A
Addresses
In most places the names of the towns are mentioned on the signs. In the cities it can be difficult to find street signs, and in the villages there are hardly any street signs. Costa Ricans themselves often use signs of recognition to show you the way: “from the Shell gas station 300 meters north; then 200 west and at the blue garage on the corner” is a very normal “route description”.

Bigger cities do have streets: an Avenida goes west-east, a Calle goes north-south. From the central point (Avenida Central and Calle Central) the streets are numbered: the odd Calles to the east of the Calle Central, the even Calles on the west side. The odd Avenidas are on the north side of the Avenida Central, the even Avenidas on the south side. It seems difficult, but as long as you keep counting you will find your way.

Art & Artisans
Traditional Costa Rican artisans in Guaitíl hand made Chorotega pottery while you watch, and the wood carvers of Sarchí transform rainforest hardwoods into every imaginable shape. Drums, baskets, textiles, and pre-Columbian reproductions are just a few of the things you’ll want to take home with you.

B
Bars & Nightclubs
Not surprisingly, bars and clubs are concentrated around the beach areas where people come to relax and unwind. DJ´s and live music keep the dance floors hopping in Manuel Antonio, Jacó, Tamarindo and Flamingo. In the central valley, San José has lively nightlife. In the laid back town of Montezuma the people keep it going until the early morning.

Bats
Of the more than 200 Costa Rican Mammal species, 50% are bats. Many lowland open areas have small bats swooping around at dusk, catching insects. Larger bats eat fish, fruit, or small animals, and others drink flower nectar or animal blood. Unusual among bats, vampires are agile on the ground and can hop, run and crawl toward their prey, which consists of birds and mammals, though cattle are preferred. Razor-sharp incisors make a small cut on the prey, and the flowing blood is licked up, not sucked.

Beaches
The playas of Costa Rica are rightly famous. They range from miles of deserted golden sand complete with overhanging palms and waterfalls dropping nearly directly into the surf in Corcovado, to the relaxed reggae backdrop of the black sand of the Caribbean and the resort areas of the Nicoya Peninsula. Water temperatures are ideal year round, and the weather almost always cooperates for a perfect days.

Bicycling
Mountain bikes are a great way to explore the forests, especially if you arrange for a vehicle to take you to the top and spend all day cruising down hill.
Touring Costa Rica by bicycle is tough but spectacular. Outside San José Ticos respect cyclists and give you a wide berth on rural roads, often shouting encouragement when you’re struggling up particularly steep sections.
Road racing is a popular sport in Costa Rica, where not surprisingly the leading riders are climbers. The race over Cerro de la Muerte in December is the highlight of the season.

Birding
Botaurus pinnatus, Tigrisoma fasciatum, Tigrisoma mexicanum, Egretta thula, Egretta caerulea, Agamia agami, Cochlearius cochlearius- and that’s just the most common Aredeidae. Avid birders know that Costa Rica is one of the top spots in the world, but you don’t have to spend hours with binoculars glued to your eyes to see fascinating bird life in Costa Rica.

Bull Fights
Corridas de Toros, is something of a misnomer, because Costa Rican bull fights have little in common with the blood sport of Spain and Mexico. Riders challenge the bulls first, and when they are thrown light-footed “matadors” take over distracting and tiring the bull with their cape. Finally cowboys on pirouetting horses rope the bull and lead it from the ring. No blood is drawn.
There is a grand arena in San José but the highest quality is found in the small town’s rings where fights are held during their Fiestas de el Patron.

Butterfly Gardens
Large domes created from nearly transparent netting concentrate hundreds of species of butterflies in gardens of their favorite flowers and fruits. You’ll see them fluttering in the wild, but the gardens also often provide educational materials and guides.

C
Canopy Tours
There are now dozens of places that you can explore the forest canopy. Canopy tours come in two general classes, adventure/entertainment & experience/education. Although there is some overlap you’ll want to choose one that emphasizes your expectations.

Adventure & entertainment canopy tours often have little to do with the rainforest canopy and are more akin to an amusement park ride than a tour. Comprised of zip-lines, and rappels the thrill is the attraction. Zip-lines are cables that descend from the treetops, or one side of a ravine to the other. Riders wear climbing harnesses and ascend to the start of the ride on ladders, then clip onto a pulley and rocket down the cable. Rappelling is a vertical descent on a climbing rope.

