Guatemala Vs Costa Rica: Which Country Should You Visit?

In March 2024, I visited Guatemala and Costa Rica, two popular destinations in Central America. Before choosing to visit both of these countries, I spent days researching the best countries and places to visit in Central America. I then watched YouTube videos because there was little to no information in English from other travellers. 

It seemed to me that Central America is a grey part of tourism, and many of my core questions, such as “Is it safe?” or “How expensive is it?” weren’t answered by any of these blogs or videos. 

How to get to Central America?

Both Guatemala and Costa Rica have regular flights from the US and neighbouring countries. I flew to Guatemala from Miami International Airport. I have spent a few days in Miami and also created the perfect itinerary for 2 days in Miami.

Then, from Guatemala City to San Jose, Costa Rica. 

I always use Kiwi to check flights and prices and even book my tickets, as some airlines in Latin America don’t accept my international bank card. 

Best time to visit

Countries in Central America have mainly two seasons: the dry season and the wet season.

I visited in March, which was the high season. This was during the dry season, and the temperatures were the highest. 

Since it never gets cold, tourists visit Central America all year long; it’s just a matter of budget (prices can be higher in high season) or if you want to attend any specific event. 

For instance, in March 2024, there was the Holy Week (Semana Santa) event, which is the week before Catholic Easter. 

Celebrations take place all around the country, as this is the biggest religious celebration for Catholics. Note that the Holy Week has different dates every year, as the Easter date changes every year. 

But there are other events throughout the year. So, if you want to visit or experience a specific event, you should schedule accordingly. 

Activities and attractions

When comparing Guatemala vs Costa Rica, it mostly comes down to what to visit. 

Guatemala offers a lot of diversity in its attractions. 

Think of Spanish colonial towns, volcano trekking, active volcanoes, hidden natural pools and the centre of the Mayan civilisation. 

What sets Guatemala apart from all the other countries in Central America is the Mayan ruins, which are extraordinary, and I’m surprised they didn’t make it to the list of world wonders. 

I wrote an entire guide on how to visit Tikal in Guatemala.

Costa Rica doesn’t have much left of its indigenous heritage, and its main attractions revolve around natural spots such as volcanoes, rainforests, tropical beaches, and waterfalls. 

When Costa Rica was conquered, the conquistadors eventually decimated the local population. 

What to visit in Guatemala

In Guatemala, I rented a car and was able to visit the most popular spots in Guatemala, including: 

• Antigua
• Lake Atitlan
• Chichicastenango 
• Semuk Champey
• Tikal

If you are on a tight schedule, you should also rent a car, which is the easiest way to see a lot in a short time frame. 

However, driving in Guatemala isn’t for everyone, so you need to assess your driving experience before attempting to drive there.

I do recommend driving in Guatemala only if you are a very experienced driver with 10+ years of experience and driving experience in multiple countries outside the US or Europe. 

Guatemala is mostly preferred by backpackers and budget travellers who choose shuttles and public buses to get around.

That will take you much longer, but it’s the better option if you really want to stay longer in Guatemala using the same budget. 

What to visit in Costa Rica

The sad history of the locals or pre-Columbian Costa Rica can’t be seen much, except for the National Museum in San Jose.

But Costa Rica puts a lot of effort into marketing and advertises itself as the place with 6% of all the biodiversity in the world. 

This means that all national parks have a high ticket entrance fee, and all tours are expensive for the average tourist. 

Because I had visited the most popular spots in Guatemala before arriving in Costa Rica, I decided to skip the top attractions in Costa Rica. The main reasons were the price and the superior attitude of the locals towards foreigners. 

A lot of foreigners rent cars in Costa Rica, but the roads are said to be worse. Also, many seem to be afraid to drive in these countries, so they just rely on local tour agencies. Generally, tour agencies are much more expensive in Costa Rica. 

In Costa Rica, most tourists visit the following spots: 

• Arenal Volcano: Known for its impressive volcanic activity, hot springs, and hiking trails.
• Manuel Antonio National Park is famous for its stunning beaches, diverse wildlife, and lush rainforest.
• Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: Offers unique cloud forest scenery, a wide variety of flora and fauna, and adventure activities like zip-lining.
• Tortuguero National Park is renowned for its turtle nesting sites, canal tours, and rich biodiversity.
• Guanacaste: Known for its beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and outdoor activities like surfing and snorkelling.
• Corcovado National Park: Boasts untouched rainforest, diverse wildlife, and rugged natural beauty.
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: A laid-back Caribbean town with vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and excellent surfing.
• La Fortuna: A gateway to Arenal Volcano, offering hot springs, waterfalls, and adventure tours.
• Tamarindo: A lively beach town famous for its surfing, nightlife, and wide sandy beaches.
• Jaco: A bustling beach town known for its nightlife, surfing, and proximity to national parks and nature reserves.

