21 yrold British solo traveller (3 years of travelling Asia and Australia)
When I was in Asia there was work all over whether they offered a small wage enough to live on or work for free accommodation and drinks. I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is the same somewhere in Costa Rica. But also asking the question to see if there's any work for Non Spanish speakers such as waitress work at a cafe on a beach in a touristy area? Is it possible or no?
It is illegal for a foreigner to work in Costa Rica without a Work Visa. You are on a tourist Visa, so you can not work.
There are under the table jobs out there I guess if you look hard enough, but you will be not be the first person with this idea, and the odds are slim. Also, the wages are maybe $12 day. They don't tip in CR. The tourist areas the migracion police do sweeps of the bars and business with gringos working and if you don't have a proper Visa you are departed at once and black listed for 10 years.
If you can't afford to come to Costa Rica as a tourist, don't visit. Its not cheap there either, food and housing in a touristy area will be similar prices to USA. Its a been a popular destination for 4 decades, 2 million tourist a year visit CR the last decade alone.
Lastly, don't take a job from a local, thats not cool. You come from a educated western power, and are in a small developing country, think about it. Do volunteer work and give back, to those that don't have nearly the life that you come from back home.
Very limited opportunities, for most establishments its just not worth the risk. And what do they get out of it?...someone inexperienced who doesn't speak the language and doesn't like the pay!. You will see Europeans working in CR but they have generally established their own tourist businesses and rarely risk taking on illegal workers who they don't know well....
Hello!
You can definitely volunteer in exchange for free accommodations. I have been doing so and it's quite amazing! There is a website: www.workaway.info that allows you to see who is in need of help and you can contact them through this site. There is a yearly cost to subscribe to this site (approx. 30$) but its well worth it, especially if you will be travelling for a while and visiting different countries. Many countries are listed in this site. Good luck!
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If you can't afford to come to Costa Rica as a tourist, don't visit. Its not cheap there either, food and housing in a touristy area will be similar prices to USA.
Absolutely the most accurate, useful/helpful info ever posted! Good job!!!
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