The goal of experience & education based canopy tours is spending time in the rain or cloud forest canopy, exploring this unique environment. These tours also sometimes utilize rock climbing gear and techniques in addition to ladders, bridges, and chairlifts or gondolas.

Car rental
To rent a car in Costa Rica you must be over 21, and have a valid driver`s license. Some agencies require a minimum age of 25 years. Visits of over three months need a domestic driver`s license. A 4WD vehicle is needed for rural areas, where high ground clearance and extra traction are called for.

Caves
There are two main areas of caves that are open to cavers in Costa Rica, Barra Honda National Park on the Nicoya Peninsula, and Venado caverns often visited on day trips from Arenal.

Children and traveling
Foreigners traveling with children will meet here with extra, generally friendly, attention and interest. Costa Ricans love children. Children pay full fare on buses if they occupy a seat, but often ride for free if they sit on a parent’s knee. Children under 12 pay a discounted fare (variable) on domestic airline flights and get a seat, while infants under two pay 10% of the fare but don’t get a seat. Children’s car seats are not always available in Costa Rican car rental agencies, so bring one if you plan on driving. While ‘kids’ meals’ (small portions at small prices) are not normally offered in restaurants, it is perfectly acceptable to order a meal to split between two children or an adult and a child.

Coffee Tours
Consentrated in the Central Valley there are several coffee farms and processing stations that offer tours. The best known is Café Britt, but there is a great number of other coffe farms also worth a visit.

D
Departure tax
When you leave Costa Rica, you will have to pay a tax of $26 (before checking in). You can pay it in Costa Rican colones, American dollars or with Visa.

Deep Sea Fishing
Blue water is close to shore, and the billfish are world class. Charters and excursions are widely available on both coasts. Shore casting is popular and productive as well. Pacific snook, jacks, corvina, and Spanish mackerel are around when you see the locals wetting their lines.

Disabled travelers
Although there is an Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons Law, its provisions are much less strict than those of similar laws in first world countries. Still, it is a small move in the right direction for disabled people. Independent travel is difficult for disabled people. Very few hotels and restaurants, except for the newest, have features specifically suited to wheelchair use. Many don’t even have the basic minimum of the wheelchair ramp and room or bathroom doors wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. Special phones for hearing impaired people or signs in Braille for blind people are very rare.
Outside the buildings, streets and sidewalks are potholed and poorly paved, often making wheelchair use frustrating at best. Public buses don’t have provisions to carry wheelchairs.
Most National Parks and outdoor tourist attractions have trails not suited to wheelchair use. Notable exceptions include Volcán Poás, which has a wheelchair-accessible path up to the crater viewing area, and the Rainforest Aerial Tram.

Diving, Scuba
Costa Rica, the rich coast offers a number of excellent dive sites. The unique open water experience that Costa Rica can offer is mainly off the Pacific coast where you can see large marine life (like turtles sting rays, hammerhead, white tip and massive nurse sharks, as well as humpback and pilot whales in season).Several of Costa Rica’s National Parks have extensive marine regions including Cahuita, Marino Las Baulas, Marino Ballena, and Manuel Antonio. The Caño Island biological reserve off the coast of Corcovado National Park is a favorite destination of divers.
Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco shares many similarities with the better known Galapagos Islands and is often packaged with dive trips there.

Drinking water
In general the advise is to be careful with drinking water from the taps. You can buy clean water in bottles everywhere.

E
Earthquakes
It comes as no surprise that Costa Rica, with its mountain chains of active volcanoes, should be earthquake prone. Recent major quakes occurred on March 25th 1990 (7.1 on the Richer scale), and on April 22nd 1991 (7.4 on the Richter scale, killing over 50 people in Costa Rica and about 30 more in Panama). Smaller quakes and tremors happen quite often. If you are caught in a quake, make sure you are not standing under heavy objects that could fall and injure you. The best places to take shelter if you are in a building are in a doorframe or under a sturdy table.

Economy
Tourism, computer chips, coffee, bananas, ornamental plants, flowers, seafood, pineapples, pharmaceutical products, textiles, clothing, tires, electricity, and furniture produce most of Costa Rica’s revenues.