It seemed to me that Costa Rica’s main industry is tourism, and it’s all about doing business and getting your money. 

While I do understand that, and I spend a lot when I’m travelling, I couldn’t justify spending hundreds of dollars for a day trip to a beach or to see a volcano after witnessing similar raw nature in Guatemala. 

I got a bit of hate on my YouTube videos about Costa Rica when talking about these issues, but I felt the need to mention it since there are not a lot of videos out there commenting on these huge differences in price levels between the two countries. 

Accommodation options

Both Guatemala and Costa Rica offer a large range of accommodations throughout the country. 

However, from my personal experience, Guatemala has some really nice boutique hotels in the most touristy areas, such as Antigua and Lake Atitlan, but more traditional small guesthouses or hotels all over the country. 

Most of these hotels in Guatemala cater mostly to local or Spanish-speaking tourists and accommodate local expectations.

It may take a while for foreigners to understand that security is a very important topic in Guatemala. All accommodations will have closed gates and even an electrified wire on walls. 

At first, as I stayed around the airport in Guatemala City and then in Antigua, I didn’t find anything too weird about the accommodations in Guatemala.

But then I stayed at a hotel with an armed guard and an electrified wire that seemed empty as we were the only guests. 

Then, we stayed at other small local guesthouses and hotels. It seemed to me that Guatemala is a great place for small groups and couples to travel to, but you will also find larger hotels if that’s what you need. 

I listed all the hotels I stayed at in Guatemala in my detailed Guatemala road trip itinerary. 

Costa Rica has plenty of hotels, and a lot of the big international chain hotels are present in the capital city, San Jose.

Many of these big hotels are right next to the airport, as many tourists arrive in Costa Rica, spend a night or two in San Jose, and then continue on with their trip around the country. 

Around all attractions in Costa Rica, you will find boutique hotels that cater to more wealthy tourists, but some budget options are available. 

I would say that it’s easier to find and book a room in Costa Rica because most locals working in tourism speak English, and that will make things easier for you. 

This is in contrast to Guatemala, where only very popular spots or expensive hotels have staff that can communicate in English. But the prices for the English-speaking experience are absurd. 

It is obvious who Costa Rica caters to, as it offers many 5-star resorts or all-inclusive resorts. Those aren’t a common sight in Guatemala. 

5 star resort in Costa Rica

• Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo
• The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
• Kura Boutique Hotel
• The Westin Reserva Conchal
• Punta Islita

Guatemala vs Costa Rica: Cost of travel

Guatemala is the budget version of Costa Rica. 

While some places in Guatemala, like hotels and some tourist attractions, accept international bank cards for payments, it’s always a good idea to have cash with you. 

You don’t need a lot because you can easily find ATMs in cities, but I’d recommend carrying the equivalent of $50 in cash with you at all times. You can aim to pay with a card when that’s possible and save that cash when there’s no other option. 

Most tourist attractions in Guatemala are more expensive for foreigners than they are for locals, but that’s the case in most countries. 

Here are some average prices to expect when travelling in Guatemala: 

• $5-10 – the entrance ticket for an attraction in Guatemala 
• $25-50 – medium-range hotel room for two
• $5-10 – random cafe for snacks
• $15 – meal for two in a nice restaurant outside very touristy areas
• $30 meal for two in highly touristy areas
• $1.20 / litre gas
• $400 car rental for a week with all insurances included (+$350 deposit)

Please note that these are the average prices that I paid in Guatemala in March 2024.

Only use these to get an idea about the cost of travel in Guatemala, but don’t actually plan a trip to Guatemala based only on these prices. 

Also, if you are not planning your trip by yourself and drive in Guatemala, you might only end up in highly touristy places, which are obviously more expensive than the average locations in Guatemala. 

If you decide to travel to Guatemala, I would recommend budgeting around $50 per day per person if you are planning on going on adventures and exploring the country. If you want to travel on a budget, you could probably spend even less. 

