Costa Rica Facts

COSTA RICA GENERAL INFORMATION

Please consider these Costa Rica Facts, Activities, Dining, and Nightlife. Great information to plan your Costa Rica Honeymoon, Costa Rica Weddings, adventure vacation or luxury beach vacation.

Location:
Located in the narrow land bridge joining North and South America between Nicaragua and Panama., Costa Rica has coasts on two oceans: the Pacific and the Caribbean

Departure Tax:
A departure tax of US$17.00 will be collected when you leave Costa Rica.

Language:
The official language is Spanish, though many Ticos (native Costa Ricans) also speak English

Currency:
The official currency of Costa Rica is the colon which is exchanged at a rate of approximately 260 colon = $1USD(rates fluctuate). Be aware that it is illegal to exchange money anywhere in the country other than a bank or a hotel. Major credit cards are widely accepted.

Government:
Costa Rica is a free and democratic republic with a system of government similar to that of the U.S. It's army was abolished in 1949, leaving funds once spent on the military available for health and education. Costa Rica has one of the world's highest literacy rates at 93%.

Time Zone:
Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time and does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Climate:
Costa Rica has 12 different climatic zones and a considerable regional variation in rainfall and temperature. The coastal regions average between the low 70's and the low 90's in temperature. In the Central Valley temperatures range between the low 60's to low 70's., cooler in the mountain regions. There are two seasons: dry from November through April and rainy or "green season" May through October.

Accommodations:
Costa Rica offers plenty of resort, bungalow and lodge accommodations to accommodate any type of budget.

Clothing:
Lightweight, loose fitting cottons are recommended for the subtropical climate. Casual clothes are generally appropriate for both daytime and evening as most hotels and restaurants do not expect jacket and tie. Sturdy, comfortable shoes with closed heel and toe are a must for walking and hiking.

Immunization:
No vaccinations are required for travel to Costa Rica.

What To Do & See

Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs Tour: Start with a visit to rushing waterfalls and the 2 rustic towns of Naranjo and Zarcero. Next, descend to the San Carlos Plains to witness the glowing orange explosions of the Arenal Volcano from a safe distance, and wind down with a soothing bath in the volcanic Tabacón Hot Mineral Springs.

Reventazón White Water Rafting: Perfect for beginners, this trip offers adventure without danger, first along a series of relatively easy rapids, after which you hurtle through El Gordo and Hueco Santo, the most challenging rapids of the run. All around is picture-book scenery and a numbing profusion of wildlife.

Aerial Tram Rain Forest Tour: Cross over the Continental Divide and continue on a ½ hour ride through Braulio Carrillo National Park for what may be the most amazing journey of your life through a canopy of ancient trees dripping with mosses, ferns, and orchids. Bring binoculars and you'll get once-in-a-lifetime views of the wildlife nesting, feeding, playing, mating, sleeping, and battling along the way!

Poas Volcano, Chubascos & Sarch Oxcart Factory: Poas is believed to be the world's largest geyser, which you reach through a network of trails that take you right to the emerald lagoon of its extinct crater. Continue to the town of Sarchi, the home of Costa Rica's native art where primitive local artists began the tradition of painting and decorating their oxcarts with intricate and colorful designs.

Folklore Show at Pueblo Antiguo: Professional actors portray a slice of Costa Rican history in this bilingual multimedia show that dramatizes notable elements of the country's turn-of-the-20th-century life. Marimba music, dance groups, and masked mythical figures entertain you in a lovely theme park. After a traditional dinner, you are treated to a native folkloric dance show.

Carara Biological Reserve & Jaco Beach: The Old Spanish Route, one of Costa Rica's most scenic roads, takes you to the 11,750-acre reserve where striking animals such as scarlet macaws, rare monkeys, and dazzling butterflies make up the tropical web of life. Explore this habitat via trails sheltered under a cathedral canopy of enormous trees and then head on to the beach for lunch and seaside rest or play, as you wish!

Corcovado National Park: A huge range of habitats covers this park from seemingly impenetrable rainforest to dripping, steamy cloud forest, oak forested seashore, and swamp. Located on the Osa Peninsula of the southern Pacific coast, lengthy, wide beaches fringe its western side. The Corcovado lagoon and swamp harbors large crocodiles and many of the park's 140 mammal species, and monkeys swing above every trail. All the country's big cats, such as the jaguar, live in there and can occasionally be seen on the beach. Over 400 species of birds and the largest population of scarlet macaws in Central America also live here. For advanced hikers only!

Museo Nacional de Costa Rica: The country's most important historical museum is housed in a former army barracks that was the scene of fighting during the civil war of 1948. Hundreds of bullet holes can still be seen on the turrets at the corners of the building. Displays of Costa Rican history and culture from pre-Columbian times to the present feature a 2,500-year-old jade carving shaped like a seashell and etched with an image of a hand holding a small animal.