Education
About 20% of the national budget goes toward education. With the highest literacy rate in Latin America (95.2% of the population aged 10 and over according to a census in 2000) and compulsory education going through ninth grade (age 14), the education system appears to be in good shape. Appearances can be deceptive, however, and there are certainly problems that don’t show up in the official picture.
A Ministry of Public Education study, reported in the Costa Rican press in mid-1996, indicates that there are six times more dropouts from secondary school than there are students in the ninth grade – the final year of legally mandated study. This is blamed on various factors, including the need for conveniently located secondary schools, lack of student interest, lack of encouragement from parents, and the desire to enter the work force.

Electricity
Electricity is 110 Volts in Costa Rica. Electric plug details: American style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin, or a Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades.

Emergencies
The general emergency number is 911 available throughout the country. In major cities, 911 may be staffed by English speaking operators. Dialing 911 enables you to connect with medical, ambulance, police and fire services.

Endangered species
According to INBio, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) reports that Costa Rica is home to many threatened and endangered species, including 16 bird species, 13 mammal species, 8 reptile species, 2 amphibians, and dozens of plants. These are the most extremely endangered cases. In addition, Costa Rica laws passed in 1992 protect many more species from hunting, capturing, or trafficking. Locally 87 birds, 27 mammals, 36 amphibians, 16 reptiles, all species of orchids, cacti and tree ferns, and some palms are listed as endangered under Costa Rican law.

F
Fauna (the animals)
Animal life is very versatile. Below you see some numbers and highlights:
- about 865 species of birds
(quetzal, motmot, hummingbirds, vultures, toucans, parrots, trogons, kingfishers, woodpeckers and the national bird Yigüirro)
- about 150 species of amphibians
(poison dart frogs, big toads)
- about 215 species of reptiles
(snakes, lizards, iguanas, ctenosarus, crocodiles, caimans and of course turtles: leatherback turtle, olive ridley, green turtle etc.)
- more than 240 species of mammals
(sloths, monkeys, coatis, jaguars, agoutis, ant eaters, bats, raccoons)
- at least 35.000 species of insects
(morpho butterflies (spectacular big and blue), leafcutter ants and many many more…)
- sea animals
(manatees, dolphins, humpback whales, parrotfish and 130 kinds of freshwater fish)

Festivals
Especially around Christmas and Easter large numbers of Ticos travel filling hotels and buses. The exact dates of holidays and fiestas for the upcoming year are to be found on this web page.

Flora (the plants)
Because Costa Rica has so many different climate zones, there are also many types of plants. High in the mountains you will find the páramo, with a vegetation of grass and terse trees. Somewhat lower you will see the cloud forests. Monteverde is one of the best known cloud forests, but also south of San José you will find this special kind of forest. Here you can walk with your head in the clouds all day long! A large part of the green in Costa Rica is tropical forest. You will find it on both coasts. In the northern part you will find tropical dry forests, on the other hand in the southern part you will find the mangrove forests with their roots in the water.
The national flower of Costa Rica is an orchid (Guaria Morada) and the national tree is the Guanacaste (grows in the lowlands up to 900 m high), that has beautiful two-colored seeds.

Food
When you are in Costa Rica you will get it served at least once: Gallo Pinto, the national breakfast. It consists of a mix of rice and black beans with coriander, a fried egg, and fried bananas. Combined with a sea view and a lovely fruit-milkshake this is absolutely recommendable!
The taste of the bananas, pineapples, mangos and papayas is unimaginable – they ripened on the plant and that is what you taste.

Freshwater Fishing
World class tarpon and snook fishing attract anglers from all over, and other game fish include bluegill, rainbow bass (guapote), alligator gar and machaca in the rivers of Barra del Colorado and around Caño Negro.
Lake Arenal is the largest is Costa Rica, and renowned for bass fishing, and fly casting for trout isn’t the first thing that pops in mind when you hear Costa Rica, but they’re out there waiting.

Fuel stations
Costing about 462 colones per liter, gasolina is unleaded, and is called “super”. Gasolineras (gas stations) are plentiful in towns, but much scarcer in rural areas, especially in Nicoya. Refill whenever the tank drops to half-full. Gas stations are typically open 6am to midnight and are not self-service.

G
Geography
The country has three mountain chains: The Central Volcanic Cordillera, the Talamanca Cordillera, and the Guanacaste Cordillera. With the exception of the Intermountain Central Valley, the rest of the country comprises large plains situated in the north, north-west and south-west. Most of the few Costa Rican islands are situated in the Gulf of Nicoya above the Pacific Ocean. Of them, mention should be made of the Isla of Chira, an old native settlement that today has few scattered townships of farmers and stockbreeders.
There is also the Coco Island lying some 500 km off the coastline in the Pacific Ocean. The island is the furthermost possession of the country and today has been declared a National Park.

