Costa Rica is in the same time zone as U.S. Central Standard Time, but it does not observe daylight savings time.

SAN JOSÉ

You do not need any formal clothing for this trip. Some people like to dress up for dinner, but it is not necessary. Since we’ll be participating in many outdoor activities, you should pack clothing that is easy to manage and comfortable to wear. You should bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes and a plastic bag or two to put them in when traveling between the hotels. Also be sure to bring a bathing suit, sunscreen, a hat and mosquito repellant.

Visitors from the US, Canada and Australia need a valid passport to enter Costa Rica. The passport must be valid for at least six months past the trip dates. You do not need a visa for Costa Rica, but be prepared to show your return ticket. Passports should be in good condition, as Costa Rican Immigration may deny entry if a passport is damaged in any way. Before traveling abroad it's a good idea to make two photocopies of your passport, your driver's license and your credit cards. Leave one copy at home with a trusted person and another in your suitcase.

This tour starts and ends in San José (airport code SJO).

The tour starts on Monday, September 8, 2025 in San José, and since no activities are planned for this day until dinner, your flight can arrive at any time before 4:00PM. You will be met by our private chauffeur on your arrival at the San José airport for your transfer to the hotel.

This tour ends after breakfast on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 in San José, and you can leave any time during that day. We will arrange for your private airport transfer in accordance with your flight's departure time.

To avoid paying the single supplement, we offer guaranteed roommate matching, and we will try to match you with a roommate of similar age. Otherwise, there are five single rooms available on this tour, but the single rooms tend to fill up early. Please keep in mind that all shared rooms are non-smoking.

The Costa Rica Adventure tour group is limited to the maximum of 16 women + the Tour Director. The minimum group size is 10 women + the Tour Director. In addition to the tour Director, the travelers will be assisted by professional local guides and bus drivers, who will accompany the group throughout the tour.

Although malaria in Costa Rica is not very common, malaria prophylaxis (usually pills that you take daily) may be recommended by your travel doctor. Vaccination against yellow fever is required if arriving within 6 months after traveling to or transiting countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. There have been cases of Dengue Fever reported, and since there is no vaccine, the most important precaution a traveler can take is to avoid mosquito bites in dengue-prone areas. Try to remain in well-screened or air-conditioned areas, use mosquito repellents (preferably those containing high level concertation DEET) on skin and clothing, and wear long sleeves and long pants. Zika Virus cases have been reported in Costa Rica, so until more is known about it, pregnant women should not travel to Costa Rica. For more information, contact your travel doctor or travel clinic. Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage and carry them in their original containers, with pharmacy labels, otherwise they might not make it through airport security. Carry the generic name of prescription medicines, in case a local pharmacist is unfamiliar with the brand name. The Costa Rican sun is very strong, particularly in summer (the North American winter), and sunscreen of at least SPF 15 should be applied frequently. All walks in the forest are accompanied by experienced guides, and most of the wild animals you may encounter are extremely wary of contact with humans; we'll also be in the wilderness, far away from areas where diseases are mostly found and far away from people.

Is it safe to drink local water. Costa Rica can be very hot and it is easy to become dehydrated, especially that a lot of the activities are outdoors. You will need to drink plenty of fluids. Costa Rican health authorities state that tap water is safe to drink in all areas of the country, however, we suggest you drink bottled water just to be on the safe side.

Public restrooms are rare, but most restaurants and cafes will let you use their facilities, sometimes for a small charge – never more than 500 colones (about 95¢). Bus terminals and other major public buildings usually have toilets, also at a charge. Don’t flush your toilet paper. Costa Rican plumbing is often poor and has very low pressure. Dispose of toilet paper in the rubbish bin inside the bathroom. Please keep in mind that public toilets require payment, so you should always have some coins in the local currency with you to pay for them.

Although most of Costa Rica is safe, petty crime and robberies committed against tourists are endemic. Pickpocketing and theft remain the most common crimes. U.S. citizen tourists and residents should exercise at least the same level of caution in Costa Rica that you would in major cities or tourist areas in the United States. Thieves target gold chains, cameras and video cameras, prominent jewelry, and nice sunglasses. Be sure not to leave valuables unsecured in your hotel room, or unattended on the beach. It is recommended that, whenever possible, you leave your passport in a hotel safe, and travel with a photocopy of the pertinent pages. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid engaging in high-risk behavior, such as excessive consumption of alcohol which can increase your vulnerability to accidents or opportunistic crime.

