Pre- Planning
Airports: There are two airports in CR. SJO and LIB. SJO is located in the center of the country. This is the larger of the two and in the capital city of San Jose. LIB is located in the northwestern corner of the country. We chose SJO. It is not a large airport compared to the hubs of the US. We flew in during peak season at the busiest time of the day and we were through customs and out of the airport in 40 minutes.
Once you leave the airport, there is a long line – a really long line, of folks waiting to pick up arrivals. This is a bit intimidating, just take you time and look for your name on a sign if you are choosing a private transport company as we did.
Transport vs Rental Car: Renting a car in CR is VERY expensive. VERY! The country requires an additional insurance of almost $50 a day over the regular rental rate. This was too much for the duration of the trip. And for me, it is easier and more relaxing for someone else to deal with driving and navigation while I enjoy the scenery. Private transport is plentiful in CR and not expensive. We chose PrivateTravelCR.com. And I strongly recommend them.
Packing
CR is very very casual. Be aware of where you are going and what the climate is. Despite the size we experienced three very different climates all within a few hours of each other.
Monteverde: 60sF, rainy and sunny at the same time.
La Fortuna: 70sF and humid
Porto Jimenez: HOT, HOT and Hot 80-93F and humid
This is what we brought and I feel like we did not over pack. I would not bring the snorkel gear as there really isn’t anything to see and the ocean was quite rough. Any of the tours have their own gear for you to borrow.
**Worn on flight