Costa Rica Travel Tips

Banks are generally open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 15:00 with some also opening on Saturdays from 09:00 to 12:00.

The local currency in Costa Rica is called the colon with one colon being equal to 100 centimos. Small denominations are available in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 100 colons. Notes are available in denominations of 5, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 colons.

ATMs provide the opportunity for visitors to make withdrawals direct from their bank accounts in local currency although you may not always get the best exchange rate by doing this so arriving with some cash or travellers cheques is recommended. If you need to exchange money or cheques then you can do so at any of the private or state owned banks, with the former option generally offering the fastest and most efficient service. Reputable hotels invariably exchange money also but may do so at worse rates than those offered by the banks so you will end up paying for the convenience.

Customs rules are fairly relaxed and visitors entering Costa Rica are permitted to bring in 500 grams of tobacco, 5 litres of liquor, and US$500 in merchandise. Cameras, computers, and electronic equipment for personal use can be classed as duty-free.

110V AC at 60Hz, flat two pins plugs are standard.

Visitors are not obligated to receive vaccinations or carry relevant certificates in order to enter Costa Rica; however, since typhoid and Hepatitis A are present, it’s recommended that you are vaccinated against both prior to your arrival in the country.

Malaria presents a risk in some areas and visitors are advised to consult with their general practitioner with regard to the subject of malaria tablets and at the very least to wear ample mosquito repellent when taking trips to damp areas such as the rainforest. Dengue fever, another mosquito transmitted disease, is also an issue and repellent will also protect you against this disease.

Water from the taps is considered safe; however, visitors not used to the chemical composition may experience some problems with it and are hence advised to buy bottle water for drinking purposes.

Medical services in the big cities are excellent and the standard of hygiene and treatment is high. Most hospitals have doctors or liaison staff who are English-speaking. Visitors are advised to take out travel insurance with provision for medical care before entering Costa Rica or they risk having to pay expensive medical bills up front in the event of illness or accidents.

Costa Rica is by and large, a safe place to take a holiday although visitors should be aware that violent crime does exist and is known to affect tourists. General common sense should be used to reduce your chances of falling victim to crime, whether it is of a violent or an opportunist nature. Keeping wallets and purses in front pockets can save you from pickpockets while keeping cash in a concealed money belt is an even safer option. Reduce the opportunities of bag snatchers by wearing single-strap bags over your head and double-strap bags (backpacks) over both shoulders.

Avoid exchanging money on the street as you run the risk of being robbed either by the exchanger during the transaction or by an accomplice somewhere further along the street. Also avoid carrying expensive items around with you; jewellery in particular should be left in the safe in your hotel room.

Car theft is also common and visitors with either private or hire cars are advised not to park them in secluded areas and certainly at night to make sure they are left in well lit, well populated parts of the city.

Police: 999

English is widely spoken in Costa Rica, especially in hotels and tourist areas and you’ll only need to learn a little Spanish or carry a phrasebook if you plan to hire a car and get anywhere off the beaten track.

When meeting locals for the first time, a traditional handshake is the mode of greeting and you’ll find males will introduce themselves by their Christian name plus Don at the beginning while females will use Donna plus their Christian name. You should observe this convention when making reference to Costa Ricans or addressing them directly. If invited to the home of local family then bringing a small gift is a common courtesy, especially if you are being invited for a meal.

Casual clothing can be worn to most restaurants, discos and evening venues while beach wear should be restricted to daytime and beachside venues only.

A 10 percent service charge is automatically added to the bill in restaurants so tipping is not required unless you feel that you got exemplary treatment. Similarly, hotels add a 10 per cent service charge as well as an obligatory 3 per cent tourist tax to final bills. You can tip hotel staff, porters and waiters in restaurants but it isn’t necessary to tip taxi drivers.

The country code for Costa Rica is +506. Internet cafés are ubiquitous and can even be found in the small towns; however, prices vary massively as do the connection speeds. Hotels generally offer reliable internet connections although charges tend to be on the high side.

GMT -6

Visa on arrival permitting stays of up to 90 days are available for US, Canadian and UK citizens as well as for citizens of most EU countries. A valid passport is all that is required to enter the country. New Zealand, Australian and Irish citizens get a visa on arrival permitting them to stay for up to 30 days. http://www.gobiernoenlinea.gov.co/