Tips on Traveling in Costa Rica
- Do not bring U.S. $100 bills to Costa Rica --- the counterfeiting problem is so severe that Costa Rican merchants and banks will not accept them, and banks may confiscate them even if they are genuine. Memorize the exchange rate well enough to be able to instantly calculate what you are paying, because some people deliberately take advantage of tourists' lack of understanding of the value of the local currency.
- Most people in Costa Rica speak Spanish as a native language. Basic conversational English is common in the resorts but can be hard to find outside of the tourist track. Because Spanish is a relatively easy language for native English speakers to learn, consider learning at least the numbers along with basic bargaining phrases before you go, at least if you plan on shopping in Costa Rica.
- The crime rate in Costa Rica is the lowest in Latin America. Nevertheless, pickpocketing is common and if you lose your passport, credit cards and money at the same time, you could be in trouble. Consider wearing a money belt worn inside the shirt to carry these essentials and a fanny pack around your waist as a decoy for would-be pickpockets.
- There are two aspects of Costa Rica's climate that you should take into account before you leave --- sun and mosquitoes. If all of your time will be spent at a tourist resort, mosquito repellent and sunscreen should be readily available. Just off the "beaten path", however, it can be difficult to find the appropriate level of sunscreen for your skin, and labels likely will be in Spanish rather than English. For this reason, it is advisable to stock up before you go. Furthermore, the Costa Rican climate is not like California's --- if you are the kind of person who detests hot, humid weather, then Costa Rica is not for you. Finally, be aware that the rainy season begins in late April and ends in November. This doesn't mean that it rains all day --- in many areas of Costa Rica rain is limited to a couple of hours each afternoon on most days. On the bright side, prices tend to fall when tourism declines during the rainy season.