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