Geology
The point of impact is called a subduction zone, in which the Cocos Plate forces the edge of the Caribbean Plate to break up and become uplifted. This is not a smooth process and hence Central America is an area prone to earthquakes and volcanic activities.

Golf
The weather is nearly always perfect for a round, and the sport is gaining popularity in Costa Rica as more courses are built. The Pacific resorts are your best bet for 18.

Guided Walks
This is one of the best ways to see wildlife. Guides know the best times and places, and they see things that are invisible to untrained eyes. Besides spotting wildlife, a good guide will relate natural history, legends and lore about what you are seeing and areas that you are in.

H
Hiking
Hiking is a perfect way to explore almost any of Costa Rica’s National Parks and reserves. Trails range from paved and level to bare tracks climbing steeply through sucking mud. If you’re intent on spotting birds and wildlife an experienced local guide will lead you to the best spots, and reveal much that is invisible to untrained eyes.

Horseback Riding
Costa Rica, and especially Guanacaste Province has a strong equestrian tradition. Guided rides are common, and dozens of Ranchos and Fincas around the country offer day and overnight trips. Horses are still used as transportation as well and a jeep taxi/boat ride/horseback combination is one of the most practical and fun ways to get from Arenal Volcano to Monteverde Cloud forest reserve.

Hot springs
To sit in a steaming pool under a hot waterfall at Tabacón resort while Arenal Volcano rumbles and spits red hot lava in the background is an amazing experience. The Guide’s favorites are all more secluded though, and your only company is likely to be pollinating bats and stars overhead.

I
Internet Cafes
Although the coffee is the best you’ll ever have, you won’t want to sit in front of a computer screen for long when there are all these other things to do in Costa Rica. Internet cafes, and connections in hotel rooms are quite common, so whether you need to e-mail mom or the nanny, or download your digital photos so you can take more, you won’t have any trouble getting online.

J
Jogging and running
Running has to be Costa Rica’s 4th most popular sport. (Soccer ranks #´s 1, 2 and 3!) It would be a rare occasion not to see running enthusiasts jogging in the fresh, cool mornings in parks, back roads and country sides anywhere you go in this country.

K
Kayaking
Sea kayaking is still a small but growing activity in Costa Rica. Sea Kayaks range from inflatable toys to slim, elegant craft with foot rudders that can be paddled by one or two people and used on overnight kayaking / beach-camping trips. It’s easy enough to learn at least the basics of getting around, so this could be a good activity for beginners as well as experienced people. Kayakers can take part in expeditions up jungle rivers or around gulf islands, where they are able to glide noiselessly up to wildlife without disturbing the animals. Combining ease of learning with an enhanced chance of spotting wildlife, a coastal kayaking trip is a great experience – no wonder sea kayaking is such a growing sport. Many places along the coast rent sea kayaks, or offer guided tours.

River kayaking has been a popular sport for along time alongside river rafting. This is for the more experienced paddlers, and a great adrenaline boosting activity.

L
Language
Spanish is the official language and is the main language for the traveler. English is understood in the better hotels, airline offices, and tourist agencies as well as along much of the Caribbean coast.
Indian languages, primarily Bri Bri, Maleku (taught in Maleku-Schools, they even have an own radio-station in their language), and Cabécar are spoken in isolated areas. An estimated 18,000 people living on both sides of Cordillera de Talamanka understand these languages.
If you don’t have time to take a Spanish course, bring a phrasebook and dictionary. Don’t leave without the dictionary, because the phrasebook won’t help you translate isolated words.

Language courses
Spanish language courses are offered mainly in San José but also in Alajuela, Manuel Antonio, and a few other places on the beach and in the mountains. These are popular ways for travelers to visit the country, learn the language, and become aware of the Tico lifestyle and culture.

Location
Costa Rica is a small country in Central America. It lies pinched between Nicaragua and Panama. Its area is 51.100 km2.

