Costa Rica vs Hawaii For Vacation: Ultimate Guide
Wondering whether to book a trip to Costa Rica or Hawaii? You’ve come to the right article.
Costa Rica is the first place I’ve traveled solo to internationally, whereas I’ve been to Hawaii (Big Island and Maui) on several family vacations growing up. They’re both places you can count on for tropical and relaxing vibes, but in my opinion, they’re entirely different.
This article will cover exactly which you should visit on your next vacation, and how they compare in terms of cost, attractions, food, and much more.
Here is everything you should know before booking a trip to Costa Rica or Hawaii.
Costa Rica vs Hawaii At A Glance
Costa Rica is located south of Nicaragua in Central America, whereas the Hawaiian islands are a US state in the Central Pacific Ocean. You’ll need a valid passport to visit Costa Rica from the United States, which is why many Americans choose to visit Hawaii.
Hawaii’s most visited islands are Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. The islands slightly vary in level of development and prices, but overall share the same culture and types of activities. I’ve visited the Big Island over three times, and Maui on a recent trip.
The most spoken language in Hawaii is English, followed by ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaii’s official language), whereas Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica.
While I was in Costa Rica, I encountered many locals that were bilingual, but it was definitely helpful to know basic phrases in Spanish. If you don’t speak Spanish, you may have to rely on google translate to read signs and directions while getting around Costa Rica.
Beyond language, Costa Rica uses a completely different currency, the colon (₡)! Before traveling to Costa Rica, you should know the exchange rate by heart (1 USD = ~500 colon) so you don’t end up overpaying for stuff throughout your trip.
In general, Costa Rica feels more like an adventure than visiting Hawaii because of the differences in language, currency, and culture from the United States. As someone who loves traveling, that was exactly what I was looking for, but it may not be for everybody!
Here is how they compare in terms of cost, where to stay, how to get around, activities, and more.
Differences In Cost
Hawaii tends to be more expensive overall in terms of hotels and food. You can find excellent cheap hotels and Airbnbs all over Costa Rica, whereas the only cheap places to stay in Hawaii are camp sites.
Additionally, grocery prices in Costa Rica are surprisingly very cheap, and there are restaurants called “sodas” where you can get an amazing budget-friendly meal.
I stayed in the most popular tourist areas of Costa Rica, and there was no shortage of cheap places to stay and eat. This is a stark contrast to my recent trip to Maui Hawaii, where the only cheap place to eat was Costco!
If you’re traveling to Hawaii on a budget, however, the Big Island is a great place to consider. The Big Island has a wider variety of budget-friendly accommodations, cheap rental cars, and free attractions.
Where To Stay
I’ve stayed in the most popular tourist areas of Costa Rica (La Fortuna, Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio), and Hawaii’s two largest islands (Big Island, Maui).
Costa Rica and Hawaii share many similarities, in that they have beaches, waterfalls, and a relaxing tropical vibe.
Costa Rica has more secluded beaches away from crowds, and miles of undisturbed coastline.
If you want a similar experience in Hawaii, Kauai is the most remote out of all of the islands. If you’re traveling on honeymoon, however, Costa Rica can be a fantastic alternative to Hawaii because it’s a lot less touristy.
If you love the rainforest and wildlife watching, Costa Rica is the place to stay. La Fortuna, and Manuel Antonio Costa Rica were some of the most unique places I’ve ever visited.
La Fortuna is nestled in the jungle, and has waterfalls, natural hot springs, sloth watching tours, and beautiful views of Arenal Volcano.
Manuel Antonio is home to Costa Rica’s largest national park, and has a lush jungle environment, with white sand beaches, and excellent wildlife watching opportunities.
If you’re looking for a similar adventure in Hawaii, the best place to stay is the Big Island. The Big Island has everything from lush rainforest in Hilo to white sand beaches in Kona, and the Volcanoes National Park in the middle of the island.
It has dozens of natural attractions similar to Costa Rica, and it’s the perfect island to explore around.
