| When traveling it is essential to plan ahead, | | | | season is the busiest time in Costa Rica. |
| so when you arrive at your destination, you | | | | Prices are much higher and it is harder to |
| lessen the chances of being at a loss of what | | | | find a place to stay. Now in the green season |
| to do. Knowledge gained from others travel | | | | you will find much cheaper prices. The green |
| can be invaluable, especially when planning | | | | season is from April to November. During the |
| to travel to somewhere you have never been | | | | rainy season it generally rains for a few |
| before. The advice on this page is helpful to | | | | hours and then clears up. |
| everyone planning a trip to Costa Rica. | | | | |
| | | | Traveling within Costa Rica |
| Money | | | | |
| | | | Bus - You can catch one to most parts of the |
| The money used in Costa Rica is called | | | | country. There are a few places where the bus |
| colons. You can change dollars into colons at | | | | comes only once a day though… |
| the airports in San Jose and local banks. The | | | | |
| exchange rates can be from the low 200s to | | | | Cab - There are red cabs throughout the |
| 400s colons for each US dollar. (Now | | | | country. If the cab driver tells you the |
| everywhere in Costa Rica you can buy or pay | | | | meter is broker, just get out. First it is |
| in US dollars, but I think things are cheaper | | | | illegal for a cab driver to drive with a |
| if you pay in colons.) Other ways you might | | | | broken meter in Costa Rica; secondly he might |
| get colons is if you pay for something in US | | | | just be trying to rip you off. |
| dollars, you will receive change in colons. | | | | |
| During my stay at Costa Rica, I once paid a | | | | Renting a Car - You can rent a car, but to me |
| cab driver in US money, and I received change | | | | personally I would find driving in Costa Rica |
| in the local currency. You should also make | | | | difficult, since I'm not from the country and |
| sure your dollars are not torn. Local banks | | | | it seems there are a lack of street signs. |
| and businesses do not accept torn US dollars. | | | | Also the prices for a car rental can be |
| I tried to exchange a torn $50 bill, and the | | | | pretty expensive. |
| bank would not accept it! | | | | |
| | | | Local airlines - You can catch local flights |
| -Bringing Money | | | | to places throughout Costa Rica. They are |
| | | | regularly scheduled and reasonably |
| On my trip I brought my money half in dollars | | | | inexpensive. |
| and the other half in American Express | | | | |
| cheques. When a traveler cheque is used there | | | | Cities and Towns |
| will be a commission fee. | | | | |
| | | | Cities in Costa Rica are San jose (The |
| When to visit/weather | | | | Capital) Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Jaco, |
| | | | Liberia, Manuel Antonio, park, Pochote, |
| Costa Rica has two seasons - the dry season | | | | Puerto Limon, Puntarenas, Parismina, and |
| and the green season (or rainy season). The | | | | Tamarindo. |
| dry season is from December to March. The dry | | | | |