Costa Rica FAQ

Climate/Best Time to Go:
Costa Rica boasts 12 climatic zones, surprising travelers with a wide variety of temperature and rainfall conditions year-round. In general, temperatures in the lowlands range from the low 70's to the high 80's, cooler at elevation. The temperature on top of the continental divide can vary from the mid 50's to low 80's in Monteverde to the 30's on Chirripo, with enveloping clouds drifting over the mountains and bringing mist and occasional rain. December through May is the dry season in most places except the Caribbean coast, which is dryer January through March, but has no real dry season. The "green season" begins very slowly in June and tapers off in July for about 3 weeks which native Costa Ricans call "Little Summer". So don't let rain scare you away from the rainforest! Even in the green season there is plenty of sunshine and great weather for your vacation. Best time to go: late December through early August

Government: A stable democracy for more than 100 years, Costa Rica is a peaceful nation in the midst of a region that has been troubled by turmoil for centuries. Costa Rica also has the highest standard of living of any Central American country, including literacy rates, medical standards and facilities are all quite high. Costa Ricans are extremely proud that they do not have an army.

Location: Costa Rica lies on the southern part of Central America, bordered on the south by Panama and on the North by Nicaragua. It's land mass is referred to as an isthmus, which is bordered by the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean and contains the mountains of the continental divide.

Size: Approximately 51,100 square miles-- about half the size of the state of Kentucky. Only 120 km wide in some points, Costa Rica would be easy to traverse were it not for the extreme variation in ecosystems and the continental divide. Over 27% of the country's 12 distinct ecological zones are in protected areas.

Population: The population of Costa Rica is approximately 5 million, mostly of Spanish descent. Costa Rican people call themselves "ticos" (male) or "ticas" (female.) They are extremely friendly, polite, well educated, and enthusiastic about their country. Costa Rica is home to a large international community as well.

Language: Spanish is the official language and is spoken, thankfully, at a speed that is much easier to understand than many other countries. English is widely understood, especially in tourist areas, hotels, lodges and restaurants.

Entry Requirements: A passport and return ticket is required to enter Costa Rica. No visas are required for citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Japan and many others.

Customs: US residents are permitted a $400 per person (or $1,100 per family) duty-free tax exemption upon returning to the US

Departure Tax: Approximately US $17.50

Currency: Local currency is the Colon. One US dollar is worth approximately 375 Colon. US dollars are accepted in many places in Costa Rica. Credit Cards/Travelers Checks: Nearly all hotels, restaurants and shops in the major towns and tourist areas take all major credit cards. Street vendors and smaller establishments in remote areas may accept only cash or travelers checks. Its important to keep travelers checks in a waterproof pouch, as they are considered void if they get wet.

Telecommunications: All telecommunications services (direct dial phones, fax, telex, cable) are available; but calls from Costa Rica are much higher than an equivalent call to Costa Rica. The country code for Costa Rica is (506) Remote jungle lodges usually have short wave radio communications linked to cellular service.

Time Zone: Costa Rica is in the Central Standard Time zone, and does not utilize daylight saving time. There is very little seasonal variation between dawn and dusk due to the proximity to the equator, dawn is usually 6:00 am and dusk 6:00 pm.

Sales Taxes: Costa Rica has high taxes, roughly 15% sales tax and there may be 15% service charge in many hotels and restaurants.

Tipping: Tipping is voluntary; tips of 15% are acceptable; more if the service is exceptionally good. Some hotels and restaurants add a 15 percent service.

Water: While the water is said to be safe in most of Costa Rica, we recommend bottled water in most places. Do not eat fruit you have not pealed yourself, stay away from leafy vegetables like lettuce, and avoid ice cubes. These are common causes of amebic dysentery and giardia, both of which are unpleasant enough to be worth avoiding at all costs.