Weather: Many independant travellers seem to still be unaware that Costa Rica is an equatorial country, and therefore has pronounced wet and dry seasons. An equal number of visitors seem to not realize that equatorial zones also range greatly in daytime and nighttime temperatures depending on altitude, with the temperature rising substantially as you head down to sea level. Therefore, not all of Costa Rica is always hot and sunny. There are also microclimate areas, and places featuring cloud forest, i.e. it is misty and rains a lot. These areas have the highest biodiversity and are worth visiting. Generally the beaches will be very warm to hot and seasonally rainy. The mountains will be warm to cool, sometimes chilly at night, and again seasonally rainy and/or windy. Weather can change in an instant, particularly in the mountains. When it is rainy season on the Pacific slope, it is drier on the Carribean and visa versa.

Pack accordingly. Research what areas of the country you will be visiting, and at what altitutdes. In the rainy season, it is always wise to pack a travel umbrella, a waterproof windbreaker, and waterproof shoes.

Lightweight hiking boots that breathe--like those with Goretex--make an excellent footwear choice for the mountains.

Drinking Water: Water is generally potable and of good quality throughout the country, but ask about local conditions if you have any concerns.

Regions:

Guides: It is worthwhile to hire the local guides often vending their services at the entrance to many parks and attractions. They are a more adaptable and generally a less expensive alternative to hiring a tour guide to travel with you throughout the country.

Tipping: Ticos generally do not tip at restaurants, or tip very little. Same with taxis. A dollar or two is good for the hotel bell hop. Do not let tourist restaurants pressure you into tipping 15% or 20% on the bill, even when they leave a space for this on your credit card slip.

Money: Dollars will be accepted and changed at the current rate just about everywhere. Travellers checks and cash can be changed at major banks, including Banco Popular, Banco Nacional, and ScotiaBank. It is wise to travel with small bills in U.S. currency, like 1s, 5s, and 10s. Most teller machines work with bank cards from major banks or major networks. Sometimes you will have to try several different machines to find one that will connect properly with the network and that is not out of cash. Euros are very difficult to change or use anywhere except major bank offices in San Jose. Credit cards--particularly VISA and Mastercard--are increasingly accepted throughout the country, even at restaurants and smaller shops.

Internet Access and Telephone Calls: Internet cafes abound in most cities and there is access at most hotels. If they don't speak English, just go and sit down in front of a terminal and start using it. They will track your time. 400-700 colonnes per hour is a fair rate. For international telephone calls, you can often use your own calling card, but only if you have the right access code and only to call your home country (i.e. if you have a U.S. calling card, you cannot make calls to Canada or get directory assistance, and visa versa). You can also buy international pre-paid calling cards from ICE, the local utilities company, which are often worth it since you can call from any pay phone and do not have to remember access codes. Many internet cafes also offer fax services.

Access Codes:

MCI:  0800-012-2222

Sprint:  0800-013-0123

ATT:  0800-0-114-114

Canada Direct:  0800-015-1161

Rent-A-Car: The reality is that if you want to get to know this incredibly diverse Central American nation without paying through the nose for a car and driver, or taking the tortuously slow and complex bus network, or spending even more to fly around on small planes, then car rental is the best way to go. Roads are often bad, full of pot holes, or pure dirt/mud and Tico drivers are aggressive and impatient. Remember this about driving in Costa Rica: if you have patience, you will lose it; if you do not have patience, you will learn it.

The best thing is to not go more than 20 km over the speed limit, slow down in towns, and have patience. Do not try aggressive or dangerous passing or really high speeds on Costa Rican roads. Make sure you know how to go into and out of 4-wheel drive and where your spare tire and jack are located before leaving the rental agency. Also check the condition of all your tires--inflation, tread. Lock your doors in San Jose.

We recommend Toyota Rent A Car. This agency is a bit more expensive than some of the others--though always try to bargain--but they usually rent vehicles two years old or less that are well maintained. Other options we have had good personal experience with include Economy, Europcar, and Dollar, though Economy is not as good as it once was. Expect to have between $400 and $1000 of extra space on your credit card to cover the damage deposit any agency will want to hold. This will be released or refunded when the car is returned without the slightest new scrape or dent.

Hint: if you spend your first night near the airport, don't rent a car immediately from the airport. There is a hefty tax added to all airport rentals. Instead take a free shuttle, then rent you car in the morning. Most agencies will pick you up anywhere in the immediate San Jose area for free.

For a hassle-free vacation, we would recommend getting a small to mid sized SUV. Do not rent a Daihastsu Terios if you can avoid it. They flip too easily for comfort. Recommended cars: Toyota RAV4, Toyota Prado, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Forrester, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Sidekick (if you get a Sidekick, inspect it carefully for these are older models), Toyota Hi-Lux (4-door pickup). Daewoo and Isuzu models can be okay, but Nissan and Toyota are to be preferred.

Remember to use your credit card's insurance coverage for rental cars, if you have it. Decline the Collison Damage Waiver (CDW) on your rental contract, and save some money.

Flying In: For North American travellers, the Costa Rica Travel Review Airline of the Year Award goes to Continental Airlines. First, they are not in bankruptcy. Second, the provide efficient serice and usually good connections, with direct flights to San Jose from Houston and Newark. Air Canada offers direct flights from Toronto. For Europeans, be aware that Spain's new discount airline Air Madrid has direct flights on new Airbuses, non stop from Madrid to San Jose, as does the national carrier Iberia. Iberia can be expensive and is often fully booked due to its hosting of a large number of group tours. MartinAir also flies from Amsterdam, though they go via Orlando or Miami, which makes their flights less attractive. Taca is okay from North, South, or Central America, though you often end up making milk-train stops in other Central American countries.

We would avoid the Liberia airport, which until the Four Seasons Hotel opened did not feature international flights because safety experts cautioned about strong cross winds on the landing strip and the lack of major hospital facilities anywhere in the vicinity. These two factors have not changed.

Flying Out: Remember that there is a departure tax, which can now be paid in cash or with a VISA card.