessible village – it’s where you’ll find the most variety of accommodations.

San Pedro is very backpacker driven and attracts a lot of young people. Here you will also find many Spanish school as well as good nightlife. For coffee lovers, Café Cristalinas is a must try – they roast their own coffee and it’s delicious. The Fifth Dimension is a vegetarian restaurant that offers view of the lake, but more importantly, amazing and very fresh and healthy food. Wouldn’t mind eating there every day

San Marcos is more chilled and is known as the “hippie town”. Here you will also find plenty of vegetarian food options. I really recommend Vida for delicious food and view of the lake. Restaurant Fe is another option, they also have excellent food, but no view of the lake. The town is very small so it won’t take you long to explore.

San Juan is the arty town. This is where you’ll find the best art and textiles. Throughout the town you will see plenty of painted murals as well as art markets. San Juan is one of the less visited town around the lake and has a very relaxed vibe.

Santa Cruz is very traditional and authentic, perhaps due to the fact that it’s pretty isolated as it’s only accessible by boats. There isn’t a whole lot to do here, however, it’s a great choice for experiencing the authentic lifestyle and relax. Make sure to visit Cafe Sabor Cruceño which is operated by a non-profit school, offering tasty food and of course, views of the lake.

Where to stay in Lake Atitlán

When it comes to where to stay, I will say that the hostels here aren’t as great as the ones in Antigua, but there are still some pretty good ones. Here I’m gonna list some of my favourite ones.

Dreamboat Hostel – hostel located in Panajachel. Features a swimming pool & social atmosphere, however the dorms have no fans or windows that can be opened so it can get pretty hot. They still have a 9,2/10 rating so it’s not all bad. Dorms range from 7 USD and private ones from just under 40USD.

La Iguana Perdida – hostel located in Santa Cruz. Has gorgeous views of the lake, hammocks, good vibes and yoga classes. They offer both dorms and private rooms. Dorms range from 6USD and private ones from 13USD.

Sababa Resort – hostel/hotel located in San Pedro. Despite it being a resort, the prices are not what you would normally pay for a resort. They offer both dorms (from 30USD) and private rooms (from 120USD), all the rooms are super cute. So is the pool and the whole outdoor area . The only con here would be that it has more of a hotel vibe, so it might not be a great option for solo travellers that are looking to meet new people. But you could still stay there for a night or two just to enjoy the pool & the views

Hotel Hospedaje El Viajero – hotel located in Panajachel. Nothing fancy but has everything you need. They have a cute garden area and private rooms ranging from 15USD.

4. Tikal

In the depths of the Guatemalan rainforests you will find the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. These now ancient ruins, used to be one of the major sites of the Maya civilization in the 8th century BC. As you make your way through the jungle, you will discover many temples, squares and palaces. The stunning nature as well as seeing the monkeys and parrots just roaming around, really adds to the experience. It really feels as if you’re in an Indiana Jones movie. The view from the top of the 65m high Temple IV, where you have views of the jungle as far as you can see, is truly something you will never forget. Seeing the sunset from up there was one of the most amazing experience of my life. Since the Tikal ruins are less accessible than other Mayan ruins in Central America, they tend to be less crowded than sites like Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Copán ruins in Honduras.

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Practical info for visiting Tikal

The entrance fee is 150 GTQ (19 USD) and must be paid in cash, foreign currency and credit cards are not accepted. This is apart from whatever you might pay to your guide or for transportation. I would strongly recommend having a guide, both to get to know a little bit of the history and simply to make sure you don’t miss anything important. And to not get lost. Although Tikal is magical, you definitely don’t wanna get lost there. I imagine it’s a lot more creepy than it is magical once it gets dark Maybe I’m just good at getting list, there certainly are paths and signs, but I feel like I could have easily gotten lost somewhere in all this jungle.

Where to stay when visiting Tikal

When it comes to where to stay, you basically have two option – staying close to the ruins or in Flores.

If you want to stay close to the ruins, Jaguar Inn is the only option. This is something I would only recommend if you are planning to be in Tikal for sunrise, as it will allow you to sleep in a little more and just have a more hassle free morning. The downside, however, is that you are really limited in your options for food and activities, since there is really nothing else there.

Your other option is to stay in the small city of Flores, which is known as the gateway to the Tikal ruins. Once in Flores, it’s easy to book a day trip to Tikal, you can either do so at the front desk of your hostel/hotel or from one of the many tour operators you will find on every corner. Flores is a man-made island roughly a 1,5 hour drive away from the ruins. Even though it’s classified as an island, it’s not really an island in the sense that you can actually drive there. But it’s certainly surrounded by water, apart from that one road, so I guess it’s almost an island?

