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    Costa Rica & Panama

    Pacific Coast surf breaks, hot volcanic springs, and a Cloud Forest - Costa Rica has an adventure hiding around every corner. The local Ticos (Costa Ricans) will quickly introduce you to pura vida (the pure life) as you admire their array of exotic animals.

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    Costa Rica & Panama

    in your own style

    Pacific Coast surf breaks, hot volcanic springs, and a Cloud Forest - Costa Rica has an adventure hiding around every corner. The local Ticos (Costa Ricans) will quickly introduce you to pura vida (the pure life) as you admire their array of exotic animals.

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Destinations > Costa Rica & Panama

Costa Rica & Panama

A colourful oasis of emerald rainforests, towering volcanic peaks and unique wildlife, the beauty of Costa Rica will amaze you. From surfing its famed Pacific Coast breaks to the mountain ranges, it is a fascinating destination. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Monteverde cloud forests and travel east to the warm waters of the Caribbean where turtle hatchlings make their way by moonlight to the sea.

When to Visit

The dry season from December through to April is the best time to visit Costa Rica, and the beginning of the rainy season can be a wonderful time to travel to avoid the touris crowds. In Panama, mid-December to mid-April are the driest months best for hiking, rafting and diving.

Highlights

TORTUGUERO It is a true paradise where there are no cars on the streets and nature literally bursts into the village. On one side of the village, rivers and waterways beckon you to paddle deep into the jungle, while on the other side, a Caribbean beach welcomes thousands of sea turtles each year.

ARENAL VOLCANO Sitting within Costa Rica’s fertile northern lowlands, the Arenal Volcano is tall and imposing with a reputation that precedes it. Its perfect symmetrical shape makes it a photographer’s dream and, until recently, it was Costa Rica’s most active volcano.

MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE The reserve will astound you with its beauty and amazing biodiversity. Wind sculpted woodlands give way to rainforests where tall trees rise high into the sky. The climate of the Cloud Forest has helped shape an amazing set of creatures that call the reserve home, from the jaguar and Baird’s tapir to the famously resplendent quetzal.

SELVATURA CANOPY Selvatura Canopy is a network of suspension bridges and trails built deep within the primary cloud forest. It’s cables and platforms are built into the cloud forest rather than above it, allowing you to feel truly immersed within the forested environment. In total, there are 15 cables and 18 viewing platforms that stretch over three kilometres, the longest cable length of any canopy excursion in Costa Rica.

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Shopping

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.

Tipping

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.

Getting around

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.

Language

Spanish

Visas

Australian ordinary passport holders travelling as a tourist may usually enter Costa Rica without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. All travellers must have an onward travel ticket (out of Costa Rica within 90 days), a visa to their onward country (if required), and sufficient funds to maintain themselves during their stay. It is recommended that passports be valid for six months beyond the period of intended stay in Costa Rica. A embarkation tax of US$29 is payable when leaving Costa Rica (unless previously included in the ticket cost). Persons who have recently travelled to countries where yellow fever is endemic will require a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry. Travellers are recommended to contact a Costa Rican representative on the details below for further information and to ensure their specific circumstances make them eligible to enter Costa Rica without a visa. Persons travelling via the US are reminded of their obligation to comply with US entry and transit visa requirements.

Customs

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.

Health

The following information is intended as a guide only and in no way should it be used as a substitute for professional medical advice relative to a travellers individual needs and vaccination history. No guarantee is made as to its accuracy or thoroughness. For further information, please contact The Travel Doctor on 1300 658 844. Vaccination against Hepatitis A is recommended for all travellers to Costa Rica. Vaccination against Hepatitis B and Influenza should also be considered, while persons staying in Costa Rica for extended periods or visiting certain regions may require immunisation against Tuberculosis or Rabies. Travellers to Costa Rica should have had a Tetanus and Diphtheria booster dose within the last 10 years. Travellers under the age of 30 years should have their Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation complete. Those over 30 years are most likely to have long term immunity from previous exposure as a child. Chickenpox vaccination should be considered by those in high risk groups (adults and adolescents without previous exposure). The risk of Malaria exists in Costa Rica, thus antimalarial drugs and insect avoidance measures may be needed. Food and water precautions are also advised. 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 on insurance, please visit the Smartraveller website listed above.

Electricity

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

Communications

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.

Current

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Country Dialing Code

506

Capital City

San Jose

Official Language

Spanish

Currency

Costa Rican Colon

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