Costa Rica is a country in Central America that has both beaches and rainforests. It often gets confused with Mexico or Puerto Rico, but it is not like either. It has a beauty that is all its own and you should get to know it.
Many people want to visit the capital of Costa Rica. If you choose to visit San Jose, you should look at https://www.sanjosecostarica.com/ to see the guide that they have. They can help you to find the right hotels, restaurants, and beaches.
This article will give you ten things that you should know about Costa Rica. It is a small amount of information that you need to know. You can also do more research to find the information that you need.
The Things You Need to Know
1. Small Country – Although Costa Rica is a small country, it takes much longer to get around than you might think. This is because of the infrastructure so the roads don’t always go as the crow flies. The normal speed limit in most places is only fifty miles per hour so that alone will make the trip longer. It is suggested that you add an hour to what your GPS will tell you.
2. Tap Water is Safe to Drink – Although the more remote places in the country don’t have drinkable water, most of the country does. You can drink tap water, but it is suggested that you bring a filter if you are sensitive to things like that. Most hotels will let you know which faucets to use to get your safe water.
3. It Gets Cold but There is No Snow – It can get cold in the country, but mostly in the higher areas. Mostly, you will have typical tropical temperatures that will be very comfortable for you. It can get into the lower 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night in some areas but mostly is around the 80s- or 90s-degree Fahrenheit during the day.
4. The Standard Currency in Tourism is the US Dollar – Most of the places in Costa Rica will accept the US dollar as currency: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=CRC. The quotes for day trips and tours are generally listed in US dollars, as well. This is because, for a long time, the most common tourists were from the US. Other currencies, other than the US dollar and Costa Rican currency, are not accepted.
5. The Country is Fun Even in the Rainy Season – The dry season is always the best time to visit, but you can even have fun in the rainy season. The dry season is the busiest, as well, so you might want to visit during the rainy season. Many of the prices for hotels and other tourist attractions are lower during this season.
6. Sloths Aren’t Everywhere – You can find sloths if you know the right places to look, but they won’t be in the tourist towns most likely. You will need to go to the parts of Costa Rica that have rainforests to get a better chance to see them. See where sloths live here. Even then, they are difficult to spot because they are so good at camouflage.
7. Police Can Stop You at Any Time – In this country, the police can stop you at any time and ask you for your papers. You want to keep a color copy of your passport with a color copy of your tourist stamp. If you want to legally drive here, you must have the original copy of your passport. Once the police check your papers, they will let you go. They are almost always friendly about the stop.
8. WI FI is Readily Available in Hotels – Wi-Fi isn’t as readily available in other places, but you can have it at your hotel. Some restaurants might have it, but you will need to ask for a password. Most restaurants will willingly give you the password as long as you are eating there. There are other ways to get Wi-Fi if you need it.
9. Standard Tip is 10% – The standard tip in most places is 10%, but it is not mandatory. Usually, a tip, or service tax, is included in the service. You may tip and it is very much appreciated, but it is not mandatory. The service workers will accept US dollars or colones, the Costa Rica currency.
10. English is Widely Spoken – Not everyone in Costa Rica speaks English, but many in the tourist trade do. As a tourist, it is very easy to get around without knowing Spanish. It would be good to know some Spanish just in case there are others that you need to speak with.
Conclusion
Costa Rica is a wonderful place to visit because the country is very nice to tourists. The tourist trade makes it very easy for foreign travelers to get around. This is because English is a common language, and the US dollar is a common currency. Do yourself a favor and visit Costa Rica.
