On this article, I’m going to stipulate all the things you might want to know to turn out to be a house-sitter in Costa Rica. There are quite a few web sites accessible to budding house-sitters, and it’s vital to know find out how to make the most of these. Home-sitting provides a novel strategy to touring, enhances your experiences, and may prevent a fortune in lodging prices.
I’ve been house-sitting around the globe for five years now; it has turn out to be a serious a part of my touring life. Constructing a robust profile and selecting up many ideas 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 listing. We loved 3 superb months of house-sitting in Costa Rica and noticed all the things from Arenal’s lush rainforests to the beautiful seashores of Puerto Viejo.
Dream seaside sits and luxurious rainforest retreats are all inside attain, however realizing find out how to safe them is important. I’ve discovered so much about house-sitting since changing into a nomadic world traveler and can lay all of it out for you right here.
The best way to Develop into a Home Sitter in Costa Rica
There are some nice web sites that can assist you turn out to be a home and pet sitter in Costa Rica. Discovering the precise one for you is a crucial first step to take. I’ve outlined a few of my favourite house-sitting websites under;
1. Trusted Housesitters
My go-to home and pet-sitting web site is Trusted Housesitters. Proper now there are 6,670 sits worldwide at the moment accepting functions 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, if you happen to had 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 possibly can 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 yr. The essential choice with limitless worldwide sits is $129/yr 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. For those who had been on the lookout for an indication to get began, that is almost definitely it!
2. Thoughts My Home
Thoughts My Home is a superb introduction to house-sitting. It’s easy to make use of and is likely one of the least expensive websites round at $29/yr. The low charge means customers can really feel protected dipping their toes into house-sitting waters. Householders in search of sitters can be part of at no cost, so there are at all times loads of listings to select from.
Potential house-sitters are free to go searching the web site earlier than becoming a member of as much as see what’s accessible on the time. Loads of info is offered and you may even see how many individuals have at the moment utilized. The statistics web page is a superb 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 might have with the house owners, who actively have interaction within the day-to-day operations. For these hesitant about diving into house-sitting in Costa Rica, Thoughts My Home might be the best start line.
3. Workaway
Though predominantly a web site for locating volunteer placements, an important device to have in your house-sitting arsenal is Workaway.information. I’ve been utilizing this web site constantly during the last 3 years to seek out volunteer alternatives around the globe. However one of many most important search choices on the positioning is house-sitting and there are at the moment 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/yr or $30pp/yr when a pair indicators up with a joint membership. I’ve made nice, life-long buddies, in addition to some helpful international contacts through Workaway.
4. Home Carers
One other web site price contemplating is Housecarers.com. Though it will possibly’t compete with the numbers that Trusted Housesitters places up, there are lots of of listings at the moment in search of appropriate candidates.
Within the curiosity of protecting your choices open, it’s smart to have no less than a couple of lively house-sitting memberships open. Home Carers means that you can construct a profile and search with out paying something upfront. For those who discover a house-sit you just like the look of you’ll must turn out to be a full-paying member to use. Full membership is simply $50/yr so it’s one other inexpensive house-sitting useful resource.
For those who’re pondering of changing into a house-sitter in Costa Rica, Housecarers.com is a superb web site to discover what a housesitting web site provides and the way it all works.
5. Nomador
Though Nomador has a heavy lean in the direction of European house-sits, they do frequently have listings within the Americas too. There are at the moment round a dozen lively Costa Rican profiles on the positioning. Very similar to Trusted Housesitters, customers are additionally capable of save searches and be alerted after they come available on the market. It’s a really useful and easy-to-use web site.
Nomador’s 3-month fundamental package deal is nice for individuals simply getting began on their home sitting journey. Extra 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/yr.
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 out a massive monetary outlay to start with.
