On this article, I’m going to stipulate every part you have to know to develop into a house-sitter in Costa Rica. There are quite a few web sites obtainable to budding house-sitters, and it’s essential to know find out how to make the most of these. Home-sitting presents a novel method to touring, enhances your experiences, and may prevent a fortune in lodging prices.
I’ve been house-sitting all over the world for five years now; it has develop into a significant a part of my touring life. Constructing a powerful profile and selecting up many suggestions and tips alongside the way in which has allowed me to embark on a lifelong dream of touring full-time.
My husband, Rob, and I put our plans into motion in January 2022. Central America was one of many first locations on our journey want record. We loved 3 superb months of house-sitting in Costa Rica and noticed every part from Arenal’s lush rainforests to the gorgeous seashores of Puerto Viejo.
Dream seaside sits and luxurious rainforest retreats are all inside attain, however understanding find out how to safe them is significant. I’ve realized rather a lot about house-sitting since changing into a nomadic world traveler and can lay all of it out for you right here.
The way to Turn into a Home Sitter in Costa Rica
There are some nice web sites that will help you develop into a home and pet sitter in Costa Rica. Discovering the correct one for you is a vital first step to take. I’ve outlined a few of my favourite house-sitting websites beneath;
1. Trusted Housesitters
My go-to home and pet-sitting web site is Trusted Housesitters. Proper now there are 6,670 sits worldwide presently accepting purposes and dozens of lively profiles in Costa Rica. Their platform is easy to make use of and simple to navigate, and I like the truth that they’ve an app.
One other nice characteristic is the power to avoid wasting searches. For instance, should you have been on the lookout for a 10-day home sit in Costa Rica in February, however nothing got here up after your preliminary search, otherwise you didn’t like those you noticed, you could possibly save your filters and be alerted as quickly as a match turns into lively.
Trusted Housesitters has 3 membership choices that include completely different advantages relying on the value you pay. The highest membership is $260 and contains cancelation insurance coverage, enhanced customer support, and a couple of airport lounge passes a 12 months. The essential choice with limitless worldwide sits is $129/12 months and is an effective way to get began with house-sitting.
Proper now, it can save you 20% by utilizing the low cost code GOATS20. In the event you have been on the lookout for an indication to get began, that is probably it!
2. Thoughts My Home
Thoughts My Home is a good introduction to house-sitting. It’s easy to make use of and is without doubt one of the most cost-effective websites round at $29/12 months. The low payment means customers can really feel protected dipping their toes into house-sitting waters. Householders searching for sitters can be part of free of charge, so there are at all times loads of listings to choose from.
Potential house-sitters are free to go searching the web site earlier than becoming a member of as much as see what’s obtainable on the time. Loads of info is offered and you’ll even see how many individuals have presently utilized. The statistics web page is a good characteristic that reveals what number of lively customers they’ve and the place.
Thoughts My Home has been round since 2005, and it stands out to me due to its community-oriented vibe. What units it aside is the direct connection you could have with the house owners, who actively interact within the day-to-day operations. For these hesitant about diving into house-sitting in Costa Rica, Thoughts My Home may very well be the perfect start line.
3. Workaway
Though predominantly a web site for locating volunteer placements, an incredible instrument to have in your house-sitting arsenal is Workaway.data. I’ve been utilizing this web site constantly over the past 3 years to seek out volunteer alternatives all over the world. However one of many primary search choices on the positioning is house-sitting and there are presently over 500 listings globally.
They’ve an app, which is at all times a bonus, and I’ve discovered hosts to be fast and conscious of inquiries. Membership prices round $50/12 months or $30pp/12 months when a pair indicators up with a joint membership. I’ve made nice, life-long pals, in addition to some useful international contacts through Workaway.
4. Home Carers
One other web site price contemplating is Housecarers.com. Though it will probably’t compete with the numbers that Trusted Housesitters places up, there are lots of of listings presently searching for appropriate candidates.
Within the curiosity of conserving your choices open, it’s sensible to have at the least just a few lively house-sitting memberships open. Home Carers means that you can construct a profile and search with out paying something upfront. In the event you discover a house-sit you just like the look of you’ll must develop into a full-paying member to use. Full membership is simply $50/12 months so it’s one other inexpensive house-sitting useful resource.
In the event you’re considering of changing into a house-sitter in Costa Rica, Housecarers.com is a good web site to discover what a housesitting web site presents and the way it all works.
5. Nomador
Though Nomador has a heavy lean in direction of European house-sits, they do repeatedly have listings within the Americas too. There are presently round a dozen lively Costa Rican profiles on the positioning. Very like Trusted Housesitters, customers are additionally in a position to save searches and be alerted once they come in the marketplace. It’s a really purposeful and easy-to-use web site.