While the only reason Flores is on people’s radar is its proximity to Tikal, it could be a destination on it’s own. It’s small but very beautiful, filled with cute and colourful buildings and cobblestone streets. Flores also features stunning sunset views, make sure to visit Sky Bar for the best view of the sunset!
My hostel recommendation for Flores would be this one – it has AC, a pool with a stunning view and a bar in the pool – need I say more? I would even add a day or two to my trip just to chill at the pool

5. Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey is the name of crystal blue natural pools surrounded by incredible green scenery. Semuc Champey means “where the river hides under the stones”, and that’s exactly what it is. It’s a 300m long natural limestone bridge, under which flows the Cahabón river. Over time, those natural pools have formed on top of these bridges. I’m not quite sure how this all comes together, but apparently this is how it happened

Located in central Guatemala, and I mean deep in the middle of the Guatemala jungle. As such, it’s not easily accessible. In fact, it’s a bumpy ride on what can only be described as a seeming endless road through unpaved dirt roads. Seemingly endless, in this case, means about 10-12 hour drive, depending on the conditions and where in Guatemala you’re coming from. But even so, it’s the most visited place in Guatemala, so definitely don’t let that stop you It will all be worth it once you are swimming in the turquoise blue water in the middle of the jungle!

What to bring & things to know when visiting Semuc Champey

First of all, make sure to bring a little cash to buy drinks and fruits from the local vendors. There is no food sold inside the park, so bring snacks or buy some food at the entrance. The entrance fee is 50 GTQ (6,5USD). You should also bring plenty of water, preferably in an insulated water bottle since those will keep it nice and cold, which, lets face it, is much nicer than drinking boiling hot water from a plastic bottle. If you plan to hike up to the viewpoint (and I think you should ) the hike is not flip flop friendly, so wear some sneakers. And of course bring a bathing suit & a camera!

There is really no need to hire a guide, as exploring the area is really straight forward. It’s open every day from 8am to 4pm, I would suggest being there as soon as it opens in order to avoid the crowds. Once you enter, you have two paths to choose from. One will take you to the viewpoint (mirador in Spanish), which is where you’ll have stunning panoramic views of the Semuc Champey and the surrounding mountains. A 40-50 minute hike through the jungle will get you to the viewpoint. I’d suggest to start with that, and then go back and take the other path that will lead you to the pools. You will probably feel like cooling down after the hike, and luckily, swimming is allowed in the pools, for the most part. The areas where swimming is save and allowed are market with signs.

It’s worth noting that during the rainy season (roughly from May to October) it happens that Semuc Champey floods and therefore visitors are not allowed. This usually only lasts for a few days.

Where to stay when visiting Semuc Champey

The shuttle/bus will drop you off in the nearby town Lanquin, which is the closest town to Semuc Champey, located 11km away. As tends to be the case with places that are seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the accommodation options aren’t very fancy, but I’ll list some of the better ones.

The first option is to stay in Lanquin, there isn’t a a lot to this town, but you have a few restaurants and a supermarket. From there it’s easy to get a bus or a shuttle to Semuc Champey, which are available throughout the day. Lanquin is very small, perhaps better described as tiny.

El Muro Lanquin – a pretty basic hotel but does the job. Private rooms from about 28USD

Vinas Hotel – Located about 5 minutes from the center of Lanquin, has a pool & a nice outdoor area. Private rooms range from about 22USD a night.

Your other option would be to stay in one of the accommodations located closer to Semuc Champey. This means that you will be staying in the jungle, not in an actual town, and as such will have to depend entirely on your accommodation for meals. Hence, you might be limited in terms of options, and prices will be higher.

Utopia Eco Hotel – located 3,5km from Semuc Champey, offering gorgeous views of the jungle. Prices range from 30USD for a private room.

Hostal El Portal – ideally located next to Semuc Champey. This hostel is very affordable, offering dorms from just about 10USD. They even have a pool, which of course is surrounded by beautiful greenery.

I hope these 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala have inspired you to visit this magical country. If you want some more Guatemala inspiration – I highly recommend a movie called “Guatemala” on Netflix!

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With everything going on in the world, I wanted to go somewhere I knew pretty well, since I wasn’t really in the mood to having to figure things out or having to think too much. I just wanted something easy and trouble free. With Costa Rica’s borders being open to tourists for a couple of months already, and direct flights from Spain, it was a pretty easy choice. I spent most of the time in Santa Teresa, which is one of my favourite places on this planet. I also visited Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna.

