- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - This is the first question that everyone asks us! The answer is simply why not? Our family and friends are from all over the place and therefore our wedding is going to be a destination for many no matter where we have it. Costa Rica is also a beautiful country that is teeming with natural wonders. Costa Rica is easy to travel in and trips there inspire bliss and we like that. People who travel here say it changed the way they thought about the world. We, as a couple, are enchanted by the forest and biodiversity. We know it is far away for many people but we really hope you will join us. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - La Fortuna is located approximately 2.5 to 3 hours from the San Jose airport, depending on which route you take. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Ticos. The word Tico is for a male and Tica for a female person. No. It's not derogatory in any way. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - “Pura Vida” (pronounced poo-rah vee-dah). Simply translated, it means “simple life” or “pure life”, but here in Costa Rica, it is more than just a saying—it is a way of life. Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, to say goodbye, to say everything’s great, to say everything’s cool. However, it is not the words that reflect the true meaning of ¡Pura Vida!. Pura Vida is the way Ticos live. Not surprisingly, Costa Rica has been named one of the happiest countries in the world. Ticos have a very relaxed, simple way of looking at life. No worries, no fuss, no stress—pura vida to them means being thankful for what they have and not dwelling on the negative. Pura vida is an emotion, it’s an attitude, it’s happiness, and it’s a way of life. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Yes. The tap water is safe to drink everywhere we will be traveling. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - The Costa Rica currency is the colón. Pronounced 'Coal - lone - eh'. The exchange rate can change daily at times. It is usually about $1 USD will equal about 650+/- Costa Rican colónes. However, most places also take US dollars. We recommend using US dollars for more expensive purchases like hotels, activities, and sometimes meals. We recommend using colón for food and other in-country purchases. There is no need to exchange money as all businesses will accept your payment in dollars and give you change in colones. There are ATMs in Costa Rica too but be aware you may get fees on both ends. More information is available here: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/money-costa-rica/ - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Yes. Costa Rica is a very safe country. Petty theft happens sometimes. Never leave your bag unattended. If you take a bus sit in the window seat and watch the bag area from the time it is checked until you leave. If you go out at night try to go in pairs or groups. Don't take purses to clubs or out to party spots at night if you can avoid it. If you are on the beach and want to swim get someone to watch your bag. Wear your seat belt. Bring sunscreen and sun protection. If you are in Central San Jose and go to the "Coca-cola" bus station (buses going to the Caribbean side), be careful. Do not walk in the neighborhood around it. This is a hot spot for theft in the country. Be aware constantly and watch your things. If your hotel is close (walking distance) and you need to go to the Coca-cola station do not walk, take a cab. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Not really. It always helps to know some basic phrases and terms. However in Costa Rica, 80% of the economy is based on tourism so most people speak English and Spanish. We recommend learning some Spanish prior to travel. Try Pimsleur or the Duolingo App for daily 15 minute lessons on your smart phone. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Costa Rica has 6 active volcanoes but all of them are sleeping right now. The big volcano we will be near is Arenal. It used to have an active lava flow and was beautiful to watch at night. However you will not see any lava or volcanic activity on this trip because Arenal is currently in a resting phase.. More information is located here: https://www.arenal.net/volcanoes-costa-rica - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - You should wear long pants and shirts and rubber or hiking boots if you want to go off trail or in areas where few people travel. This is the most safe outfit. The trails can also be very muddy. You can also wear hiking boots and shorts on the well trodden trails. Hats are good to wear if it is sunny or raining. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Yes. There are wild cats, including jaguar and puma. However, is VERY unlikely that you will encounter them. Cats are shy and secretive nighttime predators. They live deep in the jungle. Humans are not their prey. Most people that try to find these species do not succeed. Here is some info on what to do if you see a cougar: https://blog.theclymb.com/tips/avoid-cougar-attacks/ There are 22 species of venomous snakes. That's why you need to wear boots if you walk off trail. If you see a snake stay at least 4 feet away from it, don't put your camera in its face. Crocodiles live in rivers. Don't swim in the big rivers, especially if the water is murky. Ants and bees? We might see them. More general info on dangerous animals is located here: http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/12/06/costa-ricas-most-dangerous-creatures - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - They have big viper heads. Some camouflage with the ground and trees and others are bright colored for a warning. Here are some pictures: https://nicoyapeninsula.com/wildlife/snakes.php - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - They are bright and colorful. Don't touch them. Try not to lick them either. More info here: https://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/flora-fauna/bright-poison-dart-frogs.asp - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Sunburn and not drinking enough water if it is hot out. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - We are going to the rainforest, so no matter what season it is, be prepared for rain. Many days it rains either at night or for a few hours during the day, but it could rain all day long when we are there. The weather is highly variable and wearing layers is great. Bring things that are lightweight and dry quickly. Extra clothes and swimsuits are helpful because sometimes things that get wet don't dry all the way. Expect temperatures that can go from cool enough that you need long pants and a fleece jacket to so warm that you want flip flops, shorts, and T-shirts. More information by region is available here: https://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/weather.asp - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - It depends. It is similar to traveling in a mid-western US town. There are a wide range of accommodations from (per night) $8 bunks in hostels to $30-70 extremely nice airBnBs, to $500 Tico-owned rain forest lodges with many amenities, to 5 star luxury hotels that can be over $1,000 per night. For food (per person) in general it is about about $5-15 for breakfast, $15-30 for lunch, $15-45 for dinner. Fancy drinks are $5-$12 in most places. Many lodges and hotels that have prices similar to the US costs for lodging have sustainable tourism practices and are doing something good with your money. Public transportation is pretty cheap. National Park entry fees range from $6 to $25. Tours and guides are from $25 to $100. Staff are highly trained and it is worth it. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Yes. All of the rooms will have screened windows. Many of the rooms have AC, however the location is in the mountains so AC is mainly a humidity control measure and less so used for cooling the room when it is hot out. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Restaurants: Required by law to add a 13% tax and 10% tip to the bill. As a general rule, Costa Ricans do not tip. If you wish to, tip between 5 and 10%, depending on service. Taxis: Cab drivers are not usually tipped unless extra service is provided. For longer cab rides, a tip of between $1 and $5 is sufficient, but if you’re going a really long way, giving a little extra is a good idea. Tipping tour bus drivers: For an all-day tour, a tip of around $10 is appropriate, but again, is by no means expected. Drivers of water taxis usually get around $2 per journey. Guides: When it comes to the tour guides themselves, however, a tip of between $5 and $15 is considered polite, depending on how many people are in your tour group. If you go on a scuba diving tour, a tip of about $10 is acceptable. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - We recommend using "WhatsApp" on your smartphone. In some places the mobile service is spotty. WhatsApp uses internet and we will make a large group message for important notifications for all guests. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - We don't recommend driving at night if you are not familiar with the area. Many of the roads are mountainous and some have potholes in some places and sharp turns in many places. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - Costa Rica observes Central Time Zone (-6 GMT) all year. Costa Rica does not observe daylight savings time. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - YES! We recommend getting travel insurance so you are covered for emergencies. We use Travel Guard when we travel internationally: https://www.travelguard.com/ Please note that many US credit cards offer travel insurance as a part of their member perks so you might want to check if you have some coverage already. - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - -