Nicaragua vs. Costa Rica
Nicaragua vs. Costa Rica — which Central American country should you visit?
If you’re trying to decide between Nicaragua and Costa Rica for a trip, read on! Below you’ll find everything you need to know about each country and a comparison to figure out which one is best for you.
Each of these Central American destinations has a lot to offer for visitors, and some similarities. But although they are neighboring countries, Nicaragua and Costa Rica also have a lot of differences.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Central America, including both Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and although I would highly recommend visiting both countries if you can, I know that many people have time constraints that will only allow a visit to one country. So this guide will help you decide which country to visit.
Which Should You Visit?
Nicaragua and Costa Rica are both countries located in Central America.
These two countries share a border. Nicaragua is bordered by El Salvador and Honduras to the north, and Costa Rica to the south. Costa Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, and Panama to the south.
Both countries are Spanish-speaking. Both countries also have an abundance of natural beauty, including beaches, volcanoes, jungles, and more. However, there are also some key differences between the two.
I’ll get into comparisons and contrasts below to help you figure out which country is best for you…
Things to Do
When it comes to things to do, both countries have a lot to offer to travelers.
In Nicaragua, here are some of the highlights:
- Go volcano boarding on Cerro Negro
- Explore the revolutionary city of Leon
- Surf in Pacific Coast beaches like San Juan del Sur, Popoyo, and Las Peñitas
- Check out the colorful colonial city of Granada
- See glowing lava at night at Masaya Volcano
- Chill out on the shores of Apoyo Lagoon
- Hike one of the country’s many volcanoes
- Enjoy nature on the volcanic island of Ometepe
- Relax in the laidback Corn Islands on the Caribbean Coast
In Costa Rica, here are some of the highlights:
- Explore the cloud forests of Monteverde
- Chase waterfalls in La Fortuna
- See wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park
- Try an adventure activity like ziplining or waterfall rappelling
- Surf in Pacific Coast beaches like Tamarindo, Jaco, and Nosara
- Relax on laidback Caribbean Coast beaches like Puerto Viejo
- Soak in natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano
- Explore the natural beauty of Tortuguero National Park
- Go whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River
As you can see, both countries offer a mix of adventurous activities, wildlife, and culture.
When it comes to cities, I think Nicaragua has an edge (Leon and Granada are both cool colonial cities which make great bases for several days, while Costa Rica doesn’t really have anything like that.)
However, when it comes to national parks and wildlife, I think that Costa Rica wins. Nicaragua doesn’t have nearly as many national parks and it’s not easy to spot wildlife as it is in Costa Rica.
I’d say both countries are tied when it comes to beaches. The Pacific Coast beaches in Nicaragua and Costa Rica are quite similar. Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast is less accessible than Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast.
Tourism
Costa Rica’s tourism industry is definitely more developed than Nicaragua’s.
There are more than 2.6 million tourists in Costa Rica every year, while Nicaragua receives about half that number. Costa Rica tends to attract more travelers ranging widely in age, budget, and travel style.
Costa Rica is a good destination for adventurous travelers who don’t mind roughing it a bit, but also just as well-equipped for luxury travelers. It’s perfect for young backpackers, or couples, or families, or retirees.
Travelers in Nicaragua tend to skew more in the budget backpacker direction, but that’s not to say it’s not a good destination for luxury travelers or families or anyone else either. You just have to understand that the tourism industry and infrastructure is not quite as developed in Nicaragua as it is in Costa Rica.
Safety
Both Nicaragua and Costa Rica are quite safe for travelers. I would give Costa Rica the edge when it comes to safety, though. Costa Rica consistently ranks among the safest countries in Latin America.
Costa Rica also has a stable democracy, while Nicaragua essentially has a dictatorship. This led to extreme violence in 2018 when the government of Nicaragua attempted to suppress protests by citizens.
As a tourist, the governments of either country probably aren’t going to affect you in a meaningful way, though. For travelers, the main safety advice I would give for both countries would be to simply be aware of your surroundings, avoid unfamiliar areas on your own and at night, don’t flash your valuables, and keep a tight hold on your belongings. Just follow basic travel safety precautions and you’ll be fine.
As a solo female traveler, I honestly felt comfortable in both countries and didn’t have any issues the whole time I was there. I will say the street harassment was worse in Nicaragua than Costa Rica. However, if you just ignored them and didn’t engage, it wouldn’t escalate and I didn’t feel unsafe, just annoyed.
I wouldn’t let safety be your deciding factor on which country to visit — both Nicaragua and Costa Rica can be enjoyed safely, even as a solo female traveler, by using common sense and following safety tips.
Cost
When it comes to cost, Nicaragua is the clear winner if you’re looking for a budget-friendly destination.
Everything from accommodation to activities to food to transportation is significantly cheaper in Nicaragua than Costa Rica. In fact, I found prices in Costa Rica to sometimes be double those of Nicaragua.
For example, I stayed in a luxury hotel in Leon, Nicaragua that was $80 a night. A hotel of similar quality would have been at least $150 a night in pretty much any popular tourist destination in Costa Rica.
You can eat meals in local restaurants for about $5 in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica, but meals in more touristy restaurants can cost you around $10 to $15 in Nicaragua and $15 to $20 in Costa Rica.
Activities in Nicaragua are a lot cheaper than in Costa Rica. Things like surfing lessons, guided hikes and tours, and adventure activities are all probably half the cost in Nicaragua compared to Costa Rica.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation, both Nicaragua and Costa Rica offer comfortable shared shuttles for getting around to popular tourist destinations. These are usually a lot pricier than public transportation (think $20 for a journey of a few hours and $70+ for a full-day journey) but save time and hassle.