Now, let’s talk about Costa Rica. As soon as I landed in San Jose, I was shocked to see how everything was very expensive.

In Costa Rica, since they already have a huge influx of American dollars, some stores or services might accept U.S. dollars, but the exchange rate might be lower than what you would get from an exchange office.

Here are some average prices to expect when travelling in Costa Rica: 

• $20-30 – entrance ticket for an attraction in Costa Rica 
• $50-100 – medium range hotel room for two 
• $40 – meal for two in highly touristy areas 
• $1.30 / litre gas 
• $500 car rental for a week with all insurances included (+$500 deposit)

Overall, Costa Rica is much more expensive than any other country in Central America and even Latin America. It attracts mostly American tourists and offers nature experiences as a luxury adventure. Some gave Costa Rica the nickname “Switzerland of Central America”. 

However, it is probably the only country that offers this diversity of experiences, and guides and tourism staff speak English here. 

If you decide to travel to Costa Rica, I would recommend budgeting at least $150 per day per person. That’s if you are planning on going on adventures and exploring the country. 

I wrote an entire blog about San Jose, in which I also covered the overall prices in Costa Rica. I have also included the story about the airport taxi in San Jose.

Guatemala vs Costa Rica: Food and drink

Both Guatemala and Costa Rica are heavily influenced by American food chains and markets. 

However, Guatemala still preserves a lot of its authentic restaurants and meals, while Costa Rica caters a lot towards American tourists, and most of its restaurants offer meals like pizza and fries, which are kinda exotic for Guatemala. 

It’s not to say that you will not be able to find international food in either of the countries, but the chances of randomly stopping on the road and finding a local cafe in Guatemala are much greater than they are in Costa Rica. 

Just as it is with cultural sites, Guatemala wins the battle of food and drink, offering a plethora of local options wherever you go. 

Traditional foods in Guatemala

1. Pepián: A hearty stew made with chicken, beef, or pork, vegetables, and a rich, spicy sauce of roasted peppers, tomatoes, and spices.
2. Kak’ik: A traditional Mayan turkey soup, flavoured with coriander, achiote, and a blend of spices, often served with rice.
3. Pupusas: Thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans, and/or meat, typically served with curtido (a pickled cabbage relish).
4. Tamales: Corn dough filled with meats, fruits, or nuts, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed. Variations include chuchitos and paches.
5. Jocon: A green chicken stew made with tomatillos, green onions, cilantro, and green peppers, often served with rice.
6. Hilachas: Shredded beef in a tomato-based sauce with potatoes and sometimes other vegetables, typically served with rice.
7. Rellenitos: Sweet plantain dough filled with sweetened black beans and fried, often served as a dessert or snack.
8. Atol de Elote: A traditional corn drink made from corn, milk, sugar, and cinnamon, often enjoyed as a warm beverage.
9. Fiambre: A cold salad traditionally eaten on All Saints’ Day, consisting of a mix of meats, sausages, cheeses, and pickled vegetables.
10. Empanadas de Manjar: Sweet pastries filled with a thick custard-like cream, commonly enjoyed as a dessert or snack.

Meanwhile, Costa Rica offers an international vibe and food and drink options, which is probably what most of their tourists are looking for. 

Luckily, if you want to eat local produce, you can do so in each of these countries. In Guatemala, I mostly ate at local restaurants, and it was great. 

In Costa Rica, since I only stayed in San Jose, I made my own food, with fresh produce from the local supermarket, where all locals would shop.

At the beginning, it was hard to know what the local food was in Costa Rica, but then I picked food based on prices and, most of the time, traditional food is more affordable than other options. 

