Camping in Costa Rica: Overlanding the Nicoya Peninsula

Camping in Costa Rica allows you to explore the country’s wild soul on your own terms. On the Nicoya Peninsula, renowned across the world for a healthy lifestyle that fosters longevity, an overlander jeep with a rooftop tent becomes more than transportation. It’s freedom, shelter, and adventure rolled into one. For those craving nature, solitude, and off-the-grid magic, this is the perfect way to travel.

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Why Choose an Overlander Jeep?

An overlander is a rugged 4×4 vehicle designed for self-reliant travel across remote areas, often equipped with a rooftop tent, cooking gear, and water storage. It lets you drive, camp, and live comfortably off-grid, all in one setup. An overlander jeep rental in Costa Rica gives you complete autonomy. You’re not tied to hotel check-in times or strict itineraries. You sleep where you stop. That could mean the edge of a national park, a cliff overlooking the sea, or a cozy nook in a garden.

Nomad America specializes in these vehicles, aiming to provide travelers with an all-in-one camping setup that lets them ditch the crowds and embrace the open road with everything they need already packed. Models include the Nissan 4Runner, Toyota Hilux, and Land Cruiser, commonly featured in their fleet of ‘large’ 4x4s. These jeeps come fully stocked for the road: gas stoves with canisters, utensils, torches, solar lamps, and even a pull-out awning that creates a shaded kitchen space. It’s convenience, mobility, and flexibility, all built into one vehicle.

Rebecca and her husband rented a premium Nissan 4Runner from Nomad America. “They picked us up at the airport and gave a full explanation of the gear,” she shared. If you want to try this overlander yourself, you can get a 10% discount using the promo code Rebecca10 when booking directly through Nomad America’s website!

camping in costa rica with an overlander

Overlander jeeps are made for camping in Costa Rica!

The Joys of Camping in Costa Rica

The Nicoya Peninsula is remote, scenic, and home to endless stretches of beaches, jungle roads, and laid-back surf towns. While some of its destinations have become popular over time, its true charm is found in the untamed corners, reachable only by rugged roads and a flexible itinerary. That’s why an overlander jeep is the ultimate tool for Nicoya Peninsula camping.

When Rebecca and her husband set off on a short road trip through Nicoya, they knew they wanted to skip the resorts and experience something raw and unfiltered. A 4×4 with a rooftop tent gave them exactly that. It allowed them to camp anywhere, from forest trails to quiet beaches, while remaining self-sufficient and safe.

Costa Rican luxury

Camping along the Nicoya Peninsula brings you closer to Costa Rica’s rhythm. “It’s important to find the local and authentic spots”, Rebecca noted. That meant camping not only at established campgrounds but also in remote places without services. Their first stop after taking the ferry from Puntarenas to Playa Naranjo (1.5 hours) was Eddie’s place in Paquera, where they arrived after testing their 4×4 skills on the very first day.

This style of eco-friendly camping in Costa Rica allows you to wake up to birdsong, cook breakfast beside your vehicle, and shower in a waterfall hours later. Whether in remote forest reserves or by the beach, the rooftop tent offers a surprisingly cozy and elevated sleeping setup that makes every morning feel like a reward.

An all-in-one vehicle elevates your camping experience.

Key Stops While Camping in Costa Rica

For the best camping spots in Costa Rica, Rebecca highlights these particularly memorable destinations.

Punta Islita

In Punta Islita, travelers will find not only dramatic coastal scenery but also a community deeply committed to art and sustainability. Though the area is more developed than other parts of Nicoya, its charm lies in blending upscale ambiance with nature. To reach Punta Islita, Rebecca and her husband had to cross multiple rivers in their 4×4, a reminder that many of Nicoya’s most beautiful places are only accessible during the dry season and when the tide is low. “You need to check the ‘Carta de Marea Manzanilla’ to know when the water’s down,” she advises.

Along the way, they paused at a long, deserted white-sand beach, popped open a couple of Pura Vida beers, and simply soaked in the beauty of the road less traveled. Punta Islita itself felt like a hidden secret: small, peaceful, and effortlessly charming. There, they met MacKenzie, an American expat who runs a small horse farm and offers responsible riding experiences, including a sunset beach ride. Rebecca recalled galloping along the shore before climbing a hill just in time to witness a spectacular sunset.

One of the best surprises in Punta Islita came from a local eatery called Don Ramiro, a family-run restaurant where two brothers served them traditional Costa Rican dishes with genuine warmth. “They started us off with a shot of Cacique, tomato juice, and spices. It was delicious and totally unexpected,” Rebecca said. In a country where finding truly authentic food can sometimes be a challenge, places like this stand out for their freshness and heartfelt hospitality.