You can also opt for public transportation, which is affordable in both countries, but cheaper in Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, chicken buses are the main form of public transportation. These are old American school buses that are convenient for short journeys, but may involve many transfers and lots of waiting for longer trips. The good thing about chicken buses is that they’re super cheap (never more than $1 or $2.)
In Costa Rica, chicken buses aren’t as common. Public transportation is a little more organized with buses that are usually a bit more modern, and still affordable. It’s also easier to find posted schedules for buses in Costa Rica (which is not the case with chicken buses, which operate on a more informal schedule.)
Renting a car is also an option in both countries.
Most hotels offer free parking, and most roads are in decent condition if you don’t stray too far off the beaten path. It does take a while to get places due to traffic and/or winding rural roads, though.
Accommodation
If you’re a luxury traveler, you’ll find a better range of accommodations in Costa Rica. There are far more four-star and five-star hotels in Costa Rica, along with all-inclusive resorts on the Pacific Coast.
You won’t find as many luxury properties in Nicaragua, although there are certainly some good options to choose from (and usually at a much more affordable price than luxury hotels in Costa Rica.)
As I mentioned above, all accommodation options are typically cheaper in Nicaragua.
If you’re on a backpacker budget, you can get a dorm room in a hostel in Nicaragua for around $10 to $15 a night, while in Costa Rica the average rate for a bed in a dorm room can be around $25 to $30 a night.
Food
There are a lot of similarities between food in Nicaragua and food in Costa Rica.
For example, gallo pinto is the national dish of both countries. Gallo pinto, which means “speckled rooster” in Spanish, is a mixture of fried rice and black beans that is eaten as accompaniment to most meals.
Breakfasts in both countries typically consist of some combination of gallo pinto, eggs, cheese, bread, fried sweet plantains, and fresh fruit. Fresh fruit juice is also common in both countries.
In both countries, local restaurants (called “sodas” in Costa Rica) are where you’ll find the best prices for lunch and dinner, and authentic cuisine. There are also pricier tourist restaurants in popular destinations.
As a vegetarian, I find it pretty easy to eat filling and tasty meals in Central America since there’s naturally such a big focus on rice, beans, plantains, avocados, and so on in the cuisine. Of course there are many typical dishes that also include meat, including beef, pork, chicken, and seafood if you’re on the coast.
Language
Both Nicaragua and Costa Rica are Spanish-speaking countries.
Unlike Guatemala, where 30% of the population speaks an indigenous language as either a first or second language, there are only a small number of indigenous language speakers in Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
A lot more people speak English in Costa Rica than Nicaragua. This is because Costa Rica is more touristy. You can get by speaking only English in Costa Rica, although it still helps to learn some Spanish.
In Nicaragua, it’s definitely helpful to know at least the basics of Spanish because I found that far fewer people, even those working in the tourism and hospitality industry, can speak English.
One of my top tips for traveling in Central America is to learn Spanish. I personally spent a couple of months at a Spanish school in Guatemala brushing up on my high school Spanish and it helped a ton.
Beaches
Many people are drawn to Costa Rica because of its beaches. The country has beautiful beaches on the Pacific Coast, with excellent scenery, sandy beaches, and many great spots for surfing. There are some great national parks on this coast, including Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park.
Some towns along the Pacific Coast are very developed with all-inclusive resorts, large hotels, and American chain restaurants and stores. However, there are plenty of smaller, more relaxed places too.
On the Caribbean Coast, which is less developed and touristy, Puerto Viejo is the most popular beach.
In Nicaragua, the Pacific Coast is also beautiful and good for surfing. It’s not as built-up as many parts of Costa Rica, which is nice. However, it’s lacking the amazing national parks of Costa Rica.
On the Caribbean Coast, the best beach destination is actually off the coast. Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island are two amazing destinations that are accessible by plane from Managua or ferry from Bluefields.
In both countries, the Pacific Coast beaches are definitely easier to get to and more popular. You can find surf camps, yoga retreats, party towns, and family-friendly beaches in both countries.
Nature and Wildlife
I’ve already touched on this above, but I think that Costa Rica definitely has Nicaragua beat when it comes to national parks and chances to spot wildlife. Costa Rica has more biodiversity too.
However, Nicaragua is also an incredibly beautiful country. There are stunning volcanoes and lakes, as well as the beaches which are right on par with what Costa Rica has to offer. But I do think Costa Rica has an edge when it comes to nature and wildlife since there’s so much variety and it’s more accessible.
Travel Style
Both countries have something to offer for every type of traveler.
But if you’re more of a luxury traveler, I would recommend Costa Rica since it caters to luxury travelers better. I also think Costa Rica is a better and easier destination for families with younger kids.
Nicaragua is a paradise for budget travelers and young backpackers since it’s so affordable.
Both countries are great for adventurous travelers who love the outdoors, although once again, Nicaragua has the edge when it comes to getting the best value for your money on activities and other expenses.
Nicaragua is a popular destination for older expats and retirees looking for an affordable cost of living, so it’s a great place for older travelers as well — although so is Costa Rica for this demographic.
Visiting Both Countries
If you only have time to visit one of these countries, hopefully this guide helped you decide.
However, it’s easy to combine both Nicaragua and Costa Rica into one trip if you have enough time. If you only have one week to ten days, I’d definitely suggest just sticking to one country.
But if you have at least two weeks, you can visit Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I’d recommend starting in Nicaragua and then working your way south to Costa Rica. Two weeks is just enough time to hit the highlights of both countries, but you can easily spend two weeks per country and never get bored.
Nicaragua vs. Costa Rica
This guide showed you how to decide between Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
You will have a great time in either of these Central American countries. If you’re short on time and can only choose one to visit, hopefully this guide helped you figure out which one is best for you.
Whichever destination you choose, enjoy your trip!
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