Getting from Valencia to Costa Rica

I didn’t really believe I was actually going until I actually had the boarding pass in my hand. Up until that moment, I just felt like anything could happen But it all worked out and I landed in San José around 9pm after a 17 hour journey from Valencia, with a layover in Madrid. Since I do not have the ability to fall asleep on airplanes (yes very unfortunate), I was struggling to keep my eyes open when I landed. Luckily it only took about 30 minutes to clear immigration & customs. They check that you have a valid health insurance that meets their requirements, and that you have filled out a health declaration, which is a pretty basic questionnaire that you fill out online. Those are the two requirements to enter Costa Rica at the moment, they don’t require a PCR test to enter. You can see the entry requirements here.

Landing in San José

Normally when I land in Costa Rica, I buy a sim card at the airport and then get an Uber to my hostel. But since my flight didn’t land until 9pm, the stand where they sell the sim cards was closed, and therefore didn’t have internet connection to book an Uber. When you get out of the airport it’s very chaotic and you pretty much have everyone and their grandmother coming up to you asking where you’re going, telling you special price for you my friend, and all that. Another thing I want to mention is that there are people at the airport offering you a ride that aren’t official taxi drivers, so if you end up having to take a taxi, make sure it’s an official one and not just a random person that has a car.

I checked into my hostel and they gave me a private room instead of the shared one I booked – which was just what I needed after a long flight. I always stay at Hostel del Paseo when I’m in San José, I’ve stayed at a few hostels around San José but this one is my favourite. I don’t think anyone goes to Costa Rica to explore San José, but you usually need to stay there at least one night after you arrive and before you leave.

You might also like: How to Choose a Hostel

I fell asleep within minutes and was expecting to sleep until at least 11am since I had been awake for well over 24 hours, but at 7am I was wide awake, thanks to the 7 hour time difference between Spain and Costa Rica I really needed some coffee so I walked to one of my favourite cafés in downtown San José and then walked around for a couple of hours. Basically all my trips to Costa Rica start like this – and I always go the same café (it’s called Spoon) in San José haha It felt so surreal to finally be back, San José always feels like home to me.

Santa Teresa

The following morning I got on a 6am shuttle to Santa Teresa, a surf town on the pacific coast. A true happy place. The journey is about 7 hours, including an hour on the Puntarenas Ferry. After getting off the ferry it’s a very sweaty ride, the tropical climates really starts to kick in Arriving in Santa Teresa was such a surreal feeling. Honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful to be anywhere.
The biggest problem (and probably the only problem) I’ve had with Santa Teresa in the past is that there were no nice hostels. I’ve stayed at many of them and not one was even remotely close to being nice. But this time when I opened up Hostelworld there was a hostel rated 9/10. I thought to myself well that can not be right, no one would rate any of these god awful hostels 9/10. But it turned out that this was a new hostel. It had those jungle vibes, a pool, and just looked really adorable. They even had ice coffees and avo toasts. I was sold. You can check it out here.

After checking in, I really needed something cold so I went out for a smoothie bowl & an ice coffee. Truly one of the top activities in Santa Teresa. And in the world :)))

One of the many things I love about Santa Teresa is that pretty much all the restaurants have these tropical jungle vibe going on, and are either outside, or at least partly outside.

On my way back I stopped at the beach, thinking I’d chill there for a little while. Ended up being a very short visit since I didn’t have any water with me. After almost passing out from the heat, I decided it was time to head back to the hostel.

I don’t know if it was because of the time difference or the fact that the sun comes up around 5.30 – but I woke almost every morning around 6am. Which is extremely out of character for me since normally I can not get up before 8am unless my life depends on it I’m just not a morning person. Unless when I’m in places like Costa Rica, apparently.

There is something really magical about early mornings in Santa Teresa – it’s very quiet and since the sun has just started to come up, the light is kinda misty and magical. The few people that are on the streets are usually going surfing or coming back from surfing.

In the afternoons everyone would head to the beach to watch the sunset. The sunset in Santa Teresa is really an event, and it’s magical. Both wifi and cell phone signal are pretty much non existent in Santa Teresa – so if you haven’t managed to get a hold on someone, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find them at the sunset :)))

We made an effort to try a new restaurant every night, but yet I didn’t get a chance to visit half the restaurants I wanted to try haha Most of them are vegetarian friendly and some were even completely vegan or vegetarian.

Some nights there was a bonfire at the beach or something going on at the hostel – but most nights everyone was passed out by 10pm.

