Costa Rica Information to Know Before You Travel

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica then you probably already know the basics, but if you don’t then you need to. The main Costa Rica information you need to know is the climate and the money. Because as we all know, you want to be able to spend time on the beach and spend your money on the many available shopping venues and stores located in this beautiful retreat.

The climate is very tropical. The seasons don’t change so much as the rain amounts do. If you are going from May to November then you need to be prepared because this is the rainy season. Have an umbrella with you at all times, or be prepared to be soaked. From December to April you don’t have to worry about it as much, but you still may want to bring a rain jacket with you just in case. All in all, enjoy the warm weather and pleasant breezes

When it comes to Costa Rica information about spending money, you want to be fully prepared. They do not use American dollars, they use Colones. Costa Rica information sties list several reasons that you should not plan on using dollars as your form of currency. The main reason is that just aren’t accepted. It is just as if a person from France came to the United States. He wouldn’t assume he could use his Francs here right? So don’t assume you can use your dollars everywhere either. Only the tourist havens accept them, and those are the places you should generally avoid when looking for a realistic picture of what Costa Rica is really like.

Another reason that Costa Rica information sites say to avoid using dollars is that anywhere you be allowed to use dollars are way overcharging you to begin with. They are there mainly to get your money, and not to sell you some of the most beautiful ceramic, paintings, and other works of art that Costa Rica is known for. Don’t fall for the tourist trap and pay $100.00 American dollars when you can pay far less in Colones. Take what Costa Rica information you do know and go off the beaten track to find some of the most superb and country specific items that they are selling. Use your hard earned money to enjoy some of the stores found outside of the tourist traps. That is where you will get the real deals.

When it comes to visiting a country that you are not familiar with, it is wise to plan out your trip by checking many of the Costa Rica information sites online. That way when you get there you won’t miss something that you truly wanted to see. Also, you won’t be stuck doing what every other tourist is doing. Be bold, and enjoy the real Costa Rica, not the tourist destination. You will find some of the most beautiful geography, people, and land that the country has to offer, and that is what you are taking the vacation to see.

Costa Rica Information that is Off the Beaten Path

Many people who visit Costa Rica simply go to hang out on the beach. That is fine, but if you are more an adventurous person then you may consider doing something that according to most Costa Rica information sites is a little off the beaten path. You don’t want to spend your whole time with other people from your own country. You want to get to know the beautiful country of Costa Rica, not just sit on a beach in San Jose.

A great piece of Costa Rica information is to go to Manzanillo which is just a short drive from Puerto Viejo. This is located on the Caribbean side of the country where you can drive to the end of the town towards the South. With a dirt road that continues to the beach you can also take a chance of visiting the rainforest which is amazing in itself. The trail that you drive on weaves in and out and really gives you an amazing view of the countryside. There you can find many of the deserted beaches that you have only seen in pictures, which are pretty much free of the many tourists. Also, this is your chance to see some wildlife that isn’t behind cages in your local zoo. Get out and hike a bit to really take in the beauty of it all.

Here’s a little tidbit of Costa Rica information; Costa Rica has a gigantic amount of butterflies. These aren’t your ordinary garden type of butterflies either; they have almost 5000 different types. You can see them on your hike or drive to Manzanillo, especially if you stop on a trail through the rain forest. If you aren’t up for hiking through the rain forest then you may want to consider some of the more tourist friendly butterfly zoos which have all the latest and biggest variety of butterflies to show off. One of the best in the country is The Monteverde Butterfly Garden. With innumerable varieties both you and your children will be stunned at their splendor.

One last bit of Costa Rica Information that you should remember for the off the beaten path type of vacation is to visit some of the beaches on the outskirts of the tourist areas. Try to take a tour of Costa Rica. The Playa Espadilla Sur Beach is not only known for its wonderful soft sand and warm water but you also have excellent views of the ocean once you reach the lookout points. The walk to the lookout point takes you right through the forest where you are bound to see many of the monkeys that play around in the trees. You can also hope to catch a glimpse of the three toed sloth that makes its home there. Just watch out for the lizards that may jump on you from the trees!

If you follow any of the above listed Costa Rica information then you can guarantee yourself one of the most amazing and gorgeous Costa Rican vacations ever. You won’t regret it.

The Cost of Moving to Costa Rica

Has it always been a dream of yours to relocate to someplace that is tropical and warm? Costa Rica is one of the places that come to mind right off the bat when you think about warm climates, sun and beautiful beaches. But it is important to obtain as much Costa Rica information as you can before deciding whether or not to settle down on this stunning island, because you may be surprised about how different things are.

