Applications you can download to your phone to help with logistics, communication, and even learning a little during your Costa Rica vacation. All of these apps are free (some offer upgrades to eliminate advertising for a few bucks). All are available at the apple store or the play store for Android phones and devices.
trails | driving directions | free calling | reading | translate | weather | camping | uber | airbnb | will my phone work?
Costa Rica Weather Conditions & Forecasts App
From May through December, Costa Rica’s “rainy season” the most frequently asked question is “Will it really rain every day?”
Most weather apps just show rain day, after day, after day for Costa Rica but fortunately that’s not because it’s really that wet, it’s because your favorite app at home is probably useless in Costa Rica (see weather forecasts to ignore).
We’ve studied weather in Costa Rica for decades and there was never a good forecast until the Windy app began hourly ECMWF forecasts (European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) with the NOAA and citizen weather data from MADIS (Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System) hyper-local information that actually accounts for some of Costa Rica’s micro climate variations.
The growing number of personal weather stations in Costa Rica feeding detailed and accurate information into the NOAA MADIS network several times an hour supplement the handful of official government stations that all of the other apps rely on exclusively.
The second most frequently asked question is “Can someone in Costa Rica tell me what the weather has been like this week?” Windy does one better that that. The “nearby weather stations” button will switch the display from a weather forecast to the actual rainfall, wind, sunshine and temperature data collected for the past week by an official or personal weather station in the location you’re interested in.
Prior to Windy obtaining the ECMWF model, WeatherUnderground was the best option available and it’s not terrible if you look at the hourly forecasts and pay attention to the % chance of precipitation.
- must be connected to wifi or cellular data service
trails | driving directions | bird watching | free calling | reading | translate | happy cow | weather | camping
Driving & Navigation App for Costa Rica
Waze was developed using Costa Rica as a testing ground and like WhatsApp has a fanatical following here.
There are dozens of other options for turn-by-turn driving directions but Google’s Waze App has by far the most users and therefore by far the best data on traffic, highway patrol, construction, and roadblocks plus the best options for alternative routes.
Please Note: Costa Rican roads can be challenging. If you do not have 4WD and off road driving skill please use good judgement – Waze will show you where other people went but that does not automatically mean you can do it too.
Also Note: There are no addresses in Costa Rica so you’ll need to enter a business name or nearby landmark for driving directions in Waze.
- routing works offline/zero bars when route is planned in advance while wifi or cellular data is available – traffic and alternate routing require a connection.
Happy Cow App & Website for Costa Rican Vegetarian Restaurants
Vegan and vegetarian food is popular in tourist areas of Costa Rica and the Happy Cow app or website will help you find the best restaurants with either full menus or at least a large selection.
This app can also be helpful with other dietary restrictions. Restaurants that are aware of ingredients to make vegetarian or vegan meals are also often a good place to find menus marked for celiac, lactose intolerance, allergies or other special requirements.
- requires wifi or cellular data to find local restaurants
Birdwatching App for Costa Rica
Although there are other apps for Costa Rica bird watching there’s no competition – Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology is like magic and has a much larger database of images, sounds and info.
“Photo id” allows you to point your phone at the bird, through a guide’s spotting scope or at the back display of a superzoom camera and id the bird automatically based on the image and stored location and migration database comparison with date and GPS coordinates. After ID you can read details, listen to MP3 files of mating and other calls and view range maps.
The most remarkable feature is the new “audio id” which uses your phone’s microphone to listen to and identify birds you can’t even see. Once you know what it looks like and where to look based on the description of perching and feeding habits it’s much easier to spot the bird.
Even if you’re “not really a birdwatcher” this app is fun to have and if you are a serious birdwatcher then it links to the e-bird life list app to record you sightings.
- most features work offline once you download the Costa Rica birds database. You don’t have to look up every one in the fiels you can always go back and id birds from photos or recorded calls when you have wi-fi or cell data signal back at the lodge.
will my phone work? | get a SIM | free calling | signal & coverage
Costa Rica Campsite Locator App
The ioverlander has thousands of contributions from travelers who’ve camped in Costa Rica and dropped GPS pins with descriptions of the amenities and attractions of camping spots from rustic to luxurious.
Please Note: Camping is prohibited in most National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and Nature reserves but many people do it anyway. It’s also illegal to drive on any beach in Costa Rica. Be aware that by camping in recommend sites you could be breaking the law. Please check locally and respect the regulations to preserve these natural areas for everyone.
- must be connected to wifi or cellular data service
trails | free calling | reading | translate | weather | uber
trails | driving directions | bird watching | free calling | reading | translate | happy cow | weather | camping
Communication, Phone, Text & Free International Calling Apps for Costa Rica
We used Skype for VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) calling for years but WhatsApp has taken Costa Rica by storm. They’re both the same thing (text, phone, images sent over wifi without using cell signal) but WhatsApp will be much more convenient for direct communication because every business in Costa Rica is on the network.
