December Is A Time For
Vacations
This is December. The
month of the aguinaldo,
the avenidazo, crowds,
lots of traffic and the
Zapote Fair in San José,
school vacation and time
to head for the beaches
and mountains.
The central government
will shut down for the
holidays on December 19
and re-open on January
5. Any dealings with the
governments will be
suspended during that
period.
Autonomous government
agencies, like ICE,
Racsa, CCSS, follow
their own closing times,
some following the lead
of the central
government, while others
not.
Best to check ahead
before heading for a
doctors appointment or
clinic. Public hospitals
and clinics will be open
regular hours except for
December 25 and 31. All
emergency services will
operate as normal 24
hours a day, every day.
Banks also close during
the holiday period. Most
private banks follow the
lead of the state banks
closing only December
25, 31 and January 1.
At the Acueductos y
Alcantarillados (water
and sewer) and the
Instituto Costarricense
de Electricidad
(telephone and
electricity), they
inform that they will
close the central
offices and many
regional offices from
December 19 to January
5, however, customer
services offices and
booths will be open save
for December 25, 31 and
January 1.
Only December 25 and
January 1 are legal
holidays in Costa Rica.
However, many businesses
and professionals, like
doctors, dentists,
lawyers, accountants,
etc. shut down from a
few days to a week
before Christmas and
re-open in the new year.
Always call ahead and
save yourself a trip. |
