FAQ English
FAQ: Practicalities
An up-to-date passport valid 24 hours after your return is the only document required to enter Costa Rica if you are a national of one of the following Group 1 countries: European Union and all associated territories, United States, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, San Marino, South Africa, United Kingdom, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay.
For other nationalities please contact us.
VACCINATION:
If you have recently traveled to or transited through one of the following countries, you will need to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate at least 10 days old: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Venezuela for South America and Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan for African countries.
For further information, click here.
Licenses held by Group 1 nationals – USA, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada… (see previous question) – are sufficient to drive in Costa Rica. However, to rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old.
For other licenses, please contact us.
Most customers pay online with a Visa or Mastercard (free of charge at Costa Rica Découverte), which includes travel insurance.
In the case of payment by bank transfer, we recommend taking out cancellation and repatriation insurance such as Global Rescue, Mondiale Assistance or Chapka.
Based in Costa Rica, we don’t offer international flight booking services. However, we can help you find the best deals on the market. Please see our flight search tips and information page.
The further in advance you plan (3/4 months) for classic periods, the more choice of accommodation you’ll have. For special periods like Christmas and Holy Week, it’s best to plan 8 or 10 months in advance.
In April, for example, it’s already difficult to choose accommodation services.
But don’t panic: we can organize a beautiful trip for you just a few days (or even hours!) before your arrival!
You will find all information on the country’s seasons in this link.
BAGGAGE WEIGHT LIMIT: 30 LBS /PERS + 1 CABIN BAG OF 11 LBS. Excess hold baggage will be charged at around $1/LBS (price varies by airline).
Costa Rica’s currency is the Costa Rican Colon. However, the US dollar is accepted everywhere.
Small change is exclusively in colones.
You won’t be able to change colones outside Costa Rica.
We recommend that you use US dollars.
If you wish, you can exchange them on the spot, or pay directly with this currency. Cash dispensers frequently offer both currencies. Please note that you won’t be able to exchange your colons when you return home.
It is advisable to have 200/300 US dollars with you before arriving in Costa Rica.
You cannot exchange colones outside Costa Rica.
The exchange offices at the airport are always open. When you arrive, you can change money there.
Once you’re in Costa Rica, you can withdraw cash from ATH and ATM cash dispensers throughout the country.
Ask your bank about fees and charges.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE IN COSTA RICA
To make life easier, we recommend that you download an application onto your smartphone. On Iphone, you have the DEVISES application – On ANDROID, the Google currency converter.
The standard in Costa Rica is 120 volts, and plugs are pin A/B (Plates) like in the USA or Canada. 220-volt appliances will work, but with less power. Charging times will be longer.
FAQ : The Agency
A travel consultant will contact you to get to know you better and determine your requirements. You’ll receive an initial project proposal by email.
Does it suit you? Just let us know you approve and we’ll start booking. Once confirmed, we send you an invoice. You’ll be asked to make an initial payment of 30%, and around 45 days before your arrival, you’ll receive an email requesting payment of the balance.
Not completely satisfied? We’ll be happy to make any adjustments you may require.
It’s perfectly normal to have requests by choice or obligation.
In all cases, it’s best to let us know as soon as possible if you have any special requirements: room types, disabilities, special diets, etc. The more precise your request, the more likely we’ll be able to satisfy you.
You can consult the section where our customers regularly post their opinions on the trip. Everything is published without restriction.
Tour operators in Europe or in the USA (and elsewhere) NEVER manage local service providers directly, and use local agencies instead. They are simply intermediaries. This means higher prices for the same services.
We are based in Costa Rica and have in-depth knowledge of the country. This enables us to tailor your tour to your wishes, your budget and local events.
We prefer direct contact to improve responsiveness, quality and respect for your wishes.
We value dialogue and tailor-made solutions to ensure total customer satisfaction.
All the money we earn is spent in Costa Rica, and that’s fair enough.
We’re there for you 24 hours a day during your stay, whatever happens.
We welcome you in person on arrival, without going through a subcontractor who barely knows your file or the country.
We give you a well-documented travel diary, a SIM card to keep in touch with us and a WIFI terminal with your car rental. We’ll share with you all the little secrets that Costa Rica hides in all its nooks and crannies.
There are also reviews on travel sites/forums such as Trip Advisor, Le Routard and Voyage Forum.
We prefer small hotels, B&Bs and homestays, so that you can enjoy the whole environment.
