On this article, I’m going to stipulate the whole lot that you must know to develop into a house-sitter in Costa Rica. There are quite a few web sites accessible to budding house-sitters, and it’s essential to know tips on how to make the most of these. Home-sitting gives a novel strategy to touring, enhances your experiences, and might prevent a fortune in lodging prices.
I’ve been house-sitting world wide for five years now; it has develop into a significant a part of my touring life. Constructing a robust profile and selecting up many suggestions and methods alongside the best way 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 the whole lot from Arenal’s lush rainforests to the beautiful seashores of Puerto Viejo.
Dream seashore sits and luxurious rainforest retreats are all inside attain, however figuring out tips on how to safe them is significant. I’ve discovered rather a lot about house-sitting since changing into a nomadic world traveler and can lay all of it out for you right here.
Tips on how to Turn into a Home Sitter in Costa Rica
There are some nice web sites that can assist you develop into a home and pet sitter in Costa Rica. Discovering the suitable 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 at the moment accepting purposes and dozens of lively profiles in Costa Rica. Their platform is easy to make use of and simple to navigate, and I really like the truth that they’ve an app.
One other nice characteristic is the flexibility to avoid wasting searches. For instance, in the event 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 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 worth you pay. The highest membership is $260 and consists of cancelation insurance coverage, enhanced customer support, and a pair of airport lounge passes a yr. The fundamental possibility 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. Should you have been on the lookout for an indication to get began, that is most definitely it!
2. Thoughts My Home
Mind My House 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 looking for sitters can be part of without 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’ll even see how many individuals have at the moment utilized. The statistics page is a superb characteristic that exhibits what number of lively customers they’ve and the place.
Thoughts My Home has been around 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 homeowners, who actively have interaction within the day-to-day operations. For these hesitant about diving into house-sitting in Costa Rica, Thoughts My Home could possibly be the best start line.
3. Workaway
Though predominantly a website for locating volunteer placements, an excellent device to have in your house-sitting arsenal is Workaway.info. I’ve been utilizing this web site persistently over the past 3 years to seek out volunteer alternatives world wide. However one of many major 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 attentive to inquiries. Membership prices round $50/yr or $30pp/yr when a pair indicators up with a joint membership. I’ve made nice, life-long associates, in addition to some useful world contacts through Workaway.
4. Home Carers
One other web site price contemplating is Housecarers.com. Though it could actually’t compete with the numbers that Trusted Housesitters places up, there are a whole lot of listings at the moment looking for appropriate candidates.
Within the curiosity of holding your choices open, it’s smart to have a minimum of a number of lively house-sitting memberships open. House Carers means that you can construct a profile and search with out paying something upfront. Should 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/yr so it’s one other reasonably priced house-sitting useful resource.
Should you’re pondering of changing into a house-sitter in Costa Rica, Housecarers.com is a superb website to discover what a housesitting web site gives 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 like Trusted Housesitters, customers are additionally capable of save searches and be alerted once they come available on the market. It’s a really practical and easy-to-use web site.
Nomador’s 3-month primary bundle is nice for individuals simply getting began on their house sitting journey. Extra advantages comparable to insurance coverage, premium customer support, and early entry to new listings include greater membership costs. The highest-end bundle is round $190/yr.
Regardless of not having an app, I like Nomador for its easy web site and clear and informative listings. The fundamental bundle is an effective way to strive 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 in the course of my keep.
After 2 days of acclimatizing in San José, the primary house-sit was an hour north in La Fortuna. A good looking 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 unbelievable. Regardless of a number of enormous bugs, it was an excellent 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 seashore in Santa Theresa. A preferred vacationer vacation spot and beautiful location. I had further obligations 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 some of the 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 somewhat canine referred to as Rodelle.
Greatest Areas to Home Sit in Costa Rica
I had such a beautiful 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 seashore 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 whole month house-sitting right here and completely liked it.
There’s a big expat group 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 greater than in different Costa Rican cities.
In distinction, the one-track mud highway that strains the primary boulevard of Santa Theresa maintains the originality of the city. The entire place feels somewhat like stepping again to a less complicated time. Don’t be shocked to see individuals strolling barefoot, taking beers all the way down to the seashore 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 the town. Consequently, I bought 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 a number of areas that must be averted when alone or at night time. For essentially 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 dwelling to a few nice museums, fantastic streets stuffed with bars and eating places, glorious purchasing, and some creature comforts in the event you’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 city in Costa Rica. It’s serviced by Juan Santamaria International Airport and is round 2 hours from the coast.
3. Jacó
Jacó was essentially the most Americanized space of Costa Rica that I stayed in. It’s the situation of a number of giant resort-style beachfront resorts and is common with expats. It’s referred to as a little bit of a celebration city, with plenty of vacationers frequenting the numerous bars and eating places alongside the primary strip by means of city. I had nice enjoyable house-sitting in Jacó.
The seashore itself is beautiful. The black sands stretch uninterrupted for 2.5 miles (4 km) and it’s a well-liked spot for sunbathers and surfers. The pleasant year-round weather makes it a perfect vacation vacation spot for many individuals every year.
Though individuals could come to Jacó to loosen up and occasion there’s nonetheless loads of pure magnificence to get pleasure from. For instance, the gorgeous Manuel Antonio National 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, mountain climbing, 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 nearly bought 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 a beautiful few days by the seashore with some associates visiting from England. Nestled alongside the jap Caribbean shoreline of Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo is a tropical haven and gives a novel journey expertise.
