Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Costa Rica

CAPITAL:
San José.

RELIGION:
70.5% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholics(with 44.9% practicing, 25.6% non-practicing), 13.8% are Evangelical Protestants, 11.3% report that they do not have a religion, and 4.3% declare that they belong to another religion.

LANGUAGE
The official language is Spanish,  However, Costa Rica is also home to at least five local indigenous languages (Maléku, Cabécar, Bribri, Guaymí, and Bocotá), as well as Costa Rican Sign Language.

PASSPORTS: 
A valid passport is required by all nationals to enter Costa Rica. Your return ticket is also required. You should have at least one free page in your passport.  US & Canadians are issued with an entry stamp on arrival which is valid for up to 30 days
All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.

CURRENCY INFORMATION: 
Costa Rican Colon (CRC; symbol ₡) = 100 céntimos. Notes are in denominations of ₡1000, ₡2000, ₡5000, ₡10000, ₡20000, ₡50000. Coins are in denominations of ₡1, ₡5, ₡10, ₡20, ₡50, ₡100, ₡500. US Dollars are sometimes accepted, but be aware that you may be viewed as a rich tourist if you try to pay with dollars and you might find that the price goes up.

CREDIT CARDS: 
Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted; American Express slightly less so. Many banks will only process MasterCard for cash credits. Cash may be the only form of payment in smaller towns and rural areas but many places will take US dollars, giving change in colónes.

ATM: 
ATMs are common throughout the cities and small towns. They will usually accept foreign cards but in some regions only Visa cards are accepted. Occasionally, paying with credit cards doesn’t work for technical reasons. Bringing a good supply of US dollars in cash is advised, as many things such as entrance fees to national parks or meals at restaurants, can be paid for with US dollars.

BANKING HOURS: 
State banks Mon-Fri 0900-1500. Private banks Mon-Fri 0800-1600

CURRENCY EXCHANGE: 
Available at banks and bureaux de change. Some hotels may also change money. Additionally, small stores will allow visitors to pay for goods in US dollars and receive change in colónes.

Telephone:
There are no area codes in Costa Rica. Public payphones exist, but they are becoming increasingly rare as increasing mobile phone usage means that phone companies are removing them. However some still exist taking coins or credit cards. Alternatively prepaid phone cards can be bought from most small gift shops and newsagents.

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with some countries. Handsets can be hired, although this can be difficult and time-consuming (www.ice.go.cr). Costa Rica employs both GSM and TDMA systems. The state telephone company ICE has a monopoly on service, which is available throughout much of the nation except remote mountain regions.

Internet:
There are internet cafés throughout the country, and most tourist hotels also provide facilities such as Wi-Fi. Internet speed may be rather slow but this should improve as the government aims to improve infrastructure to allow for faster broadband connections.

Post:
Airmail letters to Western Europe usually take at least 10 working days days; those to North America take at least one week.

FOOD & DRINK:
Costa Rica is a not a major foodie destination, but what it lacks in sophistication it makes up for in choice. Restaurants in coastal towns and larger cities serve a variety of foods – you’ll find everything from Argentinian steaks to Middle Eastern food. Expect to see Chinese, French, Italian, Mexican and North American joints selling food that can range from satisfactory to sublime.  
The Caribbean side of the country tends to be more aligned with food on the islands – jerk chicken is a staple, rice and beans (gallo pinto) is more likely to be prepared with coconut milk, and ginger and curry spices feature heavily as ingredients, leading to dishes with a very distinct flavor from their counterparts on the Pacific coast. The Costa Rican diet is fairly healthy with smaller portions than in the US, and low use of dairy or high-fat dishes; fruits and vegetables make up a high proportion of meals, whilst pork, chicken and beef are the meats predominantly available. Seafood is available throughout the country, particularly in coastal regions, with seabass being the most common fish on the menu.

In San José, options range from expensive and exemplary gourmet restaurants to cheap sodas (small, simple restaurants) serving local food, including set lunches called casados at bargain prices.

FOOD SPECIALITIES: 

• Casado (a fixed daily lunch, usually featuring rice, beans, stewed chicken or beef, fried plantain, salad and cabbage)
• Olla de carne (soup of beef, plantain, corn, yuca and chayote) 
• Sopa negra (black beans with a poached egg)
• Picadillo (meat and vegetable stew) 
• Gallo pinto (rice and black beans, a staple dish)
• Bocas (savoury snacks served at bars or before main meals in restaurants)
•  Empanadas (small corn flour pasties filled with cheese, beans and sometimes meat)
• Ceviche (raw fish ‘cooked’ in lemon juice and coriander)

REGIONAL DRINKS: 

• Coffee. It’s how you drink it that counts! Coffee is usually served black, with about as much hot milk as coffee. 
• Horchata (cinnamon-flavoured cornmeal drink) 
• Refrescos (fruit drinks that can either be made with water (con agua) or with milk (con leche) for a milkshake effect. 
• Pipas (fresh coconut water served in the husk. Found mostly in coastal rural areas, the green coconuts are served with the tops cut off and a straw. There’s always less in there than you’d think, but they’re great ice cold.)
• Cuba Libre. This is Latin America after all; have a rum and coke with lime. Cebada (fermented barley; an indigenous beverage)
•  Pinolillo (corn and cocoa). 
•  Batidos (fresh fruit shakes made with either milk or water blended with ice).

TIPPING: 
It is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

WEATHER
In the Central Valley, where the main centres of population are located, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F) and the region enjoys a spring-like climate year round. In the coastal areas, the temperature is much hotter and humid, while the Pacific Northwest can be extremely hot and dry. The rainy season starts in May and finishes in November, although there are distinct regional variations. June and July are the wettest months, particularly on the Caribbean side, but the season can run from May until December.
The 'warm' dry season is December to May, though temperature differences between summer and winter are slight. March is the height of the dry season, and the humidity is lower at this time, making this a popular time for visitors. Volcano Arenal is notoriously hard to see due to the clouds, but the best time of year to give it a shot is during April and May.

San Jose: (approx)

CLOTHING: 
Lightweight cottons and linens most of the year, warmer clothes for cooler evenings. Waterproofing is necessary during the rainy season. Loose-fitting clothing is best. Wear neutral browns and greens for birding and wildlife viewing. Always bring mosquito repellent for both day and night.

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate must be presented on arrival to the country if you are coming from a Yellow Fever-infected country. Such countries include Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guyana, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra, Leone, Guinea, Gambia and Sudan.

Standards of health and medical hygiene are among the best in Latin America, although public facilities may not come up to par with more developed countries, particularly in more rural areas. Both public and private hospitals are available but tourists may only use the publicly-run healthcare service known as Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) in genuine emergencies. Private treatment is on the whole, of good quality and much lower cost than equivalent services in the US. Most doctors will expect payment in cash. Tourists visiting Costa Rica are recommended to take out health insurance before travelling.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased.