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Costa Rica Travel Information
Do
you know?
Entry
requirements
U.S. citizens need a valid passport.
Duty-free allowance for U.S. citizens
For U.S. citizens traveling to Costa Rica the duty-free
allowance is three liters of wine or spirits, one half kilogram
of processed tobacco and perfume only for personal use.
Customs
regulations
The following items are considered to be luggage that may
be brought into the country exempt from Customs duties:
* Used clothing
* Personal effects (used jewelry, purses, umbrellas and
in quantities according to the personal requirements of
the traveler).
* Medicines, food for babies or ill people, medical supplies.
* Cosmetic and beauty supplies, personal hygiene products,
etc. All these items must show evidence of being used.
* Used sports equipment, carriages or strollers of children
traveling with adults and wheelchair if the traveler is
disabled.
Language
The official language is Spanish, although the tourist will
find that English is widely spoken particularly in places
such as hotels, travel agencies, banks, rental car companies,
restaurants, etc.
Time
* From October to April: Costa Rica is one hour behind Eastern
Standard Time.
* From April to October: Costa Rica is two hours behind
Eastern Standard Time
Electricity
Same as the U.S. 110 volts., 60 cycles.
Credit Cards
All major credit cards are accepted in almost all hotels
(especially the ones located in San Jose), stores, restaurants
and car rental agencies. Outside San Jose and in some places
the tourist should be prepared to pay in local currency;
especially if the store, hotel, etc. is planning to include
a service charge fee for the use of the credit card.
Bank
Hours
Weekdays: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Shopping
Hours
Weekdays & Saturdays: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sundays: almost
all stores are closed, especially those located in downtown
San Jose or any major city. Most of the souvenir shops will
be open on Sundays and during some Holidays.
Is
the water safe to drink ?
Yes, the tap water in Costa Rica, that comes from the wells
and/or treatment plants of the "Instituto Costarricense
de Acueductos y Alcantarillados" (A y A) or in English,
the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, is perfectly
safe to drink. Most of the drinking water in Costa Rica
is the responsibility of the "A y A."
The "A y A" uses water from two different type sources to
supply cities, sub-surface water and surface water. Sub-surface
water is mostly drawn from deep wells. These sub-surface
waters are very pure from the point of disease transmission
but an application of chlorine is made as a preventive measure
against possible contamination in the distribution system.
When river water is utilized, the water is first passed
thru water treatment plants. In the plants is passed thru
a series of filters, then, when crystal clear, it is chlorinated.
Naturally, if given water from a private water supply, perhaps
on a farm, you should be careful!!!
Medical
Insurance
Costa Rica offers visitors and tourist low-cost medical
insurance while in the country thru a program introduced
by the Costa Rican Social Security office and the International
Organization of Cultural Interchanges (OICI) in response
to a growing number of foreigners seeking insurance information
from the social security office.
The Insurance can be bought at any travel agency, language
school or tourism business office authorized by the Costa
Rican Tourism institute (ICT). The insurance entitles tourists
to hospitalization and surgery at any social security clinic
or hospital. It also includes emergency dental attention,
but does not provide service for those with preexisting
illness. If you plan to reside in the Country for more than
one month, monthly payments can be made at the OICI central
office provided your tourist visa is up to date.
For more information, visit the OICI central office located
on the fourth floor of the Mendiola building on Avenida
Central, or call (506) 222-7867.
Extending
your stay in Costa Rica
If you are planning to stay longer in Costa Rica, please
take note of the following regulations:
Canadians citizens and nationals of most European countries:
have 90 day tourist visa on arrival to Costa Rica.
U.S.citizens: receive 90 day tourist visa, provided they
travel with a passport. Tourist card holders are still limited
to 30 days.
Australians and other foreigners: are granted only 30 day
tourist visa on entry, but they can apply for 30 or 60 day
extensions at the Immigration office in downtown San Jose.
If you overstay your 90 days, you will need an exit visa
to leave the country; this visa is valid for 30 days from
the date of issue, which means your visa will have a 30
day extension. Student
Nationwide
Holidays
Listed below are the Costa Rican official holidays. On these
days, most businesses close and there is little commercial
activity: Also each province has it¹s own special holidays
which are not listed here.
January 1 New year's day
March 19 St. Joseph's Day (Patron Saint of the Capital City)
Holy Week Thur. & Fri.
April 11 Juan Santa maria's Day (National hero)
May 1 Labor Day
June 29 Saints Peter & Paul
July 25 Annexation of the Province of Guanacaste
August 2 Virgin of Los Angeles Day (Patron Saint of Costa
Rica)
August 15 Mother's Day
Sept. 15 Independence day
Oct. 12 Discovery of America
Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception
Dec. 25 Christmas
Taxis
- Before entering the taxi, please check the following:
Is the taxi legal? Make sure it has an identification tag
with a photo of the driver attached and clearly visible
inside the taxi.
Ask the driver is his meter is working (the taxi meters
are called "marias"). If his meter isn't working find another
cab.
Prices from San Jose to the airport vary between $10.00
and $15.00, or the equivalent in colones and the meter is
not used so establish the price before leaving.
Remember most taxi drivers are not bilingual; if you do
not know the language and need to get to a certain destination
using this type of transportation, make sure you get assistance
from a bilingual person (desk clerk, bell boy, etc) and
write down the correct direction and in Spanish for the
driver.
Buses
- Things you should know:
1. Bus service throughout San Jose and all over Costa Rica
is good, and can be an economical and interesting way to
see the country.
2. Bus schedules and fares to the many different bus lines
and destinations consult the ICT tourist office at Plaza
de la Cultura if you are staying in San Jose. Also if you
are staying at any lodging facility the bilingual staff
will be happy to assist you.
3. All buses have their fare prices written on placards
above the windshield, inside the bus.
4. There are bus lines to most remote areas of the country,
and following you will find some of the most important bus
companies:
* Tracopa: goes to the southern zone of the country. Their
terminal is located in front of the park at the Pacific
Railway Station.
* Alfaro: carries passengers to Guanacaste, including Santa
Cruz, Filadelfia and Nicoya. Also, it offers transportation
to beach areas such as Tamarindo beach and Sámara, traveling
via the Tempisque Ferry. The Alfaro bus terminal is located
near the San Juan de Dios Hospital.
* Pulmitan: has service to Cañas and Bagaces. Buses depart
from San Jose to Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio and Jaco, from
the "Coca Cola" bus stop. It is recommended that you purchase
your tickets ahead of time and that you get to the terminal
on time to take your bus. The buses to Limon leave from
the National Park on the eastern side of town.
Tipping
- Things you should know
Tipping is entirely up to you. Depends on level of service,
whether or not you feel comfortable giving tips, and your
budget. Costa Ricans, as a general rule, do not tip.
At Restaurants a 10% gratuity for service and 15% for sales
tax is included in your bill. Tipping is not used when it
comes to taxis, unless extra service is provided.
* Front desk service personal are really your main service
people so take care of them. Tip depending on their service
and attitude and quality of service.
* Bellboys are often tipped a minimum of $1.00 per bag or
the equivalent in colones per bag, at check-in and check-out.
* Domestic Services : $1.50 per night is acceptable. Their
service is sometimes is overlooked and remember these are
the people that really take care of your personal items
in your room !!
* For guides and drivers it really depends on the service
rendered, $3.00-500 per person is acceptable.
Local
currency
* The local currency is the "Colon" and is constantly fluctuating
against the U.S. dollar.
* The most commonly used bills are thousand , five thousand
and ten thousand.
* If you carry cash, don¹t make it a big wad just keep about
$50 to 100 dollars in colones in a money clip or separate
from the bulk of you funds
* There are two legal place to exchange your currency into
colones: a bank or your hotel. Please note that exchanging
the money on the street or Black Market is illegal in Costa
Rica. And you can be robbed !!
Security
* Be aware of where you are and of your belongings. Remember
that San Jose as any other major capital city has a petty
theft problem.
* Never leave belongings in your car, even if you locked
the car. Rental cars are easy to spot and they will be targeted.
Rental
Cars
* Most rental car agencies require a credit card, but there
are agencies that will deal on a cash basis ( very few)
, and security deposits charges can run as high as $1000
or more.
* Tips on Driving in Costa Rica: There has been numerous
complaints from tourists who have rented cars and are stopped
by traffic cops and pressured to pay "fines" on the spot,
sometimes as much as $100. "In no case should anyone pay
money. Drivers can only receive a ticket. They don't have
to pay one cent," said the Ministry of Public Works and
Transport, which oversees the Transit Police. If a policeman
insists on being paid, insists right back on being given
a ticket. If you are pressured to pay something, take down
the policeman's name , badge number and send a letter of
complaint to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport
as well as the Costa Rican Tourist Institute, and be sure
to tell his name to your rent-a-car company.
When in San Jose or other cities, most streets are one-way,
which unfortunately you can not tell until a bevy of cars
is coming straight at you. The best way to avoid this is
to observe which way the traffic is heading before turning
onto a street. Try to avoid driving at night and remember
Costa Rica is an agricultural country and there may be animals
and farm equipment on the road at all hours .
Shopping
in Costa Rica - Handicrafts
Costa Rica offers those who love to browse and buy a rich
variety of items that reflect the country's tastes and culture.
Crafts can commonly be found in artisans markets. Handmade
ceramics, wooden articles, straw items, fine leather goods
and other handicrafts, all of which make excellent souvenirs.
Many stores, sell reproductions of pre-Columbian gold and
silver pieces, as reminders of the nation's heritage. All
these works of art can be acquired at places such as: The
National Handicraft Market and CANAPI, as well as the town
of Moravia, east of San Jose, that offers a wide variety
of handicraft stores and workshops. The most important woodcraft
center is Sarchi, a picturesque town located in the Alajuela
province, here the visitor will be able to buy not only
bracelets, earrings or jewel boxes made out of wood, but
at the same time they can take home an impressive piece
of precious wooden furniture or the famous Costa Rican ox
cart, well known throughout the world.
Facts
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