Costa Rica is a tiny (like Nova Scotia or Virginia) but brilliant mix of "big city" hustle, bustle and pollution, rural charm, pot-holed neglect and user-friendly wilderness where 27% of the territory is Parks and Reserves. 15-20,000 visitors a week (on a year-round basis) come for an exceptional encounter with Nature. Once arrived, they can appreciate a very nice people, discover a lively, modern culture and explore the beauty in 12 different biotemperate zones. The trip is often remembered as “the best-in-my-life...”.

Jungles, both urban and rural, are -by their very natures- …deadly. A few preparations will assure a great stay.

First the pre-planning:

• Get a good guide book (we recommend -The New Key to Costa Rica; B. Blake and A. Becher);
• Find out about the tourist entry or visa requirements from your county;
• Make a list of everything you'll bring - Include your passport (write down all pertinent numbers elsewhere and have a photocopy of the appropriate ID pages), comfortable light clothing, warm sweater or jacket, hiking boots or good all-terrain sneakers, sandals, rain gear, swimming stuff, toiletries, health needs, hat, travel alarm and small flashlight; as a rule of thumb travel light -- less is better;
• NB - Most anything you can find at home is available here and will generally compare (or a slight premium) to prices in North America;
• You don't need any special vaccinations or shots other than the normal travel precautions from your country; malaria and dengue are not problems where we'll travel and water is potable everywhere; email us your special concerns;

Insurance and medical:

• Every Nature trek includes an element of personal danger. Participants will be required to sign a waiver agreeing that they are willfully putting themselves at risk and thus are absolving IIDC and its agents of any responsibility beyond the normal bonded liabilities. Ask your travel or insurance agent about needed extra coverages (cancellation, accident, sickness or loss of personal belongings policies). Note the policy contract numbers and emergency contact phone numbers separately;
• If you have a pre-existing medical condition or if your health is unstable or weak consult your physician and discuss the trip with him or her; you may have to take some preventive measures; particpants are required to walk as many as two hours in a day in warm and humid conditions - think mid-summer conditions (24-30C.all the time, cooling considerably in the mountains);
• Take more Vitamin C two weeks before your departure to compensate for climate and metabolic changes and continue taking the supplement two weeks after you return too; you might consider using a stress adaptogen;
• Don't forget your prescription drugs and medications; Costa Rica does have excellent medical care in larger centers and good clinics most everywhere else (Private $$$ facilities offer best services).

Safety first:

• Vigilance is power; forebearance suggests you bring nothing of real $$$ value; watch your bags at all times; don't use backpockets; make sure your suitcases have good locks; have a secure backpack you always keep with you for money, important documents, cameras, etc.; there are more crooks than there used to be and they' are never on holiday;
• Pedestrians don't have the right of way; look carefully before crossing any street;
• As jungles are sort of… you know… deadly, listen to guides, stay on trails and take responsibility for where you put younds hands and feet - you're in something's home; the bugs are not like in the movies - any good repellant works fine; there are snakes;
• Drink at least two liters of water a day - booze and caffeine drinks don't count;
• The tropical sun is hot - only mad dogs and fools venture into the noonday sun; to paraphrase a wiseguy : wear a hat, use sunblock and ease into your tan.

Money:

• The exchange is for Colons - for the conversion rate click onto.
• American currency is widely accepted - an ideal mix is a little cash, some travelers checks (low ( - $50) denominations in the regions) and your personal bank or credit card - ATM's are easy to find in any town; major cards have help emergency numbers you should also keep on your separate list of #s;
• Colons can be bought at the airport from official moneychangers and at hotels; banks are slow.

Baggage:

• You're allowed a total 20kg/pp (50 lbs a person) and will usually be charged extra for extra;
• We suggest you have one bag that you check and a smaller backpack you keep with you at all times; put anything liquid in plastic ziplock bags and keep fragile items wrapped in your clothes; have your toiletries, an emergency kit (personal health supplies, sun and bug lotions, tissue, etc.) and a change of clothes in your carry-on backpack (luggage does get lost);
• Designate one pocket of your backpack as your Office: Passport, ID or Visa, Money, Credit Cards, keys, etc.. and put these in plastic ziplock bags; put your photocopies and lists in your main suitcase (lyou might eave a 2nd photocopy with someone at home);

Clothes:

• Bermudas or shorts (not recommended in jungles or the high mountains); T-shirts;
• Long hiker pants or light jeans or (my favorite) polyester/cotton khaky work pants and 1 or 2 long sleeved shirts or tees;
• Hiking boots for forests and mountains or all-terrain sneakers, sandals, sweatsocks (several);
• Sweater or windbreaker;
• PJs? Under-alls (several)
• Hat; kerchief/bandana;
• 2 bathing suits and a large beach towel (could be purchased locally);
• Underwear; Sweatsocks; Sleepwear; Rainwear (poncho or jacket-w-hood or umbrella).

Personal hygiene:

• Odorless antiperspirant (don't attract bugs);
• Toothpaste and brush, etc.;
• Hair care kit;
• Personal prescription medicine;
• Personal sanitary care;
• Bug spray (I always bring incense and "claim, purify and familiarize" hotel rooms when I travel);
• Sunblock (20% or higher);
• Foot powder if humidity affects you;
• Small First-Aid kit;
• Plastic bags for soiled clothes (a zip-lock with emergency toilet tissue);
• Contact lens care (spare glasses?);
• Good quality sunglasses (polaroid);
• Camera and film (flash as jungle are dank and dark).

Also, recheck

• Plane ticket;
• Passport and photocopies;
• Vaccination card if needed;
• Travelers checks (separate numbers list), money, credit cards;
• Insurance documents;
• Driver's licence (on u-drive vacations or "emergency need");
• Emergency contact phone numbers;
• Water bottle (or puchase locally);
• Pocket notebook and pen (travel diary?).

Optional

• Earplugs;
• Books, toys or games (local);
• Fieldglasses (binoculars);
• Swim goggles or snorkle;
• Lapel pins to give out or swap (students);
• Science/observation aids;
• Access/adaptability aids;
• etc….

We suggest:

• Start walking a month before your trip to make sure you're in good enough shape to really enjoy yourself - it's not a competition but groups do walk 1-2 hours in a day to get to the power places in Nature; break-in your trekking boots in they're new;
• Don't bring jewelry or fancy duds or things you'd hate to lose;
• Write your name or ID on (and in) all your bags; mark your cameras and such with an etching pen;
• Travelers checks are easier to use in smaller cuts (10$, 20$);
• Use Hotel safety deposit boxes; don't leave anything in any vehicle; park in secure areas;
• Don't carry a knife (even your trusty swiss-army) aboard the plane with you - stow it in your baggage;
• Costa Rica is near the Equator - the sun rises and sets at 6:00 (am/pm) so it gets dark quite early & we tend to rise and retire earlier than many places - so do the flora and fauna; the sun hits harder between 10:00 and 14:00 and hardest in the concrete jungles so do bring a hat; the rainy or green season is our favorite (it'll always be sunny from sun up 'till noon+); if the temperature isn't perfect where you are …just move up or down a mountain a few hundred meters;
• Here Nature rules - so be ready for instant changes in agenda - we were once isolated in a small valley for 5 weeks (it was paradise).