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Environment
Costa Rica is bordered to the north by Nicaragua and to the southeast by Panama. It has both a Caribbean and a Pacific coast. A series of volcanic mountain chains runs from the Nicaraguan border to the Panamanian border, splitting the country in two. In the centre of these ranges is a high-altitude plain, with coastal lowlands on either side. Over half the population lives on this plain, which has fertile volcanic soils. The Caribbean coast is 212km (131mi) long and is characterised by mangroves, swamps and sandy beaches. The Pacific coast is much more rugged and rocky, and, thanks to a number of gulfs and peninsulas, is a tortuous 1016km (630mi) long.
Technical Information
Full country name: Republic of Costa Rica
Capital : San Jose (340 000 inhabitants
Area: 51,100 sq km
Population: 4.1 million
People: 96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous, 1% Chinese
Language: English, Spanish
Religion: 75% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant
Government: democratic republic
Head of State: President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella
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GDP: US$32 billion
GDP per capita: US$8,300
Annual Growth: 1%
Inflation: 9.1%
Major Industries: Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico
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Inssurances
We highly recommend to each one taking part in our tours to suscribe to a personal insurance for the duration of the journey.
Visas and passports
Visa requirements for Costa Rica change rapidly, so check with your consulate before leaving. Currently citizens of the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Panama, South Korea, Uruguay, the UK, France and most other western European countries do not need a visa for a 90-day stay. Citizens of Australia, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Vatican City and most of Eastern Europe and Latin America can stay 30 days without a visa.
Vaccination, water and medical aspect
It is highly recommended to seek medical advice near a specialist of tropical regions several weeks prior to departure to get updated information on vaccines. Presently Costa Rica authorities do not require a vaccine certificate from travellers. You are unlikely to encounter any serious diseases in Costa Rica. Sanitary standards are high and the health system is excellent. During the past two wet seasons there have been several outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease dengue but so far there have been no reported cases of the more serious hemorrhaging dengue. No vaccinations are required to enter Costa Rica as epidemic diseases have been all but eradicated throughout the country. Infectious hepatitis, a serious problem throughout Central America, is reported only rarely in Costa Rica. .There are vaccines against hepatitis A and B, but there are currently no vaccines against the other types.Dengue fever (Unlike the malaria mosquito, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is most active during the day, and is found mainly in urban areas, in and around human dwellings. somes cases have been reported in 2000 and 2001.There is no vaccine against dengue fever, malaria (If you are travelling in endemic areas it is extremely important to avoid mosquito bites and to take tablets to prevent this disease
Travellers are advised to prevent mosquito bites at all times. The main messages are: wear light-coloured clothing; wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts; use mosquito repellents containing the compound DEET on exposed areas ! In spite of the above, Costa Ricans have the longer life expectancy after Japan and France !
Spending and currency
Anticipate 7 to 10 $US for each meal not included in the tour. The best way to get money along the journey is to have a credit card (Visa or MC) which can be used with a personal identification number (PIN) like the Bank Convenience Cards used in ATM. Visa and MC are accepted everywhere and it is possible to withdraw money without PIN by showing your passport at the bank. In order to avoid credit card charges, the best is to put money into your account before leaving to bring your balance to positive. Traveler checks are easy to cash at banks, but be aware that only US-checks are accepted in smaller towns, Euro-checks seldom. We do not recommend exclusive use of travellers checks. For security reasons, do not carry big amounts of cash on you (we do ask our travellers to carry a minimum of 50 $US in cash upon arrival though).The unit of currency is the colón, consisting of 100 centimos (328.87 colones equal U.S.$1; 2001 estimate).
$US is often accepted (your guide will help you out to make the exchange) .
History in short
Mystery shrouds pre-Columbian Costa Rica: few archaeological monuments and no proof of a written language have ever been discovered. Recorded history tends to begin with Christopher Columbus, who stayed for 17 days in 1502, and was so impressed by the gold decorations worn by the friendly locals he promptly dubbed the country Costa Rica, 'the rich coast'.
