This guide was initially created for volunteers joining the Tropical Adventures Foundation in Costa Rica. However, it's full of great and useful information that can be enjoyed by anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica. (updated 15 April 2012)

2. I
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We are proud and excited to be We have created this manual to
your host in Costa Rica. We have help you prepare for your trip.
fun volunteer projects and adven- Please take some time to read
turous tours waiting for you! through it carefully if you have
any questions, please let us know
This is a land of beautiful, white by email at
sand beaches, monkeys and lush info@tropicaladventures.com
tropical vegetation. Costa Rica is or by phone at 1-800-832-9419.
a family-oriented country. Be
ready to be welcomed with See you soon!
opened arms!

3. The Tropical Adventures
Foundation is a non-profit
resource for empowering
individuals and communities
inside and outside of Costa Rica.
Our website address is
www.TropicalAdventures.com
Our goals are to:
• Support the inherent value of What We Do:
the individual, • Encourage Self-Discovery
• Reduce poverty and injustice • Provide Volunteer Opportunities
• Create safe environments for • Book hotels, transportation and
women and children Tours
• Promote international learning • Foster Respect through our
and cooperation Projects
• Foster personal and worldwide • Help create Self-Sufficiency in
Peace our Communities

4. A
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About Costa Rica
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Costa Rica is an amazing and biologi- Many attribute that to the relaxed i
c
cally diverse country located in Central atmosphere and laid-back way of life a
America. Costa Rica is bordered to the here. The major exports of Costa Rica
North by Nicaragua and to the South are bananas, coffee, sugar cane and
by Panama. The official language of pineapple.
Costa Rica is Spanish.
Costa Rica is rich in natural beauty and
Costa Rica is the “Switzerland of has many different micro climates,
Central America” according to many which range from hot and humid
well-known guidebooks. Costa Rica is lowlands, spectacular volcanoes, tropi-
a democratic nation with a Nobel cal rainforests, dry forests, and higher
Peace prizewinner as its President, elevation mountainous zones. Costa
Oscar Arias. Costa Rica is a peaceful Rica has 7 provinces: San Jose (also
nation with no army since 1948. the capital city), Alajuela, Guanacaste,
Puntarenas, Limon, Heredia, and
Costa Rica is about the size of West Cartago. Each province is unique geo-
Virginia. It is approximately 20,000 graphically and culturally. Costa Rica
square miles in area. The average life welcomes visitors from around the
expectancy here in Costa Rica is 76.1 world every year and those adventur-
years, higher than that of the USA. ous tourists definitely do not leave
unsatisfied.
www.TropicalAdventures.com

5. Costa Rican Culture
Costa Ricans speak standard Spanish and asked, will have a more positive opinion of
Central American Spanish, but they, like someone who graduated from a public
most other Central American countries over university.
the years, have developed distinct patterns
in their language. Because of the interest in education, most
Costa Ricans firmly believe in education as
Costa Ricans normally use the respectful a way to improve their life.
"Usted" form when addressing each other;
this is somewhat formal and surprises some Costa Ricans usually greet one another
Spanish-speaking foreigners when they with a slight peck on one cheek or in the
arrive. Also, when they do use the familiar case of two men, a hand shake. If that
form, they often use the less polite vos situation is uncomfortable for you then
rather than tú, which is used in most other extend your arm and offer a hand shake.
Latin American countries. Costa Ricans are respectful of this type of
greeting especially when people meet for
Education is highly regarded in Costa Rica the first time and will not be offended.
by most of the population. 6% of the
country's resources are dedicated to educa- Costa Rica is generally a rather conserva-
tion and it has been proved to have positive tive culture. Men and women typically hold
results as > 95% of the population is traditional roles and that is the norm of A
literate. Costa Rican society. Alcohol use is legal for b
o
those over 18 years of age. The law in u
Primary (1st-6th grade) and secondary Costa Rica regarding recreational drugs is t
(7th-11th or 12th) are free and mandatory that they are illegal even though in various C
o
for all citizens. However, primary and parts of world they have been legalized. s
secondary public education is widely We encourage participants to abide by local t
considered to lack the quality and a
laws during their visit to Costa Rica.