If you have never had the chance to travel to Costa Rica before in the past, you may not really know what you are in for. This is why it is so important to research Costa Rica information before you make any concrete plans. You can even try a Costa Rica tour. You are bound to find a lot of information on the subject of Costa Rica, and it would benefit you to read as many websites, books and guides on the subject as you can. If you are still lacking information that you need, check out the Association of Residents of Costa Rica or ARCR which has an incredible forum which allows posters to ask and answer questions regarding living in Costa Rica. The information provided in these forums will be a huge help, and you will probably feel a lot more informed when you are done reading everything contained within the entries.

Make a list of the things that you absolutely must bring with you, and find out what it will cost to have them shipped to Costa Rica. If you cannot handle the cost, find out what items can be replaced once you arrive in Costa Rica, and you may end up saving some serious money. Cars for example, are quite expensive to import into Costa Rica, and you may end up paying more than fifty percent of the cost of the car just to import it and not including shipping fees. Prices are pretty much just as nasty for big screen televisions, stereos, appliances and much more. You can save yourself some serious money by leaving these items behind and either purchasing them again for yourself in Costa Rica, or simply doing without them when you realize how unnecessary they really are.

When people relocate to Costa Rica, they are able to purchase many of their favorite possessions again, often for much cheaper than they originally bought them for. You can definitely live with the products that you buy in Costa Rica, and it will save you the fees associated with trying to import all of your worldly belongings into the stunning island country of Costa Rica. If you plan on moving to Costa Rica, or are at least considering it, good luck! Costa Rica is truly an island paradise and you will surely be happy living there.

Requirements for Costa Rica Travel

More than a million people are traveling to Costa Rica every single year. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica for business, pleasure or a combination of both, you should be aware that there are requirements that you, if traveling internationally, must follow before you visit Costa Rica. In order to obtain the Costa Rica information that you need, you should contact either the Costa Rican consulate or the Costa Rican embassy as far in advance as you can, to make sure you are prepared for the trip ahead of time and have met all of the requirements.

Travelers to Costa Rica who are coming from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom can travel to Costa Rica without a visa as long as they have a passport which is valid. If you are traveling using your passport without a visa, then you should know that your passport has to be valid for at least six months beyond whatever period of time you wish to stay. Passports used by United Kingdom nationals must be endorsed either with 'British Citizen', 'British Overseas Territory Citizen', or 'British Overseas National' in order for them to be valid. If you were not aware of this Costa Rica information, you may end up trapped at the airport and unable to enjoy everything that Costa Rica has to offer.

Travelers from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and South Africa can stay in Costa Rica for as many as thirty days without having a visa. They must apply for an extension of stay if they stay longer than these initial thirty days. If you are a citizen of another country and not sure which Costa Rica information to pay attention to, your best bet is actually to contact the Costa Rican embassy or consulate directly in order to verify whether one will need a visa or not for travel to Costa Rica.

There is more Costa Rica information that you should know before you travel. For example, you must have an onward or return ticket. If you overstay your visa or your entry stamp, you have to pay a fee of around $45 in order to obtain an exit visa, which is required from the Immigration Department if you plan on staying for more than thirty days. Shorter stays of thirty days or less do not require an exit permit, as long as the traveler is holding a disembarkation card. There is an airport departure tax which all travelers must pay, either through the airport or a travel agent.

If a child is traveling but is traveling alone or without one or both of his or her lawful parents, then it is necessary to produce documents to show the child's relationship to any accompanying travelers. If pets are traveling, health certificates are required to be issued through a licensed veterinarian at least two weeks before the date of travel. All animals who travel to Costa Rica are required to be tested and vaccinated for distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, rabies and hepatitis.

Here is a piece of Costa Rica information that many people are not aware of: When you are in Costa Rica, it is necessary for you to always carry a copy of all of your travel documents, if you want to avoid inconveniences which can come quite unexpectedly. If your passport is lost during travel to Costa Rica, you must immediately contact the embassy or consulate for your country so that you can obtain a replacement passport within twenty four hours.

