Country Gees

Costa Rica welcomes with its fragrant coffee and is excellent for active adventurers, animal and nature lovers. The country has plenty of activities that make the adrenaline pump and a fantastic animal and nature life.

On this page you will find practical information and facts about Costa Rica.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVELING IN COSTA RICA

Climate and best travel time
In general, the best travel period is from December to April. The period is locally called “Verano” which in Swedish means summer. This is the driest period in Costa Rica. The rainy season in Costa Rica begins in May, which means, among other things, that overnight stays are slightly cheaper than during the high season. But it is still good to travel at the beginning of the rainy season. June and July are considered locally as mini-high season, due to American tourists then having their summer vacation. Therefore, one can also expect prices to be slightly higher during these months.

Our recommendations on when it is best to travel in Costa Rica are based on how the climate has been in the previous year. The weather in Costa Rica can be very variable and unpredictable, so our recommendations should only be seen as a clue.

Money
The currency of Costa Rica is Colón, but USD can be used in most tourist areas. Smaller amounts should, however, be paid with Colón, e.g. bus tickets or food at smaller restaurants. Euro, British Pound and USD can be exchanged for Colón. There are ATMs in most cities, large and small. In the small towns, however, there are mainly Visa vending machines. Mastercard can be used in larger cities.
All travelers must pay USD 29 (2015) airport tax when leaving Costa Rica. This can be paid with USD, Colóns and large credit cards.

Residents of Costa Rica are known for their great biodiversity, due in part to their rainforest. Therefore, it is advisable to try to spend the night in one of their Ecolodges in the rainforest. These Ecolodges are very much based on sustainable tourism.

Visa Rental Conditions
Costa Rica is visa free for up to 90 days, but your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of entry. On flights, a departure tax of 29 USD (2015) will be added.

NOTE! Visa rules are subject to change at short notice, so We recommend that you check the current conditions at the country’s embassy or at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

Transport
Public transport
Since most Costa Ricans do not have a car, public transport is quite good and covers most of Costa Rica. However, it is to be expected that peripheral areas and smaller cities will only be served by a single bus per day. So plan your trip by public transport well in advance.

Car
It is possible to rent a car in Costa Rica. Car rental is popular in Costa Rica because you can get to areas where bus operations are not as frequent. However, you should be aware that mountain roads can be very difficult to drive on, with many curves without an overview, in addition, there can be many trucks on the narrow roads.

Taxi
It is possible to rent a taxi for long journeys and many companies have fixed prices for certain routes. It can be recommended if it does not feel safe to drive yourself in Costa Rica.

Tips
In most countries, tips are part of the salaries of employees in the service industry. Therefore, it is good practice (and sometimes directly necessary) to give tips to, for example, cleaning staff, waiters, guides, drivers, etc. depending on the country you are visiting. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how much is normally given in tips and to whom before you embark on your journey. Find information on tips in Lonely Planet’s guidebooks.

FACTS

CAPITAL: SAN JOSÉ

LANGUAGE: SPANISH

CLIMATE: TROPICAL

CURRENCY: COLONES

RELIGION: MAINLY ROMAN CATHOLIC

INFORMATION COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is world famous for its amazing wildlife and its many beautiful national parks. On the Caribbean side you will find the Tortuguero National Park which in many guidebooks is described as a miniature version of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and there are good reasons for it. Here you can find the green turtles that lay thousands of eggs in the sand from July to October. Visit picktrue.com for Caribbean territories.

In addition, the area around the Arenal volcano and the Monteverde cloud forest reserve is a must on most travelers to-do list. In the Corcovado National Park you can experience one of the earth’s most unique ecosystems. Costa Rica’s best beaches are in the Manuel Antonio National Park and on the Nicoya Peninsula. The population often calls the peninsula the “sun coast” because it has the most hours of sunshine per year.