Manuel Antonio // meeting monkeys & chill

My next stop was Manuel Antonio, also on the pacific coast, and one of the most visited place in Costa Rica. I stayed at a hostel in the jungle, where you could expect to see monkeys and sloths any minute. They even had a sign in the kitchen reminding you to not leave any food lying around since the sloths would take it

It’s something about just chilling in the jungle, away from everything, that’s so relaxing. So I loved hanging out at one of the hammocks or in the pool at the hostel. There was about 15 minute walk from the hostel to the next town, Quepos. That sounds like an easy walk, but because of the heat & the humidity, it feels more like a marathon than a short walk. Don’t think that stopped me from going there for my morning coffee though. Here are some photos I took one morning when I went there for coffee.

One of the main attraction in Manuel Antonio is the national park, where you can see a very wide range of animals – that is unless you are dumb enough to not get a guide, which is what we did :))) They ask at the entrance if you want to get a guide, but we kinda just wanted to go at our own pace and didn’t really feel the need to bring a guide along with us. Thinking they would mostly be stopping next to all the different trees and plants and tell us all about it, something we were quite okay with missing out on. But that’s really not what they do – as we found out, it was almost impossible to see any of the animals without a guide. We definitely didn’t see that coming haha – I mean how hard can it be? If there is a monkey or a slot up in the trees, it can’t be that difficult to spot them? But yeah as it turns out, you need to really know where to look and preferably also have a binocular, which the guides of course had :))) So if you go to the Manuel Antonio national park, make sure to get a guide haha, they are more important than you’d think.
I have seen sloths and all sorts of animals in Costa Rica before though, so it wasn’t too disappointing, but would have been fun to see them since that’s mostly what this park is about. We did see a monkey though, only because he was directly in front of us haha.

A part from cute monkeys, the park also has amazing beaches and viewpoints.

Just like in Santa Teresa, and all of the pacific coast really, the sunsets in Manuel Antonio are pretty damn amazing. This is what the view was like from my hostel every night.
I loved just chilling in a hammock and watching the sun go down. Or we would grab a pizza or some drinks. Either way, I never missed the sunset :))

La Fortuna

My last stop was neither on the beach nor was it warm. It was up in the mountains, a small town called La Fortuna. It’s one of the most visited places in Costa Rica, but since there are so many activities in the area but yet it doesn’t get overcrowded with tourists. There are hot springs, zip lining, rain forests, waterfalls, volcano – all the typical Costa Rica activities.

Due to its location, the climate is very different from that in the rest of the country, it’s really its own thing. Rainy days are not uncommon in La Fortuna even during the dry season (december to april/may). This is something I should have known damn well as this was my third time there, but somehow I completely forgot about it so when I arrived it was pouring rain, and I was like ahh yeah that’s right, it rains a lot in La Fortuna :))) It ended up raining two out of the three days I was there. So keep that in mind if you plan to visit. Luckily there was a very cute doggo at my hostel so I could chill with him in the rain. It wasn’t all bad. For whatever reason I didn’t take any photos of the dog, but here are some photos of me & the hostel.

I did mange to visit the volcano in between rain sessions. It wasn’t like a went very far out of my way to visit it though – I literally walked about ten minutes up the street from my hostel to get a slightly better view of it, but mostly I wanted to snap a few photos :))) I didn’t wanna go all the way up to the volcano since it looked like it could start raining any minute, and I wasn’t equipped for rain in any shape or form.

So because of the seemingly never ending rain – I ended up not doing a whole lot. I had planned to visit the Tabacon hot springs, it’s basically hot springs that are a part of a resort hotel, Tabacon, it’s pretty damn expensive to stay there but you can purchase a day pass for a pretty decent price. I’ve been there once before and would definitely recommend it. I’ve also been to Baldi hot springs, which is a cheaper option, so if you’re on a budget it’s a great option. But in my opinion, Tabacon is worth the extra money.

I did do a zip lining tour one afternoon – I think I’ve done one of those every time I’ve been to Costa Rica, it never gets old. You basically zip line through the jungle, so it’s a bit of an adrenaline rush and then there is the added bonus of seeing the jungle from above.

La Fortuna was my last stop before heading back to San José to catch my flight back. In San José I met up with two girls from Iceland and stayed with them my last night. They live in this cute colonial style house with a very pretty backyard, which was a perfect place for our morning coffee :))) As always, I was pretty sad about leaving Costa Rica, but I will probably be back there next year, or maybe earlier.

Will end this post with a couple of photos taken around La Fortuna <3

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