M
Medical treatment
Residents are served by the state-run Instituto de Seguridad (INS) hospitals, which also provide a free emergency service to visitors. Most public hospitals are well run, albeit overcrowded, but rural clinics are often poorly equipped. Private hospitals such as Hospital Clínica Bíblica in San José conform to North American and European standards.
Farmacias or boticas (pharmacies), numerous in cities nationwide, sell medicines over the counter, including many drugs that require a prescription in the US, Canada and European countries.
The Rojo Cruz (Red Cross) has an ambulance service in major cities and tourist centers. In remote areas, you may find it quicker to take a taxi to the nearest clinic or hospital.

Money
In Costa Rica you pay with colones. 510 colones have the value of $1 (July 2006). Most banks have ATM’s. Credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted nearly everywhere. American dollars are often accepted by hotels, but not in the local shops, so take some Colones with you.

Museums
Pre Columbian, indigenous, and contemporary art, insects, natural history, philatelic, railway, printing, and jade museums are found in San José. Several of the national parks have natural history museums and interpretive centers with exhibits specific to their main attractions.

Mountain Climbing
Cerro Chirripó in Chirripó National Park is the highest peak in Costa Rica and is surrounded by several other scaleable peaks, at least eight distinct ecological zones, excellent trails, and a system of refugios. Sport climbing is becoming more popular in Costa Rica, but one of the difficulties is finding bare rock. Tropical foliage is so exhuberant it covers iven vertical surfaces.

N
National Holidays
April 11 – Día de Juan Santamaría (the national hero who in 1856 decided the battle of Rivas against William Walker)
July 25 – Día de Guanacaste (annexation of the province of Guanacaste)
September 15 – Costa Rica celebrates its independence day
Banks, public offices, and most stores and businesses are closed on Costa Rican national holidays (días feriados).

Nature & Wildlife Cruises
The rivers are like roads to the deepest parts of the rainforest and you are likely to see more wildlife from the water than from a trail. The two main destinations for river/canal/marsh cruises are Caño Negro and Tortuguero National Parks. Mangrove swamp tours are offered near Manuel Antonio and further south from Sierpe.

O
Opening hours
Shops in San José are usually open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Large US-style malls are open on Sundays, but may close on Mondays. Outside San José, many tiendas (shops) close for lunch, typically between noon and 1:30pm. Shops in many tourist areas remain open all week long, often until 9 or 10pm.
Street markets and mercados usually open around 6am and close by 2 or 3pm, although street stalls often stay open late.

P
Parks and reserves
11% of Costa Rica is national parks and reserves. Find an overview of the Costa Rican National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Biological Reserves and Wetlands on this web page.

People
Costa Ricans are very friendly people. They will always try to help you whenever they can. And they give the good example: in Costa Rica they take it easy. If we can’t get it done today, we’ll do it tomorrow! And that of course is a very good attitude for a holiday.

Population
Costa Rica has a population of 4 million people.

Pura Vida
Costa Rica’s motto: pure life! It is used as a greeting or as an answer to the question ¿Comó está? (How are you?)

Q
Quetzal
The Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is the bird the Aztecs adored, and it is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the tropics. The quetzal is a rare jewel of the bird world. Many birdwatchers travel to Costa Rica simply to catch site of this magnificent bird. What this pigeon-sized bird lacks in physical stature it makes up for in audacious plumage: vivid, shimmering green which ignites in the sunshine, flashing emerald to golden and back to iridescent green. In common with other bird species, the male outshines the female. He sports a fuzzy pink punk hairdo, a scintillating crimson belly, and two brilliant green tail plumes up to 24 inches long, edged in snowy white and sinuous as feather boas.

R
Racism
Racism is illegal in Costa Rica. In this multi ethnic democratic society you’ll find an endless variety of religions, minorities and skin-colours peacefully living and working next to each other. In the very past, the African or black population was not allowed to leave a certain area of Limón. For that reason they are more numerous there, but are equally accepted anywhere else.

Rafting & River kayaking
As you might suspect in a country covered in rain forest that rises from one ocean to 12,000 feet and drops back to sea level in the space of 70 miles, white water abounds in Costa Rica. Trips cater to all ability levels and interests.

Religion
Depending on the statistic, about 70% to 90% of Costa Rica´s population is Roman Catholic, at least in principle. In practice, many people tend to go to church only at the time of birth, marriage and death.

