Every year more than a million visitors come to Costa Rica looking for a taste of exotic beauty and a glimpse of truly wild nature-and few leave disappointed.
Costa Rica, named by Columbus for its rich coasts, has plenty to see. Within the borders, are more than one-twentieth of all the plant and animal species on Earth.
Set in the cool mountains of the Central Valley, Costa Rica's capital , San Jose, is home to about a third of the country's population. This includes a sizeable American expatriate community, and five star hotels, convention centers, gourmet restaurants and upscale boutiques. Several museums offer treasures not seen anywhere else.
It's not hard to see why this tiny country has become the heart of Central America's eco tourism boom: vast and primitive rainforests, beautiful and unspoiled beaches with warm and friendly people everywhere.
With nearly 30% of its territory under government protection and 5% of the plant and animal species in the world, Costa Rica's natural resources are enough to ensure outdoors loving clients more than their money's worth. Costa Rica has worked hard to develop its reputation as an ecotourism destination, and is a small peaceful country with a solid democracy, health care and social security system.
Currency and currency exchange
The national currency in Costa Rica is the Colon and the exchange rate of the colon floats in relation with the US dollar and is currently approximately 475 Colones to $1USD. US dollars are readily accepted at restaurants, hotels and most stores. Credit cards are also accepted in restaurants and hotels. You will find US dollars ($1 and $5's) to be very useful. Please note, it is illegal to exchange US dollars for Colones anywhere but in the national banks and hotels.
Health Requirements
While you are not required to have any inoculations or vaccinations for your trip to Costa Rica, it is a good idea to ensure that your tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster is up to date.
Your biggest concern will be over exposure to the sun. Take it in small doses at first and remember to use sunblock 15 or higher at all times. For best protection, "slip ,slap, slop"(slip on a shirt, slap on a hat, slop on the sunscreen) is a good motto to follow.
Electricity
The electricity in Costa Rica is the standard 110 volts and 60 cycles, just as it is in Canada. Most outlets are two-pronged.
Time Zone
Costa Rica is one hour behind the time zone currently in Ontario.
Climate
Located just 10 degrees north of the Equator, Costa Rica enjoys the advantages of the perfect tropical climate. The average temperature is 22C in the highlands and vary from mid 20 to low 30 in the lowlands. All year long the conditions are pleasantly moderate with a rainy season from June to early November and a dry season from December to May.
Food and Drink
Costa Rican food is good and healthful with chicken and pork being the usual meat dishes and fish being available less frequently. You will have "beans and rice" served at almost every meal. All kinds of delicious tropical fruits are available along with juices. Before using water from taps, please check with your local guide as to its purity. Bottled water is available at the hotels and may be purchased very reasonably from stores while travelling.
Shopping
Costa Rican coffee, rum and liqueurs, arts and crafts, some jewelry, postcards, maps, posters, T-shirts, and other articles of clothing are items to look for. Your local guide can advise you as to places to purchase handicrafts.
Clothing
The dress for this tour is informal, so lightweight, casual clothes are appropriate. Cotton, short sleeved(long sleeve if sensitive to the sun) shirts, shorts or long cotton pants when in the forested areas and trails, light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings and a bathing suit to swim in the ocean, swimming pools and hot springs. It is also advisable to carry a poncho or umbrella for the rain/cloud forests. Running shoes with good solid grip, along with cotton socks, are the most versatile and comfortable footwear for this trip. Please note, some pathways on our walks may be muddy after rain.
You may also wish to carry a small backpack. This is useful in carrying your bottled water, film, snacks, etc on your daily excursions. Also, you will have many opportunities to observe birds, wildlife and landscapes, so a small pair of binoculars will greatly increase your enjoyment.
We suggest you also bring a good repellant, as insects will be present in moist areas, particularly during evening hours. A small bottle of hand sanitizer to use when soap and water are not readily available is also advised.
Equipment
If you are taking expensive cameras or video equipment, we suggest you make a list of the items, including description, serial and model numbers. It is a good practice to have them registered with Canada Customs so that you will not experience problems bringing them back to Canada. In case of loss or theft, we strongly urge you to ensure that your household insurance policies cover these items.
Costa Rica by the Numbers
Capital-San Jose
Population-3,834,934
Currency-Colon
Size-19,929 square miles
No army since 1949
Volcanoes-112 craters
Elevations from sea level to 12,529 feet
10,000 species of plants, 1,200 species of orchids, 209 species of mammals, 850 species of birds and 160 species of amphibians.
|
|
