When is the best time to travel to Costa Rica? Any time except the week of Good Friday (Easter weekend) or Christmas week. These are major holidays for Ticos, so everything is crowded, transportation is hectic, and many shops and restaurants are closed.
State banks and other offices are also closed for nearly a week during both holidays. Beaches and nightlife venues are packed with locals too, especially during Semana Santa, which is comparable to the USA's Labor Day weekend
For fishing
December-April are the prime months for billfishing off Quepos and Jaco. Then the marlin and sailfish move north off Nicoya, so Flamingo and Tamarindo in Guanacaste are the top places to go from June on. (Sails and other fish can still be caught off Quepos and Jaco, just not as many and not as close to shore.) October-November generally see too much rain for consistent fishing.
When is rainy season?
Rainy season, euphemistically called "Green Season by the travel industry, usually starts in May and lasts through November. October and November witness the real downfalls, but May and June are sometimes quite pleasant, and air fare and beach resorts are cheaper. June often sees veranito, a "little summer" of several weeks with little or no rain.
Even when it does rain, you can usually manage to schedule your day the typical afternoon showers. Rain forest, cloud forest and white water rafting tours live up to their names in rainy season. May of 2007 was much rainier than in 2006. (Be sure to buy a cheap umbrella on the street.)
What items can I bring into Costa Rica?
A camera, VCR, lap top computer -- basically anything as long as you don't have a suitcase full of identical items still shrink-wrapped, as you plan to sell them. Food items are not a good idea, and please leave your mad cow at home
Do I need a visa?
USA and Canadians citizens can stay for up to 90 days on a tourist visa. Passports are now required. For citizens of other nations, see the previous link for visa and passport info.
Should I get some Costa Rica currency at the airport in USA?
No, unless leaving from Canada. USA airports give horrible exchange rates for colones. You can use US currency for a taxi from the San Jose airport to a downtown hotel or resort, where exchange rates are better
Can I bring my prescription medicine?
Yes: just be sure to bring your prescription. Medication should be placed in a carry-on bag, with anything else you don't want to replace upon arrival if flying on Lasca or Grupo Taca Airlines.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No, as long as you stick to the main hotels and resorts. However, a little Spanish goes a long way.
Taxis
The meter is called a maria. If it is not on, point at it say por favor. The meter starts at 405 colones in San Jose, slightly higher or a flat fee outside the capital
Tips are included with the fee.
It costs a flat fee of about $19 for one-way from the San Juan International Airport to downtown San Jose and nearby suburbs. One company handles all the business. You get a ticket at the booth and hand it to the next driver. Most hotels provide transportation to the airport for about the same rate.
Taxis that wait in front of the major San Jose hotels will not use meters, even though this is illegal. Ask how much to your destination before you get in the cab. Either pay the quoted fee or find a taxi on the street. Pirate taxis do not use meters and should be avoided unless leaving a place unsafe for walking at night.
For more details on the most up-to-date fares, see about Taxis
Who do I tip?
The checks at restaurants will include a tip for the waiters and bartenders. Tip sportfishing captains (especially if you catch a fish!), diving guides, private tour guides. and really anyone else you feel deserves it.
Safety tips for the streets
Do not wander around alone at night in San Jose. Even brightly lit streets can be dangerous. Keep your wallet in a front pocket. Don't take more cash with you than you plan to spend (use your hotel safe).
Leave your Rolex or Movado at home. Bring a cheap watch, or buy one on the street. Make a photocopy of your passport and carry it with you
Lock the original in your hotel safe.
In outdoor cafes, do not leave bags or purses draped over a railing near the street, nor on the floor near a door. Snatch and run thieves are common in Quepos, for example. This has been reported often at outdoor places like El Gran Escape on the waterfront. Don't leave anything of value unguarded on a beach.
Never leave your car unguarded when it contains anything of value, especially to take a few quick pictures or run into a store for a bottle of water. Break-in thefts abound in tourists areas, even outside the nicest hotels
Realestate
Remember that everyone in the country is technically a real estate agent. You don't need a license to sell property here. And believe it or not, occasionally someone sells a piece of undeveloped beach land, a house, villa or business while the real owner is away. Stay with reputable companies. We don't sell real-estate but maintain a list of professional real estate agents that we can send you.
Rental cars
When picking up a rental car, check car and the tires carefully. Occasionally thieves have been known to puncture a tire and follow the car until it goes flat. Then they offer to help change it, but rob the passengers. Please see car rentals on the home page for more information
Departure tax
Hold onto $26 for the airport departure tax. Arrive to buy it there, or get a travel agency or hotel to pick one up from the that sells them in San Jose
Time Zone
Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time and does not observe daylight savings time.
Can I drink the water?
Water is supposedly safe to drink, but news in 2007 reported that out side of San Jose a few regions experienced serious outbreaks of diarrhea due to the antiquated pipes and occasional industrial materials being dumped in one of the rivers. To be sure, we recommend bottled water.
Cash and ATMs
Be sure your American cash does not have any tears, rips or marks on it, or it will not be accepted. ATMs are easy to find on the south (left) side Avenida 2, starting at Calle 2 and walking toward town.
Sometimes the local banks' ATM machines work with U.S. and Canadian credit and debit cards; sometimes they don't. The new mini-mall in downtown San Jose, we discovered, has a half-dozen new Diebold ATMs that do the job. The Plaza Avenida mall is on the corner of Avenida 2 and Calle 9, with entrances on both streets.
Due to local credit card fraud, U.S. banks suggest informing them you will be using your card in Costa Rica. We also hear the PLUS system cards are not supported in much of Guanacaste
Internet Cafes
All over the map, especially in San Jose. They are expensive in the beach towns, where you may prefer real surfing over the virtual variety. Many hotels now offer free or inexpensive Internet access.
Gaming Establishments
Gaming places are unregulated by the authorities, like they are in Las Vegas and other parts of the world. The country's laws are from 1922! Pay attention when playing Rommy, which looks like 21 but has different payouts. You win on certain bonus hands, such as three sevens. But if don't recognize the hand, some dealers may just sweep in the cards rather than pay you. Slot machines are suicide here. They can set machines to pay off at any percentage, unlike in the USA, where a minimum payoff is mandatory.
