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