It would be a shame to come to Costa Rica and wake up not knowing where you are, because the hotel will be too international.
However, our focus is always on comfort, location and service. We list hotel categories as diverse as 5-star hotels to simple bed & breakfasts, but the experience is well worth the detour.
All year round, we revisit hotels and check their quality.
As mentioned above, we have a perfect knowledge of the whole country, and if you haven’t seen an activity or a region on our site, we can suggest that area to you, if that’s what you want. We’ll be happy to advise you.
We don’t offer international flights, so you can book your stay with us once you’ve bought your plane tickets.
However, for quality reasons, we don’t offer partial service, i.e. 2 days at Corcovado Park or just car rental.
A few days before your arrival, we’ll send you a summary of your trip, but all documents (vouchers and travel guide) will be given to you in person on your arrival by a Costa Rica Découverte staff member. This is to avoid any unfortunate oversights.
You can consult the section where our customers regularly post their reviews of the trips they have made. Everything is published without restriction.
There are also reviews on travel sites/forums such as Trip Advisor, Le Routard and Voyage Forum.
FAQ : Cancellations / Changes
Travel insurance generally covers: cancellation, missed flight, theft or loss of luggage, hospital fees abroad, return to country if necessary, civil liability, death following an accident…
No one is immune to the unexpected.
Bank cards offer certain types of insurance, depending on the type of contract and card.
Check with your bank before you leave ?
In the event of modifications, simply contact your travel consultant, who will study your request and inform you of any costs involved. You are free to accept or refuse. In all cases, we will do our utmost to satisfy you.
Depending on the reasons for your cancellation and the date of your stay, we will do everything in our power to ensure that your cancellation costs you as little as possible, and that your insurance company reimburses what it owes you.
However, each service provider has its own rules in the event of cancellation, and it may happen that we do not receive the full amount paid.
Each cancellation is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
We are committed to having a member of our team available 24 hours a day to answer your calls, especially in an emergency. If necessary, we will transfer you to the nearest hospital and/or put you in touch with a doctor.
We provide telephone or physical assistance if necessary, particularly in the event of hospitalization.
We take care of any cancellations linked to your state of health and try to obtain reimbursements on your behalf.
We do our utmost to simplify administrative procedures with insurance companies and others.
Before your arrival, we can add or modify services subject to certain special conditions or periods (Christmas, Holy Week).
We can also add services to your initial booking, even during your stay. Contact us directly and we’ll take care of booking and providing you with the necessary information.
FAQ : How can i pay my trip?
We accept international bank transfers in US Dollars, online payments by Visa, Mastercard, American Express and 30% of your trip in cash on arrival with our prior agreement.
For the sake of fairness, we have no specific pricing policy.
You choose which of the above solutions (bank transfer, credit card, cash) you prefer for each of your payments. (deposit and balance).
The deposit is payable on receipt of your invoice once all bookings have been confirmed.
Payment by credit card is subject to a payment authorization limit. If you have made purchases in the last 6 days, or if your limit is too low, please contact your bank to temporarily increase your payment limit.
45 days before your arrival, we send you an email to pay the balance of your trip.
Payment by credit card is totally secure via the 3-D Secure protocol, which guarantees that transactions are fully encrypted. The system is managed by the National Bank of Costa Rica – BNCR.
FAQ : Our Jargon
An autotour is one in which you define your stops in advance, book your hotels and drive your own rental car. Costa Rica is particularly well suited to self-drive tours.
A shuttle is a vehicle with a capacity ranging from 10 to 30 seats, which groups together customers travelling to the same destination.
Customers are dropped off at their respective hotels.
A private transfer uses a driver and a vehicle just for you and your traveling companions. You can leave at any time you like, unlike shuttles, which have a set schedule.
Tailor-made tours are organized according to your wishes, your desires and your physical condition. Nothing is fixed in advance, and everything can be adapted to suit you.
With Costa Rica Découverte, the price is not affected if you opt for this type of tour.
An all-inclusive tour or stay means that all accommodation, activities, meals and transfers are included.
In short, all you have to do is let yourself go.
Combined tours allow you to visit 2 or more countries in a single trip.
At Costa Rica Découverte, we can combine the following destinations: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama…
FAQ : Moving around
There are no long-distance trains in Costa Rica. The only train in the country serves the capital from east to west.
