Before you leave

DOCUMENTS / PASSPORTS:

• U.S. citizens do not require a visa for Costa Rica for a visit under 90 days in length.
• A passport valid for at least 6 months after your travel ends is required.

Foremost, allow sufficient time (up to 6 weeks) if you need a new passport to be issued. You will need two recent photos, plus proof of citizenship or your expired passport. The fee for an adult is $85 for a first-time passport and $55 for a renewal, with delivery by mail in 3-4 weeks. Call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 877-487-2778 for information or email them at npic@state.gov. You can also visit their website at http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html for further information. Same day service costs an extra $30; frequent travelers should request a 48 page rather than the 24 page passport when renewing. When you travel, we recommend that you make two copies of your first passport page; keep one copy at home in the unlikely event that your passport is lost, and take one copy along to use as an ID when cashing traveler's checks should you leave your passport behind in the hotel safe deposit box.

SINCE AIR TICKETS MUST BE IN THE SAME NAME THAT APPEARS ON YOUR PASSPORT, PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE REGISTERED ON YOUR CLASSIC ESCAPES PROGRAM IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport, onward/return ticket and proof of sufficient funds are required. Visas are not required for Costa Rica.

CUSTOMS: No customs duties are charged on personal luggage, which includes an array of items for personal and professional use, as long as they do not appear in quantities that suggest commercial intent. Costa Rican law requires that baggage be examined and that travelers submit customs declarations listing all articles acquired abroad, including fruit, vegetables, meat, meat products, biological products such as vaccinations, serums, etc. In the case of families, one declaration can be filled out by the family head.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

INNOCULATIONS: If traveling to the Caribbean coastal area, you may want to protect yourself against the possibility of contracting malaria. Consult your doctor for a prescription for a malaria suppressant at least two weeks prior to departure as tablets should be taken a week before you depart, as well as during and after trip. The best prevention is to avoid mosquito bites. Wear long slacks and long sleeved shirts, use mosquito nets, and a repellent with 30% DEET, Skin So Soft, or oil of citronella. Malaria symptoms can appear as few as 8 days after exposure or a year later. Do not be misled by flu like symptoms of chills and fever. Since some U.S. doctors are unfamiliar with malaria, insist upon a blood test. Delays in treatment can have serious consequences. You are unlikely to encounter any serious diseases in Costa Rica. Sanitary standards are high and the health system is excellent. During past wet seasons there have been several outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease dengue but so far there have been no reported cases of the more serious hemorrhaging dengue. No vaccinations are required to enter Costa Rica as epidemic diseases have been all but eradicated throughout the country. Infectious hepatitis, a serious problem throughout Central America, is reported only rarely in Costa Rica. Please consult your physician, local health authority or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or via their web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel for any additional health precautions. For outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's web site at http://www.who.int/en/ . Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/iht.

FOOD AND WATER: Tap water is mostly safe for use in the capital city of San Jose but beyond that, we suggest using bottled water. Fruits are plentiful and luscious, but do not consume anything from a vendor or market that you cannot peel. In the better hotels and restaurants, you might try the mamon chino - a red spiny fruit with succulent white flesh. Mango and pawpaw are good, plus zapotes, which resemble an avocado but have an orange-like pulp. Gallo pinto is the staple of the Costa Rican diet - black beans and rice. Casado, or married, means the rice and beans are combined with a meat or fried banana or yucca. A gallo is something with a tortilla wrapped around it, such as beef, cheese, beans, chicken or pork. Sea bass (corvina), prawns (langostinos) and lobster (langosto) are among the most plentiful seafoods. An appetizer of ceviche, raw seafood in lime or lemon juice mixed with onion and coriander leaves, is something you should not miss. Miss the Bavaria beer instead; try Imperial brand.

IN SHAPE: To enjoy your trip to the fullest, you should be in good physical and mental health. Your exploration of Costa Rica will include many nature walks, some strenuous and at rather high altitudes or humidity levels. These walks last several hours but are given at a decent pace in order to closely examine the flora and fauna of the area. Always bring along water, bug repellant and a good hat to protect yourself during these nature walks.

HIGHS AND LOWS: Costa Rica offers a great diversity of altitudes. At certain heights, the phenomenon known as altitude sickness can occur. There are no specific factors such as age, gender, or physical condition that correlates with susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some people don't, and some people may experience it one visit and not the next time. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, lack of concentration, nausea, swelling of ankles, and in extreme cases, hallucination. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, heavy food and strenuous physical activity. Citrus fruits and bananas may diminish the effects. If you do not feel well, take it easy. Put your feet up, drink plenty of clean (boiled or bottled) water, and take a siesta after lunch. People with respiratory problems may be affected by the air pollution of the larger cities, although the local government has taken recent steps to curb emissions.

ALTITUDE CHART: