Get All Your Costa Rica Travel Questions Answered with Bill Beard’s Costa Rica

Yes, you need a passport to travel to Costa Rica. Everyone, including infants, needs a passport at least six months before expiration to travel to Costa Rica and re-enter the United States.

The best time to visit Costa Rica is whenever you can get here. The dry season is from December to May, and the rainy season is from June to November, with an overlap in the transition months. We love the rainy season. The ocean is warm, the seas are flat and calm, & everything is green and lush. 

We also love the dry season because giant Pacific manta rays, orcas, humpback whales, and other marine life come from the cooler waters. Rains are heaviest in September and October, but that is the dry season in the Arenal area.

Yes! The water is safe to drink. We never buy bottled water.

No, shots are not required to enter Costa Rica from North America or Europe.

Costa Rica does not have a hurricane season. It’s 10° from the Equator and not in the normal hurricane zone.

The airport that you should fly to depends on your destination:

• For North West Pacific Beaches & Guanacaste: Liberia (LIR).
• For Central & South Pacific, Atlantic side (Caribbean), San Jose, Cocos Islands, Pacuare River, Corcovado, Tortuguero: San Jose (SJO)

You should stay on the Pacific Coast, as it’s far more developed and has better scuba diving spots. However, the Caribbean side is also beautiful and has a very rustic vibe and Jamaican influence.

Yes, Costa Rica has internet and phone service. All major hotels and some smaller hotels have internet service, and all have phone service.

Yes, Costa Rica offers medical services. We have excellent doctors and hospitals in the country.

Yes, there are hyperbaric recompression chambers in Costa Rica, but all of them are located in San Jose.

For scuba diving and adventure activities, you should bring comfortable walking shoes, sandals, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Also, include personal items like a towel, toiletries, and necessary medications. 

For electronics, consider a waterproof camera and a travel adapter. Bring a daypack, a water bottle, snacks for excursions, and essential documents such as your passport and travel insurance details. 

We recommend checking with your scuba diving or adventure tour operator for specific requirements and adjusting your packing list based on weather conditions during your visit.

Yes, it’s safe to drive in Costa Rica. However, renting a vehicle requires a valid driver’s license (US or other), credit card, and passport. Also, the roads could be in better condition and well-marked, and directions are slim to none. That’s why we recommend hiring a private guide and vehicle.

You don’t need a guide in the National Parks. However, a guide can be a great choice if you want to see and learn more about them. Consider hiring a naturalist guide because they can be extremely informative.

Yes, there is a departure tax. However, since 2016, most airlines have included this tax in the ticket price, so please check if you are not on one of the major airlines flying to Costa Rica from the US. 

If not included, the cost is $29.00, and you must pay and fill out the form before entering the airline ticket counter. 

Note: As of August 2015, most airlines now include the departure tax in the airfare.

Yes, there are duty-free stores in the airports.

You generally don’t need to exchange US dollars, as many tours, hotels, and restaurant menus are quoted in USD. Nevertheless, there are exceptions, particularly for smaller-priced items, where Costa Rican colones are commonly used. Supermarkets, souvenir stores, farmers markets, street vendors, taxis, buses, gas stations, and toll booths typically operate in colones for convenience. 

Please note that Canadian dollars, euros, or any other foreign currency besides USD are not accepted in Costa Rica, so it is advisable to have USD or colones for transactions during your stay.

In Costa Rica, it’s customary to leave a 10% tip, and it’s generally included in your check at restaurants by law. But tipping is highly appreciated for guides, servers, drivers, or anyone providing excellent service.

The best places to scuba dive in Costa Rica for beginners are the Catalina Islands, Tortuga Island, Marenco Rock in Caño Island Biological Reserve, and Cahuita National Park. Furthermore, you can go to the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste because of its calm waters and diverse marine life.

Yes, Costa Rica has coral reefs. You’ll find the largest one in Cahuita National Park, the Osa Peninsula, and Caño Island Biological Reserve.

The water temperatures on both coasts of Costa Rica range from 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C), varying with the seasons. This makes scuba diving easily accessible, as the comfortable water temperatures allow you to enjoy the diving experience throughout the year.

Yes, you can swim year-round in Costa Rica.

You can see manta rays in Costa Rica in the Catalina Islands, Bat Islands, Caño Island, and Cocos Islands. 

Yes, you can learn to scuba dive in Costa Rica and get PADI certified. Additionally, at Bill Beard’s Costa Rica, we offer our certification dive package, where qualified and experienced instructors will lead you and teach you the skills. 

The best place to dive with sharks in Costa Rica is the Big Scare at the Bat Islands.

You can dive in Cahuita National Park and Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on the Caribbean side.

Yes, you need to know how to swim to be able to scuba dive. It’s important to be comfortable in the water, so in addition to being able to swim, you should be able to float or tread water. 

No, it’s recommended to always dive with a partner to enhance safety and ensure assistance in emergencies.