Costa Rica at a Glance:

Costa Rica:

Where in the world is Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is located in Central America with Nicaragua to the North, Panama to the South, the Pacific bordering the entire west coast while the Atlantic borders the entire east coast. It is just 9 degrees from the equator. What is the geography of Costa Rica?

Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country, they range from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level). The Cordillera de Guanacaste, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera de Talamanca are the principal mountain ranges extending the length of the country. There are several active volcanoes (Volcán Arenal, Volcán Irazú, Volcán Rincón de la Vieja and Volcán Turrialba) and the country's highest mountain (Cerro Chirripó), which reaches a height of 3,819m (12,530 ft.)The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a number of rivers and streams that attract expert kayakers and rafters. Costa Rica’s land mass is 51,100 square kilometers, making it about the size of West Virginia or Nova Scotia.

How’s the weather?

Costa Rica's year round climate is pleasant with naturally occurring breezes cooling down most of the coastal areas. Temperatures in the highlands and the mountains are warm by day and brisk at night, giving an "eternal spring" feeling. The average annual temperatures range from 31.7°C (89°F) on the coast to 16.7°C (62°F) inland. In the Caribbean areas, October is the driest month of the year and the Arenal volcano area also experiences a drier period during this month.

What is the population and ethnic makeup?

“Ticos”, as they fondly call themselves are a mixed group. Though the majority of the country's 3.3 million inhabitants are the descendants of Spanish immigrants, many families originated from other parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and, of course, Central America. You may be surprised by the number of fair-skinned people you'll see in the country, especially in the Central Valley. In the lowlands, more people are mestizo: a mixture of European and Indigenous blood, whereas the majority along the Caribbean coast are of African lineage, and much of the Talamanca Mountain Range is inhabited by full-blooded Indigenous of various tribes. A full 1% of the entire population is of Asian origin.

What type of wildlife can I see in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is the most biodiverse place on earth – occupying less than 0.03% of the planet’s surface, it contains 4.23% of all the Earth’s biodiversity! Nearly all of the National Parks in Costa Rica (22% of Costa Rica is protected as national parks) are home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Scarlet macaws, marine turtles, hummingbirds, sloths, leaf-cuter ants, quetzals, toads, frogs, monkeys, crocodiles, toucans, bats, iguanas – the list goes on and on! Due to Costa Rica’s unique position at the continental divide there are a plethora of exotic creatures, flowers and trees. We recommend you purchase a guidebook for more information on what species you can find in each region.

Is the government stable?

One of the longest running democratic countries, Costa Rica has no standing army since abolishing the military in 1948. The current President is Oscar Arias Sanchez, who was elected in April 2006 and is a Nobel Peace Prize winner when he was President in the 1980’s. It is considered to be the most stable country in Central America and among the elite of Latin America. An impressive public healthcare system and strong emphasis on education (literacy rate of 93%) have resulted in the most affluent country in Central America, with the largest middle class in the region.

How safe is Costa Rica for tourists?

Generally, Costa Rica is a very safe place. Violent crime against tourists is a rarity here and in most cases, avoidable as long as you use common sense. Do NOT do anything in Costa Rica that you would not do in your home country. Do NOT buy drugs, party late with strangers, walk alone late at night in San Jose, get into a car with a stranger, flaunt cash or wear fancy jewelry. The most common crimes against tourists are pick-pocketing and breaking into rental cars. If you get a flat tire, or experience a minor roadside emergency do NOT stop and accept assistance from strangers. Instead, drive to the nearest gas station or public place to change it. If you go looking for trouble, no matter where you are in the world, it will find you. Have fun but don’t be reckless and your vacation should be free of any complications.

What’s the food like?

Costa Rican local cuisine consists mostly of chicken, beef or fish accompanied with rice and beans. The typical lunch menu is called a “casado” and includes one of the first three items, rice and beans and a small salad. The greater San Jose area has a wide variety of dining. Dining options are more limited in the beach towns, although there are some exceptional restaurants in Tamarindo (“The Lazy Wave”), Manuel Antonio (“Marlin”) and Santa Teresa (the restaurant at “Flor Blanca). In general, the seafood is amazing and you can’t go wrong with a dinner of mahi-mahi (Dorado) or tuna. In San Jose, Asian, Italian, French and international cuisine are all readily available.

Is it safe to eat the food?

The food (fruits and vegetables) in Costa Rica is safe to eat but if you are prone to upset stomachs, eat only peeled fruit and well cooked foods. The water in cities is safe to drink but quite often has a fairly strong chemical taste. In more remote areas, drink only bottled water.

What about healthcare?

Hopefully, you won’t need it but be assured that health care in Costa Rica is excellent and there are several ultra-modern hospitals with English speaking Doctors (some are North Americans) in the greater San Jose area.

Is the sun really intense in Costa Rica?

Being in a tropical climate, it's not difficult to get sunburned or dehydrated. A bad sunburn or dehydration are two ways to put a major kink in any vacation. Make sure you use plenty of sunscreen (remember, we’re just 9 degrees above the equator!) and drink plenty of liquids so as to avoid such problems.

What about mosquitoes?

Believe it or not, there are few mosquitoes on the popular tourist beaches. There are more in the rainforest and along the rivers. If you intend to take a river rafting tour or hike the jungle, bring insect repellent. On the beach, try to avoid the sand at sunset, as the “no-seeums” are vicious. We find “Cactus Juice” insect repellent (available at North American drug stores and health food stores) particularly effective against these annoying critters.

Do I need to take malaria pills or vaccinations?

Although nothing is required for entry into Costa Rica, there are recommendations for precautions when traveling to remote areas. Although we are not doctors, we do not recommend taking Malaria pills unless you are planning on being in a remote or high-risk area. Please consult your physician as well as the CDC's website for the latest updates when planning your trip to Costa Rica. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm

Can I drink the water?

The local authorities state that the drinking water in Costa Rica is perfectly potable, but we recommend that you stick to the bottled variety for drinking (you can brush your teeth with tap water anywhere in the country without worries). Costa Rica is NOT Mexico and “Montezuma’s Revenge” is not a problem here but there MAY be bacteria in the water in some areas that disagrees with you so we suggest you be cautious of what you eat and drink.

Are there dangerous currents for swimmers?

Very few beaches in Costa Rica have lifeguards so be careful when swimming. There are several beaches that claim the lives of nearly 200 swimmers every year. Most of these accidental deaths are caused when swimmers get caught in a riptide and panic. Most of these tides will pull you out but not under. To escape a rip tide, swim parallel to shore until you find a place where the current subsides, then swim to shore. Do NOT fight the current directly – you will only tire yourself. Beaches with notorious rip tides include:

Playa Bonita (near Limon)
The entrance of Cahuita National Park
Playa Barranca (Puntarenas)
Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio)

Identification / Entry Requirements:

For US and Canadian citizens, a valid passport is all that is required. Upon entry, each tourist is issued a 90-day tourist visa. Your passport must also not expire for 6 months from the date you arrive into Costa Rica (for example, if you arrive into Costa Rica on January 1, 2007, your passport must not expire before June 1, 2007). It's also a good idea to have several copies of the picture page of your passport with you when you travel.

Where can I exchange money?

Dollars - Carry US dollars with you when you arrive to Costa Rica. As the local currency is on a fixed devaluation schedule with the US dollar, you will most always get the best rate of exchange. Credit Cards - Most vendors give discounts for using cash, as credit card merchant companies charge high percentages on transactions here. Some vendors do not accept credit cards, while many only take VISA.

Travelers Checks - Although accepted by most large establishments, you will usually be charged an exchange commission fee between 2-5%.

Exchange - When you arrive, you may exchange your money at any local bank or most of the upscale hotels (if you are one of their guests). Note that you will get a better exchange rate at banks. You may also get foreign currency by using your ATM card. However, it's important that you know the exchange rate before you do this. Currently, the rate is about 520 colones to the dollar.

How much money should I bring?

That really depends on what you intend to do, see, buy, etc. But to give you a fair estimate on costs, a typical lunch costs around $5 at an affordable restaurant or “soda” or up to $15 at a nicer establishment. Beer or mixed drinks run about $2.00 per at a typical bar or restaurant, and up to twice as much at a nicer hotel or high-end eatery. Taxi fares are very affordable compared to U.S. cities. A short trip (2-3km) within San Jose or at a beach town where taxis are prevalent costs around $2.

Baggage on International and Domestic Flights:

Sansa and NatureAir allow 25-pound baggage limit per person. In fact, before some flights, they will actually weigh you and your luggage to make sure. For International flights, 2 bags to check and 1 to carry is the standard (usually with a 50 pound limit for each bag).

What time zone is Costa Rica in?

Costa Rica is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, which is equivalent to Central Standard Time (CST) in North America. Costa Rica does not change clocks ahead for daylight savings time, so from April through December local time is one hour ahead ofCST.

Is the electricity standard North American voltage?

Yes! You can safely plug any North American appliances into a wall socket here.

What about tipping?

Generally, tip like you would in your own country. In restaurants a 10% service charge is already added to your bill by law. If you receive exceptional service, we recommend leaving an additional 10%. For porters, 500colones (about $1.00) per bag is a fair gratuity. For tour guides, follow the guidelines for each company or again, tip like you would in your own country for similar services. Taxi drivers are usually not tipped but if you feel like doing so, the driver will be most appreciative.