Here you will find information about Costa Rica. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

SEASONS

As a tropical country, Costa Rica experiences two seasons. The wet season, generally from May to November, is called invierno (winter) by Costa Ricans. The rest of the year is considered the dry season and is called verano (summer).

As the name denotes, rainforest areas are rainy! However, prolonged periods of gloomy days are practically nonexistent. Here is what you can expect on average:

TEMPERATURE

Subtropical conditions prevail year-round in Costa Rica. Temperatures vary more with altitude than by season. Here are some approximate averages to help you plan your trip.

CUISINE

Costa Rican food is tasty. Rice, beans, bread, tortillas, and fruit make up a large part of the Costa Rican diet. A typical breakfast dish is "Gallo pinto", a mixture of black beans and rice. Green or ripe plantains, either boiled or fried, are a staple food. Empanadas, chicken with rice, and gallos -- tortillas filled with meat and vegetables -- are all common dishes. In many areas, the traveler can find restaurants which specialize in brick-oven pizzas made to order -- a favorite with tourists and locals alike. The national Costa Rican beer is Imperial, and there are many types of rum manufactured locally. Of course, Costa Ricans drink a lot of coffee, which is one of the country's major crops.

CUSTOMS

Common greetings include buenos días, buenas tardes, or buenas noches depending on whether it is morning, afternoon, or night. Among younger people, the more informal greeting hola is popular, but some may consider it to be disrespectful. To address someone formally, use titles such as señor and señorita. Use Don and Doña to address an older person with familiarity and respect.

Unlike some Latin American countries, Costa Ricans do not generally drop by someone's home to visit unannounced unless they are good friends. Costa Ricans are reasonably punctual. If you are an invited guest it is proper to bring a small gift and show up on time.

To be polite, Costa Ricans sometimes invite a visitor to come and stay but do not expect them to accept the invitation or to show up.

To counter this, many locals will decline an invitation initially in order to determine if it is sincere.

PUBLIC HOLYDAYS

January 1st: New Year's Day

March/April: Holy Thursday and Good Friday

April 11th: Juan Santamaría Day

May 1st: Labor Day

July 25th: Día de Guanacaste

August 2nd: Virgen de Los Angeles

August 15th: Mother's Day

September 15th: Independence Day

October 12th: Día de la Raza (Columbus Day)

December 25th: Christmas Day

Most shops and businesses are closed in San José during Easter week and the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

MONEY MATTERS

The monetary unit is the colón. although US dollars can be used as widely as the colon. (Taxis, shops, etc) At Selva Verde we gladly accept the colon, US dollars, credit cards, or travelers checks.
(Subject to change at any time.)

CASH

US dollars are widely accepted, however you will probably get colones as change. Bring small denominations.

CREDIT CARDS

The majority of hotels and businesses will accept US dollars and major credit cards, such as VISA, Master Card, and American Express. VISA is the most widely accepted card.

TRAVELERS CHECKS

Travelers' checks are safer, but generally not accepted in the villages. Buy fairly large denominations since overseas banks charge a commission on each check you cash regardless of the denomination. Try to cash your checks at banks or change windows - hotels and airports tend to charge higher commissions.

CHANGING BACK INTO DOLLARS

The exchange rate back to dollars is not as favorable, so avoid having to exchange a large amount of money.

TIPPING

Guides and Drivers

It is customary to tip your guide and tour bus driver for good service. We expect it will be since Selva Verde only uses the best! For daylong tours, we recommend a minimum of $5 per person for your guide and $3 for your driver. For shorter tours, we recommend a $1 per person tip.

Maid Service

It is appropriate to tip 50¢ - $1 per day for maid-service. It is customary to leave a tip on the desk in your room at Selva Verde Lodge. At other lodges, you may find an envelope in your room on your last nights stay.

Taxi Drivers

Prices are generally bargained beforehand. Tips are not expected but small change left from the fare is appreciated.

Restaurants

If your meals are pre-paid, you may consider $1 for breakfast or $2-$3 for lunch and dinner. A 10-15% tip is already included in Costa Rican restaurant invoices.