There are literally dozens of possibilities for apps and systems (google voice is another excellent choice) that provide free or discount calling and international long distance but you might as well go with WhatsApp while you’re in Costa Rica because everyone else does.
- works with wifi so you don’t need phone signal or a cellular data plan
trails | driving directions | bird watching | translate | weather
Reading Books & Magazines
If you enjoy reading we wholeheartedly recommend that you invest in a Kindle e-ink Reader. It’s as different as night and day from reading on your phone or tablet because it uses reflected light instead of beaming transmitted light into your eyes like all other screens. There are options from as little as $89.
We carry three different guidebooks, an atlas, field guides to birds, mammals, and plants as well as a few dozen novels and some local history. If you start with the app version for your phone instead of the e-ink all of the content will transfer if you change your mind later.
- works offline/zero bars but sync and adding content requires a connection
trails | driving directions | bird watching | free calling | reading | translate | happy cow | weather | camping
Speaking, Reading & Understanding Spanish App for Costa Rica
This has to be simultaneously the coolest and geekiest app ever invented. Google Translate will translate text (like signs and menus) that you point your camera at. It will translate spoken words or typed text from Spanish to English or vice versa. It’s crazy fast (almost simultaneous) and can be a lot of fun (especially with kids).
It takes some practice but after while you may start adding vocabulary to that one semester of High School Spanish you took and find you’re starting to communicate on your own.
- works offline/zero bars when language file is downloaded in advance
trails | driving directions | bird watching | free calling | reading | translate | happy cow | weather | camping
Hiking, Biking & Not Getting Lost in Costa Rica App
If you’re a hiker, runner or cyclist you may want a mapping app that works offroad. AllTrails has hundreds of hiking and walking routes in its database and large community of users contributing more all the time.
The All Trails app shows you routes but also records your GPS coordinates, distance traveled, speed, and elevation every few feet and displays it as a track which can be exceptionally useful when hiking unfamiliar trails. When you turn around to head back to the parking lot you don’t have to worry about missing a turn or which fork you took because you can simply follow your track back.
The ability to edit tracks (even in the free version) is particularly nice when you forget to stop the app when you get in the rental car to drive back to the lodge. It may feel like you hiked 37km but it’s nice to be able to trim off the driving part and find out your actual distance was 8.4km.
Add any photos you took directly from your phone plus a description of the hike and you have a great little digital story of your day for your own memories or to share with friends or on social.
The Map My Run app sponsored by Under Armor (yes the underwear company) and Strava app are others commonly used to track activities.
- works offline/zero bars to record routes – some other features require wifi or cell data signal
driving directions | bird watching | free calling | translate | weather | camping
Uber
Uber is a great (albeit technically illegal) transportation option in the city. In San José and the surrounding megalopolis rides are readily available and often cheaper than a taxi. Outside the capital there are many fewer drivers and you may have long waits, a high price or even a hard time finding any service at all.
Because the service operates in a legal gray area there are some things you should be aware of before using the app – like you cannot be picked up directly at the airport, you have to go to a restaurant across the highway…read more.
- must be connected to wifi or cellular data service
will my phone work? | get a SIM | free calling | signal & coverage
VRBO & Airbnb
Alternative lodging options on Airbnb and VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) are usually booked well in advance but it doesn’t hurt to have the apps downloaded just in case.
- must be connected to wifi or cellular data service
trails | driving directions | bird watching | free calling | reading | translate | happy cow | weather | camping
Costa Rica Apps We’re Still Waiting For
There are a few notable gaps in our list but it’s not for lack of searching.
Public Bus App for Costa Rica
The most requested app by a long shot is for public bus schedules and ticketing. Unfortunately the closest thing out there is Moovit which is somewhat useful for schedule and route information within San José and the suburbs, mostly useless for routes outside the city and does not provide reservations or ticketing on any bus line.
Tropical Wildlife & Natural History Field Guide
Now that there’s a decent bird guide application we’re hoping someone will follow suit with something that helps identify, and provides information about tropical flowers, trees, insects, animals and other nature. Google Lens will allow you to search anything using an image but doesn’t work very well for nature in Costa Rica because it doesn’t have geocoding on the database and often suggests plants that only grow in Norway or other obviously impossible identities.
Reliable Restaurant Reviews
Yelp doesn’t exist and although TripAdvisor has restaurant ratings they are not recommended due to their pay to play system and inclusion of suspect (fake?) reviews. Very good recommendations appear frequently on the Costa Rica Guide Travel group on facebook.