Despite the lure of untold wealth, colonisation was slow to take hold and it took nearly 60 years for the Spanish settlers to make a dent in the tangled jungle. Once the process had started, however, Costa Rica, like its similarly colonised neighbours, suffered the effects of European invasion. The indigenous population did not have the necessary numbers to resist the Spanish, and their populations dwindled quickly because of susceptibility to European diseases.
The hoped-for hoards of gold never materialised and Costa Rica remained a forgotten backwater for many years. The 18th century saw the establishment of settlements such as Heredia, San José and Alajuela but it was not until the introduction of coffee in 1808 that the country registered on the radars of the 19th-century white-shoe brigade and frontier entrepreneurs looking to make a killing. Coffee brought wealth, a class structure, a more outward-looking perspective, and most importantly independence.
A bizarre turn of events in 1856 provided one of the first important landmarks in the nation's history and served to unify the people. During the term of coffee-grower-turned-president Juan Rafael Mora, a period remembered for the country's economic and cultural growth, Costa Rica was invaded by US military adventurer William Walker and his army of recently captured Nicaraguan slaves. Mora organized an army of 9000 civilians that, against all odds, succeeded in forcing Walker & Co to flee.
The ensuing years of the 19th century saw power struggles among members of the coffee-growing elite and the institution of the first democratic elections, which have since been a hallmark of Costa Rican politics. Civil war, however, did raise its ugly head in the 1940s when ex-president Calderón and his successor, Picado, lined up against the recent ballot-winner Ulate (whose election win was not recognised by Picado's government) and José Figueres. After several weeks of warfare Figueres emerged victorious, formed an interim government and handed the presidency to Ulate.
The constitution of 1949 finally gave women and blacks the vote and, controversially, dismantled the country's armed forces - giving Costa Rica the sobriquet of 'the only country which doesn't have an army'. President Oscar Arias received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his attempts to spread Costa Rica's example of peace to the rest of Central America. The peace has, in recent years, been disturbed by upheavals of a different kind. In July 1996, Hurricane César resulted in several dozen deaths and the cutting off of much of southern Costa Rica from the rest of the country. The Interamericana highway was closed for about two months and the overall damage was estimated at about 100000000.00. The ill-famed Hurricane Mitch of November 1998 caused substantial damage to Costa Rica, but the most catastrophic events occurred in the countries to the north, especially Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. In February 1998 the Social Christian Unity Party's Miguel Angel Rodríguez won the presidency with almost exactly 50% of the vote. A conservative businessman who made the economy his priority, he went on to privatise state companies and encourage foreign investments in an effort to create jobs.
By the time the February 2002 elections rolled around, however, Ticos (a term locals use to refer to themselves) were mumbling about a lack of government transparency and shady deals between political mates. These grass-roots misgivings resulted in a 'no win' election, and pollsters returned to the ballot box in April 2002. Rodríguez's successor, Abel Pacheco of the conservative Social Christian Unity Party, was elected to step up to the president's ring.
Pacheco began his term promising to eliminate the public debt within four years. He launched a conservationist platform banning new oil drilling and mining and proposed legislation guaranteeing citizens the right to a healthy environment. It didn't take long before the sheen paled. A campaign finance scandal clouded his presidency, leading some opponents to demand his resignation, and it became unclear if he could weather this storm through to the end of his term in 2006.
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Climate
Costa Rica is unequivocally a tropical country, situated between 8° and 11° North latitude, fairly close to the equator. Although in the mountains above 2000 meters you get much cooler temperatures, the average annual temperature for most of the country lies between 21.7°C (71°F) and 27°C (81°F). The coolest months are from November through January, and the warmest from March through May. San José, the capital, where over a third of the population lives, stands at approximately 1170 meters altitude and has a mean annual temperature of 20.6°C (69°F).
The nation's climate is classically divided into two major seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season runs from January through May and the rainy season from May to November and December. Locally, the seasons were named by the early Spanish colonizers, who compared them to their own Mediterranean climate, calling the dry months "verano" or summer, and the rainy, grey and gloomy months "invierno" or winter. It is interesting to note that some of the coldest temperatures are registered during the early dry season or "summer". Climate is, of course, a complex phenomenon, and there are many aspects of the weather in Costa Rica that are worth examining in more detail, such as the influences of wind, rain, and topography.
