First time to Costa Rica-- seeking help
Jul 8th, 2009, 11:29 AM
#61
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Are you traveling from the U.S.? If so, you really don't need to start out with local currency unless you really just want the experience of using it. Most places will readily accept accept U.S. dollars. You will frequently get change back in colones, although sometimes you'll get USD back as well. Many ATMs will dispense in either USD or colones.
Taking along several small U.S. bills (1s, 5s) is useful for tipping and incidentals. You can typically pay for bigger ticket items like tours with a CC if you like.
I've never bothered to get colones on any of my 3 trips to CR, and have never had issues with just using USD. If you were really going off the beaten track, it <i>might</i> be more useful to carry local currency, but for Arenal and MA, you won't have any trouble. It becomes a matter of personal preference at that point...
Your trip is coming up fast isn't it? Have a great time!
Taking along several small U.S. bills (1s, 5s) is useful for tipping and incidentals. You can typically pay for bigger ticket items like tours with a CC if you like.
I've never bothered to get colones on any of my 3 trips to CR, and have never had issues with just using USD. If you were really going off the beaten track, it <i>might</i> be more useful to carry local currency, but for Arenal and MA, you won't have any trouble. It becomes a matter of personal preference at that point...
Your trip is coming up fast isn't it? Have a great time!
Jul 8th, 2009, 11:37 AM
#62
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I usually carry both colones and U.S. The thing is, depending on what you're buying or where you're buying it, you might be paying 500 colones to the dollar when the exchange rate is actually 585 to the dollar, for example. This can add up over time, but usually vendors, restaurants, stores, etc., are pretty fair on the exchange rate so it's up to you. As cmerrell noted, always keep small bills and coins on hand.
Jul 11th, 2009, 11:02 AM
#66
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We just made the trip from SJO to Arenal; we paid $140. We tipped $20 on top of that. Our driver was great. It's a very pretty drive; if you get at all carsick, you might want to take a Dramamine or something - it's curvy and twisty but really beautiful.
Jul 12th, 2009, 07:26 PM
#69
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Volcanogirl, we have two nights at AOL and three at El Silencio Del Campo, so surely we will see the volcano! Any special tips for the area that you discovered on this latest trip?
Jul 12th, 2009, 08:25 PM
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I wish it were that easy; you can get lots of foggy mist and never see the volcano. Plenty of people don't even get a peek unfortunately. We had one trip where we saw it every day and another where we didn't see it at all for four days. People we met on our latest trip said they thought the volcano was a completely made up marketing ploy because none of them had seen anything but clouds and mist.
My favorite things in the area are the Cano Negro tour with Sunset Tours, rafting the Sarapiqui with Rios Tropicales, and enjoying dinner and the hot springs at Eco Termales. Also really enjoyed our waterfall hike. If you want to zip, I'd go with Sky Trek. We loved eating at Don Rufino - best restaurant we've been to in CR. If you do the Hanging Bridges, I'd hire a guide; we didn't and all we saw there were ants - lol.
My favorite things in the area are the Cano Negro tour with Sunset Tours, rafting the Sarapiqui with Rios Tropicales, and enjoying dinner and the hot springs at Eco Termales. Also really enjoyed our waterfall hike. If you want to zip, I'd go with Sky Trek. We loved eating at Don Rufino - best restaurant we've been to in CR. If you do the Hanging Bridges, I'd hire a guide; we didn't and all we saw there were ants - lol.
Jul 13th, 2009, 06:49 AM
#71
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Thanks for the tip on the Hanging Bridges--I probably wouldn't have gotten a guide. How much does it cost to hire one?
Did you make your tour reservations from the hotel or do it at the tour sites in La Fortunua?
Did you make your tour reservations from the hotel or do it at the tour sites in La Fortunua?
Jul 13th, 2009, 09:25 AM
#72
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We usually book directly with the company because sometimes the hotels will add a little bit on to do the booking for you. When we went to the Hanging Bridges, you could buy a guided ticket at the entrance. The Lost Iguana sells half price tickets at their front desk since they're right next to the Hanging Bridges, so we just bought ours there. I didn't even think about getting a guide because it's a pretty easy hike with a trail to follow. But then I read people's trip reports about seeing vipers, howlers, cool birds, etc. when they went with a guide. No guarantees of course, but I think you increase your chances. You might check with Sunset Tours also.
Jul 13th, 2009, 11:53 AM
#74
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When we went, we just went to the Hanging Bridges (we had our own car) and paid for admission with a guide right at the ticket gate. And they sent someone out for us. We didn't preschedule anything. We didn't do a group walk or anything like that. It was just my husband, myself and the guide. There wasn't a huge amount of wildlife, but we did see way more than we would have without the guide and we learned so much about the area and the whole rainforest in general. And we did get to see a pit viper and many birds. I really enjoyed the walk a lot, mostly due to the guide.
Aug 2nd, 2009, 03:42 AM
#77
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jayne, sorry I missed your question, but for anyone else, we pre-booked Eco Termales with Sunset tours in combo with a volcano hike. Eco T only lets 100 people in, and I think it's a good idea to book ahead just in case.
Aug 4th, 2009, 06:16 AM
#78
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Hey vocanogirl-- we did prebook with Silencio del Campo. It was fun and so reasonable on the drinks, which were delicious. The staff was so nice, they even drove us back to the hotel after I asked if there were a lot of snakes on the dark path back to the road.
Aug 4th, 2009, 06:43 AM
#79
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That's awesome; I'm so glad you had a good time. That's a neat spot. Their drink prices do seem a lot more reasonable than some of the other places.
Speaking of snakes, I did see one this trip when we were going to dinner at our hotel. My first reaction was to grab my camera; I think CR has done something to me! If I saw that in the states, I'd run the other way!
Speaking of snakes, I did see one this trip when we were going to dinner at our hotel. My first reaction was to grab my camera; I think CR has done something to me! If I saw that in the states, I'd run the other way!
