Entering
the country
For visiting Costa Rica, you passport must have a validity of at least another 6 months if you are a US, Canadian or European Union citizen. You do not need a visa, and possible duration of your stay as a tourist is 90 days.
Leaving
the country
When leaving the country, an airport
departure tax has to be paid. For foreigners, the departure
tax is around US $ 26 and may be paid in US $ or Costarican
Colones.
Vaccinations
are not mandatory; nevertheless it
is recommended to have tetanus and polio protection (that you usually do have anyway) as
well as malaria prophylactic. Please also consult your doctor.
Time
Zone
Costa Rica is six hours behind GMT
(Greenwich Mean Time), which means it is equivalent to Central
Standard Time in North America.
The difference to MET (Middle European Winter Time) is -7
hours / to Middle European Summer Time -8 hours.
Language
Costa Rica’s official language
is Spanish. At the tourist places, in many hotels and shops,
however, the Costa Ricans also speak English.
Weather & Climate
Rainy season: May to November; dry
season: December to April. Even during the dry season, it
may rain for some hours or sometimes even a whole day. During
the rainy season, you will experience real „tropical
showers“ for 2 - 3 hours in the afternoon; the rest of
the day is warm and sunny. On the Caribbean coast, it is about
the contrary: the June to October and January to March months
are relatively dry; you have to expect heavy rainfalls in
November/December.
More details on Climate & Weather in Costa Rica
Currency
and Price Level
Compared to other Central and South American countries, Costa Rica is relatively expensive. Nevertheless, the high prices are compensated by the exceptional natural beauty the country has to offer and may be explained by the country's high standard of living, the social security and health care, the educational system, the infrastructure, and the outstanding efforts to protect the environment. Local currency is the Colón. You can exchange dollars for colones at any bank, or at most hotels. major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) and US $ traveler checks are accepted as well. When needing a bank’s service, you must expect to spend quite some time on this. There are some automatic teller machines in San Jose and surroundings for cash withdrawals using your international Visa or Master Card. Larger shops or hotels very often also accept US $ cash. Current exchange rate (September 2010) 1 US $ = approx. 510 Colones; 1 EURO = approx. 660 Colones.
Currency converter: OANDA.com
Electricity
The electricity volDays is 110V, European
electrical appliances require a US travel adapter.
Public
Holidays
January 1: New Year’s
Day, April 11: Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas, May 1:
Labor Day, July 25: Annexation of Guanacaste, September 15:
Independence Day, October 12: Columbus Day, December 1: Abolition
of Armed Forces Day, December 25: Christmas Day.
Most shops and businesses are closed in San José during Easter
week and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
More details on Festivals & Cultural Events in Costa Rica
Opening
Hours
Banks: Monday to Friday 8.30-15:00;
Offices: Monday to Friday 8:00 - 16:00; Shops Monday to Saturday
8:00 - 18:00, Supermarkets Monday to Sunday 8:00 - 21:00.
In San José many shops, pharmacies, hospitals, gasoline stations
and restaurants are open 24 hours daily.
Typical
Cuisine
Rice and beans are the main ingredients for every meal and are served together with eggs, meat, fish or chicken. There is a good choice of fresh fruit and vegetables all year round.
Fresh fruit juices are available almost everywhere in the country and can be as well enjoyed without any problems as the water that is of good drinking quality.
Costaricans
It is true that Costa Rica is an open-minded country with very friendly people. Crime in this country is not worse than anywhere else in the world.
In Costa Rica, time has another meaning than you may be used to in your home country. Patience and tolerance normally are the best means to reach a goal.
You will very soon realize that understanding of the culture does contribute to your „well-being“ during your stay.
