Costa Rica Information

Location

Costa Rica is located in Central America about a 2½ hour flight from Miami. The Caribbean Sea borders to the east, and the Pacific Ocean forms the western edge. The country is a well-known eco-tourism destination which receives over a million visitors yearly mostly from the United States and Canada.

Getting There

The principal access to Costa Rica is by air. There are regular flights from the United States and other countries through American Airlines, United, Taca, United, Viasa, Continental, US Airways, Mexicana, Iberia, Delta and others.

Entry/Exit Requirements

With a valid passport and round trip or continuing ticket, citizens of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy can travel to Costa Rica for a 90-day stay without a consular visa. To stay legally beyond the period granted, travelers will need to submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Tourist visas are usually not extended except under special circumstances, such as academic, employment, or medical grounds, and extension requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is a departure tax for short-term visitors. Tourists who stay over ninety days without receiving a formal extension can expect to pay a higher departure tax at the airport or land border, and may experience some delay at the airport. Persons who have overstayed previously may be denied entry to Costa Rica.

Departure tax

US$26 (or the equivalent in Costa Rican Colon), payable if staying more than 24 hours.

Vaccinations

As of this time, Costa Rica does not require visitors to have any particular vaccinations, although you should make sure that all your normal vaccinations are up to date.

Banks and Money

The official currency is the colon. However, US dollars are readily accepted, although outside of hotels and tourist areas, usually only bills under$20 are accepted. There is a wide selection of state-owned and private banks in Costa Rica. Many private banks, though, won't change traveler's checks, so you may have to go to the state banks (Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica). Bring a copy of your passport. Tour Costa Rica does not recommend changing money in the street.

Language

Costa Rica's official language is Spanish. On the Caribbean Coast a small minority of Jamaican descendants speak a local version of English, and most Costa Ricans can understand and speak a bit of English. Quite recently all public schools made mandatory the learning of a second language.

Time Zone

Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

Electricity

The standard in Costa Rica is the same as in the United States: 110 volts AC (60 cycles). However, three-pronged outlets can be scarce, so it's helpful to bring along an adapter.

Climate

Costa Rica is a tropical country that lies almost entirely between 8 and 11 degrees north latitude, which means that much of what you imagine about a Costa Rica vacation is true: dense rainforests, palm tree-lined beaches, warm weather and comfortable waters. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts into November, and the dry season starts at the end of November through the end of April.

However, in spite of the two generally distinct seasons, Costa Rica's varied topography makes for a wide variety of microclimates. You'll find some marked differences between regions. For example, during the Central Valley's rainy season, you'll find the Caribbean coast to be relatively dry. In fact, when the Central Valley and the rest of Costa Rica are in the middle of the dry season, the Caribbean is actually quite rainy.
You'll also find that some microclimates don't obey the wet/dry paradigm. Still, as a generally rule, you'll find it helpful.

Daytime temps in the Central Valley, where San José is located, range from 60 to 85 degrees F, which leads many to call the capital's climate "eternal spring." Evenings can get chilly and Tour Costa Rica recommends a sweater or light jacket.

In the rainy season, sunny mornings are typically followed up by cloudy mid-day and an afternoon shower, usually clearing up in time to go out in the evening.

Costa Rica Facts

Area: 51,100 square kilometers (32,682 square miles), which is slightly smaller than
West Virginia
Population: 3,896,092 (July 2003 est.). The number is suspected to be higher due to
undocumented immigrants.
Official Religion: Catholic (with freedom of expression of other beliefs)
Official Language: Spanish; English widely understood in tourist areas and spoken in
parts of the Caribbean coast
Highest Peak: Cerro Chirripó, 3820 meters (12,530) above sea level.
Gross National Product per capita (1999): $3,500
Unemployment rate: 6.2%
Literacy rate: 97%
Life expectancy: 76.1 years