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Mar 18, 2023 · In this travel guide, we share everything you need to know before visiting Costa Rica in Central America. We've put together essential information on traveling around Costa Rica, accommodation, budget, getting around, ecotourism, facts, tours, or places to visit.
- Costa Rica Is Not as Cheap People Think
- Costa Rica Is A Small Country But It Takes Longer Than It Seems to Get Around
- Tap Water Is Safe to Drink in Costa Rica
- Dengue, Not Malaria Is The Main Disease from Mosquitoes in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica Gets Cold But It Doesn’T Snow
- Us Dollars Are Readily Accepted and Are The Standard Currency in Tourism
- You Can Still Visit Costa Rica in Rainy Season and Have A Great Time!
- Sloths Aren’T Everywhere
- Police Can Stop and Ask For Your Papers at Any Time
- Wi-Fi Is Readily Available…
This is one of the most important things to know about Costa Rica. Many people assume that Central America automatically equals cheap travel. This is the biggest common misconception about Costa Rica.Yes, its neighbor, Nicaragua is dirt cheap but it’s is also one of the poorest countries in Latin America so you can stretch your money very far there...
Costa Rica is a little smaller than West Virginia and Denmark so it’s easy to think you can road trip the whole country in a week. Technically you can, but trust me, that wouldn’t be very fun! This is because of the not so great infrastructure so the roads in Costa Rica are never as the crows fly. The average speed limit on the highways here is 80 ...
In the Central Valley cities, you can indeed drink the tap water. We have no problem drinking tap water in San Jose, Heredia, Cartago and some mountain areas like Monteverde. Though tap water is generally safe to drink, I still recommend bringing a filter if you’re sensitive. You can also help the environment by bringing an insulated water bottlean...
The mosquito borne disease travelers should concern themselves with in Costa Rica is dengue fever, not malaria. Costa Rica has many more cases of dengue than Malaria and Zika. Remember, mosquitoes are in Costa Rica year round and are worse in rainy season. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water so bring plenty of repellent and cover up. Read our tips f...
Costa Rica experiences typical tropical weather but it has many micro-climates. It doesn’t snow but it does get quite cold in some areas due to the high elevation. You can read more about Costa Rica weatherin this post. Some of the colder areas are Monteverde, Poas, Vara Blanca, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, Chirripo and San Gerardo de Dota. Tempera...
Hotels and tour companies quote their prices in USD in Costa Rica. This is normal in tourism. Additionally, Costa Ricans can have bank accounts in USD as mortgages and car payments are quoted in USD. US dollars have become the standard currency in tourism. So when you’re trying to get your money together, don’t stress too much about exchanging it a...
Dry season in Costa Rica has the best weather. Thanks to the sunny days, it is also our high tourism season because everyone wants to escape the winter up north. Costa Rica’s rainy seasonis around beginning of May to end of Nov/beginning of December. The rainiest months for most of Costa Rica is September and October and November and June for the C...
As much as I hate to break it to you, sloths aren’t everywhere. I know Costa Rica markets their cuddly sloths so much it seems that the roads are crawling with them but it’s not true. Sloths, being the masters of camouflage, are normally very difficult to see without a guide or trained eye. Additionally, there are some places where sloths aren’t fo...
In Costa Rica, police are legally allowed to stop any car and ask for papers. Always have a color copy of your passport and photo of your tourist stamp with you. Remember that to legally drive in Costa Rica as a tourist, you need to have your original passport (not a color copy), your original driver’s license and a valid tourist stamp with you. If...
…at hotels. It is common for hotels to offer free Wi-Fi and many of them have it available throughout the whole property. Some hotels may only have it in reception but it is free. However, it’s hard to find open Wi-Fi in public places. It’s not like NYC where you can find a Starbucks and use the free Wi-Fi. If you see a restaurant with a secure Wi-...
- Your essential packing item: waterproof hiking sandals. Waterproof sandals are ideal for river crossings, rocky beaches, waterfall swimming and other essential Costa Rica activities.
- It’s hot in the lowlands, but cool in the mountains. Costa Rica is in the tropics and yes, it gets hot on the coast and in the humid lowlands. But the temperature drops significantly as you climb into the mountains.
- It rains a lot in the rainforest – even in the dry season. The rainforest and cloud forest are wet climates at any time of year. So it’s best to pack for rain, even if you are traveling in the so-called dry season.
- Costa Rican liability insurance is mandatory for all vehicle rentals. Everybody who rents a vehicle in Costa Rica is legally required to purchase liability insurance from the rental agency.
- Costa Rica can be very expensive. I anticipated this before my trip, but I was surprised at how expensive it was to travel through Costa Rica, even with prior knowledge that it was pricier than other Latin American countries.
- For cheap eats, go to the sodas. One way to save money while traveling through Costa Rica is to dine in the sodas, aka mom-and-pop restaurants. These are always clearly marked as such, and serve up hearty meals that capture the essence of daily Costa Rican cuisine.
- The weather can change in an instant. Although I went to Costa Rica ready for almost any type of weather, I couldn’t believe how sunny skies could change in the blink of an eye into a complete downpour.
- Renting a car is the way to go… Having a car can be a game changer in Costa Rica. Many of the places I wanted to visit were either too far (and expensive) to get to via taxis, or there was no public transport available.
Aug 24, 2023 · Discover all the Costa Rica travel tips you should know before visiting from transportation tips, cultural tips, tips for entering the country, and more! Costa Rica is an amazing country to travel in, but there are some things you should be aware of before visiting.
Feb 11, 2024 · Hope these Costa Rica travel tips help you have the best trip ever! For more reading about traveling Costa Rica, see below. Ultimate Costa Rica Packing List • What to Wear in Costa Rica; 34 Fun & Interesting Costa Rica Facts! What’s it like to Travel in Costa Rica? All You Need to Know
Aug 31, 2020 · Decide first where you will be staying in Costa Rica before choosing your arrival airport. If you’re starting your trip in Guanacaste, for example, flying to Liberia will get you closer to your destination. Whereas if your trip begins with Arenal, you’ll need to arrive in San José.