Weather in the tropics is essentially a phenomenon of solar radiation and air circulation. Intense heat at the equator puts air in motion, and a worldwide pattern of winds is established. The most famous of these, for Costa Rica, are the north-easterly trade winds, known locally as "alisios". These winds blow with considerable force from December to March and April. These winds, for example, are responsible for carrying moisture in the form of mists to the slopes of the Tilarán mountain range. These mists are what sustain the magnificent cloud forest ecosystem.
Rainfall patterns, although seasonal, vary greatly in intensity across geographical areas. Some locations receive over 6 mts (18 ft) of precipitation per year, while others receive under 1.5 mts (4 ft). Most of the total rainfall for any given site (about 70%) occurs on less than 15 days of a whole year, and will often be experienced as days of torrential downpour. Costa Rica may hold the world record for the amount of rainy days at one site. Hacienda Cedral registered 359 days of rain in 1968.
The topography of the country also has a great influence on the weather patterns of a given locality. As a result the timing of the dry and rainy seasons varies a bit on each slope of the mountain ranges that run from the north-west to the south-east and divide the nation into a Caribbean slope and a Pacific slope.
On the Caribbean slope the rainy season begins from mid to late April and continues through December and sometimes January. The wettest months are July and November, with a dry spell that occurs around August or September. Major storms, called "temporales del Atlantico" occasionally buffet this slope between September and February, when it will rain continuously for several days; but an average rainy season day will begin clear with a few hours of sunshine that will give way to clouds and rain by the afternoon. In contrast, the driest months of February and March, might be almost entirely without rainfall.
On the Pacific slope the rainy season begins in May and runs its course until November. Here again, days often begin sunny and pleasant, with rains coming later in the day. This is a period in which the trade winds coming from the north-east are much reduced in intensity, and as a result storms often come in from the Pacific Ocean in September and October. In the northern half of the country the Pacific slope experiences an intense dry season, in which no rain may fall for several months. The forests of the North-West are to a large extent deciduous, letting their leaves fall in order to conserve water. Winds can be very strong, occasionally reaching speeds of 90 km/hr in the lowlands, although they average more around 20 km/hr. The whole Central Valley, in which the capital is situated, experiences a mild, pleasant dry season that is matched by moderate temperatures for most of the year, and a lower than average amount of rainfall. Early settlers prized the area for both its mild climate and fertile soils. The southern half of the Pacific slope is much wetter than its northern counterpart, with a shorter dry season and longer and heavier afternoon rains in the wet season.
In a discussion of the climate in Costa Rica one cannot omit El Niño, "The Child". It is a poorly understood weather phenomenon that occurs every two to seven years. It is originally detectable as an unusual warming of a section of the Pacific Ocean. In 1997 El Niño struck Costa Rica once again, disrupting normal weather patterns considerably. Some scientists have postulated that this phenomenon might have been partially responsible for the disappearance of several species of frogs in the late 80's, which are extremely dependent on water. Each time it occurs analysts across the world hold their breaths waiting to see the effects it has on different regions, because they can often be disastrous.
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Fauna and flora
Costa Rica's forests contain rich stands of ebony, balsa, mahogany, and cedar. More than 1,000 species of orchids are found in Costa Rica. Wildlife is abundant and includes puma, jaguar, deer, monkeys, and 600 species of birds.
The velvetworm, found in the rain forests of Costa Rica, has characteristics of both the phylum Arthropoda (jointed-legged animals) and the phylum Annelida (segmented worms). It is just one of a number of worm species that inhabit Costa Rican forests. The term worm does not represent any particular animal group and can be applied to many soft-bodied, usually elongated, animals that lack well-developed limbs.
The country's biodiversity attracts nature lovers from all over the world; its tropical forests contain 1500 tree species. National parks cover almost 12% of the country, and forest reserves and indigenous reservations boost the protected land area to 27%.
