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.

Spanish

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.

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.

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.

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.