How To Get Around
I rented a car in Hawaii and Costa Rica, and had completely different experiences. Rental car companies are typically very reputable in Hawaii, whereas in Costa Rica, there are several brands that you should avoid renting from.
These companies will try to add on additional insurance fees (~$25-40/day) into your rental car costs, and won’t allow you to decline coverage.
If visiting Costa Rica, it’s extra important to rent with a trusted brand like Adobe, and bring a credit card with rental car coverage. I always use, and highly recommend booking through Discover Cars to find the cheapest rates, and filtering out the results so you only see reputable brands.
Driving in Costa Rica vs Hawaii
Driving in Costa Rica can feel more like an adventure, with the speed limit’s being measured in km/h, single lane bridges, and bumpy roads leading up to the natural attractions.
If you plan on visiting many natural attractions, it’s best to rent a 4×4 in Costa Rica so that your car can handle the potholes. If you’re staying in a tourist hub, however, you’ll be driving mostly on well-paved roads and highways.
Driving in Hawaii is equally as scenic, and the the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast and Maui’s Road to Hana are perfect for an adventurous road trip!
Other Modes of Transportation
If you don’t plan on driving, there is public and private transportation available in both Costa Rica and Hawaii.
In Costa Rica, the public bus is the cheapest way to get around, and it connects the major tourist hotspots. Beyond public transportation, Costa Rica has Uber, and reliable private shuttle services available.
In Hawaii, there’s limited public transportation, depending on which island you visit. On smaller islands like Oahu and Maui, you can rely on a public bus to get to the beaches, and different tourist areas.
On the Big Island, the public bus is used primarily for commuters, so it doesn’t visit many of the tourist hotspots. If you plan on visiting the Big Island, it’s best to stay in a beach town like Kona, and rely on Uber/tours to get to the nearby attractions.
The Big Island has a variety of amazing tours, where you can explore the entire island without needing to drive yourself.
Activities In Costa Rica Vs Hawaii
Costa Rica and Hawaii have similar activities, whether you love relaxing on the beach, chasing waterfalls, or ziplining through the rainforest.
The Big Island, Hawaii is the most similar to Costa Rica, with the diversity of natural attractions.
It’s home to the world’s two most active volcanoes (Kīlauea, Mauna Loa), and has coffee tours, black sand beaches, and gorgeous waterfalls nestled in the rainforest.
La Fortuna, Costa Rica reminded me the most of the Big Island, but it also had incredible wildlife watching opportunities, and natural hot springs!
If you’re planning a beach vacation and want to stay away from crowds, I recommend visiting Guanacaste, Costa Rica or Kauai, Hawaii. Kauai has the most beaches out of all the Hawaiian islands, and is one of the least visited (for now).
Guanacaste, Costa Rica has the bustling beach town of Tamarindo, and miles of undisturbed beaches. It’s home to the country’s most popular beachfront resorts, and is where most tourists stay that are flying into Liberia.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a mix of Costa Rica and Hawaii, Manuel Antonio is the best place to stay.
It has white sand beaches fringed by the rainforest, and activities like ziplining, wildlife watching, and waterfalls all relatively close.
It’s home to Costa Rica’s most visited national park, and one of my favorite areas I stayed in Costa Rica.
Here are some of the activities available in the different regions of Costa Rica.
- La Fortuna: Waterfalls, natural hot springs, sloth watching, volcano hikes,
- Guanacaste: Beaches, surfing, ATV/horseback riding, Rincon de la Vieja national park
- Manuel Antonio: Beaches, wildlife watching, waterfalls, Manuel Antonio National Park
- Monteverde: Cloud forest, guided nature hikes, bird watching
Here are some of the activities available in the four main Hawaiian islands.