Rent a car
Use the service of some of the hotels that offer free transportation from the airport and have the Costa Rica rent a car company pick you up at the hotel and take you to their office or have them drop off the car at your hotel. That depends on the policy of the Rent a Car Company and your hotel, which can vary. If you are a group of more than 5 – 6 persons, think about a Mini-Bus Rental. Some Costa Rica car rental companies will bring the car anywhere you want. Depending on the distance, this service may have a cost.
The minimum age to rent-a-car in Costa Rica usually is 21. Some companies rent certain cars only to drivers over 25. If you don’t have a mayor Credit Card you can also make a cash deposit of $ 1000.00 to $1500.00.
Inspect the car you rent! When you rent a car, first there is an inspection performed about dents and scratches on the car. Please participate with this inspection, look for dents on the roof, missing gas caps, radio, antenna, cigarette lighters and hubcaps. If the car breaks down, don’t get it fixed. The Car Rental Company will get to you in a short while with another car. They will fix it or bring you another car. Don’t leave luggage in the car and always park in a secure place or have somebody watch the car while you are gone.

Reptiles, Amphibians & Serpentariums
One of the most common fears expressed about travel to Costa Rica is one of snakes, and while you’re likely to spot a number of colorful reptiles and amphibians in the wild, snakes are very shy. It’s not likely that you’ll see any unless you hire a good guide to seek them out, or get a close up look at a serpentarium.

Roads
The roads in Costa Rica are rather good. The most important road, the Interamericana (Pan American Highway), goes from the border of Nicaragua to the border of Panama. The larger part of the road has two lanes, and the maximum velocity is between 40 and 80 kms/h. But keep in mind that the weather conditions, potholes and slow trucks can lower your average velocity to 50 – 60 kms/h. The smaller roads are passable in the green season with a 4WD. Sometimes they have big potholes, so be careful and don’t drive too fast.
There are also unpaved roads: the road to Monteverde is a notorious example, and also the road along the Pacific coast (between Quepos and Dominical) is unpaved. Both roads are well passable with a 4WD. However, the road from Dominical to the South is perfectly paved; this is an example of the great diversity in the quality of the roads.

S
Sailing
Safe anchorages dot the Pacific Coast if you are bringing your own boat. If you just want to get out and feel the salt spray, a sunset cocktail cruise is a perfect way to relax after a long day of exploration, and can be arranged though many of the hotels in beach areas.

Scenic Flights
Helicopter tours are available from San José, but more likely you’ll find yourself using a small plane for transportation. Don’t pack your camera, because although your main goal might be to get from point A to point B you won’t want to miss the opportunity to snap a shot to the scenery in between from the air. Hot air ballooning is another option to experience the earth from above.

Sea Kayaking
Options range from an afternoon atop a surf kayak exploring the secluded beach around the headland from your hotel to multi-night excursions along some of the wildest regions of coast. Paddle with dolphins, whales, and turtles for a unique experience in otherwise inaccessible areas.

Shopping
Costa Rica doesn’t sport a Rodeo Drive, Fifth Avenue, or Champs Elysee but there is shopping none the less. Many of the resorts have shops, and the upscale coastal hotels sport boutiques with swimwear and beach fashions on display.
Almost every town of any size in Costa Rica has a mercado central, where in addition to produce, fruits and meat, there are booths selling everyday items. They are worth seeing before they are replaced by supermarkets and mini-malls.
Golfito near the Panamanian border is in a special commerce zone and thrives on duty free shopping. Unfortunately for travelers, it is geared mainly towards bargains on home appliances.

Snorkeling
Costa Rica is not a snorkeling and diving destination like Belize and the Caribbean Islands. Most of the best snorkeling is around some of the small islands of the Pacific coast and is easiest to access by hitching a ride on a dive boat.
On the Caribbean side, Cahuita is known for the reef that prompted establishing a National Park there. However, visibility is often poor due to the sediment carried by the runoff from nearby banana plantations, the best sites are offshore, and all but the strongest swimmers require a boat, and since an earthquake lifted part of the reef above the low tide mark it’s never quite been the same.

Surfing
With it’s huge ratio of coastline to land mass, Costa Rica is a surfers paradise. You can cross from the Pacific to the Caribbean in under an hour in a small plane, so you can chase the waves wherever they are best.

T
Telephone
Costa Rican telephone numbers have seven digits; there are no area codes.
Country code: 506
Public telephone kiosks are usually located on main city streets and in plazas in smaller communities nationwide. In remote villages, they are often found at the local pulpería (grocery store). A few public phones still accepts 5, 10, and 20 colone coins, but most require CHIP tarjeta telefónico (Phonecards). They are available in denominations of 1.000 and 2.000 colones and can be purchased at supermarkets, stores and banks. Tarjeta Colibrí 197 cards (domestic calls) and Tarjeta Viajero 199 cards (international calls) can be used with any phones, including cellular.
Ticos are large-scale users of mobile phones, although reception is erratic in many areas. generally, visitors from North America can use their mobile phones in Costa Rica. However, phones from Europe cannot always be used.