Nomador’s 3-month fundamental package deal is nice for folks simply getting began on their home sitting journey. Further advantages corresponding to insurance coverage, premium customer support, and early entry to new listings include increased membership costs. The highest-end package deal is round $190/12 months.
Regardless of not having an app, I like Nomador for its simple web site and clear and informative listings. The essential package deal is an effective way to attempt house-sitting with no massive monetary outlay to start with.
Private Expertise Home-sitting in Costa Rica
Costa Rica was excessive on my journey want record after I left the UK in early 2022. I’d heard a lot in regards to the white sandy seashores and the wild and luxurious rainforest, that I couldn’t wait to reach. I had 3 pre-organized home and pet sits booked at some point of my keep.
After 2 days of acclimatizing in San José, the primary house-sit was an hour north in La Fortuna. A fantastic and enjoyable spot identified for the large Arenal Volcano that dominates the skyline. My time right here got here with 2 canine to look after and the home backed onto the rainforest – it was unimaginable. Regardless of just a few big bugs, it was an incredible introduction to Costa Rican tradition.
The second home sit was the jackpot itemizing I had craved since becoming a member of Trusted Housesitters – 4 weeks on the seaside in Santa Theresa. A well-liked vacationer vacation spot and gorgeous location. I had further tasks together with a pool and 4 visitor flats that wanted to be monitored, however no activity was significantly taxing. It was steps from the ocean and an unforgettable expertise.
San Isidro, round half-hour north of San José was the ultimate house-sitting location in Costa Rica. The working espresso ranch was maybe one of the crucial gorgeous properties I’ve ever set my eyes on. Fortunately the gardener handled the espresso rising, I simply saved an eye fixed on the home and a bit canine known as Rodelle.
Greatest Areas to Home Sit in Costa Rica
I had such an exquisite time home and pet-sitting in Costa Rica. It’s a spot to expertise so many alternative issues. With that in thoughts, listed here are my prime 5 locations to house-sit in Costa Rica;
1. Santa Theresa
Home-sitting jobs in Costa Rica don’t get any higher than in Santa Theresa. The favored seaside city is a well-loved vacationer scorching spot with gorgeous white sandy seashores, nice browsing, and a vigorous tradition of bars, cafes, and eating places. I spent a complete month house-sitting right here and completely beloved it.
There’s a big expat neighborhood and a thriving vacationer scene which implies lots of the cafes and eating places have extra of an Americanized really feel to them. It does, nevertheless, imply that food and drinks costs are considerably increased than in different Costa Rican cities.
In distinction, the one-track mud highway that traces the primary boulevard of Santa Theresa maintains the originality of the city. The entire place feels a bit like stepping again to a less complicated time. Don’t be shocked to see folks strolling barefoot, taking beers right down to the seaside at sundown, or using scooters with a canine (or canine) on their backs.
Location: Santa Theresa is situated on the western coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. It’s round 115 miles (184 km) west of San José. Getting there requires a brief boat journey throughout the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas or a major drive round it.
2. San José
Though I didn’t house-sit within the capital metropolis San José itself, I did spend plenty of time in and round it – together with two Workaway language exchanges and a house-sit round half-hour exterior of the town. In consequence, I obtained to know the place very nicely.
I’d been warned about San José earlier than touring to Costa Rica, however most of those warnings have been unjustified. Like every metropolis, it has just a few areas that must be prevented when alone or at evening. For probably the most half, it’s a really cool and nice place to go to. The place to go and the place to keep away from are very apparent, and staying centrally in a populated space by no means gave me any trigger for concern.
San José is residence to a few nice museums, great streets crammed with bars and eating places, wonderful procuring, and some creature comforts should you’re lacking a Starbucks or Taco Bell! By staying right here, you’ll additionally be capable of go to great cities close by like San Isidro, San Rafael, and San Ramon.
Location: San José is the capital and largest metropolis in Costa Rica. It’s serviced by Juan Santamaria Worldwide Airport and is round 2 hours from the coast.
3. Jacó
Jacó was probably the most Americanized space of Costa Rica that I stayed in. It’s the placement of a number of massive resort-style beachfront lodges and is widespread with expats. It’s generally known as a little bit of a celebration city, with plenty of vacationers frequenting the various bars and eating places alongside the primary strip via city. I had nice enjoyable house-sitting in Jacó.
The seaside itself is gorgeous. The black sands stretch uninterrupted for two.5 miles (4 km) and it’s a well-liked spot for sunbathers and surfers. The nice year-round climate makes it an excellent vacation vacation spot for many individuals annually.
Though folks could come to Jacó to calm down and occasion there’s nonetheless loads of pure magnificence to take pleasure in. For instance, the attractive Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park is simply an hour south of Jacó. There are quite a few cool excursions obtainable too. ATV and horseback using excursions, snorkeling cruises to Tortuga Island, climbing, and ziplining are all inside simple attain.
