The citizens from the following countries can visit Costa Rica without a visa and can stay up to 90 days:

The citizens from the following countries can visit Costa Rica without a visa and can stay up to 30 days. Once in the country they can apply for an extension, which allows them to stay a total of 90 days:

NOTE: Citizens from countries not mentioned above need to contact the consulate or embassy of Costa Rica in their respective countries to get a visa.

CUSTOM REQUIRMENTS

No customs duties are charged on personal luggage, which includes an array of items for personal and professional use, as long as they do not appear in quantities that suggest commercial intent. Costa Rican law requires that baggage be examined and that travelers submit customs declarations listing all articles acquired abroad, including fruit, vegetables, meat, meat products, biological products such as vaccinations, serums, etc. In the case of families, one declaration can be filled out by the family head.

For more information on travel requirements to get into Costa Rica please contact us and we will be glad to help you.

• Buena nota: fantastic, great
• Chicha: anger
• Chiquito, güila or güilita: child
• Chunche: thing, object
• Fila: line
• Goma: hangover
• Güevón: man, or stubborn
• Güevonada, carajada: useless, something questionable
• Harina: money
• Idiay: expression meaning: hello, what's new?, hey!, what's next?, or what are you waiting for!
• Jalar una torta: get in trouble
• Jale: hurry up
• Jamar: to eat
• Jartar, jartando: to eat, eating
• Jodido, bicho malo: a bad person
• Jodión, jodiona: bothersome person
• Jupa: head
• Macho, macha: blond, blonde
• Maje, mae, carajo: dude, man
• Muy helado: cold, freezing
• Peliar: to fight
• Pulpería: small grocery store
• Pura vida: full of zest
• Quién quita: perhaps, maybe
• Roco: old person
• Salado: too bad, tough luck
• Saludes: greetings
• Soda: a small café
• Ticos: Costa Rican people
• Timba: big stomach
• Tiquicia: Costa Rica
• Tuanis: really cool, awesome
• Vos: you

There are plenty of things to do in Costa Rica, knowing what the Costa Rica top attractions are will help you get the most out of your trip. The following are the most popular:

MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE

The Monteverde Reserve is one of the most diverse and richest cloud forest in the new world and it has extensive trails which allow visitors to enjoy a rich diversity of flora and wildlife; with easy walking you will have the opportunity to watch jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, colorful insects, butterflies and birds.

ARENAL VOLCANO

Rising over a mile in height, Arenal Volcano located in the northwestern region of Costa Rica, offers visitors a rare opportunity to view one of the world’s most active volcano. At night lava flows and the ejection of glowing hot rocks can provide viewers with an impressive fire works display. Arenal is famous for it’s thermal waters that spring out of the volcano. This is an attraction you can’t miss when you visit Costa Rica, it’s a nature wonder that gives you a soothing feeling and a relaxing sensation that will last for days.

MANUEL ANTONIO

Located on the top of a hill in the Pacific Ocean near Quepos, Manuel Antonio has plenty of sandy white beaches and a forest filled with a variety of monkeys. It is the most visited wildlife area of the country and it is the best area in the Central Pacific region. It has beautiful nature, biological diversity and amazing scenery.

CANOPY TOURS

Whether it's a zip-line thrill ride, gondola, or naturalist educational trip through the treetops, canopy tours have exploded in popularity in the past decade. Most of the rainforest’s life dwells in the canopy, high above ground. Consequently, there are a large number of “canopy tours” offered. It is thrilling to zip across the forest like a high-tech Tarzan, and kids love it.

TORTUGEURO NATIONAL PARK

Whether it’s by kayak, by boat or hiking trough forest trails, Tortuguero National Park is a perfect example of tropical rain forest. The Park is made up of more than 18000 hectares and protects a wealth of exotic wildlife including those that gave it its name - turtles. Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica's most popular National Parks. It is a wilderness area with great biological variety.

BEACHES

A lot of beaches await you on the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts. Costa Rica is best known for its number of every type, texture and color beautiful beaches and huge cattle reaches surrounded by a rich diversity of natural habitats, estuaries, posture land, dry tropical forest, marshes, rivers folklore, music, color and traditional food. They come in a variety of colors with sands that run from white to black and textures ranging from powder soft to coarse and gritty. Public beaches, isolated beaches, great surfing beaches, whatever you prefer, it’s there.

TABACON HOT SPRINGS

This could very well be at the top of the list of Costa Rica attractions. In this hot springs you can relax in the soothing waters and be caressed by the cool night air while observing the stars and the incredible night sky above the volcano. Enjoy this natural wonder of Costa Rica and unforgettable feeling in any of the mineral pools and naturally warm waterfalls.

