Rules and regs: you must have your passport on you at all times by CR law-bring a photocopy and carry that for each adult, leave the original under lock&key in the townhouse. While safe, we do not carry a purse-take a debit, credit, dl license and cash in a Ziploc bag. You can stuff it under the mats in the rental car, or discreetly in the back of a beach chair, or even in your pocket in the ocean. Almost every store in CR takes debit/credit in US$, Euros or Colonnes (CR currency)-it costs about 2% conversion by your bank, but you can't beat the convenience of not having to exchange money-local ATMs at the Bank Of CR even give you the choice of currency when you withdraw. Carry small bills, as at most beaches, etc. there is a parking lot attendant who gets $2-or 1000 colonnes.
When you leave the country, you need an exit visa-you can get them at the airport, but if there are several flights leaving at the same time this can be a pain as you cannot check in on your flight without it, so there is a Bank of Costa Rica just past the Flamingo/Brasilito road split on the left-bring your passports and get the exits here in advance. (it must be a Bank of Costa Rica….and this is the only time we carry our actual passports…)
Driving notes-many bridges are one way at a time-if there is a triangle sign that says CEDA-you have to wait for anyone coming the other way……if there is no sign either you have the right of way or someone hit the sign……cows, dogs, horses and sometimes pigs roam free, they have the right of way.
You need a 4wd, many roads are dirt and during a rain you may encounter water crossings. Rental car price quotes on line many times do not include mandatory CR insurance-check this as the insurance can add 50-60% to your cost-check and see in your policy gives you liability in CR and bring proof. Damage etc. ins is best covered by signing up for AMEX $18/rental coverage cost-it works we have had to use it twice…
In general, restrooms are clean and plentiful at all locations…..we drink the water, and therefore ice, salads etc. everywhere and have never had a problem, nor know of one….
