| Costa Rica is a wonderful place to visit with | | | | |
| your family or even alone. | | | | Make sure that you leave your Rolex at |
| | | | home.Do not keep your wallet in your back |
| Many couples honeymoon in Costa Rica | | | | pocket. Keep it in your front pocket. |
| combining romance, adventure and mystical | | | | |
| visits to volcanoes, rainforest's, | | | | Do not place valuables in backpacks slung |
| waterfalls, and secluded beaches. Our goal | | | | over your shoulder. |
| here is to provide a condensed guide that you | | | | |
| can print and take with you to use for | | | | Many places are perfectly safe to walk at |
| reference.Country Information | | | | night. Others are not. Ask a local.Beaches |
| | | | have rip tides. |
| Costa Rica is in Central America north of | | | | |
| Panama and south of Nicaragua. The Pacific | | | | A riptide is narrow. If caught in a riptide |
| ocean borders the country to the west and the | | | | swim parallel to the shore for a short |
| Caribbean to the east.The citizens of Costa | | | | distance until you no longer feel it pulling |
| Rica are affectionately called Tico's and | | | | you away from shore. Salt water is easy to |
| Tica's. In all of Latin America, the Tico's | | | | float in. Don't freak out!Sharks are |
| are most like North American's in their | | | | prevalent in certain areas of both the |
| thought process. There are many cultural | | | | Pacific and Caribbean. |
| differences but tourism and tourists in | | | | |
| general are welcomed warmly in this | | | | Sharks are of concern for fishermen and |
| country.Costa Rica has the highest literacy | | | | surfers primarily. If you are not a pro ask |
| rate in Latin America. Every four years | | | | about the area you plan to visit. Some of |
| elections are held with 95% of the population | | | | the island's around Costa Rica have huge |
| participating in the voting process. Costa | | | | populations of sharks.Costa Rica is just |
| Rica has had no military forces since 1946. | | | | north of the Equator. Use sunscreen |
| 27% of the country's budget is spent on | | | | liberally and drink plenty of non-alcoholic |
| health care. Although there are | | | | fluids while in the elements. I know, now I |
| demonstrations occasionally civil unrest is | | | | sound like your mother!Taxi's have meters. |
| not present. Costa Rica is considered to be | | | | Many unofficial taxi's ply their services in |
| the "Latin American success story".The | | | | the country. Prior to any trip anywhere, |
| country has 110 volcanic craters, six active | | | | agree on the price before you get in the taxi |
| volcanoes,mountain ranges throughout the | | | | unless they are using the meter. Many taxi's |
| central portion of the country and secluded | | | | do not use their meters.Most hotels, resorts, |
| beaches with rain forest filled with wildlife | | | | and bed and breakfast's provide |
| butting right up to the shoreline.Temperature | | | | transportation from the airport and are |
| varies with elevation. Humidity is present | | | | valuable resources to identify the fair cost |
| and noticeable, especially at sea level. | | | | from one place to another when using taxi |
| Mosquitoes are obviously part of any rain | | | | services.Beaches |
| forest but are not as noticeable as most | | | | |
| parts of Florida, for instance due to the | | | | Beaches in Costa Rica are not all the same. |
| natural predators maintaining an ecological | | | | Some beaches are great for surfing and poor |
| balance not found in places like Florida. | | | | choices for children. Many beaches include |
| (Bring repellent with Deet however!)Costa | | | | amenities close by and plenty of tanned |
| Rica has a wet and dry season. The wet or | | | | bodies to admire. Others offer secluded |
| "green" season is from May until November | | | | splendor and less amenities. Careful |
| each year. During this time rainfall is more | | | | planning is necessary to find the right area |
| prevalent in most regions (Guanacaste | | | | for a successful vacation here.The beach |
| province is the driest area in the country) | | | | options are too numerous to even mention |
| with sunshine typical in the morning hours | | | | here. Please consider looking at our beaches |
| with showers in the afternoon and at night. | | | | page for information about some of the best |
| Green season is when hotels offer discounts | | | | beaches. For surfing we have a surfing page |
| and crowds are minimized. As mentioned | | | | highlighting the best spots to catch a |
| earlier, the northwestern portion of Costa | | | | wave.Volcanoes |
| Rica is the best "green" season destination | | | | |
| due to rainfall considerations.General | | | | Some parts of Costa Rica look more like the |
| Information | | | | moon than Central America!Arenal is an active |
| | | | volcano that offers excellent potential for |
| Entry requirements for visitors differ | | | | all the elements of an active volcano. The |
| depending on your country of origin. US | | | | Tabacon hot springs is a beautiful area |
| citizens, Canadians, and United Kingdom | | | | offering relaxation, romance, and wonderful |
| tourists need a valid passport but do not | | | | atmosphere. |
| require a visa. The maximum stay under these | | | | |
