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Travel
Tips
Here are
a few travel tips to help make your vacation planning a little bit
easier. Click on any of the links to the left to learn more about
that topic.
As always,
we are available to answer your vacation questions, feel free to drop
us an email at anytime! We would love to hear from you.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:A
valid U.S. passport is required. Officials
requesting I.D., during your stay, will usually
accept a photocopy of your passport showing
photo, passport number, and entry stamp.If
traveling from a country other that the U.S. or
Canada, or if you have any other questions,
contact the Costa Rican embassy in your country
and they will be more than happy to assist you
with any information you need.
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When departing, you should be at the airport at
least two hours before your scheduled flight.
There is a departure tax of U.S. $28.
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PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PASSPORTS ARE VALID,
HAVE NOT EXPIRED, AND WILL NOT EXPIRE IN THE
NEXT
SIX MONTHS.YOU
NEED A PASSPORT TO EXIT THE USA AND ENTER COSTA
RICA IF YOU HOLD A U.S. PASSPORT, NO VISA IS
NEEDED TO ENTER COSTA RICAIF YOU HOLD A PASSPORT
FROM ANY OTHER COUNTRY BESIDES THE USA, PLEASE
LET US KNOW OR CONTACT THE LOCAL COSTA RICAN
CONSULATE TO VERIFY IF A VISA IS NEEDED FOR YOU
TO ENTER.
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WHEN TO COME:Costa
Rica is an excellent vacation destination the
whole year round! Costa Rica has two basic
seasons.
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The Dry or High Season:
This season starts in late November and lasts
through April. Days are usually dry and sunny.
Because this is the most popular season,
reservations need to be made well in advance and
prices are usually more expensive.
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The Rainy or Green Season:
The season runs usually from May to November.
Though rain may come daily during the afternoon,
sunny summery mornings and peaceful evenings are
usually delightful times for activities. Bargain
conscious travelers usually pick this season
because prices are lower and discounts abound.
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There
is a brief period between June and July, known
as "Veranillo de San Juan" (St. Johns Short
Summer) when the days are sunny for several
weeks
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FINANCIAL MATTER
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CURRENCY EXCHANGE:
Costa Rica's unit of currency is known as the
Colón...named after Christopher Columbus.
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1 US Dollar = ˘500.- Costarican
Colones.
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is recommended that you make your currency
exchange in Costa Rica, rather than your country
of origin, because you will get a much better
exchange rate. It is suggested, however, that
you stay away from "street" exchanges because
not only are they illegal, but you are subject
to being ripped off.
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- To
exchange your money you must show your passport
or a certificated photocopy. There is a fee for
exchanging dollars in a private bank, usually
about 1%.
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- The
Banking hours for the National Banks are Monday
through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm, in San José
city until 5 pm; for private banks, Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 pm or 6:00
p.m. All banks are usually closed on weekends.
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sure to bring bills that are not marked or
ripped; banks in Costa Rica are reluctant to
accept damaged bills.
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- Some
hotels or establishments will exchange currency
for you, but the best rates will be found at the
banks, if you can tolerate waiting in line.
Government banks typically have long lines,
privately owned banks are usually more efficient
in this respect and are air conditioned with
friendlier service.
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- To
exchange your money you must show your passport.
There is a fee for exchanging dollars in a
private bank, usually about 1% or 2%. The
Banking hours for the National Banks are Monday
through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm; for private
banks, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30
or 4:00 p.m. All banks are usually closed on
weekends.
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CREDIT CARDS &
ATMS:
ATM’s (Cirrus,
Star, Plus, etc.) are available in major cities
with some accepting Visa and others only Master
Card and some accept both. Amex is also fairly
well accepted, but not as much as Visa &
MC.Don't forget to bring your PIN number!
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AMEX, VISA and Master Card credit/debit cards
are widely accepted in retail establishments,
restaurants, hotels and gas stations etc., with
VISA being the most widely accepted. A few ATMs
accept foreign credit cards. If you use one of
these, count your money; make sure the machine
gave you what you paid for. You can use credit
cards to get cash from a bank. However, your
credit card company might charge you a hefty fee
(sometimes 1%) for the favor.
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TRAVELER'S CHECKS
- PERSONAL CHECKS:
Do not expect to
use personal checks; most places will not accept
them. US dollar traveler's checks are accepted
at some establishments if they can verify your
identity to their satisfaction, but it is
typically not preferred.
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TAX:
There is a 13%
sales tax on most services and goods. There is
also an extra 3% tourist tax on hotel bills.
There is a departure tax of US$28.
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TIPPING:
Restaurants usually
add a 10% service charge to your bill to cover
the tip so be sure to read your bill before
leaving extra money.
If you
receive unusually good service or are especially
pleased with your waiter, you might feel good
about slipping them a couple extra bucks.
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Tours guides are tipped anywhere from $5 to $20
depending on the tour and quality of service
provided. Hotel maids and tour drivers are also
sometimes left a tip, if service is satisfactory.
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Porters and bellhops get around 75˘ per bag.
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Taxi drivers are not usually tipped.
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TAXIS:
While in San José, taxis can either be hailed or
ordered by phone.
Taxis are
typically red with white number plates. When
taking a taxi in the city, be sure ask if the
electronic meter is working before entering the
cab.
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When traveling outside the city limits, it is
recommended that you check fixed rates in
advance. Tipping is unnecessary.
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BUSES:
Costa Rica has an extensive bus system that
services not only the metropolitan areas, but
travels to most sections of the country. Fares
are relatively cheap.