Porters

Porters at the airport appreciate $1 per bag. At hotels, it is reasonable to offer your porter $1.50 for each trip to the room.

COMMUNICATIONS

Phones

We have telephones in each room and a phone system which allows for credit card or calling card calls at specified rates. Additionally, pre-paid international calling cards, which may be purchased at established businesses throughout Costa Rica can be used at reception.

Mail

Hotels often provide stamps for letters and postcards, otherwise purchase them at the town's main post office. Stamps are available at the Selva Verde Gift shop.

Email

Internet service is spotty in Costa Rica. Selva Verde Lodge offers internet access on an availability basis.

CONSERVATIONS ORGANIZATIONS

(A few of our favorites.)

Aviarios del Caribe Rehabilitation Center
Dedicated rainforest conservation as well as sloth and wildlife rehabilitation.
P.O. Box 569-7300
Limón, Costa Rica
aviarios@costarica.net
www.ogphoto.com

Caribbean Conservation Corporation
Dedicated to sea turtle conservation, marine and coastal wildlife education.
4424 NW 13th St. Suite #A1
Gainesville, FL 32609
ccc@cccturtle.org
www.cccturtle.org

QUICK STATS

Electricity: 110 volts, 60 cycle AC power
Time Zone: Equivalent to Central Time (however, no daylight saving)
Official Language: Spanish

PACKING HINTS

Here is a list of items that our visitors have found helpful for travelling in Costa Rica.
Remember, experienced travelers pack light and fast drying clothing is highly recommended!

Print a packing list

Accessories

• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Personal hygiene products
• Prescription glasses/sunglasses (extra pair)
• Contact lens supplies
• Camera and extra batteries
• Binoculars
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Water bottle
• Plastic bags
• Backpack or fanny pack

Clothing

• Undergarments (bring extra)
• Swimsuit
• At least 1 pair of nylon shorts
• T-shirts
• Walking or sport shorts
• 1 pair cotton pants (for horseback riding)
• 1 pair of lightweight pants (for mosquito protection)
• 1 lightweight long-sleeved shirt
• 1 windbreaker or rain jacket
• Hat
• Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
• Long socks if you plan to wear the rubber boots provided at the lodge for guided hikes
• Sport sandals or water shoes (for white-water rafting)

PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION

All international guests
Adults and children need a passport to visit Costa Rica. It is recommended and often required that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your departure date.

For U.S. guests
We recommend the following resources to help you obtain the documents you'll need:

Passport Application: Instructions on how and where to apply or print passport applications.

For other international guests
Contact your government officials for passport information.

Will you need a visa?
Please contact the nearest Costa Rican embassy for details.

HEALTH & SAFETY

We do no recommend any special precautions for visitors with respect to tropical diseases. Naturally, the rainforest environment requires caution, walking the trails to avoid any dangerous encounters with wildlife. For this reason, we always recommend walking with a naturalist guide.

Mosquito borne illnesses such as malaria have never been an issue for any guest or staff at Selva Verde. Dengue fever is rare, and the best prevention is to apply insect repellent and avoid hours of peak mosquito activity. If you have any further questions regarding health or safety information, please do not hesitate to ask your reservations specialist, and feel free to review the resources below.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
CDC recommendations for medical preparation and current health alerts.

Travel Health Online
Learn how to avoid or treat common travel maladies before you go.

US State Dept. Travel Warnings
A current listing of US State Department travel warnings.

GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION

Travel Insured
Please visit our partner, Travel Insured, for travel insurance and additional information on coverage and cost of premiums. We encourage our visitors to consider travel insurance for financial coverage in the event of an unforeseen emergency before or during your trip.

Currency Converter
See what your money is worth in the country you are headed to.

US State Dept. Country Background Notes
Find more general information about Costa Rica.

Traveling Safely
Tips from the US State Department to help you plan a safe trip.

CNN World Weather
Find out what the weather looks like when you are scheduled to travel.