Country Information
Costa Rica is a very popular destination and it is easy to see why, with attractions that appeal to all tastes.
In urban areas, the country's colonial heritage provides the main features of interest, and Hispanic influences are everywhere. Elsewhere, Costa Rica's national parks are its greatest glory, resulting from a desire to conserve the outstanding natural beauty and encouragement of eco-tourism. Over 27% of the total land area of the country is made up of national parks and protected areas, which are well kept and well guarded. These parks contain some of the best campsites in the world. The country has a stunning variety of landscapes, microclimates and flora and fauna, making it a haven for nature lovers.
Time
Costa Rica is six hours behind GMT.
Getting there
You will need to arrange flights into Alajuela, to the Juan Santamaria International Airport. We strongly advise that you arrange your flights to arrive on the Sunday before your project starts. Upon arrival you will be met by a project representative at the airport and transferred to a hostel in San Jose where you will spend your first two nights. The project is located three kilometres away from Samara, a small town in the district of Nicoya, Guanacaste. It takes about five hours or so by public bus from San Jose to get there and you will depart on Tuesday morning after two nights in San Jose.
Climate
Temperatures in San Jose and other mountainous areas are 60-80°. It is warmer in the lowlands and at the beaches. The hottest months are March & April. Dry season is from December to April, and rainy season May to November. During rainy season mornings are usually sunny and clear with only a couple of hours of rain in the afternoon. Sometimes it also rains during the night. The Caribbean Coast tends to be fairly wet all year long.