R
resources seen in private elementary i
schools, therefore most of the middle class A person from the United States is normally c
a
and upper middle class populations opt to referred to as a gringo. For Costa Ricans,
send their children to private institutions. the word "gringo" is slang for a United
States citizen as "Tico" is slang for a Costa
At the university level, the country has four Rican. This term is widespread as Ameri-
major public universities: The University of cans constitute a significant percentage of
Costa Rica (UCR),the Instituto Technoogico tourists in Costa Rica. Tourists are almost
(TEC), The Universidad Nacional (UNA) always well-liked and treated hospitably.
and the Universidad de Educacion a
Distancia (UNED), this last institution is a If you are blonde (especially women), don't
correspondence institution. Most of the be offended if you hear yourself described
national universities have institutional as 'la macha' or ‘la machita’ (literally, 'the
autonomy and considerable budgets that blonde') - it is used in polite speech in Costa
have allowed them to become some of the Rica and is more a term of endearment than
major universities in Central America. anything else. You may also find that some
men call out to you using this term while you
Due to the four main universities inability to are walking in the street. It is up to you
meet the demand of the growing popula- whether you wish to return the greeting with
tion, a great variety of private institutions a polite ‘hola’ or ‘buenos dias’ but ignoring it
have begun to appear in the country. usually prevents any unwanted advances.
Despite this boom in private investment,
private institutions are still fighting for the
prestige mainly associated with the public www.TropicalAdventures.com
universities, and most Costa Ricans when

6. One of the most breathtaking species of There are over 200 species of reptiles in
butterflies is the morpho, with its 15 cm Costa Rica, over half of them snakes. But
(6-inch) wingspan and electric blue upper snakes are rarely encountered, even by
wings. Floating over the rivers, usually on those looking for them. Often they are
sunny mornings, they are a stunning sight. nocturnal or superbly camouflaged, and if
When they land, only their brown under- they lie perfectly still on the forest floor,
wings are visible; a camouflage to protect they can be virtually impossible to detect.
them from their enemies.
More frequently seen are the country's
Such camouflage is prominent in the lizards. The common Ameiva has a white
butterfly community. Some species look stripe running down its back. Bright green
just like the leaves and bark of the trees on basilisk lizards can reach a meter (3 ft) in
which they rest. Yet others have wings with length. Their huge crests run the length of
spots that resemble eyes. Predators occa- their heads, giving them the appearance of
sionally attack their wings, leaving them a dinosaur. They are nicknamed "Jesus
with only minor injuries, their heads and Christ lizards" because they can run
bodies safe from harm. across water when disturbed.
Costa Rica is home to roughly 150 species Costa Rica is also home to crocodiles and
of amphibians, some of which are turtles. The 14 turtle species include both
extremely colorful and exotic. There are marine and freshwater varieties. The larg- A
tree frogs which spend their entire lives est of the marine turtles are leatherbacks. b
above the forest floor, breeding in the Their shells are up to a meter and a half (5 o
u
water of tank bromeliads or in holes in the feet) and they weigh upwards of 360 kg t
trunks of trees. Others, the poison-arrow (800 lb)! Marine turtles climb up sandy C
frogs, are exuberantly colored, ranging beaches to lay their eggs, a spectacular o
s
from bright red with blue or green legs to sight because it happens en masse. Olive t
bright green with black markings. These Ridleys nest synchronously -- tens of thou- a
sands of females sometimes emerge from R
frogs emit skin toxins that are distasteful or i
lethal to their potential predators, and their the sea in a single night! c
bright coloration serves to warn predators a
of their danger.
Costa Rican Weather
Although Costa Rica is a small country in terms of area, there is a lot going on here in terms
of weather in Costa Rica. With a climate that is diverse and varied, Costa Rica can be
divided into several climatic zones, each of which is distinct and individual. Though generally
classified as a tropical country because of its close proximity to the equator, Costa Rica has
no real winter period, and the sun shines here throughout the year. With over 12 hours of
sunshine a day, the sun rises at about 5 am and sets at about 6 pm consistently throughout
the year.