Traditional foods in Costa Rica

• Gallo Pinto: A popular breakfast dish made with rice and beans, often served with eggs, tortillas, and sour cream.
• Casado: A traditional meal featuring rice, beans, plantains, salad, and a choice of meat (chicken, beef, pork, or fish). I couldn’t find this as a vegetarian version (but I didn’t search too hard either), and I made this in my apartment quite a lot without knowing it was the traditional dish. 
• Olla de Carne: A hearty beef stew with vegetables such as yucca, potatoes, corn, carrots, and plantains.
• Sopa Negra: A black bean soup typically served with a poached egg, rice, and tortillas.
• Arroz con Pollo: A flavorful rice dish cooked with chicken, vegetables, and spices.
• Tamales: Corn dough filled with meats, vegetables, and spices, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed, usually enjoyed during Christmas and special occasions.
• Chifrijo: A layered dish with rice, beans, chicharrones (fried pork), and pico de gallo, often served with tortilla chips.
• Patacones: Twice-fried green plantain slices, usually served as a side dish or appetiser with various toppings or dips. I made this at home in San Jose, because plantains can be found everywhere. 
• Ceviche: Fresh fish or seafood marinated in citrus juices with onions, cilantro, and peppers, often served with tortilla chips or soda crackers. This is actually traditional for Peru. 
• Tres Leches Cake: A moist sponge cake soaked in three types of milk (evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream), topped with whipped cream. You’ll find this in a lot of Latin countries. 

Guatemala vs Costa Rica: Travel logistics

In both Guatemala and Costa Rica, you can rent a carand drive all around the country by yourself. 

However, driving in Guatemala isn’t for everyone, and I don’t recommend it unless you have experience driving in very crowded cities and countries where traffic laws are often ignored. 

In Guatemala, a lot of tourists fall into the budget travel category, and they choose to get around using either shuttles or buses. The cheapest way to get around is using the local buses, called “Chicken buses”, and these are most common around the Antigua region. 

In Costa Rica, most tourists either get private tours or travel around in buses.

However, the public buses, run by the government, have a complicated schedule (I couldn’t figure it out), and then the only option was to book a tour or a shuttle from a private travel agency. 

Guatemala vs Costa Rica: Local cultural

If culture is what you’re looking for, then Guatemala is the clear winner. 

You have different cities in Guatemala, such as Antigua, Chichicastenango and Flores, all with different vibes and cultures, which offer a lot for you to discover and experience. 

Costa Rica has lost all of its cultural heritage. If you are interested in learning more about Costa Rica’s heritage, then you shouldn’t miss the National Museum of Costa Rica, located in San Jose, the capital of the country. 

Beyond that, Costa Rica acts as a tropical resort for rich Americans looking for their next international meal. It’s not bad; it’s just different. 

Even more, Costa Rica doesn’t have many indigenous people left because, according to their museum, most of them have perished after the colonisation.

The locals you will find today in Costa Rica are descendants of those European conquistadors and expats. 

While Guatemala has many different cultural etiquette, which change from region to region, Costa Rica doesn’t seem to have any, as long as you pay for their entry fees. 

Guatemala vs Costa Rica: Conclusion

It’s hard to make a comparison between Guatemala and Costa Rica, because these countries offer different experiences and cater towards different types of tourists and travellers. 

I would recommend Guatemala to anyone interested in the culture of Central America who wants to observe the day-to-day lives of locals and descendants of the Mayan population.

It’s a country of extremes, where American fast-food chains have made it, but there are still cities that follow very old traditions and mix the religious rituals of the Spaniards with their own. 

I recommend Costa Rica if the only thing you are interested in is having a picture-perfect holiday that you can post on your social media. I also recommend Costa Rica only if your travel budget is not a concern. 

FAQs

What are the key differences between travelling in Guatemala and Costa Rica in terms of cost, safety, and tourist attractions?

Guatemala is a budget-friendly destination, whereas Costa Rica is not. Since Costa Rica aims to attract wealthier tourists, the general consensus is that it is the safest country in Central America, but I have been to Guatemala, and I feel very safe. As for the tourist attractions, Costa Rica only offers natural attractions, unlike Guatemala, which offers a perfect blend of culture, history, authenticity and nature. 

Which country, Guatemala or Costa Rica, offers a better experience for adventure travellers and outdoor enthusiasts?

Overall, Guatemala offers a much better experience, as it offers a complete package of natural sites and experiences. Also, Guatemala is the perfect place to practice all kinds of sports in a free and unrestricted environment, whereas Costa Rica tries to impose all sorts of rules and often charges for each experience separately. 

How do the cultural experiences and local cuisines compare between Guatemala and Costa Rica?

The cultural experiences and local cuisine have almost disappeared from Costa Rica, as it is mostly a vacation spot for rich Americans. Guatemala wins at cultural experiences, and the local cuisine is offered everywhere you go. 

What are the visa requirements and entry procedures for travellers to Guatemala versus Costa Rica?

Visa requirements may depend on the country of your origin and your passport. American and European tourists can enter both Guatemala and Costa Rica without needing a visa.