Getting to know Costa Rica: Tips |
| WEATHER |
The rainy season, which goes from May to November, normally brings sunny mornings with showers in the afternoons. The showers, which can be hard rain, are usually short. During the dry season, from December to April, the sun shines all day long. The temperature is pleasant most of the time; it ranges between 60 and 70° Fahrenheit throughout the year. Both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as the lower regions of the country are warm, while the central higher areas show cooler weather. |
| PAYING |
Major credit cards are usually accepted in most of the stores, restaurants, and other businesses all over the country. Traveler´s checks are highly recommended, along with some cash, which is very helpful while you can get to a bank. Checks are sometimes troublesome because they are not accepted everywhere. People usually accept only checks from a Costa Rican bank. |
| CURRENCY |
The Costa Rican currency is called the "colón," named after Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón, in Spanish). Our currency comes in coins of five, ten, twenty, twenty-five, fifty, one-hundred and five-hundred colones. The bills come in one thousand, five thousand and ten thousand colones. |
| TIPPING |
A 10% service charge is included in your bill, so traditionally tipping is not required in bars, restaurants, discos, etc. However, if you really want to show your appreciation for exceptional service, you can tip an extra 5%. |
| CLOTHING |
Costa Ricans are fashion-conscious, but prefer casual clothing (jeans, t-shirts, etc) without going to extremes. For instance, even though shorts are popular, they would never be worn when visiting a friend at home. The evenings are cool during the dry season, so bring a sweater or a jacket. An umbrella during the rainy season is a must because of the almost-daily afternoon showers. |
| TRANSPORTATION |
One can get anywhere in Costa Rica, inside or outside San José, by bus. The taxi service in the San José area has fares ranging from one to five dollars. It is also fairly inexpensive to fly from San José to other popular spots in Costa Rica. A foreign driver´s license is valid for 3 months from your date of arrival, and it is very easy to rent a car. |
| DIRECTIONS |
Although the major cities in Costa Rica are divided into avenues and streets, people here almost never use street numbers when giving directions. Instead, they refer to well-known landmarks such as a church, a restaurant, a store, etc., and the number of blocks or meters from certain landmark to your destination. This system of directions can be confusing at first, but with patience and practice, you will get used to this cultural aspect. |
| ELECTRICITY |
Only 110 volts A.C. is available. |
| ENTERTAINMENT |
Between Heredia and San José, practically any kind of entertainment can be found. There are a lot of nice and lively theaters, movies, restaurants, bars, and discotheques with popular and tropical music to satisfy all tastes. The National Theater offers classical concerts and recitals. Additionally, in Heredia you can find a well-equipped swimming complex with exciting water slides and clean, large swimming pools. |