Costa Rica visitor information

Country name:
Republic of Costa Rica

Government:

Democracy is not only the type of government of Costa Rica. Democracy is also the source of tremendous pride in a country that brags about having more teachers than policemen and not having a standing army since 1948. Democracy also means that even the smallest town has a right to have electricity, potable water and public or private phones.

President:
Oscar Arias Sanchez (2006-2010)

Was born in 1940. After studying in the United States, he read law and economics at the University of Costa Rica in the capital, San Jose. As a student he engaged actively in the work of the National Liberation Party. Having completed his degree, he went on to take a doctorate in England, with a thesis on the subject of "Who rules Costa Rica?" He is the author of a number of books and articles on political and historical subjects.

Currency:

The colón (named after Christopher Columbus, known as Cristóbal Colón in Spanish) is the currency of Costa Rica.

Credit cards:

Many tourist places, taxis, and also shops in San Jose accept US dollar notes but not usually other currencies. Credit cards are reasonably widespread in acceptance. Many banks can change currency, and most hotels can also change dollars. There is a network of ATMs. Traveler's cheques are accepted.

People:
96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous Indians, Chinese. In the province of Limon, on the Caribbean coast, approximately 70,000 blacks and 5,000 indians live.

Capital city:

San José, estimated population : 893,000.

Local time:
GMT minus 6 hours.

Languages:

Spanish is the official language, although English is widely spoken in the business community and at most tourist destinations. The use of French and German is increasing. Some Creole English is used on the Caribbean coast, and Indian dialects are also in Guanacaste and the Caribbean coast.

Taxes:

There is a 13% sales tax on all purchases. An additional 3% tourism tax on hotel rooms. Restaurants add a 10% gratuity to the check, along with the sales tax.

GDP:
US$18.4 bn (GDP per head: US$5,400)

Electricity:

Electricity in Costa Rica is 120 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you travel to Costa Rica with a device that does not accept 120 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

Weights & measures:

If you plan to live in Costa Rica, it is in your best interest to understand the metric system. You will soon notice those automobile speedometers, road mileage signs, the contents of bottles, and rulers are in metric measurements.

Visas & Passports:

US, Canadian, and citizens of most European and Latin American countries do not need visas for a stay of less than 90 days. Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Eire, France, Sweden and most of Eastern Europe and Latin America can stay 30 days without a visa. For a visa, it will cost US$20 from a Costa Rican consulate.US citizens can review www.passportsandvisas.com for more info.

Departure:

It is highly recommended to confirm your return flight 72 hours ahead of your departure date. Although not essential, it is better to arrive at the airport 2 hours before departure time. Tourists pay a departure tax of about US$26 at the airport. This can also be paid in local currency (colones) or a combination of the two. Credit cards or travellers chack are not accepted.

Geography:

Only El Salvador is smaller than Costa Rica in Central America after El Salvador. Costa Rica's neighbours are Nicaragua to the north, and Panama in the south, and it has two coastlines on the Caribbean and the Pacific. Hills stretch down from Nicaragua to the north of Costa Rica, and then rise to high folded mountains in the center and south. It is along these central mountain lines that Costa Rica's volcanoes lie. The central valley is the home of the capital city, San Jose.

Weather:

Costa Rica's wet season is from May to October. As one goes from the drier Pacific coast it becomes progressively wetter, so that the Atlantic coast has the most rainfall (up to 300 days annually). San Jose's temperature ranges from a high of 24-27 degrees C, to a low of 14-16 degrees C. The hottest months are March and April. For more details, see our Weather page.

Security:

Costa Rica has long been considered a peaceful country, particularly compared with surrounding countries. However the situation is slowly changing and security should be borne in mind. The US State Dept indicates that crime is increasing in Costa Rica, and tourists are frequent victims. Most crimes are non-violent, including pickpocketings and house and car break-ins, but criminals are showing a greater willingness to use violence recently. As elsewhere in the world, basic precautions of avoiding poor neighbourhoods, being careful at night, and being careful with valuables, should be taken. We recommend that you check your country's consular advice for travelers to Costa Rica and also the US State Dept.

Health:

Although drinking water is safe in the major towns and cities, we recommend bottled water. Malaria had been eliminated, but it is re-emerging around the Caribbean coast. Malaria pills may be advisable for extensive stays in these areas. Dengue and hepatitis occur. Inoculation for yellow fever is recommended. Costa Rica has one of the highest standards of health and hygiene in Latin America and the Caribbean. For a more comprehensive view, look at the Central America and Mexico section of the US Govt's Center for Disease Control  at www.cdc.gov.

Tipping:

This is not essential in restaurants as they add a 10% tip (plus 15% tax) to the bill, but it is a local custom to add a small non-% amount if the service has been reasonable. Hotel bellboys and room cleaners normally expect about US$0.50, tour guides US$1-5 a day per person. It is not necessary to tip a taxi.