Costa Rica TIP
Capital: San Jose
International Airport: Juan Santamaria – located in the town of Alajuela, ~17km outside San Jose
Entrance Tax: None
Exit Tax: ~13,000 colones or $26 USD
Location: Central America, bordering both the Carribean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua (North) and Panama (South)
Country Telephone Code: 506.2.xxx.xxxx (land line)
506.8.xxx.xxxx (cellular phone)
Emergency: 911
Police: 117
Fire Brigade: 118
Electricity: 110V AC, 60Hz (same as USA)
Language: Spanish (official), English
Currency: Colon, Colones (plural)
Bills: -500; -1000; -5000; -10,000
Coins: -5; 10; 20; 25; 50; 100
Gratuity: Tip all guides! In restaurants, a 10% - 15% gratuity is often added to the bill. Tip the housekeepers 500 colones (= to $1 USD) per day and bell hops 250 - 500 colones per bag.
Currency Converter: www.oanda.com/convert/classic
Time: GMT minus 6 hours; no daylight savings time
Visas and Documents: Not required for residents of Australia; Canada; EU; New Zealand; or USA
Embassy: www.costarica-embassy.org/country/costarica.htm
Army: abolished in 1949
Climate: Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April);rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
High Season: December - April
Literacy Rate: 98%
Public Health Services Coverage: 90% of population
Health Information: www.cdc.gov/travel/destinationCostaRica.aspx
Hospitals in Costa Rica: www.hospitalsworldwide.com/countries/costa_rica.php
Internatinoal Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers: www.iamat.org
World Health Organization: www.who.int/countries/cri/en/
Media: La Nacion – www.nacion.co.cr
La Prensa Libre – www.prensalibre.co.cr
Tico Times - www.ticotimes.net
Surf Report: www.wavewatch.com/Surf-Forecast Region.php?RegionID=23
Consular Information Sheet: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html
Travel Insurance: www.insuremytrip.com
www.accessamerica.com
Weather:
Aviation: www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp
Satellite: www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/
US Weather: www.nws.noaa.gov/
World Weather: www.weather.com/common/welcomepage/world.html?from=globalnav
Tropical: www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Waves: www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/WW3/index.html or www.wavewatch.com
Recommended Gear:
-Spanish Dictionary
-mosquito repellant (should contain at least 30% DEET)
-small umbrella
-sunglasses – polarized – if possible; waterproof sunscreen
-competitive style bikini
-camera + extra batteries + extra film/ extra memory card – (waterproof casing/ or waterproof cameras work best!)
-flashlight/headlamp + extra batteries
-journal + ballpoint pen
-2 photocopies of your passport; copy of travel insurance and travel insurance telephone number; emergency contact phone list of friends and family back home
-rain jacket
-1 warm jacket (when at altitude near Volcan Arenal)
-binoculars
-1 nice outfit
-1 pair of trail or running shoes
-flip flops or sandals
-activity appropriate clothes
-bikini for competitive style for surfing
-1 towel
-1 trash bag (to keep items dry)
-2 compression straps (if you bring your surfboard)
First Aid Kit:
-small first aid kit (make certain your prescription medication [i.e.EPIPEN] is NOT expired!)
-feminine hygiene (tampons, pads)
