An old friend of mine and I had been bitten hard by the travel bug – she was stressed out from grad school and I was making my way through my first year of full time, 8-7 work. We both were in dire need of a break. While Europe was our first choice, with not that much cash and only about a week of vacation days, we had to get creative.
One day, out of the blue, I said “Why don’t we go to Costa Rica?” to which she said “Why don’t we?”
We then pulled out a map to see where Costa Rica actually was. Honestly, I knew nothing about it other than the fact that it existed, which is how I normally pick travel destinations.
This was the height of the recession, so we were able to score cheap tickets from LAX to Liberia (a tiny airport in Northwestern Costa Rica) for $199 before taxes near the end of June 2009. This was perfect, because we could then avoid flying into San Jose, which we had heard was full of pick-pockets and should be avoided altogether. It was almost like it was meant to be, like the clouds were parting, the angels were singing, and the Kayak gods were saying “yes, go to Costa Rica my child, go forthwith.”
Many a day have I spent looking for that deal again in vain.
Yes, this all seemed like a good idea. We’d land and promptly take a bus to the first destination we had selected – Arenal. It seemed close, or whatever.
When we landed, we realized that wasn’t actually going to work. There was no bus depot. There was nothing of the sort. We sort of wandered around the parking lot, most likely looking like worried puppies, completely unsure what to do next.
It was then that a large van rolled up, and a guy with an American accent rolled down the window and offered us some candy.
Just kidding, he said “you look kind of lost, would you like a ride?”
My friend and I exchanged terrified glances, and for some reason, two girls who would normally be horrified by this prospect said “yes” in unison.
We slid open the van door to find a local Costa Rican girl, along with an Asian-American girl. It was an odd mix, but as we started talking more, I felt a little more assured that we weren’t about to get hacked up and sold as the other white meat. It just didn’t seem that these relaxed and friendly girls would be part of this equation if this was a homicide mission.
Once we started down the main road, my friend texted on her phone and handed it to me, “My mom would kill me if she knew I was doing this.” To which I thought that job might get done before she has the chance.
My mom would probably kill me too. Actually, I really hope she’s not reading this. Hi Mom! Please go away now.
It turned out that the trio had met in college in Georgia, and the driver of the van was an American guy who fell in love with his Costa Rican exchange student girlfriend, and elected to move here with her, to work at an ecology company in Monte Verde. He also explained that hitch hiking is very common in Costa Rica, and assured us that unless we had taken about 5 different busses, we would never have made it to our destination using our original plan. He even refused to take our cash when we offered to help pay for gas. This guy’s generosity was warming.
However, their end destination was different than ours, so he could only take us part-way. We ended up in a random small town with no idea what to do. After stressing out for about an hour, and realizing the next bus wasn’t coming for another 4 hours, we finally decided to barter with a taxi driver, who agreed to take us for about $20. This seemed steep, until we realized that this journey would take another two hours.
We had really not planned adequately at all.
We finally arrived and settled in, several hours after having landed, but all said and done, lucky to have arrived at all.
From that point forward, we figured out our transportation plans well in advance, and paid up for a shared shuttle.
This is the first time I’ve admitted that I took that ride from a stranger in an even stranger place. Funnier still is that I watched “Taken” on the flight home and cringed the entire time.
Have you ever hitch-hiked in a foreign country? Do you think I’m insane? Comment!
Captain Chris says
This is phenomenal. Watching “Taken” afterwards was a strong choice.
Ava Apollo says
Thanks! I’ll fess up to taking rides in Europe as well. “Taken” REALLY shocked me!
Ayngelina says
I hitchhiked in Nicaragua and I’ve also been picked up in Mexico – in Latin America if people see you walking and it’s hot out they’ll just stop to see if you need a ride.
Ava Apollo says
Man, in the States it’s a good way to become part of a serial murder case, perhaps that’s why we were so apprehensive!
Rob says
Most of the hitchhiking I ever did was in Africa, some places just feel right and $199 sounds like a solid steal on the ticket. I’m visiting Costa Rica this fall, looking forward to it.
Ava Apollo says
Wow, in Africa? Suddenly my story seems less badass. You’ll love Costa Rica!
Laurence says
Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that there are normal nice people out there 😉
Ava Apollo says
Absolutely 🙂
Brock - Backpack with Brock says
Sounds like an adventure! It’s good that you made it where you needed to be in one piece!
Ava Apollo says
We thought it was good, too!
Mark Wiens says
Great, and adventurous story! I’ve done a little hitchhiking in Asia, but mostly just short rides in the back of people’s trucks.
Ava Apollo says
I love it, hitchhiking stories from all over the world!
The World of Deej says
Great story….I’ve only hitchhiked once in my life, and it was for only 2 miles in the Bahamas. Hopped in the back of a random pick up truck for a ride back to the cruise ship…
Ava Apollo says
2 miles! Nice.
Xpatmatt says
I love travelling like that. No research. No idea about the country. Just the cheap tickets and the an aversion to planning ahead that outweighs the fear of ending up stranded on the side of a dirt road asking for the help of machete toting coffee farmers.
Ava Apollo says
Same here. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.
Alexa Hart says
First of all, that pic is gorgeous! And, I have never hitch-hiked. Good to know that it’s a somewhat common thing in Costa Rica. Hoping to get over there in a couple years.
Ha, and Taken! I think about that movie every time I am in an airport, bus station, or train station.
Ava Apollo says
Sounds like it’s pretty common in most of Central Am. so you should have no trouble! Such a beautiful part of the world.
Callie says
I agree with Alexa, gorgeous photos!
I can relate – I totally accidentally hitchhiked in Ecuador. I got used to catching rides in the back of pickup trucks out in the country (it’s pretty common there like in Costa Rica)…so thought nothing of it back in the city when somebody in an SUV – with tinted windows, no less – offered me a ride. As soon as the door shut I was horrified that I had gotten in! I was practically hanging out the window the whole time, and luckily nothing bad happened…
Ava Apollo says
Callie, I know that feeling – the “oops maybe I shouldn’t have done that but now the car’s moving and I’m taking this ride whether I like it or not” feeling. Glad we’re both alive. I guess it all worked out!
LifePart2 says
I have done a bit of hitching but not that often. I know we are sold a lot of fear but I am still sometimes wary. I have never had anything approaching a bad experience and met some good people.
Ava Apollo says
The bad, scary stories definitely tend to stick more than the good ones. It was a good experience for me – I’d do it again.
Sandy Allain says
I can’t say I ever hitchhiked period. It sounds rather risky. You are
lucky you got home in one piece. I have seen and heard too many horror stories
from hitchhiking I cannot imagine risking it on a trip. Have a safer trip next
time.
Ava Apollo says
…did you just scold me via blog comment, Sandy? 😉 I deserve it.
Rashaad Jorden says
I have never intentionally gone hitchhiking. But when I was living in Japan (I’ve worked twice in the Land of the Rising Sun), friendly folks have given rides. One time, I was on an island near Hiroshima taking a leisurely stroll and a motorist pulled up along side me and asked where I wanted to go. If I remember correct, it was to an aquarium.
Another time, I was at the bus stop near my house and in a short period of time, two strangers stopped to offer me a ride. I accepted the second offer because the driver could take me to where I wanted (unlike the first person).
Kristin Addis says
That’s really kind of them!
Northern Peru travel says
Costa Rica is a beautiful country. I lived there for 8 monts, but in the Southern part of Costa Rica, in the mountains. It is also a rather safe country, so no worries with the hitch-hiking !