Central Pacific Coast Travel Guide
The Pacific is more developed for tourism than the Caribbean, but it still holds a good mixture of luxury resorts and deserted beaches. Some of the Costa Rica's best beaches are in this region. Costa Ricans use the perfectly suited phrase ' ', meaning 'pure life', to describe the country and examples of this are evident everywhere along the Pacific coastline.
Strung along the coast are scores of seaside villages and picturesque towns, exotic beaches and several protected reserves or national parks. Visitors will find an abundance of accommodation, seafood, and local souvenirs.
Puntarenas is the largest town and was the main port, but is now mainly used as a base to catch ferries to the Nicoya Peninsula. Further south, the Tarcoles Bridge is a renowned spot for watching the alligators in the river below.
Package-holiday tourists stream to the beach resort town of Jaco, one of the best places to surf and with a reputation for being a party town. There is plenty of accommodation and there are many restaurants, and the night scene is lively.
There are also many activities in the area, including surfing, kayaking, and swimming in the azure waters of the Pacific. Travellers can enjoy hiking, birding, and wildlife spotting in the forests of the national parks, as well as beach walks, volleyball, and horseriding.
Beautiful parks such as Manuel Antonio National Park and Absoluta Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve have pristine white beaches as well as birds and animal life. The tiny fishing hamlet of Montezuma near the entrance to Cabo Blanco is surrounded by pretty coves and is a relaxed place to hang out for a few days.
Things to do in Central Pacific Coast
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio is the smallest national park in Costa Rica but also one of the more popular because of its beautiful white beaches, rocky headlands, and tropical rainforest. Among this varied landscape are typical Costa Rican animals such as sloths, agoutis, monkeys, and iguanas. It has a well-developed trail system for solo explorers, but knowledgeable local guides are also available at the park entrance. Picnic areas are situated along the coastal trails, and visitors can admire the views from clifftop lookouts. Friendly Quepos is the nearest town to the park and is also the sport-fishing centre in the region. Sailfish and marlin are the sought after deep-sea prizes. Apart from fishing, there are zip line tours of the jungle canopy, which are thrilling and fun, and there is even a surf school located in the park. There are also a few spas located on the outskirts for those who want some pampering after an active day in the jungle.
Costa Rica travel info
Electricity
Electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. Flat two-pin plugs and three-pin (two flat blades with round grounding pin) plugs are in use.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken.
Money
The Costa Rican colon (CRC) is divided into 100 centimos and is the official currency, although US dollars are also widely accepted. US dollars can be exchanged in banks and many hotels, but currency other than US dollars is difficult to exchange. Using black market exchange options is risky, as these unofficial outlets have been known to pass on counterfeit bills printed in Colombia. Banks close anywhere from 3pm to 4pm. Major credit cards are widely accepted; ATMs are available in major towns throughout the country, but it is advisable to always have some local cash handy.
Tipping
Hotels add a 10 percent service charge and a three percent tourist tax to their bills, and a tip of 10 percent is usual in tourist areas and at upmarket restaurant. Taxi drivers are not normally tipped but passengers can use discretion if it's been a long trip or there was intense traffic. People will often round off the fare to the nearest Costa Rican colon or US dollar. Tour guides, on the other hand, are normally tipped. In general, staff will appreciate a five to 10 percent tip if service has been particularly good.
Health
Vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid are recommended, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if visitors are arriving from a country where yellow fever occurs, excluding Argentina and Panama, or if they are coming from Tanzania or Zambia. There is a year-round risk of malaria in some regions of Costa Rica and advice should be taken on what areas are currently risky places to visit. Travellers should also find out the precautions and medication they must take to protect against the disease. Water in cities is generally safe but it is advisable to buy bottled water, especially outside the main towns where there is a risk of contamination. Dengue fever is one of a number of diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region, especially during the rainy season; protection against insect bites is the best prevention. Medical services are reliable in cities and the standard of hygiene and treatment is very high.
Safety
There is no history of terrorism in Costa Rica, though there are incidents of violent crime that occasionally target tourists. There has been an increase in attacks on tourists leaving the airport in hired cars in San Jose, so visitors should watch their belongings carefully at all times and in all places, particularly in bus stations and on public transport. Theft of, and from, cars is common. It's advisable not to wear jewellery or carry large amounts of cash, and to avoid moneychangers on the street. Strikes, protests and blockades can take place without warning, and demonstrations could disrupt travel on main roads, particularly those connecting San Jose with the coast. Visitors should check local information and plan their trip carefully, so as to stay well away from these incidents where possible.
Local customs
Costa Ricans are conservative when it comes to family values, and roles between male and female are expected to be traditional. Machismo is a key characteristic of Costa Rica culture, although women are quickly becoming more empowered in Tico society. The population is largely middle-class, Catholic, and ethnically homogenous.
Doing business
Costa Rica has a formal business environment, where men and women wear conservative suits, appointments are made and meetings begin on time. Business projects can be slow, however, as Costa Ricans are conservative in their approach to new ideas and keen to avoid risk. Spanish is the main language, but most business people speak English. Nevertheless, it is polite to have business cards as well as other promotional material printed in both English and Spanish. A lot of women have high profile jobs but the business world, like the society in general, is still male dominated. Visiting businesswomen will be treated with respect once their ability and authority is clearly established. Hours of business are generally 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday with a two-hour lunch break from 12pm.
Duty free
Travellers to Costa Rica over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 3 litres of alcohol; 500g of tobacco or 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars. Perfume for personal use is allowed provided it is a reasonable quantity.
Communications
The international access code for Costa Rica is +506. Costa Rica has one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in Latin America and WiFi is available in most hotels, restaurants, and cafes.
Passport & Visa
All foreign passengers to Costa Rica must have return or onward tickets, the necessary travel documentation for their next destination, and proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay in the country. Extensions of stay for those who are visa-exempt can be arranged on arrival. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if visitors are arriving in Costa Rica from a country where yellow fever occurs, excluding Argentina and Panama, or if they are coming from Tanzania or Zambia. It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry requirements
US citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
British citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days, provided the passport is for an endorsed British Citizen or British Overseas Territories Citizen. A British National (Overseas) does not require a visa for a stay of up to 30 days.
Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
South African citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival in Costa Rica. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
Useful contacts
Costa Rica Tourism Board, San Jose: www.visitcostarica.com
911 (General Emergency Helpline)Embassies / consulates in other countries
Embassy of Costa Rica, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 499 2991.
Embassy of Costa Rica, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7706 8844.
Embassy of Costa Rica, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 562 2855.
Costa Rica Consulate-General, Sydney, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 2 9262 3883
Honorary Consulate of Costa Rica, Johannesburg, South Africa: +27 (0)11 486 4716.
Embassies / consulates in Costa Rica
United States Embassy, San Jose: +506 2519 2000.
British Embassy, San Jose: +506 2258 2025.
Canadian Embassy, San Jose (also responsible for Australia): +506 2242 4400.
South African Consulate-General, San Jose: (+506) 222 1470