Before you come

Information for Travelers

Visa requirements

When traveling with a passport, citizens of the U.S., Canada and most Latin American and European countries may stay in Costa Rica for 90 days.

No visa is necessary for travelers from the U.S., Canada and Western Europe.

Citizens from some Latin American, Asian, African, and Eastern European countries may require visas, which can be obtained at a Costa Rican Consulate.

Health

Costa Rica takes pride in their health standards and is one of the healthiest countries in Central America and the developing world.

Starting on November 29, 2007 the Costa Rican Health Ministry requires visitors incoming from: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Congo, Sierra Leona and Sudan, to take the Yellow Fiber Vaccine al least 10 days prior to arrival to the country.

For people from other destinations it is always wise to keep up your basic shots such as tetanus and diphtheria up to date. The risk of contracting malaria is minimal, but for itineraries that include the Caribbean lowlands, travelers might wish to take the extra precaution of a prophylactic medicine such as chloroquine.

Decisions about immunizations and anti-malarial medications should be made on a personal basis after consultation with your personal physician.

If you take prescription medication, have your doctor give you a spare prescription with a note suggesting an alternative medication if your first choice isn’t available.

Private and public hospitals in Costa Rica do treat foreign visitors. Many Costa Rican doctors speak English. You are required to pay all doctor and hospital bills when you are treated. Private hospitals take credit cards but public (Caja) hospitals do not. If you do become ill in Costa Rica, we recommend the Clínica Bíblica in San José. www.clinicabiblica.com

Public safety and personal security concerns

San José is a big city, and like any other major city, theft can be a concern. Here are a few tips for avoiding petty theft:

Make a photocopy of your passport and leave the original, your airline ticket and the bulk of your money in your hotel safe.
Exchange money in your hotel and ask for part of it in small bills.
Men should carry their cash, credit card(s) and passport copy in their front pocket. Ladies should keep a good grip on their purse and keep them against their side. One should never let a purse dangle from their shoulder.
Make sure you never leave any bags out of site or put them down in public.
Carry backpacks on your front.
Never change money in the street or flash big wads of bills
Avoid seedy areas of town —ask your hotel. If you find yourself in one— leave!
Do not wear any valuable jewelry while on the street.
If you are going out at night, take a taxi.
Make sure all of your valuables are kept in the hotel safe or checked then all at the hotel’s front desk.

Pedestrian safety

Cars do not give pedestrians the right of way. Walk defensively and be very careful when crossing streets.

Rent-a Car Security

Your rental car license plate makes you a prime target for breaking and entry. Follow these tips to avoid being a victim.

Always lock your car and roll up all windows.
Never leave valuables in the car, even if locked in the trunk.
Always park in a parking lot and give the guard a little tip to watch your car.
If you are leaving non-valuable items in the car, put them in the trunk or under seats.
Obey all posted speed limits. If stopped by transit police, show your rental contract, passport and driver’s license. Pay your ticket at your rental car agency when you return the car.

Money and Banking

The official currency of Costa Rica is the colon; however American dollars are also accepted in most parts. The best place to change money is your hotel. Never change money on the street. Banking can be frustrating due to long lines. Passport is required to cash traveler’s checks or to make other transactions.

Credit cards are widely accepted in San José but not in all rural areas. Visa is the most common, followed by Master Card and then American Express. Some hotels and other businesses may charge a service fee for a transaction pay by credit card. Traveler’s checks are widely accepted in hotels but not by other businesses. ATMs are widespread in San José but not in rural areas.

To view the most up to date exchange rates, please visit: www.xe.com/ucc

Electricity

Costa Rica’s electrical system is compatible with that of North America, 110 volts. Three hole grounded plugs are very uncommon, so if you have equipment that needs this type of plug, be sure to bring an adapter or buy one at a hardware store.

Postal system

Mailing a post card, letter or any other item outside of the country may take a while to reach their final destination, especially in December. If you are staying in Costa Rica for a short period of time, recipients may not receive your mail until after you have returned home.

Never send cash or anything else of value by regular mail from Costa Rica. Federal Express, DHL and other courier services are available in major cities.

Phones

The best place to make an international call is from your hotel. All phone booths are connected to the international system, and you can connect directly to operators in the U.S. and Canada to call collect or use.

Some public phones may still accept coins (10 or your credit card. The numbers are listed in the telephone directory, or ask the hotel clerk for assistance.

Most public phones will only accept phone cards which may be purchase at a pharmacy, stationery stores or supermarket. The two main cards sold in Costa Rica are: Colibrí (197) in denominations of 500 and 1000 colones and International Traveler Card (199) available on denominations of $5, $10 y $20 or 3000, 5000 and 10 000 colones. Either can be use on national or international calls.

20 colones, requesting additional coins the longer you talk.

Important Legislature

Law against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Horizontes declares itself a vigorous defender of the integrity and Rights of Costa Ricans and its residents in general, adults, teenagers, boys and girls, for this reason Horizontes will carry out its tourist activities under the strictest guidelines of respect toward Laws No. 8204 of Narcotics, psychotropic substances, drugs of unauthorized use, legitimization of capital and connected activities; No 7476 against Sexual Harassment in the work place and in education and Law No 7899 against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Horizontes divulges among collaborators, clients, suppliers and families that sex with minors in Costa Rica is penalized by jail.
Our communication towards collaborators, clients, suppliers and families emphasizes that children and adolescents must never be blamed or held responsible for the acts to which they have been induced or forced into by the exploiters.
We encourage the conception of a “zero tolerance” culture against all forms of exploitation of girls, boys and teenagers, so as to modify the deeply rooted cultural patterns that justify oppression, discretion, and arbitrariness with which adults act towards girls, boys and adolescents.
In our communication towards collaborators, clients, suppliers and families we insist on the fact that the problem is not only the responsibility of the State, and much less of the victims themselves or their families, or their immediate social contexts, so an effort on everyone´s behalf is required.
In our communication towards collaborators, clients, suppliers and families we insist on informing that when boys, girls and adolescents are sexually exploited many other rights are also violated ( the right to physical and mental health, to education, to family life, to play and to recreation) so those rights must also be restored.
In our communication to our collaborators, clients, suppliers and families we insist upon the idea that boys, girls and adolescents must be treated as victims of the people that benefit directly or indirectly from commercial social exploitation and of those that tolerate this situation.
Horizontes invite collaborators, clients, suppliers and families by written means and formal statements to become a part of the Code of Conduct.

Law on Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and Drugs of Unauthorized Use

In Costa Rica, the use, possession, traffic and commercialization of narcotics, psychotropic substances and drugs of unauthorized use susceptible of producing a physical or psychological codependency are illegal.
Any kind of dealing related to drugs, narcotics and/or psychotropic substances of unauthorized use is absolutely prohibited in any of Horizontes travel programs.
If a situation related to drugs arises, the necessary measures will be taken in terms of denouncement (in the case where clients or suppliers are involved) or firing (in the case where employees are involved).

Law against Sexual Harassment in the Work Place and in Education

During the company orientation, Horizontes informs its workforce about the procedure of denouncing sexual harassment and how to proceed according to the law.
The company will severely punish any sign of sexual harassment towards any person or any situation in which any of its collaborators is affected while working inside or outside the company premises.
The information about the mentioned laws for the establishment of these policies is available to its collaborators, suppliers, clients and family members.