Useful Tips

What to bring | Medications | Money | Taxes & Tipping | Tipping your guide
Passports & Visas | Arrival procedures | Lost Luggage | Health | Time
Electricity | Telephone | Cameras | Glasses / Contacts
Water | Roads & Maps | Snakes | Bugs

What to bring

Luggage: We recommend either a backpack or a duffle bag as your luggage. These types of bags are easier to transport and are less likely to become damaged during the course of your trip.

Clothes: Try to pack clothes that are lightweight, light colored, and quick drying. Shirts can be short sleeved for a cooler effect or long sleeved for protection against the sun and bugs. Bring a couple of each. Bring a few pairs of shorts. We recommend one pair of light pants for activities such as horseback riding. Although we're in the tropics, in does get chilly in the mountains, so bring a light, quick drying jacket, fleece is a good choice. Lastly, the all-important bathing suit-you'll be living in it, so bring a reliable favorite. Ladies will want to bring an athletic suit in addition to your sun bathing version.

Shoes: Sturdy athletic sandals are a must. We recommend either Teva or Chaco brands. We also recommend a rugged but comfortable athletic closed toe shoe for our more aggressive activities. Don't bring heavy-duty hiking boots unless your itinerary includes long treks. Heavy-duty hiking boots are just that, heavy. They also take days to dry in the tropics.

Laundry: Laundry service is available at the majority of our hotels. However, don't depend on it day to day.

Miscellaneous:

Must bring

• Personal medication
• Sun block (water and sweat proof)
• Insect repellent
• After bite lotion
• Pocket knife
• Lighter
• Flashlight or headlamp

Strongly recommended

• Sun hat
• Karokies (a cord for keeping your glasses tied on)
• Spanish / English dictionary (small)
• Sun glasses
• Water bottle
• Binoculars (small)

Women Travelers

• Your preferred brand of all feminine products (may not be available in Costa Rica)
• Costa Rica is full of exotic, quaint restaurants. If you want to dress up your evening, (which the ladies of C.R. often do) bring some comfortable, casual attire to spice up those Teva sandals you've been living in.

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Medications

Although Costa Rica has an excellent medical system, bring all your prescription and over-the-counter medications with you. Keep a list of all medications and their dosages.

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Money

Costa Rican currency is called the Colon or Colones (plural) and is named for Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus). The exchange rate, as of May 2007, is around 515 Colones to one US dollar.

Exchanging money: Bring only US dollars or credit cards. All other currencies can only be exchanged at one bank in San Jose. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Costa Rica but it's good to have some local currency. Your guide will help you change some money at the airport and throughout the trip. Now, even though dollars can be used, local businesses may not be able to change bills higher than twenties. Also, bills with tears, marks, or any other abnormality may not be accepted. This is a countrywide phenomenon, so try to bring only newer or new looking bills.

Green Frog Adventures does not recommend travelers checks at this time. Because of a rash of forgeries, many businesses will no longer accept them.

Debit or credit cards are a great option because they are accepted by most businesses and can be used to draw cash from the many ATMs scattered around the country. Additionally, you will be charged at close to normal bank rates and commissions are typically low. However, only Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted-leave your other cards at home.

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Taxes & Tipping

Taxes range anywhere from 13% - 17% and are typically included in the price of whatever it is you're buying. Restaurants usually add an additional 10% service fee to the bill. It is not necessary to tip beyond this, and Costa Ricans seldom do so. However, a little extra is appreciated and usually results in superb service with your next meal.

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Tipping your guide

Tipping is of course your choice. If you do choose to do so, tips are graciously accepted by the guides for each activty as well as by your principal guide and driver. If you would like help with amounts for the activty guides you can ask your principal guide and for questions regarding tipping your principal guide please ask the US office.

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Passports, Visas, and other Documentation

Citizens of the US, Canada, and most of Western Europe do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica for more the 90 days. Citizens of all nations do need a valid passport that does not expire within 90 days of your arrival.

Note: Prior to May 1, 2003, U.S. and Canadian citizens did not need a passport to enter Costa Rica. This has changed--all nationalities must have a valid passport.

Driver's licenses allow you to drive legally in Costa Rica for up to 90 days.

Photocopies: You should make copies of all of the following: passport (picture page and passport number page), drivers license, health insurance card, airline ticket, travelers check numbers, important telephone numbers and any other important documentation. Make three sets of copies. Leave one set at home with a reliable friend or relative. Give another set (in a sealed envelope) to your guide at the airport. Finally, keep one set with you.