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Nature Travel in Costa Rica

Do you want to see the best of nature in Costa Rica? The only way to make sure that you get the best out of your Costa Rica vacation is to obtain as much Costa Rica information as you can beforehand. An informed vacationer is someone who enjoys every aspect of their trip. Are you looking for the best of nature in Costa Rica? Your first stop should be to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, which is a stunning rain forest housing more than one hundred different species of mammals. In the Monteverde rain forest you will find more than five different feline species, more than five hundred different birds, and thousands of different insects and plants which you will not find anywhere else in the entire world. If you are looking for Costa Rica information relating to thrilling experiences that can be had on your vacation, then you should know that you can take sky tours directly over the rain forest canopy, allowing you to get an amazing view of this incredible rain forest. Another stellar rain forest worth visiting is the Children's Rain Forest, which offers unrivaled opportunities for incredible bird watching outings, and you may even be able to see a sloth amongst the trees.

When obtaining Costa Rica information for traveling and vacations, it would do you well to look into nature travel tours in Costa Rica. These amazing tours are the choice of many tourists who are interested in getting an extremely close up look at the entire collection of flora and fauna that is offered by this incredible Central American country. Tourists flock from all over the country in order to book tours through both online and offline companies. These companies are in charge of making all of the reservations and providing all of the Costa Rica information that you need in order to have the best possible Costa Rica vacation.

When you book a nature tour like this, the only reservations you have to take care of are the flight reservations which are not included in the package. All of the other accommodations that you need for your Costa Rica vacation will be included in the cost of the tour. All-inclusive versions of these natural Costa Rica information tours tend to come with the meals and drinks that you need included as well.

If you do not want to take a structured tour, you can also consider flying to Costa Rica alone, relying upon your Costa Rica information to book individual nature travel tours. There are all kinds of different excursions for one or two day trips. Make sure that your reservations are made in advance if you are planning to travel during tourist season, which stretches from May until November. Tourist season is the biggest time of the year for Costa Rica, so book the amenities and accommodations that you want before they are no longer available to you.

Honeymoon in Costa Rica

Are you planning your wedding, and trying to decide where to travel for your honey moon? If you are short on ideas for travel destinations, you should know that Costa Rica is an outstanding travel destination, especially newlywed couples who want to spend some incredible time together on the beach, under the sun. If you are interested in enjoying your honeymoon in Costa Rica, you should be aware of the fact that the best way to make your travel arrangements is to do so as quickly as you can. Costa Rica, after all, is a top destination for honeymoons and there is a chance you will miss out on some great accommodations if you do not make your travel arrangements in advance.

When it comes to making the arrangements for your Costa Rica travel, by consulting Costa Rica information in books or online you will find that there are a number of ordered steps which should be taken if you want to make the best of your Costa Rica honeymoon. The first and most important step for you to take is to decide what date or what dates you want to travel on. All of the Costa Rica information that you find will warn you that booking your accommodations, activities and travel reservations ahead of time, and the way to do that is to first settle upon a travel date. As soon as you have decided when to travel to Costa Rica and how long to visit, the rest of your planning will center on where to stay and what to do while visiting the amazing island.

Before you book your overnight accommodations in the form of hotels or resorts, most Costa Rica information actually dictates that you should first plan out your honeymoon activities, because most reservations and accommodations can be booked in package form, allowing you to combine your favorite activities with a nearby hotel that offers the services and amenities that you need. For example, are you interested in rafting, boating or hiking while on your Costa Rica honeymoon vacation? There are plenty of adventure packages which combine overnight accommodations with adventure tours, allowing you to combine several of the parts of your honeymoon vacation together.

There are a number of factors that you should take into consideration, so begin by gathering as much Costa Rica information as you can before deciding upon anything concrete. There are so many tour packages available for trips to Costa Rica, that without a little bit of research you will never be able to see all of your options before choosing something. Using a Costa Rica tour package, while some of your honeymoon time will be guided, you will still have plenty of time for yourselves, and to make your own plans. So even if you reserve a tour package, you may want to consult Costa Rica information to make plans for other activities and attractions which can be enjoyed in the area.

By traveling to Costa Rica, you are sure to enjoy your honeymoon immensely. You should consult Costa Rica information to make the best of your honeymoon vacation to Costa Rica.

Visit Costa Rica

Costa Rica is officially known as the Republic of Costa Rica, which means ‘rich coast’. Costa Rica was the first country to remove its army constitutionally. The capital city of Costa Rica is San Jose, which is also the largest city there. The official language is Spanish. Costa Rica is a country located in Central America and borders Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

You can expect to see everything from rainforests to volcanoes in Costa Rica, as it has a very tropical climate. It is a beautiful country with many exotic animals, and the people of Costa Rica are known to be very friendly and laid back. The people of Costa Rica believe in “Pure Life”, representing the idea of a calm and peaceful life with appreciation for family, nature, and friends. There are many well preserved parks in Costa Rica and a wide variety of exotic wildlife.

