Which Airport should I fly into?
Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) located in the Province of Alajuela aprox. 15 from downtown San Jose and about 30-45 minutes from the contest location.
If I am going to the Competition where should I stay?
We suggest that you stay at Hotel Villas Zurque www.hotelvillaszurqui.com as it is aproximately five minutes from the track. They serve breakfast there and the sunsets are spectacular and the rates are very affordable.
Is there an entrance fee for the competition?
No, this is a non profit event, and we welcome you as a our personal guest.
How Do I get to my Hotel?
It is advisable to deal directly with airport taxis, if you decide to go with the taxis that line the road in front of the Airport you may get a crash course on the "Gringo Tax" theory.
What are the entry requirements?
All visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip.
Visitors from the following countries are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa:
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, United States and all European countries except from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech Republics, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Visitors from these countries are allowed to stay for 30 days without a visa:
Australia, Belice, China, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, The Philippines and Venezuela.
What are the customs regulations?
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.
When is the best time to travel?
The travel industry designates several business seasons during the year: High Season (related to the dry season, from December until April), Peak season (Christmas, New Year and Easter), and the Green Season (also called the Low Season -related to the rainy season, from May until November). If you live in the Northern Climates, you will probably consider winter the only time to visit. However, people from other areas of North America and Europe find the rest of the year equally pleasant. They also will find it quite a bit more affordable. Other vacationers just prefer the country when there are fewer tourists -during the Green Season.
What is the time zone in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is the same as U.S. central standard time, but does not observe daylight savings time.
What are the business hours? Most banks are open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and do not close for lunch. Credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa, MasterCard, Dinners and American Express being the most popular. Government offices are open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Most commercial business open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Stores and other businesses at commercial centers from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Most restaurants open from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Hotels and some restaurants are open 24 hours.
What Taxes should I pay?
Travelers must be at the airport two hours before departure. There is a departure tax of US$26.00. There is a 13% sales tax at hotels, restaurants and most service industries, and an additional 3% tourist tax at hotels.
Should I Tip my waiter?
Restaurants are required by law to add 10% tax and 10% tip to the bill. As a general rule, Costa Ricans do not tip unless the service is exceptional.
Is there a good communication system?
Direct-dial telephone service, facsimile, telex, radio and cable television are all available. Bilingual operator assistance for international calls is: 116, local information: 113, long distance information: 124. Internet cafes are available in most towns and hotels.
Is driving a good idea?
Many people love driving and visiting the country at their own pace. Car Rentals are available from the major rental companies. To rent one you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license and a major credit card. Gasoline is available at stations throughout Costa Rica, most are open 24 hours. Auto insurance is a MUST, which is included in your contract with the car rental because most insurance companies explicitly exclude foreign countries from their coverage. If you have a question, contact your carrier. When the rented car is given to you, the contract will explain both parts responsibilities. If you are involved in a traffic accident: Do not loose your temper, do not leave the place of the accident, do not move the car, cooperate with the legal authorities, do not sign any agreements nor accept any liability, and contact your rental car company immediately.
What are the medical concerns and suggested vaccines?
Health care in Costa Rica is very good and sanitary standards are high. First class hospitals are found throughout San José and some of the other largely populated areas. Since long ago, diseases such as malaria, paludismo, and yellow fever were eradicated in Costa Rica. There are no plagues like in other countries, and no special vaccine recommendations for travelers more than the influenza and the tetanus vaccines. Hospitals and the Red Cross will provide any medical treatment in case of emergency.
Please consider the following precautions during your trip, that are the same wherever you travel around the world:
Do not leave your luggage unattended at the airport or with a stranger, do not carry any stranger´s luggage through customs or immigration, and always carry your money within an inside pocket or a body pouch, or money belt. Daily spending money could be carried in your bag or front pocket.
Credit cards and traveler's checks are good tools when you travel.
Carry a separate package with the following information: a copy of the identifying pages of your passport, the number of your credit cards, traveler checks, bank accounts, airplane tickets, and emergency phone numbers. Valuable items should be left in a safe box.
Avoid crowds as well as dark and lonely places, and deal with well-known tourism agencies instead of unknown persons. In other words, take the same precautions you would have when visiting any other country, but do not let that decrease your enjoyment of this experience.
