It pays to be in the most biodiverse place on earth. And I mean it really pays. Everything cool is gate kept from clumsy tourists so to see them carries a large price tag.

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So if you’re like me and are a huge wildlife nerd/Steve Backshall fan/slightly delusional wannabe wildlife presenter-but also kinda broke, there are ways.

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For context, Conrad and I visited Costa Rica right at the end of our three month trip to give me my fill of wildlife. However we were down to our last few pennies but still saw more than enough so I feel I have some authority to advise:

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1. Prioritise:

• Sometimes tours are the only way to see cool wildlife so save your pennies for those. In our case, our grand finale was the two-day trek in Corcovado National Park (separate blog about this experience incoming…) so we saved almost our entire budget for this.

• Don’t waste your money on a zoo. Costa Rica is known for its sustainable ecotourism so you can have an amazing animal experience in the wild, much better than from behind a cage. 

• But the entire country is a National Park which means the wildlife and surrounding habitats are exceptionally well preserved. Any wildlife you do see will be in a thriving ecosystem.

• Narrow down the animals you’d like to see. Crocodiles were also a priority so we booked a tour for that too.

• But tours are offered at every entrance to every national park, every beach and every attraction so plan and prioritize.

 

2. Self Guided:

• Opt for a self-guided tour instead of a paid one when possible-they are at least half the price.

• Some parks require a guide but not all, so be wary and look up beforehand.

• When we visited the Carara National Park, the two ladies behind the counter seemed to serve no purpose other than informing you that tickets need to be booked online, there was no Wi-Fi there and no signal either. As we came by bus, she felt sorry for us and eventually allowed her colleague to hotspot us. 

• If you do not have a reliable form of transport, research the tickets before. We have stood at the side of the road waiting for some time, and this is even less fun when you can't even get into the park. 

 

3. Learn some basic wildlife spotting tips:

• Now you’re actually in the park, there’s no point if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

• Pack binoculars, walk slowly, stop at regular intervals and be quiet. Some of Conrad and I’s most successful trails were conducted virtually in complete silence, only speaking in a whisper when we needed to.

• In contrast, our most ‘unsuccessful’ walks (in terms of spotting wildlife at least) were when we were in the proximity of louder groups chatting. Busier trails are louder and wildlife will simply take cover. The more off the beaten track you go, the higher the chance of seeing something.

• Research the common species found there. It helps to know if you’re wasting your time searching the ground for a snake when they aren’t even there.

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4. Look in your own Backyard:

• Don’t just focus on the National Parks. You’d be surprised what you find just by wondering about your accommodation and the cities.

• In Jaco, Conrad and I found huge iguanas hiding in city walls just by wandering around.  The best place surprisingly was a beachside hotel we used as a shortcut to the beach. We never saw iguanas of this size anywhere else.

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5. Respect the Animal:

• Seems obvious but it can be tempting to stroke or even hold them, but as I occasionally had to remind Conrad, they were still wild.

• We were in their world, they’re not in ours.

• Unless you’re Steve Backshall himself, keep your distance!

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