General Information

 

Location    

Costa Rica is located in Central America, south of Nicaragua and north of Panama. The western side of the country is boardered by the Pacific Ocean and the eastern side by the Caribbean Sea

Capital City

San José

Population (est.)                          

4.8 million

Language                                            

The native language is Spanish and English is spoken throughout various tourist areas of the country

Climate                                               

In general, the climate in Costa Rica is very pleasant both in the dry season that extends from December to April as in the rainy season, which covers the months of May to November. In the latter, rain is usually expected in the afternoons, while mornings are sunny.

It is a tropical climate with an average temperature of 22º C that rises considerably in the coastal zones. Changes in temperature are constant and because of the short distances of a small country, they can be experienced,  in a single day.

Due to factors such as geographic location, climatic conditions, formation of mountain ranges, mountains and valleys, this country enjoys different subclimates that give rise to diverse types of vegetation.

Currency                                           

The national currency is the Costa Rican Colon (CRC), though U.S. dollars and credit cards are widely accepted.

International Airports

San Jose: Juan Santamaría International Airport and Tobías Bolaños International Airport

Liberia: Daniel Oduber International Airport

Airlines

Flight time from the UK direct is 11 hours

Direct Airlines:

British Airways flies direct to Juan Santamaria International Airport

Thomas Cook flies direct to Daniel Oduber International Airport      

Indirect Airlines:                              

American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines. Avianca, Aeroméxico, Delta Air Lines, Iberia, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, United, U.S. Airways and Westjet

Entry Requirements                     

UK citizens need a valid passport and VISA is not required

What To Wear

Short pants and a T-shirt but  we recommend a sweater and a light jacket for the evenings as temperatures can drop.  If you are going to hike through rain forests or cloud forests it is advisable to have long sleeves and lightweight pants. Having a light waterproof jacket and overalls always comes in handy especially when walking through the rain forest or visiting during rain season.

Do Not Forget

Insect repellent, comfortable shoes, bathing suit, waterproof clothing, sun protection and sunglasses.

Vaccination

None if you travel directly from UK

Time

6 hours behind GMT. Schedule does not change in summer.

Country Dialing Code

+506