Here is a pretty handy chart. It shows our project locations and dry / wet season info:

7. Pura Vida
Literally translated means "Pure Life" but
means contextually something approximate
to "Full of Life," "Purified life," "Going
great," or "Cool!". Some foreigners view the
phrase as an expression of a leisurely
lifestyle, of disregard for time and wanton
friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use
the phrase to express something akin to a
philosophy of strong community, persever-
ance, good spirits, and enjoying life slowly
and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes
small and large alike.
Indigenous Populations
The Indigenous populations in Costa Rica are rapidly decreasing in numbers as their
children are forced to adapt to modern culture in an effort to survive. As these children leave
for the cities they often leave part of their culture behind. Tropical Adventures works with
other non profits and strives to create and implement programs that assist these local tribes
in empowering themselves while maintaining their cultural traditions.
A
Costa Rican Wildlife
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Over 200 mammal species have been recorded in t
Costa Rica. Observant visitors to the national parks C
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and other protected areas are almost certain to see s
one of the country's four types of monkeys -- howler, t
a
spider, white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys.
R
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The country is also home to a wide assortment of c
a
tropical mammals. There are two types of sloths: the
more commonly seen three-toed sloth, and the
more rarely seen two-toed sloth. Three types of
anteaters, reside in Costa Rica; the tamandua is
most commonly seen, while the others, the giant
and silky anteaters are rarely glimpsed.
Visitors to Costa Rica's rainforests are likely to see
armadillos, agoutis, coatis, peccaries (wild pigs),
kinkajous, raccoons, squirrels and bats. However,
some rainforest animals are almost never seen.
Jaguars and tapirs, for example, are now consid-
ered endangered species. Still, their tracks are
regularly seen in the more remote, larger expanses
of undisturbed forest such as that surrounding the
Rara Avis Reserve.
Over 35,000 species of insects have been recorded
in Costa Rica, with thousands more still undiscov-
ered. Most noteworthy among these are the butter-
flies. It is estimated that 10% of the world's butterfly
species reside in Costa Rica.

8. Time Zone Food
Costa Rica is in the Central Standard
Time Zone (same as Chicago), 6 hours
behind Greenwich mean time. Costa Rica
does not use daylight saving time, so the
time difference is an additional hour April
through October.
Electricity & Water
Water and electricity are things that we
often take for granted in first world coun-
tries. In Costa Rica, there are often distur-
bances in the delivery of these services The food in Costa Rica is based around
due to rationing or poorly maintained rice, beans, some meat and plenty of
pipes/lines. You might consider bringing delicious tropical fruits. For breakfast,
anti-bacterial gel for hand washing should expect wonderful, fresh fruit along with
you find yourself in a water or power eggs and “Gallo Pinto,” a national dish of
A
outage (sometimes water pumps are run fried rice and black beans. Typical lunch b
on electricity). In Costa Rica they use110v and dinner meals include rice and beans, o
u
electricity therefore adapters/converters salads, and either fish, chicken or beef. t
should not be needed for those coming On the Caribbean Coast you will also find C
from the United States and Canada. delicious homemade Caribbean-style o
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food, such as jerk chicken or curry dishes. t
The food will vary depending on which a
center or host family you are staying with. R
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Toilet Paper
The Costa Rican plumbing system has
very low pressure in all but the best hotels
and more modern buildings. Often, putting
toilet paper into the bowl clogs up the
system, so a waste receptacle is provided
for the soiled toilet paper. This may not
seem particularly sanitary but it’s much
better than clogged toilet bowls. In places
where toilet paper baskets are provided,
volunteers are urged to use them. Pretty
much every host family, hostel and
restaurant will require that you place your
toilet paper in the trash. It may seem a bit
strange at first, but it won’t seem as
uncomfortable as asking your host family
to help you when the water from the toilet
is flowing all over the bathroom floor if you
decide to flush the paper down the toilet
instead and it all gets clogged up!

