Costa Rica???????

Question

Im going to be taking a huge trip to costa rica for a month. Ive read pretty much all the pamphlets and stuff i have, but is there anything else i shoudl possibly know before going?

Answer 1

don't refer to yourself as an american

Answer 2

slow down and take it easy. lots of things to do...sport fishing is world class.

Answer 3

My husband and I went last year for an extended honeymoon. Here are a couple of tips and experiences that we had that might help.

If you rent a car - We heard many horror stories about people getting robbed by locals and the police and decided to rent a car anyway. We had so much fun driving around and had no problems. Once, there were police standing on the side of the road, waving us over. We acted as if we did not see them, as we were instructed to do before we left by a friend who goes many times a year. Unless they are following you on a motorcycle, pulling you over, you do not have to stop. Also, if you stop at a roadside soda (little roadside cafes that usually have the most amazing, ridiculously cheap food ever), make sure that you can sit at a table that has a clear view of your vehicle. Also, make sure that the gas pump is at "zero" before the attendant fills the tank or you could be paying for the previous guys gas too.

Be polite and humble - In Costa Rica, DO NOT expect fast service at sodas or restaurants. Time is more relative there. Just sit back, have an Imperial beer, and soak in the local atmosphere. If you are polite, you will be treated like royalty. Costa Ricans are some of the most gracious, friendly folks that we've encountered during our travels.

If you want info about where we went and what we loved and hated, you can e-mail me at [e-mail].

Have a good trip!

Answer 4

Heres some more interesting information thats worth reading:

http://lklawless.com/blog/archives/categ...

Answer 5

Get the Lonely Planet or Moon guide for Costa Rica!

Answer 6

You can read my articles about the country at:

http://www.ricarent.com/about-costa-rica...

Answer 7

You only have to know that Costa Rica is a wonderful country.

People are friendly

Answer 8

beware of pick-pocketers and hookers

Answer 9

try to stay away from san jose as much as possible. is like any other big city, crime and things... if you are in san jose use a cab to go to places... besides that, just enjoy it. there are many different things to see, do here.

Answer 10

Hello

I am Costa Rican :D

You are gonna love it thats for sure, U should visit Irazu Volcano and Arenal Volcano, go to Tabacon in San Carlos, Visit Manuel Antonio National Park ,Papagayo,Tortuguero, rio celeste(light blue river), Isla del Coco (Coco Island),Punta Cahuita,Jaco Beach, Iglesia de los angeles ( Our Lady of Los Angeles Cathedral), Jardines Lankaster (Lankaster Gardens), Cerro Chrirripo,Montezuma, Cavernas del Venado. I will add u some inportant links at the end.

When u get to San Juan Santamaria International Airport  (SJO)  at the entrance you will find  a lot of ppl from ppular hotels in CR who will offer u a free ride to the hotel you select.

If you dont have transportation, some guys from rent a cars would be offering u info. If you want to take a cab at the airport

plz take the orange ones(drivers are bilingual)

If  you already know the address of the place  you want to, write it down for the driver, it would be easy for him for understand, u should write down a telephone of  the place too

Cabs in  the rest of the country are red color and they have a yellow triangle on the door with some initials and numbers on it... When you are going  to pay the ride make sure  the fare its the same as the ´´Maria¨¨ says watch out the counter.

You can use your debit and credit card in almost all stores

You can take  colones or dollars out from ATM s  that says  ATH or  that has the Visa, Credomatic logo.etc

Bring a calculator!!! some ppl try to take advantage of tourist when  they pay with dollars so plz dont forget  this

US $ 1  = c 518 colones

To make it easy for u , lets  say 500 colones  equals a dollar

If you bring dollars with you and you want to change them to  colones.... ask your driver to take you to a bank such as: Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), Banco Nacional, Scotia Bank, you  need to  present your passport there.

You can pay with Dollars in supermarkets and most of the stores at  the Malls.

CR Bills:

10.000 colones (blue bill)=  $20

5.000 colones( Green bill)  $10

2.000 colones                       $4

1000 colones  (red bill)      $2

No matter where you  go taxes and tips are already included in ur bill so Plzz dont tip  at  the restaurants, Etc if you  want  to tip anyway dont give them more than $3 = 1500 colones dont waste your money guys!