Museo de Arte Costarricense: Costa Rica's most celebrated artists present their diverse work, including sculptures, paintings, and prints as part of the permanent collection. Rotating exhibits are also featured and the conference room's unusual bas-relief walls, which chronicle the history of Costa Rica from pre-Columbian times to the present, are a popular attraction.

Zoo Ave (Bird Zoo): Get a closer look at the birds you'll spot in the wild as you visit dozens of rescued injured or abused scarlet macaws, reclusive owls, majestic raptors, toucans, and other brilliantly colored birds from Costa Rica and around the world. Large iguana, deer, monkeys, and a 12-foot crocodile have also found a safe home here.

Pre-Columbian Ruins: In the Guayabo National Monument is a collection of building foundations and cobblestone streets predating the arrival of European man. Tour them on your own, or request a guide. Buses depart daily from Turrialba.

Mercado Central: This is the sort of marketplace every traveler anticipates finding in a foreign land, and no trip to San José is complete without a round of this indoor labyrinth of shops, stalls, and restaurants. Everything from crafts and clothing to freshly picked coffee is sold here, and the surrounding streets host a daily farmers market.

Dining

San José has an impressive variety of restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world and you'll never pay much, even for 6- and 7-course meals at the best restaurants. Rice and beans are the staples, called gallo pinto when mixed together, and are served at nearly every meal. To sample the local flavor, find a soda (the equivalent of a diner in the US), where the food is good, cheap and filling. Don't miss out on the perennially favorite drink, a fresco, which is a bit like a fresh fruit milkshake without the ice cream, and made from delicious tropical fruits that are whipped into a pure ambrosia. On almost every street corner in downtown San José, you will find a fruit vendor selling fresh exotic fruits that will make a waterfall of your mouth, including more varieties of mangos than you ever knew existed!

Gourmet: La Luz serves the most adventurous food in Costa Rica, mixing fresh local ingredients with international cuisine. The wait staff is attentive and knowledgeable and the chef makes the rounds most nights. The glass-walled dining room is one of the most elegant in town, with a view of the city lights. All breads and desserts are baked in-house. San José, On the old road to Santa Ana, inside Hotel Alta

Highly Recommended: Café Mundo radiates the casual elegance of its former colonial mansion, appointed with wood tables and wrought-iron chairs. The outdoor veranda, tropical garden, and tile fountain are especially nice during the day, and the lively bar with colorful wall murals is also popular. The chef has a passion for fresh local ingredients prepared with creativity and classical finesse. San José, Calle 15 and Avenida 9

Local Flair: La Esmeralda is more than a restaurant - it's the Grand Central Station of Costa Rican Mariachi bands - and the later at night, the better. Often, while the musicians wait for "pick-up" work, they serenade diners in the large open-air dining hall. The classic Tico food is excellent, especially the coconut flan for dessert. San José, Avenida 2 between Calles 5 and 7

Romantic: Le Chandelier is located in a large old house in a quiet residential neighborhood. It is one of the most elegant restaurants in town and its surroundings give it the feel of an old-time Hollywood restaurant. Swiss chef Claude Dubuis creates unique dishes, with French classics served alongside less familiar dishes such as roast duck in green-pepper sauce or tenderloin with cranberry sauce. The feast and is topped off with rich desserts like crème brulée. San Pedro, ½ mile south of the ICE office

Nightlife

San José at night has a good range of activities and is as wild as the wilderness itself. You'll find plenty of good-time clubs and bars, a wide range of theaters, and pulsing discos. In San José, pick up a copy of the Tico Times (English) or the "Viva" and "Tiempo Libre" sections of La Nichión (Spanish) to find out where the parties are.

Teatro Nacional: Performances by the National Symphony Orchestra light up the stage during the April to December season, and there are also year-round concert and play performances.

Beatle Bar: The Fab Four line the wall and the music is a mix of Beatles and other 60s and 70s rock classics. Grab one of the outdoor tables or take a turn on one of the most happening dance floors in the city.

El Tobogan: The dance floor is about the size of a football field and it's always full. This is the place where the locals, "Ticos," come to boogie to live music.

Risa's Bar: Six restaurants and bars occupies all 4 floors of this beautiful old building in the heart of San José. A large disco takes up much of the first two floors with a variety of different environments spicing up the rest of the building.

Casino Colonial: This 24-hour casino is a complete gaming hall that also offers a bar, restaurant, cable TV, and a betting service for major US sporting events.

La Avispa: Two dance floors and a quiet upstairs bar cater to gay and lesbian patrons.

Centro Comercial El Pueblo: This hotspot has 2 discos with Latin music at Cocoloco. Infinito has 2 dance floors that split their musical styles between mostly techno, pop and funk on one side, and strictly Latin on the other.

Planning your Costa Rica tour or customized vacation can be overwhelming, contact a professional for expert Costa Rica Travel advice and vacation planning. Your Costa Rica vacation will be customized to your personal preferences to determine which resort and itinerary is perfect for you.

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