9. Keeping In Touch
Cell Phone Coverage Keeping a Travel Blog
If you want to use your own cell phone, you
We would also love to post your story or blog
need to know the following:
entry about your experience in Costa Rica on
our Tropical Adventures Volunteer Blog K
1 Your telephone must by a GSM phone (www.crazyjungle.com). Please email your e
with either Tri-Band capacity or work on the e
story to info@tropicaladventures.com, p
1800Mhz frequency along with a few pictures. Prospective volun- i
teers love to hear about what it was like in n
g
2 Your telephone must have the bands Costa Rica and what they can expect. I
"unblocked". Many carriers in the U.S. like n
AT&T, T-Mobile and Cingular block their Many of our volunteers like to keep an online T
o
bands when you the telephone is included account of their travels and experiences to u
on their plans. If your telephone is blocked it show their family and friends back home. c
We can recommend TravelPod – h
will not work in Costa Rica.
www.TravelPod.com. All you have to do is
register for a free account using your email
3 Most European phones are not blocked
address; you can then write about your expe-
and will work well in Costa Rica if you meet
riences, upload photos and create a map of
the criteria in item 1 above.
your journey. It’s a nice way to show people
Costa Rica now allows non-residents the
back at home what you are doing and a good
opportunity to buy prepaid SIM cards to use
souvenir for when you get back!
in your phone. We recommend buying a SIM
card in the airport upon arrival from one of
the ICE phone company booths. One of
them is conveniently located by the luggage
carousels The cost is 5,000 Colones (about
$2.50 USD) and will come with a credit of
5,000 Colones so you can immediately begin
to make phone calls.

10. Health and Safety For a list of which countries require their
citizens to get yellow fever vaccinations,
Your health and safety is of the utmost please refer to the Centers for Disease
importance to Tropical Adventures. The Control website:
water in Costa Rica is safe to bathe with http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinatio
and certainly is much safer to consume ns/costa-rica.htm
than other Central American countries, but Neither Canada nor the United States
it is not up to the standards of North require this vaccination.
America or UE. In most areas drinking
water is totally safe. However, we suggest
that you drink bottled water during your visit Prescriptions
to Costa Rica if you have a sensitive Please pack your prescription medications
system or are nervous about getting ill. in your carry-on luggage and carry prescrip-
Bottled water is readily available at stores, tions in their original containers. Bring
restaurants and bars. The ice is safe to along copies of your prescriptions in case
consume. We strongly encourage all volun- you lose your pills or run out and carry the
teers to drink much more water than they generic name of prescription medicines.
would normally at home. The heat and
humidity of Costa Rica combined with Culture Shock
physically challenging volunteer projects Culture shock is a feeling of discomfort (this
will require more hydration for your body. can be physical, emotional or both) as a
Heat stroke is a common ailment for result of being away from the comforts of
tourists and we don’t want any of our home and being in a completely new envi-
participants to become victims of heat ronment. Having to contend with a different
stroke. language, new foods, different customs and
a different pace of life may leave you feeling
We recommend that participants who want a little under the weather at first. Symptoms
to explore the local area do so in small may include:
groups just as a standard safety precaution
when traveling to any foreign land. We ask - Anxiety
that volunteers be wary travelers and to not - Homesickness
carry their passports, large amounts of - Tiredness
money, etc with them when not needed. - Apathy
Your belongings will be safe in your host - Digestive discomfort
- Obsessiveness over cleanliness K
family homes and if there is a safe in your e
hostel or near your project location, we - A disliking of your new e
encourage participants to utilize this free environment p
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service. - Feeling isolated n
g
If you become ill, please contact your Tropi- COPING WITH CULTURE SHOCK I
n
cal Adventures Volunteer Coordinator right Most people experience 'culture shock' at T
away. Please familiarize yourself with the some point during their travelling lives and o
medical insurance we offer and the add-on this is something you may experience when u
c
travel insurance we have available for you arrive in Costa Rica. We have found h
purchase.More information available at this more common with first-time travelers.
http://medical.tropicaladventures.com
These feelings are usually mild and you can
No vaccinations are required to enter Costa deal with them and settle in more quickly if
Rica for citizens of most countries, but we you are aware that what you are experienc-
would recommend that all participants have ing is simply a natural reaction to being in a
up-to-date typhoid, hepatitis A, yellow fever new environment. You will find that the
and tetanus vaccinations. For more infor- Costa Rican people (Ticos) are very friendly
mation about requirements and sugges- and polite, and will try and help you settle in
tions, please see our Frequently Asked as quickly as possible. But don't worry if you
Questions section of our website. still feel out of your comfort zone - this is
natural!

