Climate
Located between 8 and 12 degrees from the equator, it should come as no surprise that the temperature in Costa Rica is what most of us would consider hot, year round. As with all countries this close to the equator, their seasons are based off the amount of precipitation during certain times of the year, mainly wet & dry seasons. February is smack dab in the middle of the dry season, known as ‘summer’ to the locals, meaning we can expect a little less humidity, but generally higher air temps which can consistently reach temperatures of 35°C (95°F). So make sure to pack some sunscreen and a hat!
Actual photo
Currency
The Costa Rican currency is called the colón, and it is one of the stronger forms of currency in Central America, a testament to the country’s growing economy thanks to industries like ecotourism. At the time of writing this article, one US dollar would get you 552₡ (or 420₡/$1 CDN), which won’t get you much, but is well on the way towards a beer, or a bottle of water.
Colónes are accepted basically everywhere. While some places will accept US dollars as well, don’t expect to get a great exchange for them. Ideally you’ll want to bring colónes, and maybe some USD for backup, but as long as you have one of the two you should be alright.
Canadian dollars are difficult to exchange in Costa Rica, especially in smaller towns like Jacó, so make sure to buy some colónes before getting on the plane. ATMs can ran out of money rather quickly, and withdrawals are limited to $100 USD per transaction, so avoid lineups and frustration by coming prepared.
Prices will obviously vary depending on where you go and what you do, but the bargain tourist can easily get by for under $50 USD (27,000₡) a day. Expect prices to be a little bit less than what you pay back home, but not by any crazy amounts. For a better understanding of what you can expect to spend, here’s a breakdown of the cost of living in Costa Rica.
Language
Like most of Central and South America, the official spoken language is Spanish, but the 95% literacy rate in Costa Rica means you’ll have no problem getting by on English. About 10% of the population is fluent in English, but many will understand the basics should you find yourself in a situation that requires it.
But as we mentioned above, you’re in another country! So why not take the time to learn a few words or phrases and see where it takes you? Costa Rica is known as a popular destination to learn Spanish as people speak slowly and their dialect is easy to understand.
If there’s a phrase to remember while you’re in Jaco, it’s definitely Pura Vida, which means “pure life” or “good life”, a phrase that reflects the way of living in Costa Rica. An interchangeable saying, it often replaces hello as people walk down the streets, or when being used in response to a question, such as “how are you?”
Other Things to Remember
It goes without saying that when you’re in a different country, you should familiarize yourself with the local culture and the basics on getting by. So here are a few more pointers to remember, and then we’ll leave the rest up to you, because it will be different depending on what you want to do.
- Smoking is illegal in most places of the country, and many places do not have smoking areas, so be aware of where you are before you choose to light one up. There’s no smoking in any public buildings or educational, recreational, or governmental facilities. That also means there is no smoking on site at Bamboo Bass, but there will be an area provided at the entry grounds to the festival. Just please dispose of your butts in an environmentally friendly way.
- Costa Rica is a safe country, but just like everywhere else in the world there are people that ruin the fun. Avoid any negative impacts on your trip by always showing respect (because why wouldn’t you?), keeping valuables locked up or out of sight, and discourage any would be troublemakers by sticking together with friends, particularly at night.
- Free drinking water IS available on the festival grounds, so make sure you bring a reusable bottle or buy one there while you’re enjoying the bass! It gets hot in Costa Rica, so make sure to drink plenty of (non alcoholic) fluids and ensure others do the same! We all know how shitty being dehydrated is.
- If you plan to take a taxi at any time during your trip, always flag down a red/burgundy coloured cab, as they have proper meters and will get you where you need to go safely. Beware of pirate taxis, also known as piratas, who are easily spotted without the same yellow emblem that legitimate cabs have on their doors.
- We are guests in another country, so treat the land, the people, and the laws with the same respect you’d expect in your home. The people of Costa Rica are very friendly, and extremely polite, so give that right back and you’ll have no problem making friends! Swamp them in kindness and hopefully we’ll all get invited back next year!
- Most importantly, HAVE FRIGGING FUN! You’re basically going to be living in a post card (do they still make those?) for at least a weekend, so get out and enjoy everything that Jacó has to offer! Because before you know it, you’ll be on your way home to the cruel mistress that is a winter on the west coast.
That should cover all the basics! We’ll leave the rest up to you, because now it’s time to go searching for that ever evasive passport. Let us know if we missed anything, otherwise we’ll see you in the jungle in a couple weeks!!
P.S. Bring your passport!
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