Costa Rica Basics
Capital City: San Jose
Economy: Industry, agriculture, tourism.
Language Description: Spanish and English.
Passport/Visa U.S.: U.S. and Canadian citizens need passports but not visas (though U.S. citizens
                             have routinely been admitted for visits of up to 90 days with only proof of
                             citizenship, such as an original birth certificate, accompanied by photo ID). 
                             Proof of sufficient funds and onward passage are also required. Reconfirm travel
                             document requirements with your carrier before departure.

Religion: Christian (Roman Catholic).

Time Zone: 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-6 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed

Tipping Overview: Add a small tip for good service on top of the 10% service charge already added
                                 to restaurant bills. Tip tour guides.
Voltage Requirements: 110 volts
What to Wear: Dress in Costa Rica is conservatively casual. Bathing suits and short shorts are for the
                      beach or river rafting. You'll feel comfortable during the day in casual sports clothes,
                      but in a good restaurant at night, you should adhere to local customs. In San Jose,
                      Tico men wear jackets and women wear skirts or dresses, though neat slacks are
                      becoming more acceptable. Dress conservatively in the countryside.

                      For hiking, wear your most comfortable shoes (which will most likely get muddy) or
                      hiking boots, along with lightweight pants and long-sleeved shirts. Take along a hat,
                      not only as protection against the sun, but to keep leaves and other rain-forest debris
                      out of your hair. Carry a light raincoat or poncho (and stick a couple of plastic bags in
                      your pocket to protect your camera). We also recommend a change of socks
                      (especially on long day tours) to prevent blisters.  

Climate: The best time to visit is the relatively dry period of December-May, but we suggest avoiding
             the Christmas and Easter holidays because everyone seems to go to the beach. (Businesses
             are shut down and all the hotels are full.) January is a very good time to go, but Costa Rica
             is really a year-round destination. Tourism promoters are trying to encourage travel in the
             rainy season (June-October) by selling it as the "green season." The vegetation looks nicer
             then and prices are lower, but you can almost be guaranteed at least a brief thunderstorm
             every day in late afternoon or early evening. Except for the rain in summer and fall, the
             climate is fairly similar year-round. The inland temperatures are moderate and a breeze
             almost always blows, but the coastal areas tend to be hot and steamy. The mountains can
             be quite cool at night, so take a sweater. An umbrella and other rain gear are necessities no
             matter when you visit.

RAIN FOREST AERIAL TRAM