COSTA RICA
ALTITUDE
The highest peak of the mountain range crossing the country is the Cerro Chirripó reaching up to 3820 meters high.
BEVERAGES
Fruit juices are excellent. You can also find lager beers. Coffee from Costa Rica is considered to be one of the best in the world! Drink purified water.
CREDITS CARDS
International credit cards are generally accepted especially VISA. You can withdraw cash from ATMs, although you have to be vigilant and careful.
WEATHER
Tropical climate with a dryer season from December to April and a season with more rains during the rest of the months. It is warmer on the coast than in higher elevations. The capital San José is located at an altitude of 1200 meters and the weather average spring temperatures.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2023
- 1 January: New Year’s Day
- 6 to 9 April: Easter
- 11 April: Juan Santamaria Day
- 1 May: Labour Day
- 25 July: Annexation of the Party of Nicoya
- 2 August: Day of Our Lady of Los Angeles
- 15 August: Ascension of the Virgin
- 3 September: Afro-Costa Rican Culture Day
- 15 September: Independence Day
- 1 December: Day of the Abolition of the Army
- 25 December: Christmas
ELECTRICITY
110 volts outlets, flat blade plugs. Please bring a plug adapter. Computers and cell phones have an internal transformer, therefore, you will only need a plug adapter.
CURRENT TIME
7 hours less than in France during the winter and 8 hours less during summer time. When it is 16h00 in France, it is 9h00 during winter time and 8h00 during summer time in Costa Rica.
WEB ACCESS
WIFI connections are often free in the hotels.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Spanish. But, English is spoken in many places, particularly in hotels.
CURRENCY & EXCHANGE
The national currency is the Colon. 1 EURO/USD is worth about 650 Colones.
It is recommended to bring small US dollar bills or travelers checks in US dollars, since Euros are not generally accepted.
TIPS
If service is included, we recommend to leave a tip to thank for the service. Otherwise, it is recommended to leave a 10% tip of the value of the beverage.
HEALTH
No vaccination is mandatory to enter Costa Rica. We recommend to drink mineral water and be careful to what you swallow. Do not forget to take with you all medication you need if you are following a specific treatment. Get protection for mosquito bites. Please consult with your private doctor before traveling.
SAFETY
No safety issue. Respect the basic security rules and be more vigilant in San José.
HOW TO DRESS?
Casual outfit and comfortable shoes to visit. Plan to bring light clothes and warmer clothes to wear in case the temperature is cooler in high elevations.
Plan to bring a light raincoat. We recommend: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
