"TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO COSTA RICA"

CURRENCY:
The Colon is our official currency, and the US $ is widely accepted also. Colon is Spanish for Columbus. Christopher Columbus "discovered" Costa Rica in 1502 on his third and final voyage to the new world.

US Dollars are widely accepted throughout Costa Rica. Try to bring only bills in decent condition, not excessively torn or heavily marked as some places may not accept them if in bad condition. This is because false dollars are not as durable and deteriorated bills could be suspect for being false. Dollar bills do not have to be in "mint" condition, so don't go out of your way to get new bills.

EXCHANGE RATE:
The current exchange rate as of March 7, 2004 is 466 colones to $1 (US), with mini-devaluations of the Colon being about 0.15 every banking day, which increases the exchange rate at about c3.00 / month or roughly 1% per month.

Do not exchange your US$ for Costa Rican currency in your country before leaving.

The US dollar (cash) can easily be exchanged here at a fair rate. When you exchange your US$ for any foreign currency in the U.S. you receive approximately 30% less for your dollars.

Airport currency exchange offices in the U.S. offer about 25% less. Hotels here generally will exchange your US$ to "Colones" but they will usually use a slightly lower exchange rate of about 1% less as a commission for handling the transaction. Many hotels offer the "official exchange rate of the day", while others offer slightly higher or slightly lower rates.

CREDIT CARDS:
AMEX, VISA and Master Card credit/debit cards are widely accepted in retail establishments, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. VISA is currently the most widely accepted.

ATMs are also available in major cities with some accepting Visa, and others accepting only Master Card. Some accept both. Amex is also fairly well accepted, but not as much as Visa & MC. Bring your card's PIN if your planning to use an ATM.

Traveler's checks: Only US dollar Traveller's Checks are easily accepted, but only when you are the original owner and cashing them at your hotel or the bank along with your passport. Other than for the security aspect, TCs are the least practical form of payment from a standpoint of being accepted by strangers. They are not usually accepted by restaurants, stores, etc.


VISA REQUIREMENTS:
U.S., Canadian and European Union citizens do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica, but a passport with at least 6 months validity is required. Your airline will need to see that your documents are in order before allowing you to check-in. Upon entering Costa Rica, your passport will be stamped, valid for 90 days. It is recommended that you do not carry your passport around with you, but rather a photocopy of the photo page and date of entry stamp.

Your passport is required at banks when you cash Traveler's Checks or exchanging money.

DRIVER'S LICENSE:
Your valid U.S, Canadian or European driver's license is good for 90 days, but you must carry your passport (or copy certified by a Costa Rican lawyer) to show a traffic officer the date that you entered Costa Rica.

TAXIS:
Red is the standard color for taxis. Official taxis have a yellow triangle with their registration tag number on the door and a photo ID of the driver inside the cab, usually on the sun visor. Fares depend on whether the drivers use their meters, which are calibrated to the official tariffs for trips under 5 km. Taxi fares are very economical. Over 5 km., passengers should ask for a quote before entering the taxi.

Official Airport Taxis are orange in color and cost about $12-15 for the 12 mile trip to San Jose. Fares are paid at the airport taxi stand where you get a ticket to board a taxi. Larger 12 passenger taxi vans are available for groups or passengers with large amounts of luggage. US Dollars are widely accepted by taxis and always accepted by Airport Taxis.
Pirate Taxis are widely available and are also red in color and are usually cheaper but without the ID marks of the the official taxis.

WATER QUALITY:
Unlike most Latin American countries Costa Rica has a fairly safe water supply. Salads are generally safe to eat because they usually use clean water to irrigate crops. Testament to Costa Rica's good water is the fact that it is the only place in Latin America where Heineken allows it's beer to be brewed, as good water is essential for good beer. Costa Rica's beers are internationally recognized as being excellent lagers. Bottled spring or filtered water is readily available almost everywhere in different sizes at reasonable prices.

Vaccinations: Not needed unless your traveling deep into humid regions (Southern Caribbean coastal areas) where the Indian reservations are located. In 23 years in Costa Rica I've never had a malaria or dengue vaccination and have had no problems traveling throughout the country.

HOURS OF DAYLIGHT and HOUR of TIME:
Costa Rica has first light at 5:10 a.m. followed by sunrise at 5:30 a.m. Sunset is around 5:45 p.m. and it gets dark at about 6:00 p.m. C.R. does not change it's clocks when the U.S. and Canada change in the spring to "Daylight Savings Time". We are the same time year round, one hour earlier than New York City when it is on Standard time, and 2 hours earlier when the U.S. is on Daylight Savings Time.

Weather Patterns:
The Mountain range that runs down the middle of Costa Rica allows the 2 different oceans on opposite sides of the country to control the 2 distinct weather patterns on each geographical side of the country.

The Pacific side of the country has distinct dry and wet seasons, with the dry season between Dec. - May. In the Northern Pacific region, 'Dry Tropical Forests' are predominate, while in the Southern Pacific region, 'Humid Tropical Forests' are predominate. The Central Valley, where San Jose is located, also enjoys about 6 months of dry season (December to May). The wet or rainy season on the Pacific does not mean rain all day long but rather mid-afternoon rain showers like clock work almost every day from the middle of May to late November much like the summer weather in the south of the U.S. September to mid-November is the wettest time of the year on the Pacific side of the country, with October traditionally the wettest month.

The Caribbean or Atlantic side of the country has no real prolonged dry season with only mid May and the months of August - October having a little less rain than normal. "Normal" in the Caribbean is afternoon rain year round much like the summer weather in the south of the U.S. with the occasional Caribbean storm and fronts bringing several days of continuous light rain and overcast days.

Temperatures in the Central Valley at 3,500 ft above sea level are mild with lows in the 60s F� (18 C�) and highs in the 80s F� (27� C). Low coastal areas are hot in the day with highs in the 90s F� (32�C) and lows in the 70s (22� C). High mountain temps are quite cool at night and moderate in day.

Electrical power here is the same as in the U.S with 110V, 60Hz current and the same style wall outlets. Many outlets only have 2 slots w/o the 3rd 'ground' receptacle, so bringing along a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter can be useful.

All information included in on this page is not meant or implied to be a guarantee of what you may actually encounter or experience in Costa Rica, but is intended to be a guide.