11. When you leave home and all the things How can you adjust to your new environ-
that are familiar, you encounter many new ment? How can you make a successful
and confusing situations. These situations transition to living in a new culture?
naturally create stress (culture shock).
First: understand that there are and
Some of the differences between life at there will continue to be uncertainties and
home and life in a new place are obvious: confusion. Imagine how a local resident
might react to living in your country.
• Language
• Climate Second: observe how people in your
• Religion new environment act in situations that are
• Food confusing to you. Try to understand what
• Educational System they believe and why they behave as they
• Absence of family do. Avoid judging things as either right or
wrong; regard them as being merely
Other differences are not as obvious: different.
• How students relate to teachers Third: remember the ways you have
• How people make decisions been able to reduce stress in difficult
• How people spend their leisure situations in the past and apply those
time methods in your present circumstances.
• How people resolve conflicts For example, you might take a long walk,
• How people express feelings and go to a movie theater, or write a letter to a
emotions close friend or relative. Try to see the
humor in confusing situations that you
These differences cause feelings of encounter; laughter is often the best
uncertainty and anxiety: "medicine."
• "Am I speaking properly?"
• "Will I be a successful student?"
Fourth: accept the difficult challenge of
learning to study and live in a new cultural
• "Will I find friends?" K
setting. Believe that you can learn the
• "Should I discuss my personal e
skills to make a satisfactory transition. e
beliefs or my political opinions?" p
Gradually try to apply some of the skills
• "What does it mean when some i
you are learning. n
one looks directly into my eyes?" g
• "Should I trust this friendly I
stranger?" Fifth: recognize the advantages of n
spending time in a different culture. Your T
life will be enriched by meeting people o
All of these uncertainties . . . and more . . . u
are confusing. You may also feel that you whose cultural backgrounds are not the c
don't know what to do in certain situations. same as yours. Share your time with h
Probably you did not think about these many different people. Avoid having
things at home because you knew what to friends only from your country but main-
do and what to expect. You also knew how tain strong personal ties to your culture
other people acted and thought. In other while you are away from home. Think
words, you understood "the rules" and about how you can help local residents
"the signs." Life was easier at home. learn how people from your country
believe and act.
www.TropicalAdventures.com

12. Sixth: acknowledge your progress in Compassion is empathy. It is a quality of
adjusting to the new culture. Think of all being with someone. It’s not a “doing”
that you have learned since the day you thing. You can’t pretend to know why. Just
arrived. Recognize that, like other people be willing to through the experience with
who have lived in an unfamiliar country, the other person(s).
you can and will make a successful
adjustment to the other culture. You will likely see and smell things that
you have never encountered before which
If you believe yourself to be suffering from will be an eye-opening experience. Costa
symptoms of culture shock, you should Rica is a beautiful tropical paradise, but it
speak with your Volunteer Coordinator, or is still a developing country. There are
someone in the Tropical Adventures exotic species of plants and trees that
office. exist only in Costa Rica and among the
beauty there are often issues with
Here are some other suggestions for your garbage strewn along roadsides,
consideration: potholes, temporary blocked/closed
roads, and malnourished street dogs.
There is no Right or Wrong. Things are
what they are. Please do not think that Typically here in Costa Rica you will see
because you’re coming to Costa Rica, a some families living in poverty, but Costa
denominated “third world country” that Rica has an ever growing large middle
people are not happy just because they class population which own vehicles and
may not have access to the material com- have modest cement block homes on a
modities that the average US citizen has. small plot of land.
Costa Ricans are well known as being
very happy people who work to enjoy life We strongly encourage participants to
instead of living their lives to work. ask questions about vegetation that they
see, wildlife that is observed at volunteer
Remember, there’s a thin line between sites or en-route to these areas, and about
“Sympathy” and “Compassion.” Sympathy any cultural customs that are new or seem
is feeling sorry for someone, and it leads unique.
to over-responsibility. K
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e
p
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13. Arrival in Costa Rica
Airport Instructions
The following are instructions for those of Follow the signs out to the baggage claim
you who are flying into the San Jose Juan section where you can claim your luggage.
