There are plenty of opportunities to get your shopping fix in Costa Rica. Modern malls, classic boutique stores, local street vendors and little shops tucked in and around the villages across the country are all waiting for your shopping dollars.  A few quick tips, comfortable shoes and a pocket full of money will get you ready for a fantastic shopping experience in Costa Rica. Outside of the larger cities, your shopping playground consists of boutique, specialty, souvenir and local variety shops. Don't be fooled when passing through a village that appears to have little or no shops off the main road. The terrain and land ownership often force these smaller shops to be off the beaten path.

Gratuities are a normal and expected part of the income for anyone employed in the service sector of the tourism industry.  The service tax of 10% still gets added to restaurant bills but it's sort of the minimum wage part of the wait staff's pay.  Envelopes for housekeeping gratuities have appeared on nightstands at many hotels and we've even seen tip jars on the counter of ice cream shops. Tipping is never mandatory (except for the 10% already included in your restaurant tab) but if your guide, instructor, driver or service staff made your stay particularily enjoyable consider giving them a gratuity.

Costa Rica’s public bus system is excellent, cheap and quite frequent, even in remote areas. Taxis regularly do long- as well as short-distance trips and are a fairly inexpensive alternative to the bus, at least if you’re travelling in a group. Car rental is more common here than in the rest of Central America, but is fairly expensive and driving can be quite a hair-raising experience, with precipitous drops in the highlands and potholed roads just about everywhere else.Domestic airlines are reasonably economical and can be quite a time-saver, especially since Costa Rica’s difficult terrain makes driving distances longer than they appear on the map. A number of tour operators in San José organize individual itineraries and packages with transport included, well worth checking out before making any decisions about heading out on your own.

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Costa Ricans consider themselves "cultured" and polite. Children, parents, and age-mates are often addressed in the formal second-person. Men greet each other with a handshake, while women greet female and male friends and relatives with a kiss. Dating and courtship, once highly ritualized, are approaching U.S. patterns. Much socializing goes on in restaurants and bars. Malicious gossip is common and a source of both delight and apprehension.

Please consult a medical practitioner or contact The Travel Doctor for your specific risk to these preventable diseases and the appropriate avoidance measures. Australians travelling to Costa Rica should also ensure that they have adequate travel insurance to cover the length of their stay. For further information please visit the Smartraveller website.

Electrical Plug type: Japan|USA Voltage: 110-120 volts Modem: USA.

Country Code for Costa Rica: +506 Visa Global Assistance: 0800 011 0030 Emergency Services: 911 Police - 117 Police (outside cities) - 127 Fire - 118 Traffic Police - 222 9330 The emergency services may not always have English speaking staff. In this case, you should have a local call on your behalf or contact the Canadian Embassy.