There’s something special about traveling alone.
At first, it can feel a little strange: no one to ask what they want to do, what time to leave, or where to eat. After a couple of days, though, you start to discover how beautiful it is to have all that time to yourself.
You can wake up whenever you want, walk without hurrying, sit reading by the sea, or decide at the last minute to go exploring. That’s part of what makes solo travel in Costa Rica such a special experience.
And if you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy that freedom without feeling completely isolated, Isla Chiquita offers a combination that’s hard to find: nature, privacy, adventure, and the chance to connect with other people whenever you feel like it. Set on a small island off the coast of Paquera, in the Gulf of Nicoya, Isla Chiquita Glamping Hotel has only 20 glamping tents. Access is exclusively by water, which makes getting there part of the experience itself.
From the moment you step onto the boat and leave the mainland behind, you can feel the pace start to shift. And maybe that’s exactly what you were looking for.
Reaching an Island and Leaving the Everyday Rhythm Behind
One of the things solo travelers enjoy most about Isla Chiquita is that the trip begins before you even reach the hotel. If you’re coming from San José and cross by ferry to Paquera, the Isla Chiquita team coordinates your boat transfer to the island. The ride from Paquera takes about 10 minutes. It’s a short crossing, but long enough to feel like you’re leaving the highway, the traffic, and the routine behind. By the time you arrive, the ocean, the mountains, and the tropical forest have become part of your everyday scenery. For someone planning a Costa Rica solo trip, that simplicity matters too. There’s no need to rent a car to reach the island or worry about finding transportation once you land in Paquera. You simply arrive, step onto the boat, and your experience begins.
Traveling Solo Without Feeling Alone
This is probably one of the most common questions people ask themselves before booking a solo trip: will I feel lonely?
The answer depends a lot on the kind of experience you’re looking for. At Isla Chiquita, you can have your own space and, at the same time, plenty of chances to connect with other people. With only 20 glamping tents, the atmosphere feels intimate. You’re not at a massive resort where you could go days without recognizing a single face. Here, it’s much easier to cross paths with other guests during an activity, by the pool, or simply while enjoying the island. One morning can be entirely your own, and by that same afternoon, you might end up chatting with travelers from another country during a tour. And that’s one of the beautiful things about solo travel to Costa Rica: you don’t need to travel with someone to share experiences.
Your Own Space Overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya
There are moments when you simply want to be with yourself. Maybe you want to read a book. Listen to music. Write. Think. Or do absolutely nothing at all. Isla Chiquita’s glamping tents are designed exactly for those moments. Many feature a private deck with ocean or forest views, creating a space where you can unplug from the noise and settle into your own rhythm. Your day can start with a cup of coffee overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya and end with you watching the sky from your own terrace. You don’t need to fill every minute with activities. Sometimes, the real luxury is simply having time.
What to Do in Paquera and the Surrounding Area When Traveling Solo
One of the advantages of staying at Isla Chiquita is that you don’t have to plan every excursion on your own. During your stay, you can check the different experiences available and choose whichever ones interest you most: kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking around the island, birdwatching, artisanal fishing, and bioluminescence experiences. If you’re wondering what to do in Paquera, Costa Rica, Isla Chiquita can become an excellent home base for exploring this part of the country while having a peaceful place to return to at the end of the day.
Kayaking, Paddleboarding, and the Pleasure of Setting Your Own Pace
When you travel solo, one of the best parts is not having to wait for someone else to want to do the same thing you do. Feel like kayaking? Go for it. Prefer to walk around the island? Also great. Want to spend the afternoon reading? Perfect. The calm waters around Isla Chiquita are ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding, while the trails offer another way to explore the surroundings. It’s not about doing everything. It’s about choosing. And that sense of freedom is one of the reasons many travelers discover that solo travel in Costa Rica can be far more relaxing than they imagined.
A Night to Remember: Bioluminescence
When night falls, the island transforms completely. The sounds of the day fade, and the ocean becomes the stage for one of the most fascinating natural experiences in the area: bioluminescence. Under the right conditions, tiny marine organisms produce a natural glow in the water, creating an experience that’s especially memorable the first time you see it. Traveling solo doesn’t mean you have to experience this entirely on your own. The Isla Chiquita team can walk you through the activities available during your stay and the options for sharing the experience with other guests. And if the group ends up being international, even better: some of the best conversations of a trip start exactly like that, with people who were complete strangers just minutes before.