As mentioned in the Autotour section, a self-drive tour is the best way to discover Costa Rica, allowing you to visit inaccessible areas in complete safety.
There are many secondary roads, and without a car, you’ll miss out on many discoveries.
Indeed, there is an airline in Costa Rica – Sansa – and even if the country isn’t big, it saves precious time and sometimes pointless connecting flights. Combined with a rental car, this can quickly become very interesting.
Costa Rica’s bus network is well-developed, but mainly serves the major tourist resorts and towns. Safety and comfort leave a lot to be desired, and it’s hard to get off the beaten track. What’s more, robberies are frequent, and you need to keep an eye out for them. Stops are not always in charming places.
We don’t recommend this type of transport if you want to discover authentic Costa Rica.
Why travel with us?
A flawless reputation since 2008
A single contact in English
Our presence on the ground all year round
Our expertise for a tailor-made offer
Our customers have their say
157 days agoOur tour of Costa Rica from 19 to 31 March, organised by Sandrine and everyone at Costa Rica Decouverte, was truly unforgettable! We visited an exciting mix of destinations including San Jose, Monteverde, Arenal, Corcovado, and Tortuguero. From seamless transportation to breathtaking locations, fantastic tours and activities, comfortable accommodations, and delicious food—everything exceeded our expectations. Throughout our journey, we encountered friendly and helpful people who made our experience even more memorable. The places we stayed offered the chance to enjoy Costa Rica’s incredible nature right from the comfort of the verandas. Even the journeys between locations felt like grand adventures in themselves. Every day brought something new and exciting. I won’t share too many specifics, as some things are better left as surprises for others to discover on their own. Thank you again to Sandrine and everyone involved for making this such a wonderful experience for both myself and my partner. Barbara
Owner's reply
Hi Barbara, Thank you so much for your wonderful message 😊 We’re truly delighted to read that your journey through Costa Rica was such a memorable experience, and that each destination brought its share of discovery and emotion. Your words perfectly capture what we aim to create: a seamless adventure filled with beautiful moments, nature, and special encounters. A big thank you as well for your kind mention of Sandrine—we’ll be sure to pass it along! We love that you chose to keep a bit of mystery for future travelers… you’re absolutely right, some surprises are part of the magic ✨ It was a real pleasure to organize this trip for you and your partner. We hope to welcome you again one day for another Costa Rican adventure! Pura Vida 🌴☀️ The Costa Rica Découverte Team188 days agoWe have had a wonderful stay in Costa Rica. Sandrine organized the trip to perfection in spite that we had decided this at the last moment. It was our first trip to Costa Rica and our main reason for visiting this beautiful country was to get away from the brutally long winter in Toronto, Canada. Sandrine introduced us to the different climates; Manuel Antonio with its mangroves, La Fontana de Arenal with its rainforest, Monteverde with its cloud forest and Carillo with its beach. We had private transportation between the different destinations which all ran like clockwork and all the hotels were exactly as we had requested; international, first class and family oriented. We highly recommend Cost Rica Découverte Travel Agency for its professionalism, punctuality and wonderful follow up throughout the trip.