Costa Rica is fairly safe for women travelers, but as with other Latin American countries, single women and a few women traveling together will undoubtedly attract masculine attention. For lack of better phrasing, Costa Rica is a typically "macho" Latin American nation. Single women can expect catcalls, hisses, whistles, and car horns. Just say no or walk away. In most cases, while annoying, this is harmless and intended by Tico men as a compliment. Nonetheless, women should be careful walking alone at night throughout the country. The downside is that it's difficult for a woman to go out for a drink by herself and not receive attention. If you're not comfortable with this, you may want to stick to higher-end restaurants or hotel bars. Costa Rican women in groups of two or three often link arms or hold hands as a sign that they are not interested in male attention. At night, taking taxis is safer than walking by yourself.

During the Costa Rica tour, we will travel mostly by a private bus. To be able to enjoy the tour and participate in scheduled activities, you need to be able to walk, at a leisurely pace, up to 4 miles throughout the day, including steps, and quite often on uneven surfaces. You need to be able to stand unassisted for up to 30 minutes, you need to be able to climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles and boats without assistance and manage your own luggage without assistance. This trip is not strenuous, but you should be of at least average fitness to enjoy all scheduled activities. To get the most out of our time in Costa Rica, this tour is busy, and you must be prepared for some full days and early starts.

There is no real summer or winter in Costa Rica and the rainy (or green) season lasts from May to November, with the months of December through April having little to no rain. Despite the rain, the weather is still warm and sunny in September, with average temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The average annual temperature is around 70 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit and the coolest months of the year are November, December and January. The months from March through May are the hottest months of the year, so make sure you protect yourself from the sun. Costa Rica is also humid.

Costa Rica is stated to have one of the best telecommunications infrastructures in Central America, so you can remain almost as connected as you are at home. Internet is widely spread and hotels where we'll be staying offer WiFi, although there are times when it might only be available in the lobby and common areas. SIM cards are available in Costa Rica and the easiest place to get a prepaid phone or SIM for your unlocked phone is in the airport. There is a chance you will need to pay in colones and cash only so you may need the airport ATM.

Costa Rica’s official and predominant language is Spanish. The variety spoken, Costa Rican Spanish, is a form of Central American Spanish. Costa Rica is a linguistically diverse country and home to at least five living local indigenous languages spoken by the descendants of pre-Columbian peoples: Maléku, Cabécar, Bribri, Guaymí, and Buglere. People working in tourist areas of Costa Rica generally speak English, however, in the more rural areas you will find that their English is limited.

The Costa Rican currency is called Colon. US dollars may or may not be accepted, but don’t count on it, especially in rural areas. Major tourist areas do accept dollars, as do most hotels and travel related businesses, but a some small restaurants as well as almost all the non-commercial artisan shops will accept neither dollars nor credit cards. It is always a good idea to have Costa Rican currency for small tips and in local shops. Quite often, if something is priced in dollars, you could be overpaying. ATMs can be found throughout the country.

How much money should I bring? 
Your budget depends on what you intend to do, see, buy, etc. Nevertheless, in order to give you a fair estimate on costs, a typical lunch costs around $7 at an affordable small restaurant to $25 (or more) at a nicer establishment. Beer or mixed drinks can cost about $2 each at a typical bar or restaurant, and up to twice as much at a nicer hotel or high-end eatery. Taxi fares are affordable. Costa Rica can be seen by some as a very affordable destination and as expensive by others. There is a dual economy here (local/foreign) and if you wish to make the effort to find bargains they certainly do exist, as do tourist traps that overcharge. You should know the value of the colon vs. dollar and purchase accordingly.

Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated in Costa Rica. The tips for guides, drivers and group's meals at restaurants are included in the cost of the tour. As a general rule, Costa Ricans do not tip in restaurants, however, if you choose you can tip between 5 and 10%, depending on service. At each hotel included on this tour, the tips for housekeeping and bellhop service have been pre-paid and are already included in the cost of the tour. You do not need to leave additional tip for these services, unless you wish to do so. At the conclusion of the tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director a gratuity. We recommend $15 per person per day if you feel that her services enhanced your experience of visiting Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is not particularly known as a shopping haven, there are however popular items to bring home from Costa Rica, and they include coffee, Sibu chocolate, banana leaf paper products, recycled coffee bags, Lizano sauce, guava and other jellies, vanilla, wood carvings and Boruca masks.

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