With the warm weather in Costa Rica, you can enjoy some white water rafting or wind surfing. You can also SCUBA dive, snorkel, or go deep sea fishing. The Arenal Volcano National Park is famous for its nighttime displays of lava and is located above a lake. It can be heard rumbling quite often. There is also Costa Rica’s highest volcano, the Irazu Volcano at a height of 11,260 feet. Although it has not erupted since March 19th in 1963, it is still considered to be active. It is an amazing site along with the rocky cliffs that surround it.

Interested in doing something different? Tours of Costa Rica are among some of the most exciting, thrilling and varied tours in the world. Costa Rica also offers canopy tours and coffee tours. Before the large influx of tourism in Costa Rica, coffee products were an important and major part of its economy. There are also many beautiful hot springs, waterfalls and beaches situated throughout Costa Rica. Hotels in Costa Rica are available to accommodate all types of travelers.

The economy of Costa Rica has been expanding, mostly due to government investments in the high tech industry. Those who are willing to invest in the country are offered tax exemptions by the government, an attractive incentive. The primary industries that run Costa Rica include pharmacy, financial outsourcing, software development and ecotourism. Because most residents of Costa Rica achieve a high level of education, it is an attractive location for investors.

Major companies such as Intel and GlaxoSmithKline have already made investments in the area. As of 2005 Costa Rica had a government deficit standing at 2.1% with increases in tourism and exports. It is expected to continue in growth despite high inflation. Costa Rica’s currency is the colon which is worth approximately 518 against the American dollar and 675 against the euro.
Religion in Costa Rica is dominantly Christian, with 92% of the people following Christianity. There are also small numbers of people who are of Protestant, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu faith.

There is no better country to visit than Costa Rica when you want to go on vacation and escape the pressures of life. Be sure to check out the many natural sites and attractions that are available as well as great Costa Rica casinos.

Living in Costa Rica

Are you thinking about moving to Costa Rica? Costa Rica is an incredibly popular destination, but before you pack your bags you should get to know the island a little. Costa Rica is actually officially regarded as the 'Republic of Costa Rica', and is the first country in all of Central America which constitutionally abolished their military. Costa Rica truly has been blessed when it comes to flora and fauna, with the greatest selection of plant and animal species in the entire world. Costa Rica's climate is beautiful and tropical, with stunning beaches and gorgeous rainforests which attract plenty of attention from people who are looking for someplace unique to retire.

Costa Rica may be regarded as a great place to relax, but there is much more to this island than simply a warm and sunny vacation destination. Life in Costa Rica is not always easy, especially for those who actually live there. Costa Rica is often called the most expensive of all countries located in Central America, which is a surprise considering it is also the second smallest of all countries within the region. The economy in Costa Rica may be stable, but the average salary is considerably low. Although it may be possible to survive with a budget of around $1000 per month, this typically means that a couple will rent a small house, use the bus system for transportation and will avoid making any indulging purchases. Local goods in Costa Rica tend to be inexpensive, but you should prepare to spend quite a bit on imported goods which tend to cost significantly more.

Another thing that many people do not realize is that purchasing a car on the island of Costa Rica is actually considered to be a luxury. In Costa Rica, the parts that cars need are typically expensive and difficult to find. Luckily however, labor costs for mechanics tend to be cheaper than what you would find in the United States or elsewhere. Importing a car is an option, but not actually a good one because the fees involved are enormous.

The cost for merchandise and transportation may be a might expensive in Costa Rica, but the community and its friendly people more than make up for the costs involved with living here. Labor is typically inexpensive in Costa Rica on a general level, so it becomes much more affordable to hire a gardener or a maid.

Do not let yourself be discouraged by the bad reviews you read about the country, because a lower cost of living is not a good enough reason to choose another country over Costa Rica. The costs may be higher in Costa Rica, but the quality of life is unrivaled. If you are looking for an amazing country to settle down in, with a stunning climate, beautiful beaches and unique rainforests, then you will never find a country quite as amazing as Costa Rica. The higher cost of living is definitely worth it, if you consider the amazing benefits of retiring in a community like that which Costa Rica offers.