Bienvenido a Costa Rica!!

Time Zone
Costa Rica is on United States Central Standard Time and does not observe daylight savings.

Climate
A tropical country with two seasons, where its temperatures vary little since the main influence on temperature is the altitude.

Average temperatures in the Central Valley area are 70°/75° F. (20-25°C.) and along the coasts it may vary from 75° to 90° (27-34° C.)

The dry season begins in middle November and ends at the end of April. The green season begins in May throughout November.

During the month of July there is a dry season or “Indian Summer” of about 2 weeks, our grandparents popularly called “Veranillo de San Juan” (San Juan’s little summer).

September and October are the driest months on the Caribbean Coast so if you are planning on coming during this time of the year, make sure to spend some time on the Caribbean side.

Money
The official currency is the “Colón”, named after Christopher Columbus. However U.S dollars are widely accepted.

Currency can be exchanged at hotels, banks and at the international airports. The currency rate fluctuates daily and can be check at the local newspapers.

Most of credit cards are accepted by businesses, the most common are: Visa, Master Card, Amex, Diners Club.

Please note that some small businesses located in remote areas could only take cash or travellers checks. Traveller’s checks can be cashed at any bank around the country.

Health Care & Water
Costa Rica has a very good health care system and its sanitary standards are high. Public hospitals and private clinics can be found in San Jose and around the country.

Most of the hotels have a resident doctor or paramedic. If not, they have the contact number of a local doctor in the area.

There is no need on taking medications or vaccinations for Malaria, Dengue or other tropical diseases since there are no outbreaks in the country. These medications cause side effects that can make you sick during your trip.

Our recommendation would be to buy a good insect repellent while you are here and apply it to both skin and clothing. The most effective repellents are those containing N,N-diethylmetatoluamide (DEET).

Most of the cities/towns in the country have potable water and in very remote areas it is recommended to buy bottled water.

Communications
It won’t be difficult to stay in touch with your family, business and check the world news since the country has an advanced telecommunications system. Public telephones, fax machines, Internet Cafes, cable/satellite T.V. are around the country.

Electricity
Electricity in Costa Rica is 110-120 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you travel to Costa Rica with a device that does not accept 120 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

Outlets in Costa Rica generally accept 1 type of plug:

Flat blade plug

If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter.

Tipping
A 10% tip + sales tax (13%) is included in restaurants bills; but we feel this is a personal decision based on your judgment about the service provided to you.

For instance you can tip waiters, hotel maids, bellboys, airport luggage handlers $3 to $10.

Transportation
On the map it seems that you could cross Costa Rica from coast to coast easily, but unfortunately this is not the case. In spite of the efforts of the administrations thru the years to develop a better infrastructure on roads they are not in the best conditions. But that doesn’t mean that there are no ways to get to the towns and tourist destinations of the country!

One of our goals is that you take advantage of your time in the country and with our knowledge we will gladly recommend the best ways to get around the country trying to make it not too tiring nor frustrating for you.

Enjoy leaving the driving to someone else so you could watch the country side!

The “Ticos”
The nickname “Ticos” come from our accustomed form of using diminutive words in our daily conversations. For instance, if we would like to ask for a small amount of coffee in a cup we would say “un poquitico de café”. Open your ears and perhaps you will notice the “tico” sound in some words....

But in general we are friendly, hospitable, helpful and peace lovers product of living in one of the oldest and most stable democracies in Latin America.

We have a public education system since 1869 giving us one of the highest literacy rates in the world of 96.2 %. And our life expectancy is between 72-76 years thanks to the socialized medical system.

Our ethnic origins are a blend of native inhabitants, Europeans and Afro-Caribbean immigrants and we all share different cultural life styles.

Don't be surprised if in the country side you are invited by a Costa Rican family to see their farm, house and even share “un poquitico de café”........

Holidays
Some holidays could be of interest for visitors; here is a list of the general ones we celebrate nationwide:

• March/April: Easter Week Processions recreating the passion of Christ
• April 11: Juan Santamaría Day
• May 1: Labor Day
• July 25: Annexation of Guanacaste Province
• August 2: Virgen de Los Angeles Day Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Cartago
• August 15: Mother’s Day.
• Sept. 15: Independence Day
• October 12: Day of the Cultures + Carnival at Puerto Limon (parades, floats)

Let’s travel safe - Information provided by the Costa Rican Tourism Board
The following guidelines are made in accordance with norms internationally accepted:

1. Always carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe deposit box at your hotel.
2. Know your destination and have a planned route of travel (in case of driving).
3. Always be alert and aware of what is going on around you. Do not wear valuable jewellery or carry large amounts of cash.
4. The signals of emergency or police vehicles are blue or red.
5. If you get lost find a public place such a local store, restaurant, gas station and check your map or ask for directions.
6. Use an ATM machine located in well-lighted areas. Retrieve your money and count it right there.
7. If you go downtown San Jose carrying a shoulder bag or camera, hold it in front of you and close to your body. Be sure it is securely closed.
8. If a hostile individual challenges you, do not resist, do what they ask. Your belongings are not worth your life or a serious injury.
9. If you use a taxi be sure to verify it complies with the establish requirements such as yellow triangles on the side doors, taximeter in the front. If you are going out ask your hotel receptionist to call a cab from a reputable garage.
10. In case of emergency call 911 from ANY telephone, they have English Speaking operators.