Santamaria International Airport (SJO). It's in this section where you can purchase
a pre-paid SIM card for your cell phone
Most airplanes arrive at a gate, but be from the ICE phone company booth. Once
aware sometimes there isn’t any room at a you have all your luggage, head towards
gate and you will park on the tarmac. If that the exit. You’ll have to stand in line again
happens, you will deplane using the stairs, and place all your luggage on the conveyor
board a bus and be driven to the terminal. belt.
In either case, you want to look for the The customs officials scan your bags, you
signs that say “Immigration.” Follow the pull them off the conveyor and you hand
signs to the Immigration area and stand in your last remaining piece of paperwork to
one of the left lanes that say “Tourist.” This the officer standing by. (Note: Sometimes
process is usually pretty fast, but it they are too busy and don’t even collect A
depends on how many people and your paperwork.) r
r
airplanes arrived at the same time you did. i
Continue walking outside. The exit is very v
The Immigration official will need your obvious. Be aware that a million taxi drivers a
passport and the paperwork you filled out will be asking if you need a ride. Either l
on the airplane. Most of the time they don’t ignore them and focus on getting out, or i
n
ask you any questions, just stamp your just politely say “no gracias.”
C
paperwork and hand back one of the R
sheets of paper to you, along with your
passport.

14. Pick-Up – IMPORTANT
Please print off the following information We are very excited to meet you! You’ll be
to bring with you. greeted by one of us and we will take care of
Unless you have been advised otherwise, your immediate needs (ATM, food, etc.).
our friendly driver, Manuel, will be waiting at Unless you arrive early enough to continue
San Jose International Airport to collect you. on to your project, you’ll be taken to a
nearby hotel to rest until the morning, when
we will pick you up and get you transported
to your project location. Our goal is to make
your trip comfortable – and FUN!
Tropical Adventures 24-Hour
Support
As you exit the final door of the airport you
will see a wall of glass in front of you. Your
driver will normally be standing there behind Tropical Adventures experienced bilingual
the glass holding a sign with your name(s) staff will be available 24 hours a day during
on it. Acknowledge them and then continue your stay here in Costa Rica. Once here in
walking out the exit toward the right. Costa Rica, you can call any of us collect if
anything at all goes wrong or you need help.
If you miss your driver or can’t find them for This is how:
some reason, simply go to the pay phone
area and they will find you. The pay phones 1. Pick up the phone and Dial 1110
are to the right as you exit to the street.
2. After the opera-tor sasy a sentence
Manuel’s number is 8318-4750. or two in Spanish, press 1
3. After another sentence in Spanish,
You need to please call us if you miss your
enter 2575-0410 (our office)
flight, or if for any reason you will be
delayed. Our number is toll-free at
4. One last sentence and a beep, then
1-800-832-9419.If you miss your flight and
say your name
do not advise us, we can not advise your
driver. If this happens and they go to wait for
5. Wait a minute or two. Either you’ll
you at the airport for no reason, they will
hear us come on the line or the opera
charge you for a second trip to the airport.
tor will tell you we weren’t available.
PLEASE be careful of your bags. Do not
Should we not be available, repeat the
leave them unattended for even a minute.
above, substituting the following numbers
Petty thievery is an issue at this – and all
for instruction number 3.
airports around the world
Once here in Costa Rica, if you need any A
help or anything goes wrong, please contact r
us using the support numbers on this page. r
i
v
As mentioned above, this is Costa Rica. On a
l
the rare occasion, something goes wrong
i
(traffic, accident, or any number of other n
uncontrollable issues) and we will be late, C
please wait at the airport. We know you are R
coming and are on the way to get you. But
feel free to call at any time. We are here for
you!

15. IMPORTANT
Please ensure you print a copy of this We do most often answer the phone, but in
page to leave with somebody at home. the event you can't reach us, please leave
us a message on more than one number
Your family can call any of us if there is a and we will get back with you just as soon
need to get a message to you. Here at the as possible.