Thieves
Just as in any other country in Costa Rica you will have to keep an eye on your belongings. Never leave your bags in the rental car. Be aware of ‘tricks’ with which people distract your attention from your bags or important belongings. E.g. when people suddenly ‘by accident’ cause a big stain on your clothes (ketchup). Don’t go immediately to a washing room and never accept any help with cleaning! A few times it has happened that the tire of a rental car had been punctured, so that asking for help (distraction!) is inevitable. In that case: call the car rental service as soon as possible.
Also when you travel by bus: keep an eye on your bag and put (if possible) no bags in the luggage compartments. And if something unexpected occurs: (e.g. someone drops a handful of change money): first get a hold of your own bag!

Ticos & Ticas
Tico is a colloquial name for the natives of Costa Rica. The locals refer to themselves as tico or tica (female). The tico ideal is that of a very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people, with little worry for deadlines or the “normal” stresses like in the life we are used to.

Time
Costa Rica is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 1 hour behind New York´s Eastern Standard Time (EST), and does not have daylight saving time.

Traveling documents
To enter Costa Rica, you need a passport that is at least valid for six months after you will be back home.

Turtle Nesting
Thanks to people who are interested in watching turtles rather than eating them or their eggs, sea turtles may be making a comeback. It’s possible to see turtles nesting any time of the year, but there are definite seasons for the spectacular arribadas when hundreds come ashore in a single night to lay their eggs. Seasons are noted on the individual park pages for Marino Ballena, Tortuguero, and Marino Las Baulas National Parks.

U
Ultra light flights
There are several commercial Ultra Light Centers in Costa Rica. The standard flight is a roundtrip of about half an hour, over cattle fields, spotting Crocodiles over a nearby river or dolphins and whales in the ocean. Fly a couple meters over the waves and glide like a Pelican with the shut off engine. It is the perfect opportunity to see our beautiful paradise just like the birds do.

V
Vaccinations
Advised are vaccinations against DTP and Hepatitus A&B. Ask your local health service. There is hardly any malaria in Costa Rica.

Volcanoes
Volcán Arenal is the undisputed champion of Costa Rican volcanoes for lava flows and spectacular ejections of molten boulders and ash. A stay in one of the lodges with views of the volcano can reward you with night-time scenes of rivers of red. There are a number of trails around the volcano where you can see older, cooling flows, and the stages of regeneration as the forests reclaim the conical slopes.
Poás, Turrialba, Chato, Irazú, Miravalles, Orosí, and Rincón de la Vieja lack the flowing lava, but offer an assortment of craters, pyroclastic cones, boiling mud pots, otherworldly green and blue lakes, cloud forests, and hotsprings to explore.

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Waterfalls & River Hiking
The number of spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica reflects rainfall averages of over 20 feet a year and the sheer drops of some of the mountain ranges. Some are visible from paved roads as you travel from place to place, but others require significant effort to reach. The surest way to find a falls with a deserted swimming hole at the bottom is to start walking upstream.

Whale Watching
Marino Ballena National Park takes its name from the humpback whales that mate in its warm waters each December though April. They can often be seen from the beach, or boat tours are available from local hotels.

Windsurfing
The constantly balmy water (66 to 71 °F, 19-21 °C), average wind speeds of 24 mph (40 kph) and the exquisite setting combine to make Lake Arenal a world class destination for windsurfers. Rental equipment and lessons are available locally. Bahía Salinas in the northwest is the most popular beach location for windsurfing

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Yucca
Yucca is a vegetable that is used a lot in Costa Rica. It has the shape of a carrot, and tastes a bit like potato. If you took a potato chip and said “pimp my chip”, you’d get a yucca chip. It’s starch, crispy and crunchy.

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Zoos & Animal Rescues
The Simón Bolívar zoo in San José of course specializes in Central American species. Other small “zoos” around the country have been organized around animal rescue efforts. Zoo Ave. in Alejuela is a particularly good example; rehabilitating parrots for reintroduction into the parks and reserves of Costa Rica.