Important Stuff
What to expect:
Expect to have a VERY memorable adventure! Jungle Adventure Tours CR is created for those with a thirst for life; those unafraid to push the boundaries and live life outside of their comfort zones, if just for a short while. I want to be clear, you will a have a blast if you are an adventurous spirit, who comes with an open mind and a “pura vida” attitude. Pura Vida is Costa Rica's unofficial national slogan, and you hear it everywhere. The meaning of pura vida is “pure life,” and it's come to symbolize the simple, cheerful outlook and lifestyle of what is often called the happiest country in the world.
If you’re coming here for the first time, realize that Costa Rica is not your home country nor will it have all of your home conveniences. We are at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula and we are called Jungle Adventure Tours CR for a reason. Now don’t be scared off; there is internet and great restaurants and beautiful accommodations, etc. BUT this is not the Four Seasons. If you’re expecting the Four Seasons you will be disappointed, if you’re expecting to see four scorpions there’s a chance that might happen. If you are afraid of every little thing, or prone to complaining when things go slightly awry, you might want to look elsewhere, as this is probably not the trip for you.
Passport/Visa information:
US nationals do not require an entry visa to Costa Rica. However, they must have a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica within 180 days. (Either to return to your country or to go to another country). US passport must be valid for a minimum of one day from the day you enter Costa Rica.
If you are not a US citizen: Visa entry requirements differ from country to country, and are dependent on your nationality. Check with me to see if Costa Rica requires an entry visa from your country, and/or any questions about obtaining any requisite visas for your travels.
How to get there:
Costa Rica's 2 Int'l Airports:
Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), is near the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose.
*Oftentimes people confuse San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) with either San Jose, California or San Juan, Puerto Rico and end up having way less fun...don't be that person. ;)Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), is in Liberia. Is a secondary option.
We strongly encourage that you fly into San Jose as opposed to Liberia as there are more options for lodging/transport if anything goes wrong (i.e. delays) with your initial flight.
After arriving in San Jose you must then make your way down to Cobano. The best/fastest way to get there is to get a second flight (bus/van options available as well) to fly from either SJO or LIR into Cobano.
To be clear you will be taking TWO flights to get to your final destination of Cobano, Costa Rica. The first is your international flight into either SJO or LIR. Followed by a domestic flight from either SJO or LIR to Cobano. MAKE SURE you line up the flights so you can do it all in one long travel day, otherwise you will need to spend a night in San Jose or Liberia. Please talk to Marc before you book any flights. He will make sure you will get on the best flights possible.
FLIGHT OPTIONS:
Sansa Air and Green Air offer 30 minute flights from SJO and LIR to the Cobano Airport, located 15 mins. from Montezuma.
We recommend that you arrive at Sansa Hub of the SJO or LIR Airports at least 1 hour before your domestic flight from SJO or LIR to Cobano.
Travel insurance:
While going on a trip can be exciting, there are always some risks that come along with the fun. By taking out travel insurance, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll be reimbursed financially if you need to cancel your trip, if you become ill while you’re away, or if your belongings are lost or stolen while traveling.
If you would like the peace of mind of knowing that your belongings are protected and that you will have access to medical care, you may decide to take out travel insurance whenever you go away. There are, however, certain circumstances when buying coverage may be especially sensible.
You might, for instance, want to consider insurance for trip cancellation if you’re paying for a trip in advance and would not be able to afford to rebook if your plans were interrupted.
While travel health insurance is always important, it could be especially valuable if you’re taking part in any extreme sports during your trip or have a pre-existing condition that could put you at a higher risk of needing medical attention.
Likewise, international health insurance for travel could be a good idea if you’re going overseas and your health insurance will not cover you whilst you’re out of the country.
I prefer to use Safety Wing https://safetywing.com/ but there are many options out there that may better suit your needs.
Money info:
There is no need to exchange money before you arrive. American dollars are accepted everywhere as long as the bills are not ripped or marked/drawn on in any way. If your bills are damaged at all they will not be accepted in most places in Costa Rica. I advise you go to your bank and ask for new, crisp bills that are free of any type of markings or tears.
There are ATM’s in the area, so if you need to get more cash when you arrive, it is not a problem.
What to pack:
PACK LIGHT! You really don’t have to bring too much. Bug spray, suntan lotion, toiletries, clothes and a few other things you might think you want like a beach sheet or your cameras. But you really don’t need to bring too much in terms of clothing.
Whilst Costa Rica is NOT an island, think “island wear”. It’s tropical. It will never get below 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) and rarely does it get about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). Wear things that are light and “flowy”. Sundresses, t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits, etc is what you want to bring. Even when we go out to dinner, for the menswear fashion shorts and a casual button down or even -t shirt is 100% all you need. If you’re coming during rainy season, sure you can bring some “rain gear” but please don’t bring too much. It mostly rains at night and during the late afternoon.
If you want to bring some “nice outfits” to go out in at night, you can, BUT hardly anyone else will be dressed up. Most people in this area dress DOWN. Shorts, t-shirts, flip flops are the norm. You CAN bring some nice clothes, and we WILL eat at nice restaurants, but most of this is a VERY RELAXED area when it comes to dress. Do as you want, but DO NOT bring a lot of nice outfits, as you really won’t get a chance to wear them.
As for footwear, I suggest sneakers/trainers that you won’t mind getting dirty. NO HIGH HEELS. You will be the ONLY one wearing them and you won’t want to anyway. I would bring a pair of shoes of some type that you won’t mind getting wet, I love Tevas (or something similar) as they’re super versatile and you can wear them to most of our activities. And I wear flip-flops/thongs almost every day. If you are coming during rainy season and want to bring some boots they certainly might come in handy depending on the amount of rain we get. But they really aren’t necessary and can take up a lot of room in your travel bags.
Weather:
Ok, this is a tricky one. There are a few things that we cannot control and one of them is the weather you have when you are here. You can do your best to come at the “best times” to avoid bad weather but let me lay out the “real deal” with the weather.
We don’t have four seasons where I am located in Costa Rica; we have the rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from approximately May-December and the dry season is considered January-April. Now, whilst most people come during the dry(high) season, I PREFER the rainy season for a number of reasons. For one, MOST of the rains come at night and/or in the late afternoons. But with the rains come a much lusher Costa Rica. The waterfalls are fuller, the flora is more vibrant, the roads aren’t dusty, and the animals are more abundant. It’s also a lot less busy, which is nice. MOST people come January - April because they don’t want the chance of rain. And while I admit if you definitely don’t want rain at all you DO want to come during the dry season, and you’ll still have a GREAT time. With that said, I’m telling you I personally prefer the rainy season and you shouldn’t be afraid of it.
Why book with me as opposed to on your own?
Whilst I fully admit you can book your trip to this part of the country and have a great time doing it on your own, I’m here to tell you that your experience will be so much easier/better if you book with Jungle Adventure Tours CR . I am here to make things as easy on you as possible.; from getting here, to what to expect, to what are your best activity/food/beach/etc. options, and everything in between. I am going to be there to help you every step of the way. I will show you the best ways to spend your days in this incredible part of the world.
If you have any other questions, please reach out to Marc Levine at junleadventuretourscr@gmail.com and he’ll respond to you as soon as possible.