Information about Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a tourist hotspot for nature enthusiasts, adventures, and beach lovers alike. Revered as being one of the most biologically intense places in the world, this tiny Central American nation has grown to become one of the world's premier ecotourism hotspots. Costa Rica welcomes more than a million visitors every year with its famous beaches, magnificent forests, lush mountainscapes and incredible wildlife. Virtually undiscovered 10 years ago, Costa Rica travel has boomed in the past few years as the country become a favorite getaway for those looking to escape the city life, in search of a more natural and secluded setting.

These Costa Rica Travel Tips cover practical information about Costa Rica transportation, what to do in Costa Rica, the food of Costa Rica, what to bring, and health and travel safety.

Costa Rica Travel Tips

Entry Requirements - Visitors are allowed entry to Costa Rica with a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of entry and a return ticket. A visa is required for stays over 90 days.* There are no epidemics in Costa Rica, but it is recommended to get general vaccinations before traveling.

Vaccines - No vaccines or inoculations are required for entry into Costa Rica. Your doctor or health-care provider will be able to help determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. It is recommended to see your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before traveling to allow time for any vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent disease if need it.

Duty Free and Customs - Visitors to Costa Rica are allowed to the following without incurring customs duty: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500g tobacco, 3l of alcoholic beverages (people aged over 18 only), and a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use. Firearms are not permitted.

Weather - Because of its close proximity to the equator, Costa Rica has no real summer or winter period. The average temperature is around 70 to 81 degrees with the coolest months being between November and January and the hottest months between March and May. The months from May to November are the rainy season with the months of September and October being the heaviest rain period.

Currency - Costa Rica's currency is the colón (₡) and the US dollar has long been the second currency of Costa Rica. Currency other than the US dollar may be difficult to exchange and most banks will charge a service fee for cashing traveler's checks, so it is advised to exchange currency before arriving. Mayor credit cards are accepted by banks, most shops, and restaurants within popular tourist areas although it is always wise to ask before ordering.

1 US Dollar (USD) = 516 Costa Rica Colones (CRC)

Communications - Costa Rica has one of the highest numbers of phone lines in Central America and public and payphones are frequent in tourist areas. Mobile phone service in Costa Rica is provided by Grupo I.C.E. and use of a US mobile phone is possible with a GSM "world" handset. It is advised to check with your mobile phone provider before traveling to ensure your mobile phone will work in Costa Rica. Mobile phone rentals are also available to visitors of Costa Rica. Internet service is usually provided in vacation rentals, resorts and hotels and can also be found in the multiple internet cafes found throughout all of Costa Rica.

Emergency #: All Emergencies: 911

Calling Costa Rica from the US:

• When calling an international phone number you will often see a "+" infront of the number, this sign represents the international dialing prefix. The international dial prefix varies depending on the country you are calling from
• - 011 when dialing from the US and Canada
• Dial the country code, the numbers immediately following the "+" sign, for Costa Rica the country code is 506
• Dial the phone number, omit the number in brackets (usually a 0) if there is one
• To call the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, the number is (506) 2519-2000, to dial this number from the US you would dial 011 506 2519 2000

Calling the US from Costa Rica:

• When calling an international phone number you will often see a "+" infront of the number, this sign represents the international dialing prefix. The international dial prefix varies depending on the country you are calling from
• - 00 when dialing from Costa Rica
• Dial the country code, the numbers immediately following the "+" sign, for the US the country code is 1
• Dial the phone number
• To call the iTrip Vacation Rentals, the number is (888) 694-8747, to dial this number from the US you would dial 00 1 888 694 8747

* Visas are required for citizens of the following countries: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France and dependencies, Germany, Greece, Holland and dependencies, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Uruguay.