Tips for your travel

1.Costa Rica offers a wide variety of hotels for all budgets, from boutique hotels, villas, lodges, bungalows, bed and brakfasts to luxurious and all-inclusive hotels; however, most of these hotels are small and tend to have little space availability, especially in the high tourist season (December – March). Plan your trip in advance, at least two months in low season and four months in high season. This will ensure that you have the accommodation that will make your vacation unforgettable.

2 . It is always better to travel light. Try to pack only what is necessary, with fresh clothes, easy to dry and hand wash in case of an emergency. Some airlines and tour operators have restrictions on the weight of luggage, and you may have to move with your luggage from one place to another, so we recommend traveling with the necessary luggage.

3 . Include in your luggage all the medications that you might require in case of any medical condition, since some medications in Costa Rica require a certified prescription.

4 . Costa Rica asks for a visa for some countries, so it is advisable to check the list of countries before buying your ticket to make sure the entry requirements to the country.

5 . Any person who enters the country and is a foreigner will be asked for an exit ticket; the time that is allowed o remain varies according to the country of origin and the criteria of the migration officer who attends you upon arrival. Once in the country, it is advisable to take a photocopy of the passport with the entry stamp to carry it with you at all times during your trip in Costa Rica, and thus not take the passport to tours and other activities.

6 . Taxes represent 13% of the purchase and are always included in the final price. In restaurants and hotels, the tax and the service are included in the final price; however, if you were satisfied with the service and wish to leave a tip, it will be welcome.

7 . Costa Rica is a safe country, although there are cases of robberies in various parts of the country, especially in tourist areas, so it is advisable to be alert at all times, not leave your belongings without supervision, avoid walking down the street at high hours at night without company, and avoid entering sites that seem unsafe. As a general rule, do not bring on your trip belongings that are too expensive or of high sentimental value that can be lost or stolen. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute together with the police, have created a subdivision called tourist police with more than 250 officers, whose main purpose is to maintain order and security in tourist areas of the country. If you have any questions or concerns, you can use them.

8 . Costa Rica’s health system is very good, both private and public. In general, the health conditions of the country are very good, although small outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Zika have been seen. It is advisable to have the basic hepatitis A and B, rabies and tetanus vaccines before making your trip. The Costa Rican government requires the yellow fever vaccine if it travels from countries in Africa, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. The vaccine must be at least 10 days before the date of your trip.

9 . Throughout the country the water in the pipe is potable. However, visitors are advised to drink bottled water in the Caribbean area to avoid traveler’s disease, which can affect the quality of their trip.

10 . In Costa Rica it is easy to find restaurants, “sodas”, coffees and bakeries. The gastronomic offer is quite wide and includes both national and international options. Normally lunch is done at 11:00 p.m. m. at 2:00 p. m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m. m. at 9:00 p.m.