- Big Island: Beaches and waterfalls, Volcanoes National Park, night time manta ray snorkeling, coffee tours, farmer’s markets, luaus
- Maui: Beaches and waterfalls, scenic road to Hana drive, Maui Gold pineapple farm, luaus, Molokini crater snorkel tours
- Oahu: Beaches and waterfalls, Pearl Harbor memorial, historic sites, snorkel tours, Dole plantation pineapple farm, luaus
- Kauai: Secluded beaches and waterfalls, hiking trails, botanical gardens, Napali Coast boat tours
Food
The traditional dishes of Costa Rica and Hawaii are completely different, with Hawaii being big on seafood, and foods like poke and spam musubi.
In contrast, almost every meal I ate in Costa Rica consisted of rice and beans (gallo pinto), and salsa lizano! Hawaii has many chain restaurants, whereas Costa Rica has more small family-owned restaurants (sodas), as you venture outside of the tourist hotspots.
Most hotels in Costa Rica include free breakfast, and the grocery prices are surprisingly cheap if you’re traveling on a budget.
Beyond traditional foods, Costa Rica and Hawaii also happen to grow some of the most delicious fruit in the world.
The Big Island has the most farmer’s markets of the Hawaiian islands, where you can try everything from breadfruit to mangosteen. In Costa Rica, you can try out fruits like soursop and passionfruit at a local farmer’s market!
Potential Tourist Scams
One of the biggest reasons to consider traveling to Hawaii over Costa Rica are the potential tourist scams. There are a few common tourist scams in Costa Rica that can be easily avoided if you’re aware of them.
Some of the most common ones are fake taxis at the airport, overcharging tourists at restaurants/gas stations, and making them pay for additional car rental insurance.
To be safe, rent with a trusted car rental brand, always double check your bill (know the currency exchange rate by heart), and never leave your valuables unattended.
Tourist scams aren’t as common in Hawaii, but there are arguably more tourist traps, including overpriced luaus and activities.
You can easily avoid these by opting for all of the amazing free attractions. If you’re traveling on a budget, check out our list of the best free things to do on the Big Island and Maui.
Best Time To Visit Costa Rica & Hawaii
The best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season (late December to April), when the weather’s sunniest, and you don’t have to deal with tropical storms.
The best time to visit Hawaii is in the spring or fall, but Hawaii has lovely weather year round. Some of my favorite times visiting the Big Island were in the winter, when it rained but was still warm enough to go swimming!
I wouldn’t recommend visiting Costa Rica during the rainy season (May to October), because when it rains in Costa Rica, it pours!
I visited in late October, and the torrential downpour made it hard to drive, and some of the attractions were cancelled.
If you can only visit during this time, I’d opt for the Big Island, Hawaii instead.
Final Thoughts: Costa Rica vs Hawaii
Costa Rica and Hawaii are two of my favorite tropical destinations.
If I had to pick only one to return to, I’d choose Costa Rica because of its biodiversity, abundance of natural attractions, and less touristy feel.
That being said, Hawaii is an amazing place to visit, and each island has something unique to offer. If you want a similar, less touristy feel in Hawaii, I recommend visiting Kauai, or the Big Island.
Costa Rica vs Hawaii FAQs
Is Costa Rica or Hawaii better for a honeymoon?
If I had to choose a honeymoon destination, I’d opt for La Fortuna, Guanacaste, or Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica during the dry season.
Costa Rica has some of the most spectacular resorts, at a fraction of the price, from beach resorts to cozy eco lodges in the rainforest.
If you’re not worried about budget, however, Hawaii has top-notch beachfront resorts on all of the main islands. Hawaii has everything you need for a relaxing getaway, and you’re guaranteed nice weather year round!
Is Costa Rica or Hawaii better for families?
Hawaii is generally much easier to get around, and ideal for families, but more expensive. If you’re visiting Costa Rica on a family vacation, La Fortuna and Playa Samara (Guanacaste), are both great options.
Is Costa Rica or Hawaii safer?
If you’re visiting from the United States, Hawaii will feel more comfortable and safe to get around because there’s no difference in language and currency. Additionally, Costa Rica has higher crime rates than Hawaii, and a few common tourist scams to watch out for. That being said, I felt very safe traveling solo around Costa Rica, and it sees over a million US tourists each year!
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