Identified for its mix of indigenous and Afro-Caribbean cultures, Puerto Viejo is a special 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 various aromas of native delicacies. It’s a dream vacation spot for house-sitting in Costa Rica long run.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo National 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 environment and its heat, pleasant individuals make guests really feel proper at dwelling.
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 just round 28 miles (45 km) from Puerto Viejo.
5. La Fortuna
Should you’re planning to go to Costa Rica to expertise nature, in addition to some enthralling experiences, I extremely advocate you head to La Fortuna. Situated centrally within the Alajuela area, this excellent city had the whole lot I hoped to achieve from visiting Costa Rica; wildlife and beautiful landscapes, zip strains, and pure thermal spas.
The enduring volcano that dominates the skyline is just breathtaking, and La Fortuna Waterfall is a should for any Costa Rica itinerary. The Bogarin trail is a preservation space for sloths and quite a few different wildlife comparable to toucans, lizards, and butterflies. It’s an excellent place to discover and to tick off seeing some native Costa Rican wildlife.
The city itself has a relaxed vibe with a gradual circulate of backpackers, and vacationers, looking for 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 sights 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 the safest countries in Central America. The nation’s commitment to eco-tourism and a secure political surroundings has contributed to its general optimistic fame. Guests can get pleasure from exploring the nationwide parks, pristine seashores, and vibrant cities with out vital security issues.
Nonetheless, like several 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. Maintain a detailed eye in your belongings always and solely use respected transport companies like Uber and official buses if wanted to get round.
Typically, Costa Rica is a welcoming and safe surroundings for vacationers and an excellent 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, primarily based on my experiences, I’ve shortlisted a number of for potential house-sitters to think about:
Professionals of Dwelling 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” life-style 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 consistent tropical climate. With year-round temperatures averaging around 32°C (90°F) during the day and 23°C (73°F) at night.
- 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 therapy wasn’t costly.
- Environmental Sustainability: Costa Rica is committed to environmental sustainability and conservation.
- Peaceable and Steady: Costa Rica is thought for its secure political surroundings and lack of a navy. It has been a peaceable nation for many years which fosters a protected and secure environment.
- Pleasant Locals: Costa Ricans, or “Ticos,” are identified for his or her heat and friendliness and I can definitely vouch for this.
- Outside Actions: The nation is a paradise for outside lovers, providing a plethora of actions comparable to browsing, mountain climbing, zip-lining, and bird-watching.
- Value of Dwelling: Whereas not the most affordable nation in Central America, Costa Rica’s cost of living is affordable, particularly exterior of main city facilities and positively when in comparison with say, the USA or the UK.
Cons of Dwelling in Costa Rica
- Language Barrier: Whereas many Costa Ricans communicate 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 liable to earthquakes and occasional hurricanes, which pose apparent dangers and require residents to be ready for an emergency.
- Rainfall: Throughout 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 rainy days each month. I discovered that it largely falls closely within the mid-late afternoons.
- Water Outages: In sure components of the nation, particularly extra rural areas the intensive rainfall can have an effect on the strain of the water provide and the strain drops to nearly nothing. This implies faucets, sinks, and bogs received’t work till they repair the issue which may usually take hours to resolve.
- Energy Outages – Likewise, energy outages though uncommon do happen extra often than in different nations 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 will be overbearing at occasions.
- Non-Flushing of Bathroom Paper: The sewage techniques in lots of Costa Rican cities are very delicate and because of this, you may be requested to keep away from flushing any rest room paper. A bin is offered which is somewhat disagreeable and is usually a bit bizarre for some individuals, however it’s what they do.
- The Highway Methods: Though there are major roads that join the larger cities, lots of the native highway techniques are non-direct, minimize by means of some critically rural areas, and at occasions 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 numerous membership bands that cowl host cancelation and another primary pet or house-sitting eventualities. However as a rule, it will be an excellent concept 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 lots of nice ones, comparable to Trusted Housesitters, Mind My House, and Nomador which have listings for Costa Rica and are stuffed 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 alternate of a beautiful dwelling, loving pets, and the improved expertise of residing someplace new is the fee.
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 essentially the most half, pets are included as a part of the discount within the majority of listings.
The particular rules for house-sitters in Costa Rica can fluctuate, and it’s important to test for current info relative to your nationality and the place you might be touring from. Usually, vacationers are allowed to remain in Costa Rica for as much as 90 days with no visa. This era consists of each tourism and non-work-related actions, comparable to house-sitting.
At all times be 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 reside like a neighborhood and really expertise the fantastic nation to the fullest.
Sure, there are luxurious home sits in Costa Rica. Luxurious will be subjective however I personally discovered lots of the locations I stayed, each as house-sits and in Airbnbs, resorts, and so forth. have been to a extremely excessive customary and consistent with a few of the finest locations I’ve stayed world wide.
Costa Rica stands out among Central American nations for safety and boasts a secure political surroundings. Nonetheless, warning and customary sense are suggested, particularly in crowded vacationer areas the place petty theft can happen. To finest predict security when touring, at all times make the most of trusted transportation like Uber and official buses.
General, Costa Rica gives a safe surroundings 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 attainable. It’s such a beautiful place and house-sitting there made it much more particular. Getting to actually know a spot and the individuals is such a special expertise from merely passing by means of.
With a lot range, I used to be capable of get pleasure from many alternative points of Costa Rican tradition and heritage inside a single journey. So, whether or not you crave world-renowned seashores, the thrill of huge cities, the tranquility of the rainforest, or a combination of all of those sights, Costa Rica can have a house-sitting alternative to go well with you.
What are you ready for?! Get your self signed up at the moment and start your seek for your good Costa Rican house-sit placement.