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WHAT TO BRING:
Costa Rica has a pretty constant range of
temperatures because of its geographic location
in the tropics.
However,
because of the presence of so many climate zones,
it is suggested that you dress not only for hot,
humid weather, but also for the cool breeziness
of higher altitudes. The following is a list you
might want to choose from:
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. A couple of bathing suits
. Shorts
. T-shirts or tank tops
. Loose-fitting cottons
. Lightweight long sleeved shirt
. Rubber sandals
. Hats
. Lightweight hiking boots with good tread
. Athletic shoes for walks
. Light sweater and/or jacket
. Light cotton pants
. Jeans (for horseback riding)
. Extra socks
. Sunglasses
. Insect Repellent (75% DEET recommended)
. Waterproof sun block lotion (SPF 29-40)
. Towels
. Folding sturdy umbrella
. Rain jacket or poncho
. Day pack
. Cameras
. Film for cameras (VERY expensive in Costa
Rica)
. Camera batteries
. Binoculars
. Flashlight
. Medications
. Plastic bags
. Prepaid phone card to call home.
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A COUPLE MORE
BITS OF INFORMATION:
The capital of San José is located at a higher
elevation so it may be cool and breezy during
the evening.
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Dress in Costa Rica is typically casual, but
traditionally, shorts are not worn to nice
restaurants or parties.
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THE WATER:
Unlike most Latin American countries, Costa Rica
has a reputation for having good clean water.
Most
tap water is pure. Salads are safe because crops
are grown with clean irrigated water.
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Even though the water quality is good, you still
may want to stick to the readily available,
relatively inexpensive, bottled water,
especially in rural or remote areas.
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LAUNDRY:
Costa Rica is not
known for its Laundromats!
Most people
pay other people to do their laundry; payment is
usually by the kilo.
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TELEPHONES:
Direct dial to most countries is available.
You
may also use telephone credits cards through the
appropriate operators including ATT, MCI,
Sprint, and Bell Canada or simply dial the
access code to your carrier and then the number.
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. AT&T operator by dialing
0-800-011-4114
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. MCI by calling
0-800-012-2222
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. Sprint by dialing
0-800-013-0123
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. Canada Bell by dialing
0-800-015-1161
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. British Telecom by
dialing 0-800-044-1044
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To make a collect call from any phone, dial 09,
the international access code of the country
being called, and then the number.
If you ever
need an English speaking operator, simply dial
116.
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Making international calls from pay phones is
difficult because of the amount of coins you
have to feed into the phone. Also, waiting in
line to use a phone might be fruitless as it is
not customary for a person to rush off the
phone, even if someone is obviously waiting. A
lot of pay phones in Costa Rica are out of
order, so be sure you know a phone is working
before investing coins into it.
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ELECTRICITY:
Standard current is 110volts, 60 Hertz.
Same as in
the U.S with 110V, 60Hz current and the same
wall outlets. Sometimes outlets only have 2
slots w/o the 3rd 'ground' receptacle, so an
adapter can be handy.
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HEALTH ISSUES:
Costa Rica has excellent heath care and sanitary
standards are high.
Hospitals and
private clinics are similar in quality to those
in the United States, but not as expensive.
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Costa Rica's socialized medicine and public
education has served to effectively control
those illnesses and diseases that typically
affect tropical countries. The standard of
health is quite high.
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Vaccinations are not required, nor are they
considered necessary.
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Be sure to bring with you a medical history if
you have any health condition that would require
special attention or consideration in the event
of illness or accident. Costa Rica does use a
911 emergency call system that uses bilingual
operators.
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SOME HEALTH TIPS:
When participating
in outdoor activities, avoid using fragrant
shampoos or perfume; these will act as mosquito
magnets!
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Don't try getting your suntan all in one day!
The Costa Rican sun is tropical; pace yourself
with appropriate sunscreens.
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Bring bottled water with you on your outdoor
excursions and keep yourself hydrated early in
your activities.
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TICO CULTURE &
CUSTOMS:
The Costa Rican people are affectionately known
as "Ticos."
Here are a
couple of tips.
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LANGUAGE:
Spanish is the
primary language of Costa Rica, but English is
spoken in many areas, especially those visited
by tourists.
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FAMILY:
Mothers are regarded as the leading family
figures.
Grandparents
and the elderly are highly respected.
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NATIONAL
PASTIMES:
"Football" and politics.
The Costa
Rican people are quite proud of their democracy.
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FOOD:
The main Costa Rican dish is rice and beans
which can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and
dinner.
Costa Ricans
enjoy a lot of meat, mostly beef, chicken, and
pork. Eating fish is considered a luxury
although fish marinated in lemon juice and
spices is a cheap delicacy. Vegetables and
fruits are also popular and cheap. Imported
apples and grapes are considered a special treat.
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There are restaurants in all the major towns
serving a variety of cuisines. Local food can be
found in small "SODAS". Popular restaurant
dishes include: olla de carne (soup of beef,
plantain, yuca, nampi and chayote), sopa negra (black
beans and poached egg); and picadillo (meat and
vegetable stew).
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DANCING:
Costa Ricans love to dance!
Males
typically lead the dance...if you want to woo a
native girl, you would be wise to take a couple
of salsa lessons first.
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WOMEN:
Costa Ricans are unaccustomed to seeing women
traveling alone.
Males will
see unaccompanied females as not spoken for and
will traditionally "hiss" and express
compliments...this is just a macho cultural
thing and appropriate to ignore if unwelcome.
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When a couple walks down the street, a woman
should walk to the inside with the man next to
the curb, otherwise the impression will be that
the woman is "available".
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