Organize your stay Costa Rica
Money Costa Rica
Costa Rica's currency is the colón (¢), plural colones - named after the country's "discoverer", Christopher Columbus. However, prices are often quoted in dollars (US$). Both currencies are used equally in Costa Rica. If you pay in dollars, you'll be given change in colones. It's not easy at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it. Errors in giving change are rare, as Costa Ricans are used to calculating in both currencies. Be aware, however, that small shops, pulperías and other abastadores often only accept colones, so it's best to carry both currencies with you at all times. Also worth knowing: Costa Rican shopkeepers and restaurateurs almost systematically refuse to accept US$100 bills, so it's best to carry small-denomination dollars when you change your euros.
Exchange rates: in December 2024, 1 US$ = 507¢; 1,000¢ = 1.97 US$.
Budget & Tips Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country with a high standard of living, so you'll find the same prices as in Europe or the USA. Remember that in the tourist industry, as everywhere else, everything is a little more expensive.
Getting there. Tickets from Europe cost an average of €1,000 (in summer, around €1,400). Cheaper tickets may be available in November and May, when the rainy season begins and ends, which is a good time to discover the country.
Accommodation. You're unlikely to find anything decent for less than US$40-50 per double room, especially during the high season (December to April).
Transport. Apart from car hire (a small 4x4 costs around US$500/week in high season, so make sure you book well in advance to get the best rates), transport is cheap, as are "local" restaurants. Green Airways (www.costaricagreenair.com) and Sansa (www.flysansa.com), two local airlines, offer travel throughout the country.
National parks. It costs between US$15 and US$20 per person per day to enter a national park, not including guide services. The same applies to most tourist attractions, except for adventure activities, which can cost up to US$100 per day.
Catering. For a full meal, expect to pay 2,500 to 7,000 colones in a soda shop, and 10,000 to 25,000 colones in a mid-range restaurant or at a good table.
Passport and visas Costa Rica
Visa. A visa is not required for French nationals visiting Costa Rica: if the stay does not exceed 90 days, a passport is sufficient.
Transit USA. If your flight is transiting the USA, you need to have a biometric passport and fill in the ESTA form online (only on the official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov), together with a fee of US$21. We advise you to apply for your visa as soon as possible, as it can take up to 72 hours.
Exit tax. Anyone leaving Costa Rica via the international airport must pay a tax of US$29 (or the equivalent in colones). However, most airlines include this tax in their ticket prices (Air France, American Airlines, Jet Blue Airways, Iberia, Condor, British Airways, Air Canada, etc.).
Driver's license Costa Rica
Renting a car is common and easy in Costa Rica, as long as you have a license (an international driver's license is not required) and an international credit card (a deposit will be blocked from the latter, so have enough funds in your account). Please note that crossing the border to a neighboring country is prohibited. To be able to cross the country, on asphalt roads as well as tracks, we recommend you imperatively a 4x4, even the smallest. You will not regret it and will be able to discover regions less accessible to city cars. On the other hand, we do not recommend driving at night. This way you will avoid some mishaps in case of lack of signs and animals on your way.
Health Costa Rica
Take precautions against dengue fever and malaria (use mosquito repellent, a long-sleeved T-shirt and pants in high-risk areas near stagnant water).
Finally, even if tap water is drinkable just about everywhere, the most sensitive should only drink bottled water. The most common health problems are diarrhoea, respiratory infections (beware of air conditioning!) and skin diseases. In the forest, it's not uncommon to be bitten by insects, some of which can transmit skin diseases (leishmaniasis, flea bites...) that can show up after your return. What's more, insect bites are easily infected in tropical environments: you need to be alert to minor injuries and take care to avoid bites, mainly by wearing the right clothing. For more serious problems, contact the French consulate. They will help you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. It is also the consulate that notifies the family and decides on repatriation in extreme cases.
Mandatory vaccination Costa Rica
No vaccinations are mandatory in Costa Rica, but tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis A (unless you are immune) are recommended. The more cautious and adventurous should add hepatitis B and typhoid fever. Plan your vaccinations several weeks before departure.
Security Costa Rica
You will surely be told to be careful of robberies in San José, on the Pacific coast in Jacó and Quepos, but also in Limón on the Caribbean coast. Although this mistrust is sometimes exaggerated, petty theft is a reality and it is advisable to watch your belongings, as in any country. However, don't be paranoid: Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America, and you really don't feel in danger! During the day, just dress simply, avoiding if possible the "tourist style", and don't carry big bags when you walk around, try to hide or store your cell phones and cameras, and keep your wallet as close to you as possible (and not in the small back pocket of your backpack very accessible to those who would be ill-intentioned). As soon as it gets dark, avoid walking in San José, Quepos, Jacó or Limón: take a cab instead.
In general, everywhere in Costa Rica, do not leave anything in your rental car because thefts are not rare. Also be careful with the flat tire technique (a system is set up so that your tire bursts on the road and someone arrives to help you...). It is a dying technique, but it is still possible; don't trust this stranger, don't stop and continue driving to a gas station. If you stop, a door or a trunk left open allows thieves to take anything they can get their hands on, and it goes very fast. If this happens to you, don't resist, because some of these thieves are armed and don't hesitate to shoot, even if they are young people.