Location: Jacó is situated on the west coast of mainland Costa Rica. It’s round 62 miles (100 km) southwest of San José.
4. Puerto Viejo
I nearly obtained to house-sit in Puerto Viejo however my month-long sit was canceled on the final minute. It was a disgrace, however I settled for an exquisite few days by the seaside with some pals visiting from England. Nestled alongside the japanese Caribbean shoreline of Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo is a tropical haven and presents a novel journey expertise.
Identified for its mix of indigenous and Afro-Caribbean cultures, Puerto Viejo is a unique expertise from the remainder of the nation. The city is such a cool place to go to and is a melting pot of traditions. From the vigorous beats of reggae to the various aromas of native delicacies. It’s a dream vacation spot for house-sitting in Costa Rica long run.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo Nationwide Wildlife Refuge is a surprising place to go to close by, and snorkeling within the crystal-clear waters is an unforgettable expertise. The entire city has a laid-back ambiance and its heat, pleasant folks make guests really feel proper at residence.
Location: Puerto Viejo is situated on the southeastern shoreline of Costa Rica. It’s round 137 miles (221 km) southeast of San José. Sixaola, the closest border crossing into Panama is just round 28 miles (45 km) from Puerto Viejo.
5. La Fortuna
In the event you’re planning to go to Costa Rica to expertise nature, in addition to some enthralling experiences, I extremely suggest you head to La Fortuna. Positioned centrally within the Alajuela area, this excellent city had every part I hoped to achieve from visiting Costa Rica; wildlife and gorgeous landscapes, zip traces, and pure thermal spas.
The long-lasting volcano that dominates the skyline is just breathtaking, and La Fortuna Waterfall is a should for any Costa Rica itinerary. The Bogarin path is a preservation space for sloths and quite a few different wildlife corresponding to toucans, lizards, and butterflies. It’s an incredible place to discover and to tick off seeing some native Costa Rican wildlife.
The city itself has a relaxed vibe with a gradual movement of backpackers, and vacationers, searching for nature and journey combined in with a bustling inhabitants of lifelong residents and locals. The small-town vibe makes it really feel homely and welcoming, while ample sights and facilities make it an thrilling place to remain.
Location: La Fortuna is situated round 80 miles (130 km) to the northwest of San José. The closest border with Nicaragua at Las Tabilillas is 100 miles (160 km) to the north.
Is Costa Rica Protected?
Costa Rica is taken into account one of many most secure international locations in Central America. The nation’s dedication to eco-tourism and a steady political setting has contributed to its general optimistic fame. Guests can take pleasure in exploring the nationwide parks, pristine seashores, and vibrant cities with out vital security issues.
Nonetheless, like all journey vacation spot, it’s important to train warning and to at all times stay vigilant. Petty theft, significantly in crowded vacationer areas in main cities like San José, is usually a concern. Hold a detailed eye in your belongings always and solely use respected transport companies like Uber and official buses if wanted to get round.
On the whole, Costa Rica is a welcoming and safe setting for vacationers and an incredible place to house-sit. Commonsense precautions, an consciousness of native customs, and respect for the pure environment will definitely assist when visiting from overseas.
Execs and Cons of Being a Home Sitter in Costa Rica
As with wherever, there are professionals and cons to house-sitting in Costa Rica. So, based mostly on my experiences, I’ve shortlisted just a few for potential house-sitters to contemplate:
Execs of Residing in Costa Rica
- Pure Magnificence: Costa Rica has an abundance of breathtaking landscapes, pristine seashores, lush rainforests, and majestic mountains.
- Pura Vida Life-style: The “Pura Vida” way of life is a cultural mantra that interprets to “pure life” and typifies the laid-back, optimistic, and stress-free way of living in Costa Rica.
- Local weather: Costa Rica enjoys a constant tropical local weather. With year-round temperatures averaging round 32°C (90°F) throughout the day and 23°C (73°F) at evening.
- Healthcare: Costa Rica has a well-regarded healthcare system, with high-quality medical services and professionals. My husband wanted a visit to the emergency room for ear bother and was seen effectively by a specialist and the therapy wasn’t costly.
- Environmental Sustainability: Costa Rica is dedicated to environmental sustainability and conservation.
- Peaceable and Secure: Costa Rica is thought for its steady political setting and lack of a army. It has been a peaceable nation for many years which fosters a protected and steady ambiance.
- Pleasant Locals: Costa Ricans, or “Ticos,” are identified for his or her heat and friendliness and I can definitely vouch for this.
- Out of doors Actions: The nation is a paradise for outside fanatics, providing a plethora of actions corresponding to browsing, climbing, zip-lining, and bird-watching.
- Price of Residing: Whereas not the most cost effective nation in Central America, Costa Rica’s price of dwelling is cheap, particularly exterior of main city facilities and positively when in comparison with say, the USA or the UK.
