General Info:

San Jose has approximately a million inhabitants and houses all the federal services. Casual dress is generally the rule, but some upscale establishments may require a bit more formal attire. San Jose is at an elevation of 3500 feet, so the temperatures will be slightly cooler than those experienced along the coast. Daily highs in the 80’s and evening lows in the 60’s are the norm. The official language is Spanish and most Costa Ricans speak some English. They have socialized medicine in Costa Rica and the services are quite good and inexpensive. Points of interests in San Jose are the Gold museum and central park near the Grand Hotel.

Currency:

The currency in Costa Rica is the Colon, however there is no need to exchange your U.S. dollars into local currency as the dollar is widely accepted. Please check with your local financial institution or on- line to inquire about the exchange rate at time of travel. Most establishments accept the US dollar and most major credit cards. Bring small bills as most shops will give you change in colons instead of dollars. There are quite a number of stores and small shops catering to the tourist. Trek does not represent any commercial interest in Costa Rica, and cannot be responsible for any business transactions made between a merchant and a Trek client. We remind you to always use good judgment in your purchases of any items while in a foreign country. As a rule of thumb, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.