Costa Rica Travel Tips

Travel to Costa Rica requires some planning. (Photo: traumstrand image by Wolfgang Feischl from Fotolia.com )

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Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, knowing a few of the ins and outs of Costa Rican travel can save you unnecessary hassle. While it may be tempting to focus on your trip s more exciting details, like where you are going to stay and what you will do, you can avoid trouble by knowing what immunizations to get, what travel documents to bring and how to deal with money and safety issues.

Immunizations

In addition to routine vaccinations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend typhoid and hepatitis A and B vaccinations before travel to Costa Rica. If you will be in contact with any wildlife a rabies vaccination is highly advisable. While malaria is not a serious problem in Costa Rica it has been present in the Alajuela, Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Heredia provinces; receiving antimalarial drugs beforehand can prevent malaria contraction. The Costa Rican government requires those who have been in countries where yellow fever is present to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Travel Documents and Visas

Money Issues

While the colon is the official form of currency in Costa Rica, many businesses accept U.S. dollars. Many banks will give their customers the best exchange rate when they use an ATM to withdraw money. Tipping is by and large expected only in high-end hotels and restaurants. Tour guides should be tipped anywhere from $1 to $10; tour drivers are tipped 50% less than what you tip the guide. Taxi drivers normally do not expect tips unless some sort of special service has been provided.

Safety Issues

Being the first country in the world to have abolished its military, Costa Rica has not seen the civil unrest that has plagued its neighbors. Most of the dangers that face Costa Rican tourists are natural.

Choose hikes that you know you can handle; pushing yourself too far and too hard can lead to heat exhaustion.

The big waves and riptides that make Costa Rica so popular among surfers are also what lead to the country s 200 yearly drownings, so always confirm first that an area is safe for swimming.

In highly populated areas theft, especially pickpocketing, may be rampant. Keep money secure in a hidden money belt; do not use a fanny pack, as pickpocketers can easily cut the strap with a box-cutter. Be aware of your surroundings and always watch your things when on the beach. It is common for thieves, and even monkeys, to steal your things while you are swimming or looking the other way.