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Costa Rica Travel & Tourism Information
No customs duties are charged on personal luggage, which includes a series of items for personal, professional, non-commercial use. Costa Rican laws require checked luggage to be screened and travelers to fill out customs declarations declaring the value of any item in their possession, including fruits, vegetables, meat and by- products, biological products such as vaccinations, serums, etc. The head of a family may make a joint declaration for all members residing in the same household and traveling together to Costa Rica. Travel Tips and Information By Instituto de Turismo http://www.visitcostarica.com Entry Requirements Citizens holding valid passports from the following countries are permitted to stay in Costa Rica for 90 days without a visa:
Questions about Costa Rica How to get to Costa Rica Costa Rica is already a well known tourism destination, especially for nature lovers and people seeking for no crowded beaches and wonderful nature. In every Travel Agency in the world or airline office they will know- how to fly to Costa Rica. There are now 2 International Airports, one located in the center of the country near the capital San Jose and another one located in Liberia, the north pacific coast Guanacaste and home to some of the best beaches, national parks and volcanoes there are in the country. Both are known worldwide. Some of the airlines that are currently flying into Costa Rica are AIR MADRID - IBERIA - ALITALIA -TH0MAS COOK - MARTINAIR - AMERICAN - CONTINENTAL - DELTA - UNITED - GRUPO TACA - CUBANA - MEXICANA - COPA Tipping The Tips in service personnel is already included in a 10 % Service Tax that the staff receives at the end of the day. However, usually you can still tip extra on that. It depends on whether the service was good or bad. However, the people are not expecting a tip from you like in other countries. Electricity Costa Rica`s electricity is 110 Volts There are several ways to move around in Costa Rica Car Rentals - best way to move around and save time Semi Private and Private Mini - Van - You can also hire a Private Guide - Driver Mini - Van to travel around and visit the destinations you want. Also there is a Semi - Private Mini - Van network connecting almost any destination in Costa Rica. Here, you will not have the car at your service, but it is still saver and faster than the public bus. Plane - If you want to reach a destination faster, there are several airlines ( local ) that combine many destinations in Costa Rica. The important thing is that you will miss the sightseeing you could have on the ground. Also, there are some destinations only can to be reach by plane or boat. Public Buses - There is a large network of public buses in the country. However, you loose much time by traveling in public buses. They are safe and connect the whole country. In almost all the cases, there are direct buses, so you will have to switch buses from town to town. How can I pay in Costa Rica The local coin and currency is the Colon ¢. The major credit cars are accepted: VISA - MASTER CARD - AMERICAN EXPRESS. Also, almost in any place you can still pay in U$ Dollars. Additionally at hotels or banks, you will be able to change currency. If you do so, we recommend you to not change too many dollars $ into colones ¢ since at the end of your trip, you might still have some colones left and you would have to change them back. Banks There are many public and private banks with offices around all over the country. The opening hours it could vary with bank but currently offer services from MONDAY to FRIDAY from 08:30 - 18:00 P.M. Many of them open on Saturday and Sunday on Special Schedules. Here you are able to change dollars, make questions and make and receive wires. Food and meals The costarican cuisine is very simple. However, nowadays you basically find all kinds of international restaurants or specialized restaurants from all over the world. Also, in the hotels and tourist places, the menu is very rich, so there is not need of worrying about where to out for dinner. Water Water in Costa Rica is very clean. But still, we recommend you to buy bottled water at any store or supermarket for the length of your stay in Costa Rica. Medical assistance and hospitals There are many clinics, hospitals and medical center throughout the country. Most of the staff speak english and they are extremely helpful and will take care of you very good. Also, Costa Rica is a pioneer in medical services in Latin America, so the quality of services is excellent. More Info about Costa Rica |