To find cheap Costa Rica hotels on the central Pacific coast, the first thing to do is plan your trip for low season. In Costa Rica, many cheap or at least budget hotels, are much easier to find from April through November (low season, or rainy season) than during high season. Especially on the central Pacific side. A good place to begin your quest is near the bus station.

Jaco and Quepos present the prime areas for budget lodging in this part of the country. In Jaco you will discover a number of small cabinas at the north and south ends of the beach. These are popular with surfers and other budget travelers.

Downtown Quepos also has several budget “hotels” and similar lodging. Some are right smack dab in the middle of downtown Quepos. Harold’s, across from the Banco Bar, was running $7 a night in 2005.

The newest place in town, Hotel Sanchez, which has rooms (with ceiling fans) from $7-$35. Some have private balconies and accommodate up to four people. To find it, take a left when you get off the bus and head inland one block. The upstairs rooms get a decent breeze that cools them down sufficiently except midday. It’s on the right side of the street, across from the Banco de Costa Rica.

Others are found around the soccer field and its immediate environs. Manuel Antonio, which is just up the hill from Quepos, has very little to offer in the way of inexpensive lodging, as this is among the country’s most expensive places to stay.

Keep in mind that it will not be possible to make reservations at most of the low priced places. This means getting an early start to find a place for the night, and that the possibility exists that you might not find a room at all — but that just adds to the adventure of traveling on a shoestring budget!