Is there Parking in Costa Rica?

In the local towns and beaches, the parking is basically first come, first serve, along the side of the roads, and in designated areas. There is no fee; it is free. There are these people who will be there to assist you in parking, watch your car, and help you back out into traffic. They are not employed by anyone; we call them Watcheeman

In the USA, when a person is down on their luck, they either steal; sell drugs; or go on welfare or unemployment. Not here. These people buy a glow in the dark vest, stake out a section of the street, and “watch” people’s cars. These are GOOD people, who do not have many other options in life. So please be kind to these people, polite to these individuals, and TIP THEM when you leave. I have been living in Costa Rica for almost 2 decades and have NEVER had anything stolen out of my car, so they are definitely doing their job.

A fair tip would be 200 to 600 colones, or approximately $1.00, but use your own judgment and big, generous heart. Sometimes, these people have stood in the rain for hours, watching everyone’s car. You are here, on vacation, or living in paradise; share the love.

Many times, I have seen people buy food to go from the restaurant, and give it to these guys; they are severely appreciative.

God Bless.

Now, in cities like Liberia, there are big stores and malls; Walmart, Mas Menos; Pequeno Mundo; Liberia Mall; Solarium; and fast food places. There is always free parking at these locations, as you are shopping in their establishments. But you cannot leave your car there, and go walking through the town, as you might get towed or ticketed. Along the streets of Liberia, there are now thousands of white spots, marked and painted, with numbers. You must PAY to park, or you will get a ticket. Trust me; I found out the hard way.

You can download an app into your phone; type in the parking space number; and pay with a credit card; it is very cheap.

There are also stores, where you can go in, pay cash, receive a receipt and put it on your dashboard.

Here are the locations. You can download and print off the PDF.

Download Liberia Parking payment Locations PDF

Want a  clean Costa Rica?  Recycle!

Our local Municipality has beautiful, brand new garbage trucks. They come to each beach, once a week, and Playas del Coco twice. All developments have a dumpster or trash location where you can put your garbage. Please put it in proper bags so that it does not break open and cause a mess.

Costa Rica is one of the greenest countries on the planet, and yet up until a few years ago, they were seriously lacking in the recycling department.

That is all changing now. Recycling is helping to clean Costa Rica.

https://howlermag.com/ecolones-recycling-costa-rica

Costa Rica is planning to ban all single use plastic by 2021.

https://thecostaricanews.com/2021-costa-rica-will-be-first-country-eliminate-single-use-plastics/

Now, the local grocery stores do not bag your items in plastic. If they have used cardboard boxes, they will send you out the door that way. When you do your shopping, please bring your own reusable bags. They, of course, sell them at the markets as well.

In our great town of Playas del Coco, there is a recycling yard next to the Super Luperon grocery store. Please do your part to clean Costa Rica. Separate all your plastic, aluminum, cardboard and glass and take it to the center. The garbage trucks do NOT separate the recyclables. So, if you put it out with your trash, it will just end up at the landfill. Please help us make Costa Rica the cleanest country on earth.