Tropical Adventures Foundation, your
safety is our primary concern. In the event Our office numbers are:
of any emergency, please use the follow- Toll-Free from the US or Canada:
ing information to contact us here in Costa 1-800-832-9419
Rica. International Direct-Dial:
+506 2575-0410
Please be aware that we not only live in a
developing nation where communication If you can't reach anyone in the office
and technology are inconsistent, but we (nights, weekends, and holidays), please
also work in remote areas. start calling people from this list. To dial a
+506 number from the US or Canada,
please dial 011-506 and then the rest of
the numbers:
Susan Schuetze Travel Coordinator +506 8358-6161
Manuel Driver +506 8318-4750
Scott Pralinsky Executive Director +506 8868-0296
Steven Marín Office Assistant +506 8791-1224
Medical Insurance
Tropical Adventures offers insurance at no
extra charge to our volunteers (not tour-
only or voluntour clients) as part of our
basic package. Additional coverage is
available for $25 per week for those tour- • Emergency Medical Evacuation
only and voluntour guests, as well as • Travel Accident Coverage
those volunteers seeking coverage in • Luggage Loss or Theft
Costa Rica before or after their volunteer • Sporting Equipment Loss or
time. Damage
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption
Please see our Medical Insurance web-
page at: You can read more about the insurance
http://medical.tropicaladventures.com they offer at: A
for more detailed information on the insur- http://medical.tropicaladventures.com. r
ance policy. We highly suggest you r
i
consider purchasing some additional and Please note: if you purchase the insurance v
affordable insurance for your trip. We have using the link above, Tropical Adventures a
l
a great relationship with an international will receive a 10% commission and 100% i
company who provides insurance that of the money will be used directly to n
covers such things as: support our projects. The cost to you will C
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be the same as if you went to the provider
• Medical and Dental Emergency yourself. Thank you for your continued
Coverage support!

16. Important to note:
•If you have chosen to stay in a hostel or • Sometimes there will be changes to your
have purchased an upgrade to a hotel, you itinerary which are beyond our control. We
will be responsible for buying your own are always available to help you make
lunch and dinner ($20 per day should other choices and adjustments.
cover that easily).
• If we are unable to accommodate you on
•Transportation between projects and your chosen date, we will, at your option,
back to the airport is not included in your either reschedule your date or refund your
package. Depending on how you decide to payment.
travel (bus versus shuttle van), transporta-
tion between projects and to the airport will • Full payment is required at the time of
likely vary anywhere between $1 and $45. reserving with Tropical Adventures to
secure your spot. We will email you a
•You will be required to pay a $28 exit tax confirmation of payment received.
at the airport per Costa Rica law.
• Different Tour Operators have different
•If you fly in late or depart early, you’ll likely cancellation policies. Please ask about
need to stay in a hostel or hotel near the these at time of booking.
airport. We are happy to help you with the
reservations, but this is not an included • Should your plans change and you are
program cost. To avoid this cost, please fly unable to make your tour, we will work with
in before Noon and depart as late in the the tour vendor to either accommodate
day as possible. you on another tour or refund your money.
However, many tour companies have
Tour Info already committed resources to your tour
when you book it so refunds are not
Tropical Adventures offers many tours. It’s always guaranteed. The more notice you
most likely that you have already booked give us, the more likely we will be able to
some through our Tour Department. Here accommodate your request.
are some things we want you to be aware
of: • Prices on our website and in our emails
to you are subject to change (this happens
• Most tours run daily but have a minimum when the Tour Operator changes prices
number of persons required for the tour to and hasn’t notified us in advance).
operate. They may also reach their maxi-
mum number of clients they can
accommodate
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17. What to Bring
The best rule of thumb for packing for your trip to Costa Rica is to pack a few extra sets
of clothes due to the heat and humidity of the tropics.
Here are our suggestions for things you should consider bringing:
• Insect repellent with Deet
• Sun block (SPF 25+)
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Anti-bacterial hand gel and/or hand wipes
• Personal Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush etc)
• A small first aid kit with items for cuts and bites (make sure you include some ant
iseptic ointment of some sort – it is important in this climate to ensure any cuts are
kept clean).
• Towel
• Light-weight cargo pants
• Light-weight long-sleeve shirt
• A good supply of cotton T-shirts
• Sturdy, open air shoes (such as Keens)
• Light clothes....it can be hot and humid
• Mosquito net (optional, but nice to have)
• Rain coat
• Bathing suit
• Small umbrella (this is indispensible during the rainy season!)