Cons of Residing in Costa Rica
- Language Barrier: Whereas many Costa Ricans converse English, the official language is Spanish. Non-Spanish audio system could face challenges in sure conditions, significantly in additional rural areas.
- Insect and Pest Points: The tropical local weather brings with it a wide range of bugs and pests, which is usually a nuisance and require ongoing pest management efforts.
- Pure Disasters: Costa Rica is vulnerable to earthquakes and occasional hurricanes, which pose apparent dangers and require residents to be ready for an emergency.
- Rainfall: Through the wet season (Could to November), the nation experiences as much as 9.5 inches (240 mm) of rainfall every month and as many as 27 wet days every month. I discovered that it largely falls closely within the mid-late afternoons.
- Water Outages: In sure elements of the nation, particularly extra rural areas the intensive rainfall can have an effect on the stress of the water provide and the stress drops to nearly nothing. This implies faucets, sinks, and bathrooms received’t work till they repair the issue which might typically take hours to resolve.
- Energy Outages – Likewise, energy outages though uncommon do happen extra continuously than in different international locations I’ve visited. In 3 months I skilled three 4-8 hour full energy outages.
- Humidity – Given its tropical year-round local weather, the humidity, particularly throughout the wet season could be overbearing at occasions.
- Non-Flushing of Bathroom Paper: The sewage methods in lots of Costa Rican cities are very delicate and because of this, you’ll be requested to keep away from flushing any bathroom paper. A bin is offered which is a bit disagreeable and is usually a bit bizarre for some folks, however it’s what they do.
- The Highway Methods: Though there are primary roads that join the larger cities, lots of the native highway methods are non-direct, lower via some significantly rural areas, and at occasions could be poorly maintained.
Home Sitting in Costa Rica: FAQs:
Listed here are some solutions to generally requested questions on house-sitting in Costa Rica:
Most house-sitting web sites could have insurance coverage choices inside their numerous membership bands that cowl host cancelation and another fundamental pet or house-sitting eventualities. However as a rule, it could be an incredible thought to have a normal journey insurance coverage coverage in place for visiting Costa Rica.
To develop into a house-sitter in Costa Rica you first want to enroll on a home and pet-sitting web site. There are numerous nice ones, corresponding to Trusted Housesitters, Thoughts My Home, and Nomador which have listings for Costa Rica and are filled with useful info to get you arrange as a sitter.
Though there could also be alternatives to receives a commission to be a house-sitter in Costa Rica, cash doesn’t issue into any of the web sites I’ve ever used. Predominantly the change of an exquisite residence, loving pets, and the improved expertise of dwelling someplace new is the cost.
Sure. Though fairly uncommon, I’ve definitely seen listings for house-sitting in Costa Rica with out pets. Websites like Trusted Housesitters will will let you seek for listings with out pets. Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that for probably the most half, pets are included as a part of the discount within the majority of listings.
The precise rules for house-sitters in Costa Rica can range, and it’s important to verify for latest info relative to your nationality and the place you’re touring from. Typically, vacationers are allowed to remain in Costa Rica for as much as 90 days with no visa. This era contains each tourism and non-work-related actions, corresponding to house-sitting.
At all times make sure that your keep complies with the authorized necessities of the nation.
Home-sitting jobs in Costa Rica are superior. From the beautiful seashores of each coastlines to the bustling cities and cities there’s a lot to like. Pleasant folks, nice year-round climate, nice meals, and a lot pure magnificence. Home-sitting in Costa Rica means that you can stay like a neighborhood and really expertise the great nation to the fullest.
Sure, there are luxurious home sits in Costa Rica. Luxurious could be subjective however I personally discovered lots of the locations I stayed, each as house-sits and in Airbnbs, lodges, and many others. have been to a very excessive commonplace and in line with among the greatest locations I’ve stayed all over the world.
Costa Rica stands out amongst Central American nations for security and boasts a steady political setting. Nonetheless, warning and customary sense are suggested, particularly in crowded vacationer areas the place petty theft can happen. To greatest predict security when touring, at all times make the most of trusted transportation like Uber and official buses.
Total, Costa Rica gives a safe setting for vacationers and house-sitters alike.
In Conclusion
My time in Costa Rica flew by and writing this text has made me very eager to return as quickly as doable. It’s such an exquisite place and house-sitting there made it much more particular. Getting to actually know a spot and the folks is such a unique expertise from merely passing via.
With a lot variety, I used to be in a position to take pleasure in many alternative points of Costa Rican tradition and heritage inside a single journey. So, whether or not you crave world-renowned seashores, the excitement of massive cities, the tranquility of the rainforest, or a mix of all of those sights, Costa Rica could have a house-sitting alternative to go well with you.
What are you ready for?! Get your self signed up right now and start your seek for your excellent Costa Rican house-sit placement.