Costa Rica's jungles provide a variety of habitats for the country's fauna including four types of monkey, sloths, armadillos, jaguars and tapirs.The primary attraction for many visitors is the 850 recorded bird species, which include the resplendent quetzal, indigo-capped hummingbirds, macaws and toucans. There are also a number of dazzling butterflies.
Travellers group is composed of 6 to 10 travellers, accompanied by a naturalist guide and a professional driver.
Equipments
Necessary equipment for the journey are supplied but for the personal belongings : a good pair of walking shoes, a compact sleeping bag (for tour CRR 6 days), a good travel bag (preferably flexible or a back pack) maximum 55L and a smaller one (15 L) for every day excursions, a wind-proof jacket... a and a good mood and humour ready to get over any difficulty !
Booking conditions
Please take the time to consult the regular booking conditions prior to book/reserve on one of our tours. Please note that special booking conditions may apply to some circuits and/or departures. In such case, information will be given to you on booking/reservation.
Meals and gastronomy
Meals that won't be served in restaurants will be offered in the different inns or cooked together, as a group, with the best possible fresh and typical food of the region. We promote a healthy and nourishing food, as we think that it very important and enjoyable to eat well. In our opinion, a good diet, for meat-lovers as well as for vegetarians is essential for each of us to make sure that the day goes by smoothly. Our guides have a great knowledge of local products and on top of that they know how to prepare these products. One thing is certain; your stomach won't be bothered with your diet.
You won't be deeply moved by Costa Rican gastronomy, as it is plain and sober, but you will find it carefully made, nourishing, fresh and pleasant. For breakfast order a Gallo Pinto if you want to regain your strength, a blend of rice and red beans which will fill you up to lunch time. Tamales, much more appealing but also very nourishing are a blend of vegetables, meat and corn flour braised in a banana tree leaf. Do not miss trying a Ceviche, a recipe based on fish and shrimps, marinated in lemon juice, garlic, onion, hot pepper and coriander, simply. delicious! Another basic dish, the Arroz Con Pollo or Con Camarones (rice with chicken or shrimps), is part of all menus. Costa Rican coffee, quite rightly well know, will be a delight to you taste buds as well as will be the local beer and rum.
Hiking
The hikings conducted along the various tours have different difficulty degrees, from easy to medium steady levels. They last approximately half a day. The tours offered in Costa Rica do not require several days of self-sufficiency. You will only have to carry with you a one day essentials (flask, wind proof jacket, knife, camera, and sometimes a light meal).
Rafting
The rafting tour takes place with experimented river guides. All necessary equipment is supplied but for personal items which remain the traveller's responsability.
Luggages and personal belongings
Please bring only the necessary. Small bags make it a lot easier for everyone to manage luggage. Hard and rigid suitcases are not recommended. The ideal is to have two bags one of which , an approximately 25 litre backpack, is used as a day bag for small excursions and the other, approximately 45 litres, contains the majority of clothing and personal belongings. We recommend that each participant brings with him/her:
- All necessary documents ( Traveller's File, passport, visa, address book, credit cards, cheques, copies of important documents etc)
- All necessary medications
- Small day bag for excursions and day-tours
- A pair of comfortable shoes to hike in
- A pair of sandals or light shoes (that can get wet)
- A light rain coat or plastic poncho
- Warm socks
- Warm sweater
- Pair of long trousers
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- T-shirts / tops ,Long sleeves shirts
- Water bottle
- Flash light, frontal lamp
- A light cap or hat
- Swim suite
- Plastic bags (for dirty & wet clothes)
- Personal toilet articles and medication
- Insect repellent
- Sun glasses
- Sun block (min. SPF15 – no oils please)
- *Binoculars
- *Pocket knife
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Do not bring too much! You have the chance to wash your cloth during the tour.
* Optional but very handy !
Tips on what to wear
More information on the way...
During Rafting tours
If you possess your own wet suit this is ideal, you will wear it everyday on rivers (we might be able to lend you one for the time of the tour but we do not commit to this). If you don't have a wet suit, do not worry, this is not mandatory. you will wear polyester or polypropylene under wear, fleece pants and a fleece or wool jacket, water proof pants and jacket. This way you will be able to remove or put back on pieces along the way. You will often be wearing T-shirts and shorts to enjoy the sunshine but be prepared to wet conditions and water falls !