POAS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK

Only an hour drive from San Jose, this is one of the best things to see around San Jose. While not as impressive as Arenal, this volcano has is one of the world's largest geysers with an awesome crater, over 1.5 km. wide! The area is filled with ash so there is little vegetation near the summit for an otherworldly experience unlike any of the other Costa Rica National Parks.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Experience the thrill of white water rafting! Full explosion of excitement. The scenery while rafting is just marvelous. The vegetation that will surround you plus the power of the waters of the river will transport you into a great wild adventure.

CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

Corcovado National Park is unparalleled for natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and foliage nearly pulsing with lushness. Corcovado is one of the rainiest regions in Costa Rica with records of up to 5500 mm. of rainfall on the highest peaks. Corcovado National Park is an undeniably beautiful place, considered to be one of the most important natural preserves in the Americas. It has been called "the most biologically intense place on Earth" by National Geographic.

For more information on top activities and accommodations in Costa Rica please click on activities or hotels or feel free to contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

GENERAL TIPS IN COSTA RICA

• Costa Rican lifestyle tends to be more laid-back than that of North American or European countries, be patient if things take longer to be done than in your home country.
  
• The road infrastructure (street conditions and road signals) in Costa Rica is not very developed, so be patient when traveling within the country.
  
• Cars do not yield to other cars or pedestrians! Be careful when you cross our streets.
  
• Buy coffee. Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, you’re bound to know someone who is and coffee is the best buy in Costa Rica.
  
• Wear conservative clothing. Foreigners often receive more attention than the want, and this is one way to help avoid it.
  
• Don’t forget to ask what comes on the food you order.
  
• Don’t leave things unattended on the beach while you’re swimming.
  
• Always carry a photocopy of your passport, showing your photograph and the date you entered the country. Leave the original in the safety deposit box at your hotel.
  
• Keep your airline ticket, important documents, cash and travelers checks in the hotel safe. Write the numbers of your travelers checks in a separate place.
  
• Always change your money at a bank or your hotel, never on the street.
  
• Don't wear valuable jewelry and carry only the amount of money you'll need for each day.
  
• Under no circumstances give money to traffic police or other police officers.
  
• Cabs are red with the license plate number painted in the middle of a yellow triangle on both doors and airport cabs are orange.
  
• Inside the National Parks follow the safety tips posted inside the parks, explore the trails in groups of two or more and do not touch the plants or attempt to pet the animals.
  
• At the beach find out what parts of the coast are safe and which are not and if you feel yourself being pulled out to sea, stay calm, do not try to swim directly to the shore, instead, swim parallel to the shore towards breaking waves and let them help you get back to the beach.
  
• If you are going out at night, have the hotel receptionist call you a cab.
  
• Please make every effort to have a minimal negative impact on the natural and human environment that you encounter and to conserve natural resources.

DRIVING TIPS IN COSTA RICA

• Unless otherwise indicated, minimum speed on highways is 40 kilometers per hour (kph). The speed limit varies and is posted by the road. On highways and secondary roads the speed limit is 60 kph, unless otherwise indicated. In urban areas, the speed limit is 40 kph, unless otherwise indicated. Around school zones and in front of hospitals and clinics the speed limit is 25 kph.
  
• When driving remember that our roads have many curves, it is better to slow down and enjoy the landscapes.
  
• The law requires all car passengers to wear a seat belt.
  
• If you are involved in an accident, don't move the cars until the police arrive. Try also to get as much information as you can (other driver’s ID, car plates, etc.)
  
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is strictly prohibited. The law enables police officers to perform alcohol test on drivers.
  
• Driving on beaches is strictly prohibited everywhere, except when there is no other path connecting two towns.
  
• Most gas stations accept mayor credit cards. Don't show cash in open places. Fill up your car before returning it.
  
• If you are involved in an accident report it by calling 911 or 800-0123456.
  
• Drive confidently and stay alert. Do not stop for people making signals and never stop for hitchhikers.
  
• Keep your car doors locked at all times.

TELEPHONE TIPS IN COSTA RICA

• To call Costa Rica from another country dial the international access code followed by the country code (506) and then the local number.
  
• To make a call within Costa Rica dial the 7 digit number.
  
• To make a direct international call from Costa Rica dial the international access code (00), followed by the country code, then the area code and finally the local number.
  
• For domestic assistance dial 113 and for international assistance dial 124.
  
• For an international operator dial 116.
  
• Pay phones may sometimes require a coin deposit or a calling card (the calling card can be purchased in several establishments like mini-markets).