Guided Touring in Costa Rica

Passport

A full passport is required.

Visas

A full passport is required. British citizens with full right of residence in the UK do not require a visa for Costa Rica. Those who do not have British passports should check requirements with the embassies or consulates of Costa Rica.

If you are travelling to Costa Rica in transit via the USA, which includes guests taking flights with HF Holidays, a visa is not required for British Passport holders under the US Visa Waiver Programme. Citizens of other countries should check with their US Embassy (although at the time of writing citizens of most European countries, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa, but please double check).

However, all the above citizens will be required by law to obtain a travel authorisation prior to travelling to the United States under the VWP. Travellers can register for authorisation online through ESTA, a free internet application administered by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a US government website.

Eligible visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP may apply for travel authorisation via the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Health advice

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see if any health precautions are needed. The following websites provide a wealth of information on travelling and health: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk   www.traveldoctor.co.uk

Medical services are not free to visitors and health insurance is therefore a necessity.

Mosquitoes, chiggers and a little biting black fly can present a problem if you are allergic to bites. Ticks are present but no diseases are known to be spread by them. Most people are not bothered at all. A spray repellent with DEET is recommended. Malaria is present in Costa Rica, although more towards the south and Atlantic coast, away from the areas we will visit. We would urge you to consult your GP before you depart for up to date information.

Climate

Costa Rica experiences two seasons: wet and dry. Departures are planned for the dry season but even then, due to travelling through tropical rainforests, there may be a number of wet days, especially inland. Temperatures depend on place and altitude. San José has an average year round temperature of 22°C / 72ºF. The days can be fairly hot but temperatures drop a little at night. The highlands around San Gerado de Dota in particular are cold at night.

Money

The official currency is the Colon. Colones cannot be obtained in the UK, but can be exchanged from US Dollars in Costa Rica. US Dollars are also widely accepted. Travellers cheques are no longer accepted at most banks. Major credit cards are accepted in larger hotels, although you may have problems using them in some of the more rural locations we will visit. There are ATM’s available.

For flights information please see Dates and Prices tab