There is one question that haunts every traveler: is the water safe to drink in foreign countries?

No matter what the destination tourists fear the tap, certain that it houses endless microbes and bacteria.

That fear is unfounded in Costa Rica.

Those traveling to the Central Pacific - areas like Los Suenos, Jaco or Manuel Antonio - will find themselves able to drink as much as they please. These resort towns are perfectly safe, and the overall water quality is strong. It should cause no problems.

Those still hesitant to drink from the tap, however, can easily find other options. Costa Rica sodas - which are local stores and eateries - provide bottled drinks and these are not expensive.

While on a sport fishing trip or family vacation feel free to drink the Central Pacific’s water. Put all worries aside and simply enjoy the many activities available.

Contact Costa Rica Vacation with other water questions. Ask us also about our accommodations and charter tours.

The Central Pacific is a favorite of couples, especially those wanting to take their vows amongst some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and rain-forests. It is a destination defined by romance and resort luxury.

It’s also a destination defined by easy marriage laws.

Travelers wishing to wed in Los Suenos, Jaco or Manuel Antonio will find themselves readily accommodated by local officials. Before entering the country they must simply have the proper documentation authenticated by the Costa Rica Embassy. This documentation includes: original birth certificates, valid passports, affidavits of single status and, if applicable, police records.

Send these items to the Embassy up to three months before crossing the border. This provides enough time to have them verified, stamped and returned.

A Costa Rica wedding tempts every couple and, with help from the proper paperwork, that temptation becomes a reality.

Contact Costa Rica Vacation to learn more about marriage laws in the Central Pacific. Ask us also about honeymoon-worthy accommodations, charter cruises and special promotions.

Traveling is defined by many unexpected expenses. Those preparing to leave Costa Rica, however, will discover one expense that is decidedly expected.

Prepare for a departure tax after vacationing in Los Suenos, Jaco, Manuel Antonio or other Costa Rica towns. These fees, which are imposed at airlines or docking stations, are government sanctioned. They prove essential to every country, providing economic stability and helping to fund public services. They cannot be avoided.

As of 2014, the departure fee for Costa Rica is $29.00 or approximately 14,500 colones per person. It can be paid in cash or credit (Visa, Mastercard and other global brands are accepted). Have funds ready at the gate to avoid any confusion or concerns.

Los Suenos is famed for its sport fishing and family adventures. Travelers must pay a departure fee, however, after sampling these activities. Remember this while planning a vacation.

Contact Costa Rica Vacation to learn more about departure fees and regulations. Ask us also about our accommodations and charter tours.

The Central Pacific was once lost in time, a region defined by hastily cut paths and overgrown jungles. Exploring it was difficult for even the most experienced tourist, and those forced to travel by wheelchair often found themselves unable to enjoy it at all.

Recent changes, however, have made Costa Rica more obliging to its visitors, and handicap accessibility is now found throughout the country.

Manuel Antonio National Park, for example, features many wheelchair-friendly options. Car services are available to transport guests to the coast. Widened trails prove easy to traverse, and some rafting and kayaking tours accommodate chairs, braces or other instruments. These services ensure that every individual can enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

Though Manuel Antonio offers wheelchair options, staffers and guides will not have them readily available. All tours must instead be scheduled in advance. Contact the park at least two weeks before arriving to ensure a seamless day of family adventures, fishing and more.

Ask Costa Rica Vacation about other wheelchair accessible destinations, accommodations and charter tours.

A family vacation isn’t complete without the entire family, which is why many travelers let their pets tag along for every adventure. Dogs and cats make ideal companions for every rain-forest hike or coastal cruise.

Trying to enter a foreign country with an animal can prove difficult, however. There are strict health codes and safety regulations, and tourists must follow them carefully. All pets must be properly vaccinated and examined, and extensive documentation is needed.

When visiting Costa Rica - in areas like Los Suenos, Jaco or Manuel Antonio - all animals must be screened and treated for the following illnesses:


Have a licensed veterinarian conduct the necessary shots, and be certain to have all tests completed up to two weeks before entering the country. Be prepared to present paperwork at both local airlines and at Costa Rica facilities, and obtain permission from hotels or resorts before bringing an animal inside.

Traveling with a pet is possible. It’s simply difficult. Contact Costa Rica Vacation to learn how to streamline the process. Ask us also about our accommodations, charter cruises and special promotions.

