What should i know about costa rica

One other thing, Naturales are actually cheap! Sometimes they are even the same price as a bottle of water! They are also part of the history, culture, and heritage of the country. You can even do some tours that focus on the processing methods of these crops. While traveling in Costa Rica you can and should try these. There are plenty of organic chocolates and Coffees. Oh, cacao beans have a very intense but bitter flavor!! Generally, it is safe to drink tap water in Costa Rica, maybe except in very rural and undeveloped areas.

If you want to play safe, you can buy bottled water. The exchange rate is about colones to 1 USD in Julho Due to the huge importance of the tourism sector in Costa Rica particularly from the US and the number of expats living there, most places will accept US Dollars as a means of payment.

If you want to a few dollars you need to be mindful of this. Here the list of banks who charge atm fee and the fee:. If you think it might be the case, ask for the price in both currencies, or the exchange rate. To reduce the money we carry around, we always prefer to pay with a card. In Costa Rica, we were never asked an extra fee to pay with a card, which is nice! So, they do it. During our stay in Costa Rica, we spent about USD per day, meaning 60 per day per person traveling as a couple.

As you can see, our Costa Rica travel costs are already way above average. Entry tickets to the most famous attractions will cost 10 to 16 USD.

However, we should note that there are some affordable things in Costa Rica, like accommodation and fuel. Also, this tip is valid for both public transports and driving yourself. You may be tempted to think you can do all of Costa Rica in 7 or 10 days, but you are wrong. There are public buses to all the major tourist attractions plus they are actually cheap, which will help to keep your travel costs down. This means that you may have to return to San Jose in between destinations, which makes you lose lots of time.

Instead, we advise you to use UBER or a similar service. Driving gives you all the freedom you need to explore the country, allowing you to go everywhere, whenever you like. Yet, people make a huge deal of renting a car and driving in Costa Rica. Well, there a few things you should keep in mind:. If you need to have constant access to the internet , you should buy a data sim card.

We bought a Movistar card and we were very pleased with it. We had internet basically everywhere and it was a good value for money. Plus, with Movistar, you get free data roaming in other Central America countries! In fact, a trip to Costa Rica is a great opportunity to learn more about responsible travel and be inspired to use more responsible travel products. As we said above, Costa Rica is a hot, tropical country with high levels of humidity and rains throughout the whole year, but it also has lots of waterfalls, fabulous beaches, and snorkeling spots.

Thus, we recommend you take these items:. The standard voltage and the standard frequency are volts and 60 Hz, also similar to North and Central America. Remember, mosquitoes are in Costa Rica year round and are worse in rainy season. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water so bring plenty of repellent and cover up.

Read our tips for protecting yourself against mosquitoes in Costa Rica. Extra travel safety tip: Make sure to purchase travel insurance just in case you do catch something! You can read more about Costa Rica travel insurance in this post. Costa Rica experiences typical tropical weather but it has many micro-climates. You can read more about Costa Rica weather in this post.

Temperatures in those areas can get down to a chilly 50s Fahrenheit 10 C at night if the winds are strong. The coasts stay nice and hot, mostly in the 80s and 90s 27 — 32 C during the day. Make sure to research the area you are visiting so you come prepared. For packing tips, check out our Costa Rica packing list to see what you need to bring for different activities and destinations.

US dollars have become the standard currency in tourism. USD is accepted in pretty much every touristic destination. Ask the hotels or tour companies if you can pay in colones instead and how much the exchange would be. Also make sure you check what the exchange rate is.

Since the exchange rate is around CRC to 1 USD, some places may try to stiff you by using a to 1 rate and you will lose out a bit. The exchange rate changes daily so always ask if you are paying in USD. The best place to exchange currency is at the bank, not at the airport exchange rate booth. Read more about handling money in Costa Rica. Easy way to exchange money without having to go to the bank.

Just make sure to calculate the exchange rate. The supermarket should have a sign of the exchange rate for the day near the front or by the cashier. Dry season in Costa Rica has the best weather. Thanks to the sunny days, it is also our high tourism season because everyone wants to escape the winter up north.

Yes it rains and you do need to pack and research more for rainy season. But you will still have a great time! Check out our Costa Rica rainy season packing list for tips. To read more about visiting Costa Rica in rainy season , click the link. Personally, we love rainy season in Costa Rica.

Sloths, being the masters of camouflage, are normally very difficult to see without a guide or trained eye. For example, it is incredibly difficult to see one in Guanacaste due to the extremely dry climate. But if you visit the South Pacific or the Caribbean coast, sloths are much more common. So if you want to see a sloth, then you need to go to where they live!

Find out where are the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica in our guide. To make sure you see a sloth, hire a guide. They have trained eyes and will have binoculars or telescopes to find them. In Costa Rica, police are legally allowed to stop any car and ask for papers. Always have a color copy of your passport and photo of your tourist stamp with you. Also something else to note is that the police in Costa Rica are generally very nice. It is common for hotels to offer free Wi-Fi and many of them have it available throughout the whole property.

Parent: » Template: subcategory. The happiest country in the world; a paradise for peace and biodiversity; a green beacon for environmental stewardship —Costa Rica is a country of many accolades.

The small Central American nation is home to incredible biodiversity and rich cultures , a passion for freedom, and a history of democracy, equality, and education for all.

Want to know more? Check out our Travel Guide for cuisine , history , travel tips , traditions , and more.