Little compares to riding a horse on the beach at sunset.

San Ramón

Just a short drive (about 30 minutes) from the airport lies San Ramón, a village renowned for its coffee heritage. Rebecca and her husband visited a local coffee cooperative called Café de Altura San Ramón, which works with over 4,000 small-scale producers and is co-owned by 500 local stakeholders. Their guided tour provided insight into how the community-run operation processes and exports some of Costa Rica’s finest high-altitude beans.

For travelers wanting a deeper dive into Costa Rica’s farm-to-cup or bean-to-bar culture, there are other hands-on experiences too. In Monteverde, the San Juan coffee farm offers immersive visits where you can learn about traditional farming techniques. Near Jabillos, the Nortico cacao farm showcases the full chocolate-making process, right from harvesting the cacao to crafting finished products.

For a change of pace, the Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve near San Ramón provided a deeply immersive forest experience. Privately owned and highly underrated, the park is home to trails, waterfalls, and quiet picnic spots. Rebecca and her husband took a hike with a local guide to reach hidden trails and swam in a waterfall before enjoying a sandwich with a view. “It’s recommended to hire a guide, but you can also explore the marked trails alone.”

Places like these preserve traditional farming for future generations.

Montezuma and Santa Teresa

The day after, Rebecca and her husband continued their route along the southernmost road of the peninsula, eventually reaching Montezuma and Santa Teresa. Unlike the quiet forest trails and hidden waterfalls, these towns are far more developed, with a noticeable tourist presence. The upside? A flourishing culinary scene. In Montezuma, they stopped at Brekkie, a cozy breakfast spot where the flat white and chia pudding were standouts.

They also stopped by Ylang Ylang, a beachfront ecolodge run by the same family that owns the park. “You see monkeys everywhere and can visit the turtle conservation project on the beach. Their green hierba luisa (lemongrass) lemonade was the best you could imagine!” Later, in Santa Teresa, Kamari offered what Rebecca described as the best Asian food she’d had in Costa Rica, served in a sleek, modern space that contrasted nicely with the wild roads they’d traveled to get there.

Take your family

Tips for First-Time Rooftop Campers

If this is your first time trying this kind of trip, consider Rebecca’s Costa Rica camping tips:

Use a digital map: An eSIM with mobile internet allows you to navigate seamlessly using Waze, even on dirt roads. Our welcome kits come with eSIMs for all confirmed bookings!
Plan flexible stops: While Rebeca and her husband relied on a few established campgrounds, they also discovered spots via iOverlander and local tips.
Stay fueled and fed: Local “sodas” (small eateries) offer affordable and tasty dishes. In Puntarenas, Rebecca and her husband had a memorable seafood feast at La Cangreja.
Travel light but smart: Making sandwiches ahead of hikes and keeping food simple is perfect for remote picnics.
Respect the environment: Leave no trace as you explore.

Tasting Costa Rican food is an experience in itself!

Why Nicoya Is Ideal for Eco-Friendly Camping

Beyond the scenery, the Nicoya Peninsula is a case study in eco-conscious living. As one of the world’s five Blue Zones, the area supports long life through healthy diets, movement, and strong community ties. For travelers, it’s a great region to practice eco-friendly camping in Costa Rica, whether that means staying in an ecolodge, using biodegradable soap, or sourcing local food. Camping allows you to explore places that can’t be reached on typical tours, while spending your money directly with locals. It’s a quieter, less intrusive form of tourism, one that suits the Nicoya spirit perfectly.

Costa Rica is a standout example of how a country can thrive through conscious investment in sustainable tourism. Years ago, its government chose tourism as a primary economic driver and followed through with investments in infrastructure, safety, and education, including English language programs. The result? A globally respected tourism model in a country that abolished its army decades ago and now channels national resources into environmental protection and community well-being. Tourism today represents a significant share of Costa Rica’s GDP, and its success shows in how visitors are welcomed, connected, and safe, every step of the way.

Camping in Costa Rica Is a Must!

Camping in Costa Rica with a 4×4 overlander is more than an alternative to hotels; it’s a lifestyle shift. For Rebecca and her husband, it brought unexpected joy in the form of scenic ferry rides, seafood feasts, spontaneous trail hikes, and slow mornings beneath the trees. It’s also the perfect trip for couples seeking privacy, flexibility, and the kind of memories that don’t come from pre-packaged itineraries.

With the right gear, a good route, and a little adventurous spirit, Nicoya becomes your backyard and your bed for the night. So if you’re ready for rugged roads, starry nights, and that unbeatable overland freedom, Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is waiting with your rooftop tent already rolled up and ready to go.

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