Peru or Costa Rica
So here is the question, Peru or Costa Rica? Which is the better place to travel to?
We all travel for different reasons. Some want history, some want the beach, others may want to hike mountains.
Why am I comparing these two? As far as affordability they are close. Both places offer luxury and backpacking style vacations. As a budget traveler, I like to know what is the best for my buck.
Top Attraction
Peru
I don’t think any place can compare with Machu Picchu. This place is a hikers and backpackers paradise. It is a photographers dream. And filled with history for those who love ancient times. This is the top attraction for Peru and anyone can see why. The best time to come here is March to November as it is not the rainy season. The trail is closed in February so plan you trip.
Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano is such a great hike. There is so much around it to do as well. It is easy to get to for tourists but if you have a car there is so much more to see. This is also great for all ages, the young and for the wise. The rainy season here is from December to April. Any time after that you will see crowds.
Getting Around
Peru
Getting around by bus, train or car is easy. Public transport is not expensive. Getting to some of the tourist areas can be a bit pricey by tours but if you plan yourself with buses and trains you can save a lot. The most common way to get around is micros (mini bus) this is used by locals and tourists.
Costa Rica
Driving around Costa Rica was not my favorite part of my vacation. If you have seen that post you will know I had a small accident, myself to blame. However getting to all the main areas is easy. The public buses are cheap and easy to book. The buses are government subsidized and is very cheap for locals and travelers alike.
Hotels
Both places over you typical luxury, medium cost and hostels. After a lot of research they both tied. And after many reviews both main cities Lima and San Jose have there fair share of poor reviews when it come to the cheaper side of things. Lets be honest though, that is the same in almost any major city.
Getting outside the city you can find great deals for both places. And as you get closer to your main attractions the price goes up. However I will say Costa Rica is cheaper by comparison.
Currency
Peru
Currency here is nuevo Sol. The US dollar is widely accepted here however it is best to exchange. ATMs are easily found but before going to areas that are off the beaten path I would suggest exchanging and getting smaller bills.
1 USD=around 3.5 Sol
Costa Rica
The currency here is the Costa Rican Colon. The US dollar is also accepted here but again, using the local currency is always better.
1 USD= around 604 colon
Food
Aghhh this is another tie for me. With that is here is the reason. I love food, really love it. I can enjoy or hate a meal anywhere. But when you find that perfect place I will go back. There is nothing more I hate than a bad meal. I do love to try the native food and will say Costa Rica has some great side of the highway shacks.
Both places also offer fresh fruit and veggies everywhere. You don’t need to go looking for a market, there are small stands in the city and on the side of the highway.
Beaches
Peru
Peru has over 2400 km of beach, so finding the right spot to relax or to surf is not going to be hard. Lima, the major city there, has some great soft sand beaches with turquoise water. Now if you want something for Instagram, I would suggest El Chaco beach. High cliffs, waves crashing to the shore, absolutely stunning.
Costa Rica
Want to learn to surf? Here is a great place to start. Jaco Beach has some of the easiest waves to get up. Costa Rica has two sides, the Caribbean side and the Pacific Side. The beaches are miles and miles long. This is the best place if you want a beach vacation.
Covid
This is a big concern for everyone. How do they handle the pandemic?
No place is going to be perfect with the unknown. How you handle it is another story. Peru at the time of this post (December 2020) has 36500 deaths and Costa Rica 1880. So what did Costa Rica do differently? Not much actually. Both are allowing other countries in as long as they follow the visa requirements. Peru has a much larger population but per million Peru still had higher numbers.
I don’t think anyone should travel here at this time. However that is my personal opinion.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for the beach, hands down Costa Rica. If you are looking for some amazing ancient ruins, Peru! If you are looking for hiking both are great but you can’t beat the Inca Trail. Want to hang out in a jungle, ok I loved Costa Rica for this but both still offer such amazing jungle tours.
Costa Rica has done quite a bit to become an eco friendly country, probably the best in the world. Only one thing I hope they and Peru stop doing, shark finning. I know this almost stopped me from going.
Both places are stunning and have a lot to offer their tourists. They are both affordable for those taking a break in college or those traveling solo. They have great luxury options and if you can afford the luxury tours, I would say do it.