Costa Rica inspires many daydreams, with travelers forever contemplating the idea of flying into the Central Pacific and never leaving. Its white sand and lush jungles tempt even the most dedicated urbanites, and it seems all too easy to choose a one-way ticket to paradise.

That ease is deceiving, however - because those entering Los Suenos, Manuel Antonio, Jaco or other areas must have two-way travel plans.

Costa Rica does not allow visitors to cross its borders without entry and exit passes. Whether travelers arrive by airline or ship, they must have proof of when they’ll leave the country. This is a new law, imposed in 2010 to keep foreigners from overstaying their visas, and it is strictly enforced.

Always arrive to the Central Pacific with ticket stubs, boarding passes or similar documents. Be ready to show them to any officer or government official if requested.

Contact Costa Rica Vacation to learn more about entry rules. Ask us also about our lodgings, charter tours and special promotions.

Traveling in an unfamiliar country can prove difficult - especially when individuals find themselves mapping unknown roads, trying to decipher street signs and traffic patterns. Driving is never easy for tourists.

It is, however, perfectly legal in Los Suenos.

When visiting Costa Rica travelers should note that they can drive wherever they wish. Renting a vehicle - whether in Los Suenos, Jaco or Manuel Antonio - is a simple process, requiring only a valid license and a visa.

To secure transportation while in the Central Pacific contact the Los Suenos Marriott. It offers access to multiple rental agencies and can also provide route suggestions to the area’s premier attractions: such as local beaches, marinas, national parks and more.

Ask Costa Rica Vacation about any other driving issues. Find out about our charter tours, accommodations and special promotions as well.

Every year travelers settle along the Central Pacific coast, delighting in the endless parade of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish that passes by. The region is brimming with wildlife, hosting a delicate ecosystem that has no equal.

How can the country choose only one animal, therefore, to be its national symbol?

It wasn’t easy - but in 1995 the White Tailed Deer became the wildlife representative of Costa Rica.

The White Tailed Deer is a large creature, with a striking red coat and spiked antlers. Its massive hoofs allow it to effortlessly scale the diverse terrain, and its signature white tail serves as a way to alert the herd when danger is near. It’s a powerful and graceful animal.

Those visiting Los Suenos - whether for sport fishing or family adventures - should try to catch a peek of the White Tailed Deer. They’re found deep within the rain-forest or along the mountain reserves.

Contact Costa Rica Vacation to learn more about this national animal. Ask us also about our accommodations, charter cruises and special promotions.

Costa Rica is famed for its terrain. Its endless mountain paths and forested roads draw tourists from across the world.

They also, however, once proved difficult to conquer.

Before the steam-powered engine roared to existence, Costa Rican merchants were forced to travel on foot - through sand, salt and silt. Transporting goods bordered on the impossible, and the economy was perpetually stalled.

The ox-cart changed this.

The ox-cart - a ruggedly designed wagon - effortlessly moved through any area, adapting to the Central Pacific’s many jungles, beaches and mangrove lanes. It became an essential tool to local exporters, allowing them to cross borders and exchange goods. Through it the country's wealth, and global presence, expanded dramatically.

And this is why it was declared the national symbol of labor in 1988.

The ox-cart represents Costa Rica’s progress, as well as its past. Be certain to look for these vehicles on any sport fishing or family vacation. They’re found throughout Los Suenos - brightly painted and proudly displayed.

Contact Costa Rica Vacation to learn more, as well as to secure lodgings and charter tours.

Costa Rica is a country drenched in green. Every path and peak is covered with ancient trees, all deep-rooted and lush. 

And among them is the national tree: the Guanacaste.

Find this towering option in Los Suenos, Jaco and Manuel Antonio. The Guanacaste is a spectacular tree, a legume noted for its mushroom-crown leaves and massive trunk. It rises up to 164 feet in the air and features vibrant colors. Its black bark strikingly contrasts the white sand and pebbled roadways.

The Guanacaste became Costa Rica’s national tree on August 31, 1959. Its resilience and beauty perfectly captured the country’s wild terrain, and it has since become a symbol throughout the Americas.

While planning a trip to the Central Pacific - whether for sport fishing, charter cruises or family-friendly activities - be certain to find the Guanacaste tree. It helps to shape the unique landscape of Costa Rica.