Lodgings
Lodging in charming Inns, on double occupancy basis (2 to 3 *). These places have been chosen with the following standards in mind : welcoming, charming, comfortable and very friendly .
Extra stay
Willing participants can book a room in the capital for extra stay prior or after the tour begins ; cost : 50.00$US /night for 1 or 2 persons.
Children and the journey
From 6 years of age, children can take part in ecotourism tours in Costa Rica, if they are motivated . Tours can easily be adapted and groups divided. Programs can vary according to the presence of young children among them. We know how to adequately adapt a journey if children are on board. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss further on that matter , we will try to respond to your specific needs with pleasure.
During rafting
When accompanied by parent(s), 11 years of age children are welcome . If your child is younger but you think that he/she is up to participating to a rafting program, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to discuss it with you. We know that age is not the only component.
What to read:
We recommend travellers interested in learning more about Costa Rica the following travel guides and books : Costa Rica from Lonely Planet (ISBN 1-74059-118-6) or Central America Handbook from Footprints (ISBN 0-8442-4838-X). A guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by F.Gary Stiles & Alexander F. Skutch (ISBN 0-8014-9600-4). The most comprehensive treatment of a rich tropical avifauna ever presented in a single volume suitable for the use in the field. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America by Fiona A. Reid (ISBN 0-19-506401-1). The first comprehensive field guide to mammals of Central America, probably the best book ever written on the subject
Electricity: 110V 60Hz - American standard - 2 pins.
Time zone: GMT/UTC -6 hrs
Glossary
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Steps preceding any departure:
- You select the tour and dates you wish to book (or reach an agreement with us on your Tailor Made Tour's program.
- Using our Booking Form you make your reservation / booking.
- As soon as your booking request is received we get in touch with you to confirm the booking and we send you an invoice including payment instructions and booking conditions.
- Upon reception of this invoice you must send your initial deposit (25%) to secure your booking. NB: If your package includes the international flight and/or an insurance plan, it will be integrally payable with your initial deposit. You will receive your flight tickets and/or insurance enrollment confirmation on the next business day following the reception of your payment.
- After reception of your initial deposit we will send you a detailed and complete TRAVELER'S FILE.
NB: Unless your booking request is received within 30 days from the departure date, in which case you will receive your Traveler's File upon payment of your initial deposit, please allow between 15 and 30 working days for the preparation of these documents and 2 or 3 more days before receiving any printed material.
This complete file will contain the following detailed information:
- Voucher / proof of your booking.
- Detailed program with a map of the tour's route.
- Information on your tour guide(s) and other human resource(s) connected to the project.
- Information on the meeting point and a list of the inns and hotels with their description, address & contact information.
- Info on the cities, sites & regions visited on the tour.
- Technical & practical information.
- General recommendations for the traveler.
- Emergency plan and detailed maps of the country and /or region(s).
- Travel insurance complete documents and/or flight tickets (if included in your tour package).
- Your balance must be received 30 days before your departure or in the week following the reception of your Traveler's File if you are booking within 30 days preceding your departure.
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Comparing our tours and prices with others, consider...
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- The number of participants in the tour. The GROUP SIZE has a major incidence on the quality of the services provided by the tour leader and the driver. Small groups remain personal unlike large groups.
- What IS and what is NOT respectively included in the tours you compare.
- Our tours respect the principals of ecotourism. Our guides, staff members and providers are meticulously selected to meet our exacting requirements and standards and they are remunerated equitably and considered with great esteem as we much value their participation to our mission.
- The quality standard of the services and accommodations we provide in our tours is high and our customer service is exceptional. We are committed to offering the very best to our travellers before, during and after their tour.
- We provide our travellers with the contact information of their tour manager who is available 7 days a week, reachable at all time before and during the tour to promptly assist them with any situation or simply answer questions or doubts before the tour starts.
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Tours & Destinations