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Arrival Procedures

On your flight to Costa Rica, you'll be given a customs form to fill out. Keep this form accessible because you'll need it and your passport to clear immigration and customs. Once you pass through immigration, you'll go on to baggage claim to collect your luggage. Don't forget to keep your claim check because the agents really check to see that the numbers match. After you get your bags, go on through customs. Now, unless you have a multitude of luggage, act in a suspicious manner or excite the dogs somehow, you should pass right on through. If the agents ask to check your bags don't be alarmed, just let them do their thing. If you do speak Spanish, we suggest that you conveniently forget this knowledge and play the lost tourist routine. The guards will quickly tire of you and send you on your way. As you pass through the outer doors there will be a group of noisy taxi drivers. Look past this obnoxious rabble and you'll see your handsome guide holding a big sign with your name on it. From that moment on you can forget about the details and just concentrate on having the greatest adventure of your life!

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Lost Luggage

Don't worry, this happens a lot less frequently than you might expect. Now, because of the new security procedures enacted after September 11, we cannot enter the airport to assist you. So, here's what you'll need to do. Go to the airline counter and tell them what has happened (they speak English). Give them a copy of your passport, the name and number of the hotel you're staying in that night (this info will be in your itinerary), our phone number 849-9838, and the baggage claim number (write it down, keep the original). Accomplish this, and we'll take care of the rest.

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Health

Aside from the occasional 'tender tummy' experienced by most tourists to Central America, serious heath problems are rare. At this time, Costa Rica does not require any specific inoculations to enter the country. However, we recommend that you call your local heath department prior to your trip just to be sure.

Dengue Fever and Malaria, both mosquito-borne diseases, are present in Costa Rica but occur in extremely low numbers and typically only among plantation workers. Simple insect repellent will all but nullify the risk. However, if you're feeling extra cautious, anti-malarial drugs are readily available.

Hepatitis: Hepatitis A and B have not yet been encountered in Costa Rica (unlike the US).

Tetanus is the one inoculation that Green Frog Adventures does recommend be brought up to date. If you haven't had a shot in the last several years, get one!

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Time

Costa Rica is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and is the same as Central Time in the US. Costa Rica does not observe daylight saving time.

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Electricity

Costa Rica uses the same 110 V AC system found in the US. However, most of the outlets only accept two-pronged plugs. So, if your favorite hair dryer has a three-prong plug, you may want to buy a converter before you leave.

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Telephone

The telephone system in Costa Rica is quite good compared to other Latin American countries. There is even cell phone coverage for about 75% of the country!

Local calls are made by simply dialing the seven digit phone number. There are no area codes in Costa Rica.

International calls: For international collect calls just dial 116 to get an English speaking operator. This is an easy but expensive method. To call directly, dial 00 + country code + area code + phone number. Most hotels can assist you in calling home or locally in Costa Rica.

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Cameras

The photography equipment you choose to bring is up to you. However, there are some things to consider. First, depending on your itinerary, weight may be an issue-you don't want to hike too far with 30 pounds of camera gear! Next, Costa Rica is unpredictable concerning photography supplies. So, bring all your own equipment including film. Lastly, unless your camera is waterproof, bring a good waterproof case-we recommend a brand called Pelican Case. They come in a variety of sizes and are available in outfitter stores such as REI and EMS.

NOTE: Remember to take all undeveloped film in your carry-on luggage. Otherwise, the X-ray machines that scan all checked luggage will give the pictures a faded, foggy look.

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Glasses / Contacts

If you wear glasses or contacts, bring at least two pairs AND a written copy of your prescription. If you have prescription sunglasses, make sure that you also bring at least one clear pair. Contact users should bring enough solution to last the whole trip.

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Water

Water quality in Costa Rica is surprisingly good compared to the rest of Latin America. Water in the highland areas is almost always good, while the beach areas can be a bit iffy. Bottled water is readily available and is a good idea in the questionable areas.

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Roads & Maps

Roads in Costa Rica range from bad to atrocious. However, in recent years, the Costa Rican government has made a concerted effort at improving the country's infrastructure. All we can say is it's getting better?

Costa Rican drivers are, to use local terminology, just plain LOCO! Fortunately, we'll be doing all of the driving so that you can just relax and enjoy the ride. Again, for safety's sake, we only use the best drivers and vehicles, and we try to avoid night driving when possible.

Maps: Worthless. So, unless you run out of toilet tissue, don't try to use them.

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Snakes

There are lots of snakes in Costa Rica. That said, the last serious bite to a tourist occurred way back in the 1980s (and they didn't die). Your guide knows and understands all the different snake species and will keep both you and the snake safe.

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Bugs

There are surprisingly few mosquitoes in Costa Rica. Most are found near the beaches and usually only in the evening and early morning. The inland jungles are relatively mosquito free. This is because of the extremely steep topography. Because so little of the rainwater is able to collect, the mosquito's breeding pools are simply washed away.

Insect repellent is available in Costa Rica but is very expensive. We recommend that you bring your own supply. Effective repellent should contain at least 30% diethyl-metatoluamide or DEET. Currently the FDA is recommending that DEET not be used on children. Instead, we recommend Avon's skin-so-soft lotion.

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