Entry Requirements

Entry into Costa Rica is virtually hassel-free. You must have a valid passport which does not expire within six months or less. In addition, you must have two blank pages available in your passport. If you do not have two extra pages in your passport you can obtain additional pages, or apply for a new passport. It is not necessary to get a visa to travel to Costa Rica nor are any vaccination required.

Time Differences

Costa Rica does not use daylight saving time and are on US Central Standard Time or UTC -6.

Seasons

Costa Rica is in the Southern Hemisphere, which means seasons are opposite of North America.. Costa Rica offers tropical and subtropical climates. The “summer or dry season is December to April. The “winter” or rainy season is often referred to as the green season and is from May to November. Warmer weather is located along the beach areas, and cooler tempetures are in the highlands, located in the central regions. At sea level the temperature stays at around 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit

Clothing

If you are headed to the beach areas, lightweight, short sleeved clothing is best (cottons and linens). You may also want to bring a light jacket for adventure to higher elevations. Umbrellas may be useful if your trip is in the “green season”. Think small; you will not require a great deal of clothing, even the most sophisticated restaurants are very casual.

Driving

You will need to rent a comfortable four wheel vehicle if you intend to drive. The main roads are in good condition. Secondary roads are often dirt and streams may flow over smaller roads during the “green season”. You drive on the right side of the road and speed limits on main roads are usually between 60-80 kph (37-50 mph).

Currency

Local currency is the colone. Foreign currency can be exchanged at local banks, located in small and large cities or towns. Most major credit cards are widely accepted, with a preference to VISA.

Language

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. There are many people who work in hotels or restaurants that speak English, but all signs and official communication is in Spanish.

Tipping

Typically in Costa Rica restaurants add a 10% service charge to bills; thus it is not necessary to tip additionally. However any small change that you may have is appreciated to help supplement the servers' wages.

Food and Water

As a rule, tap water in Costa Rica is safe to drink. In hotels and restaurants the standards of hygiene and food preparation are top-notch.

Electricty

120 volts; 60 cycle (same as the US)

Sample Packing Checklist
  • Four T-shirts and one long sleeved cotton shirt
  • One pair of long pants
  • Three pairs of shorts or three skirts
  • Beach shoes (flip flops)
  • Good walking shoes
  • Sandals
  • Bathing suit and cover-up
  • Underwear and socks
  • Sleepwear
  • Light jacket or sweater
  • Brimmed hat
  • Binoculars
  • Camera
  • Small flashlight
  • Good quality sunglasses
  • Toiletries – including sunscreen
  • Insect repellent that contains DEET
  • Travel documents (passport, reservation lists, plane tickets…)