Visiting Costa Rica

Currency
Currency is the colón and is presently equal to about 500 colónes to a U.S. dollar.  We recommend that you not change your money before coming to Costa Rica, nor change much of it, if any, at the International Airport in San Jose, as the exchange rate is usually awful.  Moreover, American dollars are welcome throughout Costa Rica, even at tiny little stores.  Most hotels and banks will give you a fair exchange rate.  

Tipping   
A day laborer earns $12 - 20 a day, so tipping a few bucks can change a lot of lives and make a lot of friends.   At Iguana we love our employees; many have become friends for life.  Please let us know if any service falls below your expectations.  Meanwhile, if you like the service received, tips are wonderful.  Please note that staff gratuites are not included in the price of your stay, and tipping is customary.  We suggest $10 per guest/per day.  For Groups of 8 or more, Iguana reserves the right to add a 10% gratuity. Tips here are generally split equally among the employees, and we are delighted to say that several of our employees have built new homes based upon our guests’ generosity.

Banking and Credit Cards   
In Costa Rican, Cash used to be King.  Now, many Costa Ricans have credit cards.  Checks are uncommon.   At the bank in Puerto Jimenez you can now receive cash with your Visa or MasterCard, and sometimes the outdoor ATM works too.  Any charges at Iguana Lodge including lodging, adventures, taxis, and gratuities can all be put on plastic.  Only VISA and MasterCard are accepted down here on the Osa, and this holds true for much of Costa Rica.  Cash and Travelers’ Checks are welcome as well.  

Country Exit Tax   
There is a $26 per person exit tax which is paid when you leave the country.  You can pay this with plastic. To avoid lines at the International Airport upon your departure, if flying Nature Air you may want to purchase the exit stamp tax at the smaller Pavas Airport.  

Time Zone 
Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time and does not change with daylight savings time.

Bugs
Bugs are rarely a problem at the lodge. (I told you...it's paradise.) For the occasional mosquito and sand flea, you can use a variety of bug juices, including repellant with deet (recommended for serious protection) or more natural options such as a local Costa Rican product called Cactus Juice.  There is also another product made by AVON called "Skin So Soft," which can be effective to ward off sand fleas.  Unfortunately for particular people, some folks are just bug magnets and even though absolutely no one else in the crowd is suffering from bug bites, that special person is.  

Medicines and the Local Clinic 
Infection from cuts or from scratching insect bites is common in the tropics if no precaution is taken.  You can buy peroxide in Puerto Jimenez, but Neosporin is expensive here.  Over the counter cortisone cream comes in handy for itching.  We do keep a first aid kit at the lodge and thankfully haven't had to use it for anything more serious than band-aid applications. There is a clinic in Puerto Jimenez to deal with some emergencies, while other emergencies require flights to Golfito or San Jose.  These flights are generally easy to arrange, but on during day light hours.  Puerto Jimenez has emergency air services here at the airstrip.

Shots
Shots are not required or necessary unless you or your doctor feel it is important. Malaria and other insect born illnesses are not common; our family has never contracted malaria while in Costa Rica.

Climate 
Weather in the tropics can be hot and humid at times, although not nearly as bad as summer in south Florida.  Our lodge's proximity to the ocean gives us a daily breeze.  From December through April the temperature is normally in the high 80's.  Rainy season starts in May and the daytime temperature is a few degrees lower; it is a surprisingly pleasant time of year to visit as it normally just rains in the afternoons and evenings.  September through early December marks the real rainy season.  Usually for about one week out of that period (who can guess when?) we will have a solid downpour for a week, nonstop.  Flooding may occur.  San Jose weather is different than Osa weather, as it is in a mountain valley and can be quite cool and windy. 

Water
Drinking water is chlorinated and drinkable almost everywhere in the country. Bottled water is also available everywhere. At the lodge we have an excellent source of well water and bottled water as well, but we recommend the beer.