Walmart
Date Visited: 05/21/2014
Location: 10.00199, -84.20688 (Altitude: 3038 feet)
Didn’t stay here but we scoped this place out. This is not the parking lot of Walmart. It closes at night and the security guards said we couldn’t stay there. This is a dirt space under the Walmart sign. Close to the airport and a Hooters right next door. Felt too exposed for us but would do if you had a very secure rig.
| Internet: Unknown Restrooms: No Showers: Unknown |
Electricity: Unknown Water: No Restaurant: Unknown |
Tent Friendly: No Big Rig Friendly: No Kitchen: Unknown |
Restaurante Doña Julio
Date Visited: 05/22/2014
Location: 10.13782, -84.19101 (Altitude: 5787 feet)
A restaurant north of San Jose where we were able to camp for free for a night. In return, we ate breakfast at the restaurant the next morning. Views here are stunning! Owners are incredibly friendly. The owners had us camp in their front yard, we were the first and you need to make they are open to it. Kevin speaks English.
| Internet: No Restrooms: Running Water Showers: No |
Electricity: Yes – Not at Sites Water: Non-Potable Restaurant: Yes |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Volcano Brewing Company
Date Visited: 05/23/2014
Location: 10.52236, -84.96663 (Altitude: 2041 feet)
Electricity, a pool, beer, and an amazing view of the lake. What more could you ask for? It comes at a price. $15 per night for us. Only shower is outdoors and cold water. Free camp spots available down the road.
| Internet: Yes – Average Restrooms: Running Water Showers: Cold |
Electricity: Yes – At Sites Water: Potable Restaurant: Yes |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: Yes |
Playa Coyote – North End
Date Visited: 05/23/2014
Location: 9.80406, -85.29651 (Altitude: 3 feet)
Wild camp at the northern end of coyote beach. Free. Beautiful long beach with nice swimming.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Natural Source Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
North Playa Manzanillo Pirate Camp
Date Visited: 05/26/2014
Location: 9.71321, -85.21608 (Altitude: 39 feet)
A pirate camp just off the coastal road that heads south to manzanillo. Has beautiful sunset here but there were some bugs when the breeze died down. Free!! Warning: if it is raining this probably isn’t a good option. Locals passing by told us it’s the mouth of a river bed.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Natural Source Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Playa Hermosa – South End
Date Visited: 05/26/2014
Location: 9.65509, -85.18177 (Altitude: 36 feet)
This is a pirate site just north of Santa Teresa. You have an amazing beach, a garbage can, and some great shade trees. The site is right on Playa Hermosa (southern end). Not too far from Santa Teresa where there is a ton of surfing, restaurants, and bars. Free.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Natural Source Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Coconut Point
Date Visited: 05/27/2014
Location: 9.63394, -85.07401 (Altitude: 39 feet)
Wild camp off the road on the east side of the Nicoya peninsula. Well off the road, access from the north. Only amenity is a garbage can. Beautiful tropical beach, palm trees, and a nice breeze. Free.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Natural Source Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Playa Organos
Date Visited: 05/29/2014
Location: 9.81515, -84.89660 (Altitude: 72 feet)
A camp spot right in the beach not far from the ferry in Paquera. Good swimming beach. No facilities. Free.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: No Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Orosi Church Parking Lot
Date Visited: 05/31/2014
Location: 9.79737, -83.85483 (Altitude: 3563 feet)
This is a parking lot across from the church in Orosi. We tried to camp at the Balneario but they wouldn’t let us and told us about this lot instead. No amenities and it was a little noisy but it was free!
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: No Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: No Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Volcan Irazu
Date Visited: 05/31/2014
Location: 9.97660, -83.85343 (Altitude: 11299 feet)
We asked the guys in the main parking lot if we could spend the night up at the Mirador. We think they said yes, but I won’t be surprised if we get kicked out. Price to camp is free. Price to enter park is $23. Restrooms available at the main parking area, as well as a little restaurant. … And we got kicked out! Just to be clear, you can totally visit the volcano but you can’t camp here.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: No Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Restaurante Nochebuena
Date Visited: 05/31/2014
Location: 9.95856, -83.84551 (Altitude: 9491 feet)
After getting kicked out of the volcano natl park, we stopped at this restaurant and asked to park here for the night. Price was free but we bought breakfast here the next morning. Didn’t ask after restrooms or other facilities, but they should be available.
| Internet: Yes – Slow Restrooms: Running Water Showers: No |
Electricity: Yes – Not at Sites Water: Unknown Restaurant: Yes |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Aventuras Orosi
Date Visited: 06/01/2014
Location: 9.78228, -83.83871 (Altitude: 3540 feet)
This is a restaurant right in the river that we camped at. Cost was $4 for the night. Good trout at the restaurant. Ground a bit slopey.
| Internet: Yes – Average Restrooms: Running Water Showers: Cold |
Electricity: Yes – Not at Sites Water: Natural Source Restaurant: Yes |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Hotel Interamericana
Date Visited: 06/02/2014
Location: 9.90432, -83.68235 (Altitude: 2182 feet)
We parked here the night before our river trip on the Picuare. Free. But it may only have been free because our river guides knew the people at the hotel. No amenities offered but I’m sure the hotel would let you use their toilet if you asked. There is a lot for bigger rigs nearby, but you may have to pay. Plenty of restaurants and other stuff in the area to keep you busy. Here is a link to the company we used for the river trip: http://www.ticoriver.com/contact.htm very nice and they speak English.
| Internet: No Restrooms: Running Water Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Non-Potable Restaurant: Yes |
Tent Friendly: No Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Truchas Selva Madre
Date Visited: 06/03/2014
Location: 9.67899, -83.87919 (Altitude: 8071 feet)
Beautiful place to camp up in the cloud forest. 10$ per person. Was able to plug in to their electricity. Nice hiking trails, trout ponds, waterfalls, and streams all up in the cloud forest. A great place to escape the heat.
| Internet: Yes – Slow Restrooms: Running Water Showers: Cold |
Electricity: Yes – At Sites Water: Natural Source Restaurant: Yes |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: Yes |
Playa Josecito
Date Visited: 06/07/2014
Location: 8.65180, -83.71295 (Altitude: 46 feet)
Had to ask permission to drive across some dudes land because otherwise there is no beach access for those with campers. We paid him but he didn’t seem happy about it. If you can manage it, this beach is stunning. Scarlet Macaws everywhere. However we were plagued by blighting gnats. The bugs were so bad we had to sleep with all windows closed and they still got in and bit us all night.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: No Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: No Kitchen: No |
Playa Pan Dulce
Date Visited: 06/08/2014
Location: 8.39779, -83.28166 (Altitude: 30 feet)
Wild camp on near the point of the Oso Peninsula. Parking area a bit muddy, and no facilities. Beach is beautiful.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Natural Source Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: No Kitchen: No |
Playa Matapalo
Date Visited: 06/09/2014
Location: 8.38556, -83.28082 (Altitude: 46 feet)
Amazing beach next to jungle filled with monkeys, lizards, and scarlet macaws. Not great for swimming, but there are beaches within walking distance for that.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: Natural Source Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |
Carate Beach Pirate Camp
Date Visited: 06/10/2014
Location: 8.43878, -83.44790 (Altitude: 75 feet)
No amenities but the beach is beautiful. Great for walking, not so much for swimming. Free. Scarlet macaws and other animals frequent this spot.
| Internet: No Restrooms: No Showers: No |
Electricity: No Water: No Restaurant: No |
Tent Friendly: Yes Big Rig Friendly: Yes Kitchen: No |