Owner's reply
Thank you Bernardo for your lovely comment 🙏 It takes daily teamwork to listen to our customers before, during, and after their trip! And that's true that your trip was a good one. Pura Vida! 😎🇨🇷239 days agoWe had a great trip Costa Rica decouverte. Communication was excellent, great hotels and loved the balance with activities and relaxing times. We managed to see so much wildlife thanks for their knowledge. Highly recommend!+8
Owner's reply
Dear Tiffany, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your lovely feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you had a great trip and that you enjoyed the balance between activities and relaxing moments, as well as the hotels and communication throughout your journey. We’re especially happy that our team’s knowledge helped you discover so much wildlife — that’s exactly what we love sharing about Costa Rica 🌿🐒 Thank you again for your trust and your recommendation. It was a real pleasure organizing your Costa Rica découverte!247 days agoFrom the very first conversation, the experience with Costa Rica Découverte was exceptional — particularly as a family travelling with children. The booking process was incredibly easy and reassuring, with the team taking the time to understand our family’s needs, pace, and interests. The itinerary came together smoothly, with thoughtful suggestions that balanced adventure, nature, relaxation, and comfort in a way that worked perfectly for both adults and children. In the lead-up to travel, the communication was outstanding. Every question — no matter how small — was answered promptly and clearly, and we felt completely prepared before we even left home. Knowing that every detail had been considered made a huge difference when travelling as a family, especially over the busy festive period. Once in Costa Rica, everything ran seamlessly. Transfers were punctual and well organised, guides were fantastic with the children — patient, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable — and activities were perfectly suited to a family dynamic. We always knew exactly where to be and what to expect, which removed all the usual stresses that can come with family travel. What really stood out was how well looked after we felt at every stage — before travelling, during the trip, and right through to departure. The staff were consistently friendly, professional, and genuinely caring, giving us complete confidence that we were in safe hands at all times. It allowed us to fully relax and focus on making memories together as a family. This was one of the best family holidays we have ever taken. Effortlessly organised, brilliantly communicated, and thoughtfully tailored for family travel, it exceeded our expectations in every way. We would recommend Costa Rica Découverte without hesitation to any family looking for a truly special, stress-free Costa Rica experience — and we will absolutely be booking with them again
Owner's reply
Dear Michelle and Mital, Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a wonderful and detailed review. We are truly touched by your kind words and delighted to know that your family trip to Costa Rica was such a positive and memorable experience. It was a real pleasure for our team to design this journey for your family and to ensure that every detail — from planning to on-the-ground logistics — met your expectations. Knowing that you felt well supported, relaxed, and able to fully enjoy time together as a family is exactly what we strive for. We will be sure to pass on your feedback to our local partners and guides, who will be thrilled to hear how much they contributed to your experience, especially with your children. Thank you again for your trust and recommendation. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome your family back to Costa Rica in the future and to help create another unforgettable journey. Warm regards, Sandrine 🦥401 days agoAbsolutely incredible service our flights were delayed (we booked individually) they done everything to make every effort to rearrange hotels etc, even had a chauffer at the airport to bring us to our hotel, next day the car rental people were outside saving us having to collect the car, exactly what we needed after a long delayed flight. could not be happier with the service that was provided.
Owner's reply
Hi Brendan! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that, despite the flight delays, everything worked out smoothly for you. Our team is always happy to go the extra mile to ensure your trip starts stress-free and comfortably. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for another unforgettable experience. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷😎566 days agoMy wife and I spent 3 weeks traveling across Costa Rica with my retired mother in February 2025. Maelle helped tailor this trip to our interests, particularly our desire to see as much of the country while keeping a reasonable rhythm, all interspersed with some relaxation and beach time. We started with Tortoguero (staying at the Mawamba Lodge, with boat excursions to see the wildlife, including waterfowl, sloths, and baby crocodiles), traveled west to Sarapiqui (the enchanting Selva Verde Lodge and a fascinating visit to Palmitour to see how hearts of palm are cultivated), then to Arenal (the simple but lovely Natural Green Lodge, and a fantastic guided tour of the Mistico suspension bridges), Tenorio (can’t say enough about the Celeste Mountain Lodge, though our excursion to the park was unfortunately rained out), and Monteverde (the cute Calathea Lodge, another great guided tour of Curi-Cancha), before going to Samara in Nicoya for a couple days on the beach (staying at Las Estrellas de Samara, which has an incredible view but definitely needs a 4x4 vehicle to reach it—and Maelle made sure we did). After that we headed south (stopping at beautiful Rancho Capulin B&B, after visiting the animal sanctuary Centro de Rescate Las Pumas—with its jaguars, monkeys, and myriad arts), making the obligatory stop at Manuel Antonio (a bit underwhelming after everything else we’d seen, but the Alma de Ojochal hotel was fantastic), before ending up in Drake (staying at the magnificent Natural Drake Bay) for some well-earned R&R and scuba diving. I cannot stress enough that the entire trip went as planned and without a hitch. The CRD crew was always available and immediately responsive whenever we had questions, and even made some last-minute adjustments for us along the way. Costa Rica is truly a wonderful country, and CRD made sure we saw it in the very best conditions. A heartfelt thanks to all. Pura vida!+3
Owner's reply
Hello Gregoire! Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment. We are really happy to have been able to participate in the success of this trip! The whole team wishes you an excellent selection of photos, and maybe we'll see you next time :) Pura Vida!2945 days agojust visited Costa Rica and the experience was super intense, I loved the nature that is like being inside a green explosion of live, thanks to ROOTS TRAVEL for helping to make this visit a five star timeShowing only 4-5 star reviews
