Costa Rica's water system is one of the best in Latin America, and there is potable water in almost all locations in Costa Rica that is safe to drink for locals and foreigners alike. If you feel more comfortable drinking bottled water, they are available throughout in Costa Rica. We recommend that you bring a water bottle and try to refill it whenever you can to reduce the number of plastic bottles and trash that ends up in our Costa Rican landfills.

You are able to drive in Costa Rica for up to three months with your home country drivers license as long as you carry your passport with you while driving to prove that you have been in the country three months or less. Driving in Costa Rica can be a challenge and don’t be fooled by distances. What appears to be a short distance on the map could be a 6 hour journey just to find that at the end the road is closed. Consult with locals about road conditions before your journey. The roads here can have many potholes so make sure you check that you have a spare tire and the tools needed before heading out. Roads are not marked here and so I recommend the “ask as you go” technique and maps. In each town just say the name of the destination town and the locals will point you in the right direction

Once you get to Costa Rica you need to know how to get around from place to place, especially if you are not within walking distance of your destination. Buses are the main form of transportation for most locals.

It is the most cost efficient and easiest way to get around. Do be aware that the buses in Costa Rica are small and sometimes cramped and if you need a lot of legroom you will be in trouble. Another great option if you are looking for a cost efficient methods is with shared shuttle services. There are shuttles available from most tourist locations that will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at your destination hotel.

Private transfers are a great way to get from place to place giving you the flexibility to go where you want and when you want. Private transfers can be a cost effective option especially if you are travelling with a group . Another form of transportation is a rental car.

They are quite more expensive and you need to have insurance that will cover the rental car in case of an accident. Flying is a great way to quickly get from place to place and usually internal flights are not that pricey. Always consult a locall about road conditions and actual time that transfers take, often what looks like a short distance on a map can turn into a 6 hour drive! WAVE Expeditions can easily arrange Shared shuttle, private transfers or rental cars for your trip. Please go to the contact us section and we can give you more information about transportation in Costa Rica

Well if you like 50/50 odds then you will do fine here. Costa Rican weather is very unpredictable and you can find yourself out for a sunny afternoon walk only to get caught in a downpour 10 minutes later. For the most part there are two seasons in Costa Rica - the Dry Season and the Wet Season. On the Pacific side of the country this tends to be a very defined two seasons. From December to mid April there will be little rain, the rest of the year you will most likely see afternoon showers. On the Caribbean side the weather is a bit more unpredictable and you will find it more difficult to really get predictable weather.

All visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip. Visitors from most countries are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa. Visitors from these countries are allowed to stay for 30 days without a visa: Australia, Belice, China, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, The Philippines and Venezuela.

Costa Rica is divided into three travel seasons, High Season from December to April, Green Season from May to November and Peak Season – Christmas/ New Years and Easter Holiday weeks. Green Season offers the best hotel prices and the least amount of tourists. If you must travel peak seasons make your reservations as early as possible because hotels fill up fast.

Travelers must be at the airport two hours before departure. There is a departure tax of US$26.00. There is a 13% sales tax at hotels, restaurants and most service industries, and an additional 13% tourist tax at hotels.

Most places in Costa Rica do accept US $ very easily however we recommend carrying a misture of US $ Credit Cards and Colones. You can find the current exchange rate at the following site XE - Universal Currency Converter.

Here is a suggested packing list for your trip here to Costa Rica.
Shoes

• Amphibian hikers or river/reef sandals
• Hiking/walking shoes
• Beach sandals/flip-flops
• Dressy sandals or light-weight dress shoes

Clothes

• 3-5 T-shirts, one or two long sleeved for
• Bushwhacking and to protect your sunburn.
• 1-2 dress shirts or blouses
• 3-4 pairs of shorts. One or two pairs of quick drying nylon and one or two pairs of dressy cotton shorts or tropical weight/length skirts.
• Active/sports swimsuit and a tanning suit. You may also want a sarong or other casual beach cover-up.
• 1-2 pairs of long pants. Something dressy and something for the bush. If you can find a pair you like, convertible pants (zip-off legs) can serve as shorts and long pants.
• 5-8 pairs of underwear.
• 2 pairs of socks. ( if you plan on wearing hiking shoes)
• Jacket- It is the tropics, but you will need something to keep you warm at higher elevations, or on the open ocean.
• Baseball cap or brimmed hat.

Toiletries

• Razor
• Toothbrush with cover, and toothpaste
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Brush or comb
• Antiperspirant
• Towel
• Washcloth
• Tampons
• Toilet paper
• Cosmetics

Documents

• Money belt or passport pendant-somewhere to carry your documents.
• Passport.
• Drivers license.
• Money, credit/debit card, traveler’s checks. o insurance card and contact information.

First Aid Kit (Basic)

• Band aids® Butterfly closures are useful to close deep cuts.
• Eye drops- Artificial tears (e.g. NeoTears®)
• Imodium® OTC or Lomotil® (by prescription in the US) to treat diarrhea
• Dramamine® or other motion sickness prevention
• Neosporin® (over the counter)
• Tweezers- needle point/surgical
• Tape- waterproof, flexible, breathable surgical tape
• Insect repellent
• Pain relievers/fever reducers (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and/or Aspirin)
• Sun screen- at least SPF 20, waterproof
• $US 20 bill (if you want more emergency cash carry more twenties.. fifties and hundreds are regarded very suspicously)
• Vitamins- what ever you normally take
• Whistle

To ensure you have a safe trip here in Costa Rica please keep in mond the following guidelines when travelling.

1. Do not wear flashy jewelery or carry large amounts of cash, avoid stopping in poorly lit or low-populated areas to make telephone calls or seek directions.
2. Watch your belongings carefully at all times and in all places.
3. It is important that you lock valuable belongings, passports and travel documents in hotel safes where possible.
4. You should be vigilant when using buses. Theft of bags from overhead compartments inside buses is an increasing problem and efficiently carried out. Thieves have simple but effective ways of distracting a target.
5. Be particularly watchful of your valuables at the beach and in popular tourist destinations.
6. Do not leave anything in your car even when locked.

Costa Rica lies between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Its area slightly exceeds that of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. The bulk of Costa Rica's borders, sixty-five percent, is made up of coastline . The nation's terrain is coastal plain separated by rugged mountains, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca, which form the spine of the country and separate the Pacific and Caribbean watersheds.

Few places in the world can quite match the diverse natural beauty of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is the green jewel of Central America with over 25% of the land protected in national parks, reserves, or refuges. Within its borders there is an amazing mixture of terrain. You can climb a volcano in the morning and be swinging in your hammock beachside by afternoon Costa Rica is a country of pristine tropical beauty with lovely beaches, lush rainforests and undulating mountain ranges. The breathtaking beauty is complimented by the warm hospitality of its people, self proclaimed “Ticos” This setting allows WAVE Expeditions to provide service beyond expectations.

Costa Rica has two seasons: summer and winter. The summer (also known as the dry season) is December through April and the winter (also known as the wet season) runs from May to November. Temperatures vary little by season, but significantly by altitude. San José and towns at higher elevations tend to be temperate and dry, while the coasts are hotter and more humid.

Regions in Costa Rica: 7 provinces (provincias, singular provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose.

Costa Rican Coastline: 1,290 km.

Area of Costa Rica: 51,100 sq km.

Bordering Countries to Costa Rica: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km.