Solo Travel and Work? Yes, You Can Do That Too
Not every solo trip is a vacation. Maybe you work remotely and want a change of scenery for a few days. Maybe you’re studying, writing, or simply need a quiet place to focus. Isla Chiquita offers Wi-Fi and spaces to work while you enjoy an environment completely different from an office: a morning meeting, kayaking in the afternoon, a sunset walk, and an evening surrounded by nature. If you’re looking for a workation in Costa Rica, this balance between productivity and disconnection might be exactly what you need.
The Peace of Mind of Knowing Everything Is Taken Care Of
When you travel alone, logistics can take up more mental space than you’d like: how to get there, where to park, how to get around, how to book an activity, how to get back after an excursion. Part of the Isla Chiquita experience is precisely about simplifying those decisions. From the boat transfer to the different experiences you can book during your stay, the hotel team helps organize the details so you can focus on enjoying the trip. And that’s especially valuable when you’re traveling solo: knowing there’s someone to turn to for guidance makes everything feel much simpler.
A Different Kind of Glamping Experience
Glamping in Costa Rica can mean many things, but at Isla Chiquita, the idea is to combine comfort with a genuine connection to nature. You don’t have to give up comfort to feel far from it all: you have your own space, your own terrace, internet access, and everything you need for a comfortable stay. But when you step outside, you’re on an island, facing the Gulf of Nicoya, surrounded by tropical forest, with the ocean as part of your everyday view. It’s a different way to experience Costa Rica.
Is Isla Chiquita a Good Place for Solo Travel?
If you’re searching for hotels for solo travel in Costa Rica, you’re probably not looking for just a room. You’re looking for an experience: a place where you can feel at ease, enjoy your privacy, and have things to do without needing company — while also knowing that if you feel like talking, joining an excursion, or meeting new people, you’ll have that chance too. That’s what makes Isla Chiquita special: a morning to yourself, a shared tour in the afternoon, time reading by the ocean, new travelers met during an activity, a few hours of work if you need them, and an evening spent watching the stars. All in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solo Travel to Isla Chiquita
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Is it safe to travel alone in Costa Rica? Costa Rica is widely regarded as one of the safest and most stable destinations for tourism in Latin America. Isla Chiquita, as a small property with controlled water-only access, offers an especially calm environment for solo travelers.
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How do I get to Isla Chiquita from San José? From San José, you take the ferry to Paquera. Once there, the Isla Chiquita team coordinates a roughly 10-minute boat transfer to the island. No rental car or additional transportation is needed.
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Is Isla Chiquita a good option for remote work (workation)? Yes. The hotel has Wi-Fi and dedicated work spaces, making it easy to combine work hours with activities like kayaking, hiking, or tours — ideal for anyone looking for a workation in Costa Rica.
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Will I meet other travelers if I go alone? With only 20 glamping tents, the atmosphere is intimate, and it’s common to cross paths with other guests during tours, at the pool, or during experiences like the nighttime bioluminescence tour — without losing the option to have plenty of time to yourself.
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What activities can I do if I travel solo to Isla Chiquita? Options include kayaking, paddleboarding, island hikes, birdwatching, artisanal fishing, and nighttime bioluminescence tours, all bookable during your stay.
Maybe Solo Travel Is Exactly What You Need
Sometimes we think we need company to enjoy a trip — until we travel alone and discover there’s something wonderful about not having to match anyone else’s pace. When to get up. Which path to take. How long to sit and watch the sea. Which activity to try. And when to simply sit down and do nothing at all: it’s all in your hands. At Isla Chiquita, that freedom meets the nature of the Gulf of Nicoya in an intimate, one-of-a-kind glamping experience. Because solo travel in Costa Rica doesn’t have to mean being alone. It can mean having the space to reconnect with yourself, meet new people whenever you want, and discover the country at your own pace.
And maybe, by the time you head home, you’ll realize that one of the best things you took from the trip wasn’t a place you visited, but how you felt while you were there.
Your trip. Your pace. Your island.
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