Costa Rica Travel Information
Costa Rica is a relatively small country in Central America with strong democratic tradition and economy that is part agricultural and part tourism and industrial. It features secluded white sand beaches, Caribbean waters great for surfing and scuba diving, active volcanoes, and rainforests and cloud forests. The most you will have to travel to get to the beach is 7 miles and that’s from any part of the country. Costa Ricans are also warm and friendly, making travel safe and fun.
Below are some more Costa Rica travel information (for US citizens) that you might find handy when you visit this lovely vacation paradise in Central America:
Entry and Exit Requirements
According to the Costa Rica travel information in the US State Department website (Travel.state.gov), the general requirements for entry into Costa Rica include:
* Valid passport – at least thirty days expiration period and in good condition
* Copy of the passport data page – tourists are obliged to carry this around in Costa Rica, in place of the actual passport which may be left in a hotel safe for safekeeping
* If traveling with a minor, documentary evidence of the child’s relationship to you is required.
For a more detailed, authoritative, and up to date Costa Rica travel information on entry and exit requirements, you may contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica at 2112 “S” Steet, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 328-6628, fax (202) 234-6950. Or you can visit their website at CostaRica-Embassy.org. Costa Rica travel information may also be obtained from consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), San Francisco, and Tampa.
Safety and Security
Costa Rica is the most politically stable country in Central America. For the past 100 years, the country has only had two military regimes and its army already been constitutionally abolished. For this reason, many took to calling Costa Rica the “Switzerland of Central America.”
Compared to other Central American countries, Costa Rica, according to Costa Rica travel information, is safer in that there have been no recent acts of terrorism here. However, civil disturbances, such as work stoppages and strikes, may sometimes occur. Incidents like these are infrequent but they can cause inconvenience for visitors to Costa Rica like you.
Fun Things to Do
In many Costa Rica travel information, adventure tourism is touted as the most popular activity for visitors to the country. The country is blessed with natural beauty and excellently preserved rainforests and national parks, making it the perfect frolicking place for adventurists at heart. Other outdoor attractions include white water rafting, bungee jumping, jungle canopy tours, deep sea diving, scuba diving, swimming, and so much more.