Below is a list of some commonly asked questions. Please click or scroll down to view the answers to your questions.

What kind of travel documents do I need?
How do I get a passport?
Do I need a Visa?
Do I need any immunizations?
How do I get travelers insurance?
What do I need to bring?
Do I need any previous experience to do this trip?
What if I have health problems?
Am I in good enough shape?
Are there bugs in Costa Rica?
Will I get eaten by a bear?
Will I get poisoned by a venomous monkey bite?
What’s the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
What’s the time difference and will I have jet lag?
How do I book a trip?
How many people will be on a given trip?
Can our family/group do our own trip?
Is it safe in Costa Rica?
What is included in the All-Inclusive trip?
What is not included in the trip price?
Can I talk to past guests about the trip?
What’s the weather like in Costa Rica?

_____________________

What kind of travel documents do I need?Return to top of page

A passport is required to travel to Costa Rica. When you leave Costa Rica you will need to pay a $28 exit tax at the airport. All customs forms will be given to you on the airplane.
It’s recommended with any international travel that you make a photocopy of your passport and airline ticket and keep it in a separate location.
Be sure to check under the Visa section of the FAQ’s page to see if you need a visa.

How do I get a passport?Return to top of page

Check the expiration date of your passport to make sure you don’t need a renewal for the trip.
For the U.S. – Visit the following site for information about how to get your passport. http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
First time passport fees are usually around $97 (over age 16) and take approximately 6 weeks, or for an additional $60 you can get expedited service which takes about 2 weeks
Renewal passport fees are around $67.

Do I need a Visa?Return to top of page

No visa is required to visit Costa Rica if you are visiting from the following countries:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican, Venezuela, Yugoslavia.

A Visa is required if you are visiting from the following countries:

Andorra, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Chile, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Grenadines, Greece, Guadalupe, Guyana, Haiti, Malta, Martinique, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, San Marino, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Saudi Arabia, Surinam, Taiwan, Trinidad, Tobago, Uruguay, Jamaica.

Do I need any immunizations?Return to top of page

Always check with your physician before traveling to any foreign country.

How do I get travelers insurance?Return to top of page

Click here to go to our Useful Travel Info page for more information. Or click on the logo below for information from our suggested provider (will open in a new window).

What do I need to bring?Return to top of page

Click here for a gear list and our store.

Do I need any previous experience to do this trip?Return to top of page

Nope. Everything we do is set up to accommodate different levels of skill from the most experienced to the newbies.
Previous experience is required for white-water kayaking options.

What if I have health problems?Return to top of page

Give us a call and we’ll talk about the accommodations we can make. Always check with your physician before traveling to a foreign country and engaging in any new physical activities.

Am I in good enough shape?Return to top of page

We make every effort to accommodate various fitness levels. Call us if you have any concerns. You should always check with your physician before traveling to any foreign country or engaging in any new physical activities.

Are there bugs in Costa Rica?Return to top of page

Well…yes. But there’s not enough to scare away even the most intense of bug-haters…even our own trip leader Heidi Taylor. We rarely run into anything frightening or obnoxious.

Will I get eaten by a bear?Return to top of page

Possibly, but not likely since there really are no bears indigenous to Costa Rica. If we visit a zoo your risk goes up significantly.

Will I get poisoned by a venomous monkey bite?Return to top of page

Ummmm…. No.

What’s the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?Return to top of page

Come on… That’s not a fair question.

What’s the time difference and will I have jet lag?Return to top of page

Well, that depends on where you’re coming from. Costa Rica is the same as U.S. Central time (UTC or GMT -6 hours). For travel from the U.S. there’s no jet lag to contend with. Now, if you were to come from Bangladesh, you might be a little cranky for a few days.

How do I book a trip?Return to top of page

Contact us to check for availability on the dates you’re interested in. If you don’t see the dates you’d like, contact us to see what your other options are.

How many people will be on a given trip?Return to top of page

Our maximum trip size is 15-16 people. We keep our trips small and personal. It’s the only way we can go where we want to take you, plus it’s a lot more fun.

Can our family/group do our own trip?Return to top of page

Absolutely. If your group is larger than 10 people then the cost for a custom trip will likely be the same as any other trip. Any groups smaller than 10 will have incremental price increases as the group gets smaller. Call us for details.

Is it safe in Costa Rica?Return to top of page

Costa Rica is one of the most stable and safe countries in Central and South America. It IS a 2nd world country so you probably won’t want to ask a local to hold your purse/wallet while you go for a walk.

What is included in the All-Inclusive trip?Return to top of page

What is not included in the trip price?Return to top of page

Can I talk to past guests about the trip?Return to top of page

Absolutely. We’re more than happy to provide you with contact information for one or several of our past guests. Contact Us

What’s the weather like in Costa Rica?Return to top of page

The Costa Rican climate doesn’t change much from season to season. The average temperatures of the country range from 21.7ºC (71ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). The coolest months are usually around November to January, and the warmest from March to May, although it’s never far from paradise. Costa Rica has vastly different topography so temperatures, rainfall, and overall climate differ from region to region.
The typical rainy season runs from May to November or December, with the dry season running from January to May.
Both seasons offer amazing benefits, so any time you’re packed and ready is a perfect time to visit Costa Rica.