Arriving in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two international airports. For optimum convenience, we recommend that you fly directly to San José rather than the more distant Liberia International Airport.

Pack lightly since you will be dressing for warm tropical weather. Please check with your airline for weight allowances and baggage policies. Airlines have ever-changing baggage limitations that can affect divers and photographers, so always check for updates on regulations.

Currently, Costa Rican customs places no limitation upon entering the country with personal equipment such as diving gear, cameras and video equipment or even computers meant for personal use. However, we do recommend that if you are carrying excessive amounts of equipment or professional gear, you simply declare that gear to customs.

All passengers must have a valid passport to enter Costa Rica. Most U.S., Canadian, EU and Japanese citizens do not require a visa. If in doubt we recommend checking with the nearest Costa Rican consulate to see if you will need a visa.

Upon arrival in San Jose, you may take a taxi to your hotel. There are always taxis available at the airport and minivans for those of you who have a lot of gear. We can also arrange for your airport pickup as well as for accommodations at several fine hotels in San Jose. The night before departure, an Undersea Hunter/Fiesta Tours representative will inform you at your hotel of your precise pickup time for transport to our dock and your awaiting vessel. Please note that we do not pickup from all San Jose hotels. The evenings onshore are at your leisure. Hotel nights and meals before and after the cruise are not included in the charter.

On the day of departure to Cocos, generally between 8 AM and 1 PM, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred by Fiesta Tours to Puntarenas, the seaport village where you will board the vessel. The drive takes about 3 hours, including a stop on the way for a snack or lunch. The price of this meal is not included in your trip package. The ride will give you an opportunity to view some of the lush tropical forests and rich farmlands of the region. At the end of your Cocos adventure, you will disembark the boat at 8 AM and be transferred back to your hotel in San Jose.

If, for some reason, you should need travel to or from Puntarenas, other than the by the transport offered by the Undersea Hunter Group, a taxi service is, of course, available. The cost of independent transportation can run in excess of $100 one-way.

While you are here in Costa Rica, it is certainly worth the extra time to experience some of the other aspects of our little country that truly make it a natural wonderland. Active volcanoes, white water rafting, zip-line tours, mountain biking, pristine jungles, coffee plantations, horseback riding, visits to craft centers and of course some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are among the activities and destinations available to you here. After all, you've come this far! We would be happy to arrange one-day tours or longer trips to more remote areas, at your request. Only Costa-Rican approved companies recommended by USHG will operate these tours.

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken within regions associated with tourism.

Colones are the national currency, with $1 US equal to approximately ¢515 (colones) as of October, 2011. International credit cards and US dollars are widely accepted in regions associated with tourism.

Hotels and banks will exchange US Dollars for Costa Rican colones. US dollars as well as travelers checks, Visa and MasterCard are accepted on the vessels (American Express is temporarily not accepted). We cannot accept personal checks onboard.

We recommend checking the CDC's website for the latest health news and information - CDC Costa Rica

Costa Rica and Cocos Island are 1 hour behind US Eastern Time during the North American winter and 2 hours during the North American summer.

There is currently a departure tax of $26 US as of November, 2011.