Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [480]
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COURSES
Language
Spanish-language schools operate all over Costa Rica, and they charge by the hour for instruction. Lessons are usually intensive, with class sizes varying from two to five pupils and classes meeting for several hours every weekday.
Courses are offered mainly in central San José and the suburb of San Pedro, which has a lively university and student scene – see boxed text. In the Central Valley, there are a number of institutions offering courses – see boxed text.
Language schools can also be found in Santa Elena and Monteverde (Click here), Playa Sámara (Click here), Jacó (Click here), Manuel Antonio (Click here) and Dominical (Click here).
It is best to arrange classes in advance. A good clearing house is the Institute for Spanish Language Studies (ISLS; 2258-5111, in USA 800-765-0025, 626-441-3507, 858-456-9268; www.isls.com), which represents half a dozen schools in Costa Rica.
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CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
All travelers over the age of 18 are allowed to enter the country with 5L of wine or spirits and 500g of processed tobacco (400 cigarettes or 50 cigars). Camera gear, binoculars, and camping, snorkeling and other sporting equipment are readily allowed into the country.
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DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
For the latest official reports on travel to Costa Rica see the websites of the US State Department (www.travel.state.gov/travel) or the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk).
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Earthquakes & Volcanic Eruptions
Costa Rica lies on the edge of active tectonic plates, so it is decidedly earthquake-prone. Recent major quakes occurred in 1990 (7.1 on the Richter scale) and 1991 (7.4). Smaller quakes and tremors happen quite often – particularly on the Península de Nicoya – cracking roads and knocking down telephone lines. The volcanoes in Costa Rica are not really dangerous as long as you stay on designated trails and don’t try to peer into the crater of an active volcano. As a precaution, always check with park rangers before setting out in the vicinity of active volcanoes.
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Hiking Hazards
Hikers setting out into the wilderness should be adequately prepared for their trips. Most importantly, don’t bite off more than you can chew. If your daily exercise routine consists of walking from the fridge to the TV, don’t start your trip with a 20km trek. There are plenty of 3km and 5km trails that are ideally suited to the less active.
In addition, carry plenty of water, even on very short trips. The hiking is hot and dehydration sets in quickly. In Corcovado, hikers have died from exhaustion on the scorching trail between San Pedrillo and Sirena. Hikers have also been known to get lost in rainforests, so carry maps, extra food and a compass. Let someone know where you are going, so they can narrow the search area in the event of an emergency.
There is also wildlife to contend with. Central America’s most poisonous snakes, the fer-de-lance (the ‘Costa Rican landmine’) and the bushmaster, are quite assertive, and crocodiles are a reality at many estuaries. As if these creatures weren’t enough to make you worried, it’s also worth mentioning that bull sharks love to lounge at the mouth of Río Sirena in Corcovado.
See also boxed text.
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Ocean Hazards
Approximately 200 drownings a year occur in Costa Rican waters, 90% of which are caused by riptides, which are strong currents that pull the swimmer out to sea. Many deaths in riptides are caused by panicked swimmers struggling to the point of exhaustion. If you are caught in a riptide, do not struggle. Simply float and let the tide carry you out beyond the breakers, after which the riptide will dissipate, then swim parallel to the beach and allow the surf to carry you back in.