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FAQ's |
WHERE IS THE OSA PENISULA?
The Osa Peninsula is one of the leading areas of eco-tourism in all of Costa Rica. It reaches out of southwestern Costa Rica in the Pacific Ocean and is described by National Geographic as, "the most biologically intense place on earth". Historically it has been one of the most remote areas of the country, unknown to most Costa Ricans. Now, nature lovers are arriving to explore the incredible richness of the peninsula. Its large virgin rainforests receive 160 inches of rain a year, and it hosts an incredible variety of tropical flora and fauna.
IDENTIFICATION
A valid passport is a must! You will not be allowed in Costa Rica with just a birth certificate. Upon entry, each tourist is issued a 90 day tourist visa, so if you plan to stay longer you will have to leave the country for 72 hours and then re-enter for a new 90 day visa. It is a good idea to have copies of your passport with you when you travel.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Costa Rica is a tropical country located between 8 and 11 degrees north of the equator and is considered to have a fairly stable climate. In the higher elevations, days are warm and nights are brisk. On the lower beach terrain, temperatures will range from 80-90 in the day, usually with ocean breezes, and 70-72 at night.
From the middle of December to the end of April it is rare that it will rain at all (our summer).
During Green Season May 15-Nov 15 (our winter) and generally the best time to be in Costa Rica for a rain forest adventure, the general pattern is for it to rain 3-4 times a week, most likely in the afternoon and very likely at night.
Mornings are sunny almost year-round, but days can vary from partly cloudy to overcast. From approximately July 1 - August 15 we experience a mini dry season, and thought it is not guaranteed to be rain free, the possibility of rain during this time is much less than the rest of the green season. While May and October tend to be the months with the heaviest rain, there is no certainly that there will be much rain in either May or October.
WHAT CLOTHES SHOULD I BRING?
If you are going to spend time in the higher elevations it is recommended that you pack several t-shirts and shorts, 1-2 long-sleeved shirts, 1 pair pants and a light-weight jacket.
If you plan to go hiking it is important to have light-weight hiking shoes (bring tall socks to go with these, so that your boots won't rub) as well as sandals and/or sneakers. If you will spending tome of the lower terrains and beaches you will need mostly shorts, t-shirts, tanks tops, possibly a light-weight jacket, and of course a bathing suit. Everything is very casual, so you won't need to pack any dressy clothes.
Sun block, a hat, insect repellant, binoculars and a wide-beam flashlight (with extra batteries) are necessities. A plastic rain poncho can be handy if you visit during green season.
CAN I DRINK THE WATER?
Local authorities state that the drinking water is Costa Rica is perfectly potable, but we recommend that you stick to bottled water whenever possible.
CURRENCY
Carry U.S. dollars with you when you arrive. Most establishments accept U.S. currency, as well as Visa. Traveler's checks are also a good idea and can be exchanged at any local bank if a vendor will not accept them.
INSECTS
Yes, we have them, too, but hardly what you would might expect. Because we are right on the beach, there are regular breezes and few, if any, mosquitoes, unless it has been raining steadily for hours or if you are deep in the jungle. No-seeums are fairly infrequent, and if they do appear, it is usually 1-2 days right before full moon. They are rarely a total nuisance! |
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