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COSTA RICA is a welcoming country, with an amazing landscape, hospitable people, and has a very wide variety of flora and fauna some unique to the country.

Let’s start with the basics:

VISA: Most visitors of western countries (including the U.S.A., Canada, and the European Union) don’t need any visa prior to visiting Costa Rica. Usually a stay permit of 90 days is given to passengers arriving from those countries. That permit can be renovated for an additional period of 90 days at the Immigration offices in San Jose (the Capital). Another method to renovate that permit is by leaving the country for a period of at least 72 hours before coming back.

TRANSPORTATION: A lot of airlines fly into and out of Costa Rica from North, South and Central America, as well as from Europe. Among these airlines you can find: American Airlines, Continental, Delta, United, US Airways, Air Canada, Iberia, Martinair, Copa,Taca, and Mexicana.

There are internal flights operated by Sansa and Nature Air that encompass all regions of the country.

Rental car companies are wide spread, and depending on the season one might consider renting a 4 x 4 car in the height rainy season (September to November). There is also a public transportation system that covers all of Costa Rica.

Ferries are available in certain parts of the country such as the one connecting Puntarenas with the Southern Nicoya Peninsula at Paquera, and the boat service that connects Golfito to Puerto Jimenez in the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica.

WEATHER: Due to its proximity to the Equator and to both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, its climate is Tropic to Sub-Tropic. It is cool and relatively dry in the mountain ranges that traverse the country from south east to north west, and it is hot and humid in the low lying beach areas.

Typical temperatures are: 18 to 26 Celsius (65 to 79 Fahrenheit) in San Jose and the Central Valley, 24-30 Celsius (75 to 86 Fahrenheit) in the Beach areas both in the Pacific and the Caribbean side.

The seasons are divided roughly in two: The Dry season between December and April, and the Rainy season between May and November. The norm is that even in the rainy season most days start without any rains and as the day progresses it gets cloudier until the afternoon when it start raining. Usually in June or July there is a period of 2-3 weeks when the dry season comes back, this phenomena is called ¨Veranillo¨ (little summer).

COSTS: There is a great variety of lodging options ranging from low cost hotels (charging $20-$30 per night) to luxury five stars resorts (charging hundreds of dollars per night).

The high tourism season between December and April tend to be the most expensive as a lot of hotels tend to get full. It is advisable to book in advance for that period.

As any other country it has a great variety of restaurants, ranging from the little ¨sodas¨ (small outfits- charge a few dollar per meal) to the high class restaurants (charging $30 or more per meal).

Exchange Rate: $1 u.s. = 500 Colones (local currency)

Sales tax is 13%, hotels charge 16%.

Tipping is 10% of the bill, usually added automatically to the bill

Departure tax is $26 paid at the airport when you leave the country

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SECURITY & SAFETY: Costa Rica doesn’t posses any enemies thus it abolished its army since 1948.

A trained police force guards the safety of the people and the borders. It is the most stable, peaceful, and safe country in central America. As in any other country you should always follow basic safety rules: keep alert for petty theft, it is advisable not to walk in dubious areas especially in big cities, do not show jewelry in an extravagant way, etc.

Costa Rica receives almost 2 million tourists a year, a statistic that speak for itself as for the security and safety of foreigners.

HEALTH: The country has proper hygienic standards, it has a reasonable public health system (hospitals, clinics, etc), and an excellent private health practice. In fact in the last years the ¨health tourism¨, people that come from abroad to be treated in Costa Rica (dental care, plastic surgery), has risen considerably.

Tap water is potable, but it is advisable to drink bottles water in areas where the infrastructure is not up to standards.

In the rainy season there is a Dengue mosquito problem in some areas thus it’s advisable to bring along mosquito repellents and netting.

LANGUAGE & RELIGION: Spanish is the official language of the country. A lot of locals dominate the English language, also there are a lot of foreigners living in Costa Rica. Creole English is spoken in the Caribbean side as it has a numerous population from Jamaican heritage.

Main religion is the Catholic (76%), followed by the Protestant which its major component is the Evangelical church (14%), and also different minorities such as a small Jewish community.

QUICK FACTS:

Population: 4.5 Million

Official Language: Spanish

Independence Day: 15 of September 1821 (from Spain)

Government: Democratic Republic

Capital: San Jose (population 500,000)

Currency: Colon

National Flower: Guaria Morada (Purple Orchid)

World Time: -6 hours GMT

Electricity: 110 Volt, 60 Hertz (same as in the U.S)

 

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:

January 1 – New Years Eve

March or April – Easter

April 11 – Juan Santamaría Day (National hero)

May 1 – Labor day

July 25 – Guanacaste province annexation day

August 2 - Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles (religious festivity)

August 15 – Mothers day

September 15 – Independence day (from Spain in 1821)

October 12 – Columbus day (discovery of the Americas)

December 25 - Christmas

 

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