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Costa Rica |
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Costa Rica
San José, the bustling capital, is smack in the center of Costa Rica, within the Cordillera Central, a mountain range dotted with volcanoes. To the northwest of San José are Lake Arenal and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. South of San José is the Pacific coast, where you'll find Manuel Antonio National Park and other unspoiled stretches of rain forest. Two peninsulas jut into the Pacific: The larger is Nicoya, one of the country's most popular destinations. The smaller Osa Peninsula is more difficult to reach and has a much wilder feel. The Caribbean coast is hotter, rainier, and much less traveled.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
For entry into Costa Rica, U.S. citizens must
present valid passports that will not expire for at least thirty days after
arrival, and a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Some U.S. airlines may not permit
passengers to board flights to Costa Rica without such a ticket. Passports
should be in good condition; Costa Rican immigration will deny entry if the
passport is damaged in any way. Costa Rican authorities generally permit U.S.
citizens to stay up to ninety days; to stay beyond the period granted, travelers
must submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits
in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Tourist visas are usually not
extended except under special circumstances, and extension requests are
evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is a departure tax for short-term
visitors. Tourists who stay over ninety days may experience a delay at the
airport when departing. Persons who overstayed previously may be denied entry to
Costa Rica.
Persons traveling to Costa Rica from some countries in South America and
Sub-Saharan Africa must provide evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination
prior to entry. The South American countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador and Venezuela.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
There have been no recent acts of terrorism in
Costa Rica. Visitors to Costa Rica may experience the effects of civil
disturbances such as work stoppages and strikes. Although infrequent, these acts
can create inconveniences for visitors. On both the Caribbean and Pacific
coasts, currents are swift and dangerous, and there are few lifeguards or signs
warning of dangerous beaches. Every year eight to twelve American citizens drown
in Costa Rica due to riptides or sudden drop-offs while in shallow water.
Extreme caution is advised.
Adventure tourism is popular in Costa Rica, and many companies offer white-water
rafting, bungee jumping, jungle canopy tours, deep sea diving, and other outdoor
attractions. Visitors are urged to use caution in selecting adventure tourism
companies. The government of Costa Rica regulates and monitors the safety of
adventure tourism companies; enforcement of safety laws is overseen by the
Ministry of Health. Registered tourism companies with operating permits must
meet safety standards and have insurance coverage.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
The information below concerning Costa Rica is
provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a
particular location or circumstance. Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle
accident rates in the world. The fatality rate for pedestrians and those riding
bicycles and motorcycles is disproportionately high. Traffic laws and speed
limits are often ignored, turns across one or two lanes of traffic are common,
turn signals are rarely used, passing on dangerous stretches of highway is
common, and pedestrians are not given the right of way. Roads are often in poor
condition, and large potholes with the potential to cause significant damage to
vehicles are common. Pedestrians, cyclists, and farm animals may use the main
roads. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are inadequate and few roads are
lined. Shoulders are narrow or consist of drainage ditches. All of the above, in
addition to poor visibility due to heavy fog or rain, makes driving at night
especially treacherous. Landslides are common in the rainy season. All types of
motor vehicles are appropriate for the main highways and principal roads in the
major cities. However, some roads to beaches and other rural locations are not
paved, and many destinations are accessible only with high clearance, rugged
suspension four-wheel drive vehicles. Travelers are advised to call ahead to
their hotels to ask about the current status of access roads.
Costa Rica has a 911 system for reporting emergencies. In the event of a traffic
accident, vehicles must/must be left where they are. Both the Transito (Traffic
Police) and the Insurance Investigator must make accident reports before the
vehicles are moved.
WHEN TO GO
Between Christmas and Easter, which roughly coincides with the country's dry
season (December through April). But if you visit one month before or after, the
weather is often just as good, and rooms cost 10 to 25 percent less. The
downside is that many restaurants and bars will be closed. The May–November
rainy season—called the "green season" by tour operators—is not a terrible time
to visit, but be prepared for daily deluges and a much smaller range of places
to eat and sleep. There is also a relatively dry period called veranillo, which
sometimes occurs in July and August, or August and September, particularly on
the Pacific coastline. If your heart is set on seeing turtles, remember to visit
June to October.
GETTING AROUND
Renting a car is often the only way to get around Costa Rica. Opt for
four-wheel-drive vehicles, which are great for negotiating rough roads. The good
news is that the highways are looking better than they have in years. The route
circling Lake Arenal, once an obstacle course of potholes, is now among the best
in the country. But there are still plenty of places where the pavement crumbles
away. Both routes to Tamarindo are rough gravel trails. The highway to Manuel
Antonio crosses several rickety bridges. And reaching Monteverde Cloud Forest
Preserve requires negotiating roads that are mostly rocks and gravel. Because of
the driving conditions, domestic flights can cut down travel time considerably,
and the country is well connected by 19 small airports.
GOOD TO KNOW
Cuisine
Costa Rica isn't an especially luxe destination, catering more to ecotourists
than jet-setters. As a result, the cuisine is less haute than humble, local,
honest, and cheap. Specialties of Costa Rica's many sodas (small restaurants)
are casado (rice, beans, stewed beef, fried plantain, salad, and cabbage), olla
de carne (soup of beef, plantain, corn, yucca, nampi, and chayote), and sopa
negra (black beans with a poached egg). You'll be satiated, but not indulged.
Good Buys
Costa Rica produces many crafts that are worth taking home, from beautiful
leatherwork to ceramics. Costa Rica also produces some of the world's finest
coffee, much of which is grown on small farms. If you can tear yourself away
from the verdant jungles and fantastic surf, look around for local artists who
create exacting neo-Amerindian jewelry from gold, silver, and precious stones.
In the past few years, dozens of shops have popped up, offering what is billed
as artesanía indígena. It is indigenous art, but not always from Costa
Rica—you're as likely to find weavings from Guatemala, Panamanian embroidery,
and stone carvings all the way from Mexico. However, the elaborately carved
exotic woods, made into everything from bracelets to bowls, are usually the real
deal. The best native crafts are found in SarchÍ, a mountain village nearly a
two-hour drive northwest of San José. Look for comfortable wood-and-leather
chairs, most of them easily foldable for your flight home. The town is known
throughout the country for its colorful ox carts, often seen in local parades;
it's possible to buy miniature versions that are just as elaborately painted.
Money
All hotels add 10 percent service tax plus 3 percent tourist tax to the bill by
law, while most restaurants add a 10 percent service charge. It is not necessary
to tip taxi drivers.