Private Expertise Home-sitting in Costa Rica
Costa Rica was excessive on my journey want listing after I left the UK in early 2022. I’d heard a lot in regards to the white sandy seashores and the wild and plush 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 stupendous and stress-free spot identified for the large Arenal Volcano that dominates the skyline. My time right here got here with 2 canine to take care of and the home backed onto the rainforest – it was unimaginable. Regardless of a couple of large bugs, it was an important 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 preferred vacationer vacation spot and beautiful location. I had extra tasks together with a pool and 4 visitor residences that wanted to be monitored, however no process was notably 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 probably the most beautiful 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 just a little canine referred to 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 various issues. With that in thoughts, listed below are my high 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 sizzling spot with beautiful white sandy seashores, nice browsing, and a full of life tradition of bars, cafes, and eating places. I spent a complete month house-sitting right here and completely liked it.
There’s a big expat group and a thriving vacationer scene which suggests most of the cafes and eating places have extra of an Americanized really feel to them. It does, nevertheless, imply that foods 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 just a little like stepping again to a less complicated time. Don’t be shocked to see individuals 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 positioned 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 big drive round it.
2. San José
Though I didn’t house-sit within the capital metropolis San José itself, I did spend a variety of time in and round it – together with two Workaway language exchanges and a house-sit round half-hour exterior of town. Consequently, I acquired to know the place very effectively.
I’d been warned about San José earlier than touring to Costa Rica, however most of those warnings had been unjustified. Like every metropolis, it has a couple of areas that ought to be prevented when alone or at night time. 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, fantastic streets crammed with bars and eating places, glorious purchasing, and some creature comforts if you happen to’re lacking a Starbucks or Taco Bell! By staying right here, you’ll additionally be capable of go to fantastic 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 situation of a number of massive resort-style beachfront inns and is fashionable with expats. It’s often called a little bit of a celebration city, with a number of vacationers frequenting the various bars and eating places alongside the primary strip by means of city. I had nice enjoyable house-sitting in Jacó.
The seaside itself is beautiful. The black sands stretch uninterrupted for two.5 miles (4 km) and it’s a preferred spot for sunbathers and surfers. The nice year-round climate makes it a great vacation vacation spot for many individuals every year.
Though individuals might come to Jacó to calm down and celebration there’s nonetheless loads of pure magnificence to get pleasure from. For instance, the attractive Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park is simply an hour south of Jacó. There are quite a few cool excursions accessible too. ATV and horseback using excursions, snorkeling cruises to Tortuga Island, mountaineering, and ziplining are all inside simple attain.
Location: Jacó is positioned on the west coast of mainland Costa Rica. It’s round 62 miles (100 km) southwest of San José.
4. Puerto Viejo
I virtually acquired 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 buddies visiting from England. Nestled alongside the japanese Caribbean shoreline of Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo is a tropical haven and provides a novel journey expertise.
Recognized 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 full of life beats of reggae to the varied 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 individuals make guests really feel proper at residence.
Location: Puerto Viejo is positioned 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 barely round 28 miles (45 km) from Puerto Viejo.
5. La Fortuna
For those who’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 glorious city had all the things I hoped to realize from visiting Costa Rica; wildlife and beautiful landscapes, zip traces, and pure thermal spas.
The long-lasting volcano that dominates the skyline is solely 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 important place to discover and to tick off seeing some native Costa Rican wildlife.
The city itself has a relaxed vibe with a gentle move of backpackers, and vacationers, in search of nature and journey blended in with a bustling inhabitants of lifelong residents and locals. The small-town vibe makes it really feel homely and welcoming, while ample points of interest and facilities make it an thrilling place to remain.
Location: La Fortuna is positioned 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 Secure?
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 secure political setting has contributed to its general optimistic fame. Guests can get pleasure from exploring the nationwide parks, pristine seashores, and vibrant cities with out important security considerations.
Nonetheless, like all journey vacation spot, it’s important to train warning and to at all times stay vigilant. Petty theft, notably in crowded vacationer areas in main cities like San José, generally is a concern. Preserve an in depth eye in your belongings always and solely use respected transport companies like Uber and official buses if wanted to get round.
Generally, Costa Rica is a welcoming and safe setting for vacationers and an important place to house-sit. Commonsense precautions, an consciousness of native customs, and respect for the pure environment will definitely assist when visiting from overseas.