• Snack bars (you will receive three meals if with a host family and breakfast if at
the hostel, but these come in handy!)
• Flashlight (non-battery if possible)
• If volunteering at a school, you'll have to have sleeves and you must wear pants
or a skirt. You might also want to bring stickers, temporary tattoos or other small
gift to hand out as prizes in class.
• Backpack
• Camera (don’t forget extra batteries and memory cards)
• Passport and at least two copies
• Copies of your other legal documents – e.g. insurance policy, flight tickets etc.
• Money (small USA bills) and ATM card
• English / Spanish Dictionary
• Possibly gift(s) for your host family (if applicable), such as photos of your family,
post cards and a map from your community, a "treat" local to your area such as
maple syrup or something fun to share.
• Any required medications in their original containers
• A few plastic bags to keep soiled/wet clothing in
• Consider filling up any extra space with donations! A
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If you are working with our turtle project, there are a couple of extra points to think about: i
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• Bring dark clothes l
• Bring closed-toed shoes (like sneakers) that you won't mind getting dirty from i
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walking on the beach
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18. Spanish Basics
Spanish English
Buenos dias Good morning
Buenas tardes Good afternoon
Buenas noches Good night
Buenas Hello
Gracias Thank you
Con mucho gusto It’s my pleasure / you’re welcome
You will hear this a lot in Costa Rica.
Disculpe Excuse me (sorry)
Con permiso Excuse me (let me by) May I enter the
house? May I leave the table?
Por favor Please
Por favor, hable mas despacio Please speak more slowly
Disculpe, no hablo español Sorry. I don’t speak Spanish
Mucho gusto Nice to meet you
Baño Bathroom
Me presta el baño por favor May I use the bathroom?
Izquierda Left
Derecha Right
Directo Straight (direction)
Me regala… Literally: “Gift me”
But used when ordering food or buying
something instead of “sell me”
Cuanto es…? How much is…?
Cuanto vale…? What’s the cost…?
Cuanto cuesta…? How much does it cost…?
Voy a… I’m going to…
Va a…? Are you going to…?
Me nombre es… My name is Anna
Pura Vida / Tuanis Tico expression meaning “right on,”
“great,” “thanks” and many more things.
Donde esta…? Where is…?
Tengo hambre I’m hungry
Me regala agua por favor May I have some water please
Que hora es? What time is it?
Don Timoteo/ Doña Pastora Mr. Timoteo/ Ms. Pastora
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Como te llamas? What is your name? a
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19. What You Can Expect From Us • We expect you to speak with us immedi-
ately should you encounter an issue, or if
Our goal is to help you have an exciting, something is not right about your lodging or
fun, rewarding and learning experience. project.
Hopefully you’ll remember your trip to Costa
Rica as one of the best trips you have ever • Should you need to change something on
taken! your itinerary, we expect you to notify us
immediately (this will save you money and
• You can expect that our number one heartache).
concern is your safety and that we will do
our best to help you have a safe trip. Should • We expect you to notify us of any changes
something happen to you, you can expect or deviations you are going to make to your
we will go out of our way to help by getting itinerary. This will help us know where you
you get to a doctor, hospital or to do what- are so we can best care for your safety and
ever is necessary. find you in the event of an emergency.
• We are very aware that sometimes people Fundraising
have a different expectation of what Costa
Rica or their project will be like. You can If you would like to do some fundraising at
expect us to do our best to educate you in home to help reduce your program fees –
advance so you have a pretty darn good or to pay for them in full – please contact us
idea of what to expect when you arrive.
at: info@tropicaladventures.com.
However, if you encounter an issue with
your hotel, host family, staff, professor or
project, you can also expect us to listen and Bringing Donations and How
do our best to make any changes within our to Help from Home
means to assist you.
As you know, Costa Rica is still a develop-
What We Expect from You ing nation. That’s why we exist. We can
always use help and donations of cash or
• We expect you to engage, participate, do materials and supplies. Please see
your best – and to have FUN! http://help.tropicaladventures.com or
contact us for more information as to what
• You have already agreed to our Enroll- you can bring with you and how you can
ment Policy at the time of enrollment. We help.
expect you to adhere to these policies at all
times.
See you soon!
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www.TropicalAdventures.com