Costa Rica - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: Central America
Local Time: GMT-6
Capital City: San Jose
Population: 4 million
Area: 51,200 square km, 31,815 square miles.
Language(s): Spanish, English is widely spoken
Dialling Code: 506
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 911
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. National or International licence required
Electricity: 120V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Costa Rican Colon (CRC 1 = 100 Centimos)
Notes: CRC: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000
Coins: CRC: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Major credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1700/1800 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1600 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0800-1800/1900 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day, 2 Apr - 5 Apr Easter, 10 Apr Juan Santamara's Day, 1 May Labour Day, 25 Jul Guanacaste Annexation, 2 Aug Virgin of Los Angeles, Feast of Patroness of Costa Rica*, 15 Aug Mothers' Day and Assumption, 15 Sep Independence Day, 11 Oct Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)*, 25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note: * Not legally binding. Most businesses close for the whole of Holy Week and between Christmas and New Year.

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Spanish, many executives speak English. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Service charges are added to bills by hotels & restaurants, however additional 5-10% tips are expected

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from: Africa (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo DRC, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan) and America (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Peru, Venezuela)

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month

Risks: Malaria risk is moderate all year in the cantons of Los Chilies (Alajuela Province), Matina & Talamanca (Limon Province). Lower risk in the provinces of Guanacaste, Alajuela, Heredia & other cantons in Limon province. There is negligible risk in other regions. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:

1) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Costa Rica

Passport Validity: Passport must be valid for at least 6 months

Passport Notes: Nationals listed above must obtain an exit visa from the Immigration Department in San Jos at least three weeks before leaving Costa Rica. Those who stay for less than 30 days are exempt if in possession of a disembarkation card

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of Costa Rica

2) For stays up to 30 days by:

Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Philippines, Samia, Sao Tome & Principe, Samoa, Seychelles, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Vanuatu & Venezuela

3) For stays up to 90 days by:

a) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen, British Territories Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas)

b) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep., Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro (Rep of), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uruguay & Vatican City

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:

1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country within 12 hours without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed tickets & documentation

Exit Permits

Nationals must obtain an exit visa from the Immigration Department in San Jos at least three weeks before leaving Costa Rica. For stays less than 30 days visitors are exempt

Special Notes

All visitors must hold documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay, temporary visitors must hold onward/return tickets

Climate

High temperatures throughout the year, particularly on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, where rain falls throughout the year but experiences a very wet and humid rainy season between May-Nov. In contrast, the air is crisper and nights cooler in mountain areas

Clothing

Light clothes with warmer wraps if visiting highland areas. Rainwear essential for coastal areas and volcanoes

Charts for San Jose

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 24 24 26 26 27 26 25 26 26 25 25 24 Min Temp (C) 14 14 15 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 14 Humidity am (%) 83 82 81 80 85 91 89 89 91 92 87 85 Humidity pm (%) 63 57 55 60 70 74 74 73 76 78 71 67 Rainfall (mm) 15 5 20 46 229 241 211 241 305 300 145 41

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Costa Rica Tourist Office contact Consulate General of Costa Rica
tel: +44 20 7706 8844
fax: +44 20 7706 8655
website: www.visitcostarica.com

Embassy
Embassy and Consulate of Costa Rica
Flat 1, 14 Lancaster Gate
London, W2 3LH
tel: +44 20 7706 8844
fax: +44 20 7706 8655
e-mail: costaricanembassy@btconnect.com
costarica@btconnect.com
hours: 1000-1300 (Mon-Fri) visas