Professionals and Cons of Being a Home Sitter in Costa Rica
As with anyplace, there are execs and cons to house-sitting in Costa Rica. So, based mostly on my experiences, I’ve shortlisted a couple of for potential house-sitters to think about:
Professionals 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 lifestyle in Costa Rica.
- Local weather: Costa Rica enjoys a constant tropical local weather. With year-round temperatures averaging round 32°C (90°F) through the day and 23°C (73°F) at night time.
- Healthcare: Costa Rica has a well-regarded healthcare system, with high-quality medical amenities and professionals. My husband wanted a visit to the emergency room for ear hassle and was seen effectively by a specialist and the remedy wasn’t costly.
- Environmental Sustainability: Costa Rica is dedicated to environmental sustainability and conservation.
- Peaceable and Steady: Costa Rica is understood for its secure political setting and lack of a navy. It has been a peaceable nation for many years which fosters a protected and secure ambiance.
- Pleasant Locals: Costa Ricans, or “Ticos,” are identified for his or her heat and friendliness and I can actually vouch for this.
- Out of doors Actions: The nation is a paradise for outside fans, providing a plethora of actions corresponding to browsing, mountaineering, zip-lining, and bird-watching.
- Value of Residing: Whereas not the most cost effective nation in Central America, Costa Rica’s value of residing is cheap, particularly exterior of main city facilities and definitely 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 might face challenges in sure conditions, notably in additional rural areas.
- Insect and Pest Points: The tropical local weather brings with it quite a lot of bugs and pests, which generally is a nuisance and require ongoing pest management efforts.
- Pure Disasters: Costa Rica is susceptible to earthquakes and occasional hurricanes, which pose apparent dangers and require residents to be ready for an emergency.
- Rainfall: In the course of the wet season (Might 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 principally 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 virtually nothing. This implies faucets, sinks, and bathrooms gained’t work till they repair the issue which might usually take hours to resolve.
- Energy Outages – Likewise, energy outages though uncommon do happen extra ceaselessly 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 through the wet season will be overbearing at instances.
- Non-Flushing of Rest room Paper: The sewage programs in lots of Costa Rican cities are very delicate and consequently, you can be requested to keep away from flushing any rest room paper. A bin is offered which is just a little disagreeable and generally is a bit bizarre for some individuals, but it surely’s what they do.
- The Highway Methods: Though there are most important roads that join the larger cities, most of the native highway programs are non-direct, lower by means of some critically rural areas, and at instances will be poorly maintained.
Home Sitting in Costa Rica: FAQs:
Listed below are some solutions to generally requested questions on house-sitting in Costa Rica:
Most house-sitting web sites can have insurance coverage choices inside their varied membership bands that cowl host cancelation and another fundamental pet or house-sitting eventualities. However as a rule, it will be an important thought to have a basic journey insurance coverage coverage in place for visiting Costa Rica.
To turn out to be a house-sitter in Costa Rica you first want to enroll on a home and pet-sitting web site. There are lots of 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 residing someplace new is the cost.
Sure. Though fairly uncommon, I’ve actually seen listings for house-sitting in Costa Rica with out pets. Websites like Trusted Housesitters 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 cut price within the majority of listings.
The particular rules for house-sitters in Costa Rica can differ, and it’s important to test for current 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 out a 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 attractive seashores of each coastlines to the bustling cities and cities there’s a lot to like. Pleasant individuals, nice year-round climate, nice meals, and a lot pure magnificence. Home-sitting in Costa Rica means that you can stay like an area and actually expertise the fantastic nation to the fullest.
Sure, there are luxurious home sits in Costa Rica. Luxurious will be subjective however I personally discovered most of the locations I stayed, each as house-sits and in Airbnbs, inns, and many others. had been to a extremely excessive customary and consistent with among the greatest locations I’ve stayed around the globe.
Costa Rica stands out amongst Central American nations for security and boasts a secure 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.
General, 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 essentially know a spot and the individuals is such a unique expertise from merely passing by means of.
With a lot range, I used to be capable of get pleasure from many various facets 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 points of interest, Costa Rica can have a house-sitting alternative to swimsuit you.
What are you ready for?! Get your self signed up at this time and start your seek for your good Costa Rican house-sit placement.