Costa Rica is a nice place but you should not show lots of money in public, Ipods, gold jewelry, digital or video cams, laptops at nite or at the streets.Watch out your stuff

Costa Ricans call americans ''gringos" it sounds like green go'' this is not intended to be an offense its just a popular saying so plz dont get mad.

You can call a costarican '' tico'' sounds like  tee-ko

If someone ask you how are u  u should answer ''pura vida''

Ticos are very  kind but  if u r nice too, they would love u !

Ticos tend to relax and do things slow and some of them are impuctual so, plz be a lil patient.

If you  want to call to US to a low cost, ask ur driver to take u  to a '' cafe internet'' or look for a sign that says ''Llamadas internacionales'' its way  cheaper than regular phone. For example  1 hour to US mobile or home phone costs u about  $40 but if u go to the ''internet cafe'' it can  costs you about $10! I used to spend about $220 on my home phone bill to call to US.

If you have an emergency, CR also has the 911

If you  want to contact the US Embasy In CR:

Location: At the intersection of Avenida Central and Calle 120 in the Pavas Section of San José, Costa Rica.

Street Address: Calle 120 Avenida 0, Pavas, San José, Costa Rica

Local Mailing Address: 920-1200 San José, Costa Rica

U.S. Mailing Address: US Embassy San Jose, APO AA 34020

Telephone: [506] 519-2000  From the U.S.: 011-506-519-2000

After Hours/Emergencies: [506] 519-2280, [506] 519-2279 or [506] 220-3127

From the U.S.: 011-506-519-2280, 011-506-519-2279, 011-506-220-3127

this is a link to the US Embassy in CR : http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/

Costa Rica info : http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/pagina...

The lowest prices tour sites

http://www.costaricaexpeditions.com/

http://www.graylinecostarica.com/index.h...

http://www.costaricatours.net/

This is a link for a costarican paper in english

http://www.ticotimes.net/

Link for hotels for area

http://www.hotels.co.cr

If  you want to listen Costa rican radio with songs in english and american Djs

99.5FM

102.7FM

103.5FM

By the way, bring comfy clothe you might think its too hot here sometimes but it also gets a lil chili,whn u got to the beach use ursunblocker a drink lots of water.

Well, u r free to call me anytime when u get to CR to ask questions about anything or translate for u.

From US 011-506-824-6148

from CR  824-6148

email: [e-mail]

I hope it helps u

Good Luck and have fun in paradise

Answer 11

The Women are FUQuing hot!!! Prostitutes are cheap. and Make shure you put a cap on the jimmy

Answer 12

I thought you should check out this website... they have cool tours and excursions in Costa Rica at a great price!

http://www.radartours.com

Answer 13

Just in case you don't know this. It depends if you stay with a host family or in a hotel. I stayed with a host family and in a few hotels. When I stayed with my host family when I took a shower the water was FREEZING cold, that was normal. In the hotels the water there was colder then luke warm. I stayed in a couple differernt places and I noticed that all the showers I took the water was cold cold cold. I'm a girl so a nice hot shower is something I like alot. SO thats a nice heads up. But then again it depends where you stay, my friend went to Costa Rica too and he had a warm not hot shower in his hotel. So it all depends. :) Also put on sun block, even when its raining, I didn't and I got burned to a crisp and I NEVER usally burn. Oh and when it rains it really pours, and it USALLY rains in the afternoon so tourists tend to go do stuff in the morning. And another little dibit, the coffee is really good, so while you are there you should really try to stop and get some Costa Rican coffee. It tastes soooo much better then starbucks. One last thing the fruit there is soooooo much better then USA grown fruit. I think because there isn't chemicals in it to grow fater like they do to our fruits here. So when you go to Costa Rica, even if you aren't fond of fruits you should try all the fruits you see. They are sooooo much more taster there. Those are just some of the things I picked up while I was there. I hope you enjoy Costa Rica. Don't forget GOOD sunblock and bug spray. :) Enjoy your trip!

Answer 14

therealcostarica.com is fab.

We have just been and if you take any advice please use factor 15min! We used it on our first day and got burnt in 1/2 hr in the shade! We used factor 30 from then on, be careful, you can burn even if it's cloudy and raining.

Answer 15

dont get the hundred dollar hookers in the casinos find a massage parlor and you get them for 40  other than that just watch yuor wallet and back cause they will jump or rob you if they get a chance the main source of income down there is stupid white people

Answer 16

watch out for poisoness snakes. and there are tarantulas