| conditions is 90 days but can be extended an | | | | Poas volcano is close to San Jose in the |
| additional 90 days through a travel agent or | | | | Central Valley and provides eerie views of |
| within the country through | | | | one of the world's largest volcanic lakes in |
| immigration.Vaccinations are not required for | | | | its crater. Poas is easy to hike compared to |
| malaria and other diseases to visit Costa | | | | other places and has no facility for food and |
| Rica.The water in most areas is safe to | | | | drinks in the park area.Rincon de la Vieja is |
| drink. Some coastal areas are exceptions | | | | in northwestern Costa Rica (Guanacaste |
| however. Bottled water is recommended simply | | | | province) and is actually a compound volcano |
| due to taste considerations. If you are at | | | | meaning that there are more than one |
| the Multiplaza mall in Escazu for instance | | | | composite volcanoes aligned on a ridge. |
| the water is perfectly fine to drink. | | | | Rincon has 9 eruptive craters, includes |
| Smaller communities on the coast can be | | | | bubbling mud pits, and volcanic geysers. |
| problematic however.Costa Rica has the best | | | | Hikes to the summit are controlled by park |
| fruit in the world in my opinion. Eat | | | | rangers to keep people from getting lost. |
| anything and everything in sight!Driving in | | | | Obviously this is more challenging hiking |
| Costa Rica is an adventure! A stop sign in | | | | compared to Poas!Rain Forests |
| Costa Rica is treated like a yield sign in | | | | |
| North America. Potholes in certain areas are | | | | Rain forests and animals of the rain forest |
| HUGE. If renting a car consider the | | | | are one of the big attractions of Costa Rica. |
| following:Do not leave valuables in the car. | | | | Birdwatching, flora and fauna, monkey's, |
| | | | sloths, and many other creatures abound in |
| Rental agencies look for any trace of dents | | | | the rain forests of Costa Rica. Each region |
| and dings | | | | has slightly different plant life and animals |
| | | | populating the forests. The lodge and hotel |
| Roads are narrow and guard rails are usually | | | | accommodations range from primitive to |
| not present | | | | exotic. Take your time and choose an area |
| | | | that combines activities that you and your |
| Did I mention POTHOLESElectricity is | | | | family have interests in.Manuel Antonio is |
| standard 110v like in the USA but generally | | | | one of the most popular parks in Costa Rica. |
| not grounded. This means that any device | | | | The park is located in the Central Pacific |
| requiring a three prong plug will not work | | | | area and provides great accommodations, rain |
| without an adapter to two prongs. So, bring | | | | forest, waterfalls, and beach |
| an adapter for anything requiring three | | | | vacations.Monteverde Cloud Forest is a |
| prongs.English is widely spoken in tourist | | | | wonderland of nature. Located near the |
| areas and major metropolitan areas. Driving | | | | Arenal volcano about 3 1/2 hours from San |
| a rental car all over the country with no | | | | Jose this misty forest is a great place to |
| knowledge of Spanish might be problematic. | | | | see birds, monkey's and other wildlife in a |
| It is generally easy to find someone to help | | | | well tended easily hiked park.Corcovado |
| you in English in tourist areas and big | | | | National Park is lowland rain forest and is |
| cities however.Medical facilities are | | | | home to a large population of scarlet macaws. |
| available throughout the country. Remote | | | | The park features well designed trails, |
| areas, however, only have clinics for minor | | | | camping, and plenty of ranger stations. The |
| issues and often have few English speaking | | | | hiking is strenuous, pack your own food and |
| staff members. San Jose has excellent | | | | get back to nature in the southern Pacific |
| medical facilities and English speaking | | | | portion of Costa Rica.Cahuita National Park |
| doctors are quite common. Ask the proprietor | | | | provides flat easily hiked trails, and plenty |
| of the hotel you chose about medical | | | | of wildlife in thick lowland forest. White |
| facilities in the area if you have health | | | | face and howler monkey's are your companions |
| concerns.Emergency service in Costa Rica is | | | | here. Generally rustic accommodations and |
| available by dialing 911.Holidays are taken | | | | less amenities are characteristic on the |
| seriously in this country. Visit around | | | | Caribbean coastal areas.Final Thoughts |
| Easter or Christmas and it will seem that the | | | | |
| entire country is shut down. The Easter and | | | | Fun Costa Rica Vacations hopes this visitors |
| Christmas holiday's are celebrated for more | | | | guide has been helpful to you. Our goal is |
| than a week!Traveler Safety | | | | to provide useful information to travelers |
| | | | and specifically first time visitors to Costa |
| Violent crime exists in every society. | | | | Rica.Copyright @ 2005 |
| Costa Rica is a safe place to bring your | | | | fun-costa-rica-vacations.comRoger,Publisher |
| family or to travel alone. Most crime is | | | | of a destination guide with ideas for fun |
| property theft and pick-pocket oriented | | | | Costa Rica vacations. |
| theft. | | | | |