Also remember that the cheaper the hotel, the higher the risk of theft - but if you lock your door, there shouldn't be a problem. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, make sure that your hotel is guarded by a security guard in the evening and at night. As a general rule, all hotels (mid-range and above) have a night watchman.
For the latest information on local security, consult the "Advice to Travelers" section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs). Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers and that it sometimes gives a somewhat alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
Time difference Costa Rica
GMT minus 6 hours, i.e. minus 7 hours in winter compared to France, Belgium and Switzerland, and minus 8 hours in summer. Minus 1 hour compared to Montreal.
Spoken languages Costa Rica
Spanish, the official language. In reality, it's more a question of Castilian, which has the reputation of being one of the purest in Latin America, but is currently so colorful that one wonders when this purity dates back to. The differences between Spanish from Spain and Costa Rica are few in substance. More difficult to grasp are the deformations or old usages, such as voseo (the old form of vouvoiement), corresponding to French vouvoiement, where "vos" replaces "tu". This changes the conjugation of the second person singular: "tu puedes" = "vos podés". But "tu puedes" is perfectly understood by Costa Ricans, as it is in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Similarly, usted ("you", singular) and ustedes ("you", plural) are less formal than in Spain, and are used with family and friends to express esteem and affection. To avoid any confusion, it's best to use usted for everyone, as Costa Ricans have been doing for some years now.
Native languages. There is no common name for the Indian languages of Costa Rica. They are distinguished according to territory or indigenous people. The indigenous languages spoken in Costa Rica are Bribri, Maleku, Guaymí, Cabécar and Boruca. However, these indigenous communities represent only 1% of the population and occupy 350,000 hectares of the territory. For this reason, they are only spoken in isolated areas such as the Talamanca mountain range.
The use of English. On the Caribbean coast, English is spoken with a Spanish syntax inherited from the Jamaican workers who came to settle here at the end of the 19th century - Spanish mixed with English or vice versa - but tourism, business and the Gringa invasion mean that many Costa Ricans speak English, in addition to Spanish, which is a little different from what they learned at school. They speak it quickly and often alter the pronunciation. Thus, the double "ll" and the "y" are pronounced "dj" rather than "y" (e.g.: amarillo "jaune" is pronounced "amaridjo"; and yo "je", "djo").
Teaching French. In November 2014, Costa Rica became an observer member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) at the Dakar summit. Its membership has consolidated the place of French in the only Latin American country where its learning is compulsory in secondary education (around 400,000 learners and 1,000 French teachers).
Communication Costa Rica
Mobile network and Internet. The best way to communicate is to buy a SIM card from a local cell phone operator. The best is to go to Kölbi or Claro. Make sure you specify that you don't want a subscription, but a no-obligation card for the vacations. You'll be able to make calls and access the Internet on your smartphone. Network and Internet coverage remains excellent throughout the country. Only in the most isolated national parks will you be cut off from the world.
Electricity and measurements Costa Rica
110 volts AC. The electrical outlets are American type, with flat plugs. Therefore, you should bring adapters(adaptadores) that can be easily found in general electrical stores for about 2,000 colones.
Luggage Costa Rica
Clothing and footwear. Loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, T-shirts and cotton outfits are recommended in this hot, humid climate, which prevails for most of the year. Avoid thick or synthetic fabrics, which dry slowly! For walking, take good all-terrain hiking boots, which also protect against snake bites (rare, rest assured). Wear long pants in the forest, to protect you from branches and insect bites. Nights (and even days) can be cool at altitude, with temperatures sometimes dropping as low as 3 or 4°C: so pack a little wool, a light, warm fleece, and/or an effective windbreaker.
Finally, when going out, Costa Ricans like to dress elegantly; take along an outfit that can be used for such occasions.
Mosquito protection. Mosquito repellent is vital from dusk onwards, especially if you're staying near rivers or lakes. In Tortuguero, as in the forest, mosquitoes are ferocious, so spray yourself well before setting off on a walk. Pack some in your suitcase as a precaution, but you can also easily find some in local supermarkets.
Protect yourself from the rain. Equip yourself with a poncho-type raincoat, effective in the event of sudden showers (very frequent in the rainy season) and preferable to an umbrella or K-Way (insufficient in the event of heavy rain).
A useful little extra. When staying in lodges, bring a flashlight or headlamp to get around at night, especially from your room or bungalow to the dining room. There is little or no lighting in the lanes, in keeping with the eco-tourism and energy-saving concept. You'll also appreciate this when you go on a night-time excursion.
Travel bag. In the Osa Peninsula, transfers are made by boat without a pontoon and right on the shore, so it's advisable to take a light, flexible, waterproof travel bag. Waterproofing is also a must to protect tablets, smartphones and other high-tech devices that can suffer from high humidity. Finally, for extreme sports or snorkeling enthusiasts, a camera with waterproof protection is a must: you'll be sorry you didn't think of it!
