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TRAVEL INFORMATION
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Arrival Airport: You should fly into the Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica. Please plan to arrive by late afternoon on Day 1.
Departure Airport: You should fly out of Liberia International Airport (airport code LIR). Please plan to depart after 2pm on Day 14.
Pick-up & Drop-off Information: We provide complimentary airport pick-ups and drop-offs on the first and last day of the trip. We will be waiting for you with a sign saying "Access Trips" as you exit customs at Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Please note:If you would like to be picked up or dropped off on a different day or to somewhere other than the airport, please contact us at customer_service@accesstrips.com.
Airlines and Checking Equipment: If you intend to bring your own equipment, please check with your airline regarding policies for checking and transporting sports gear and equipment before you book your flight. This includes inquiring as to weight, charges and liability.
Flights: We do not book flights or insurance for our clients. For recommendations, click here
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Travel Insurance: Medical insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our trips. Please do not attend any of our trips without purchasing appropriate insurance coverage and providing the details to Access Trips. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our trip (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances). We do not provide travel insurance for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent to purchase travel insurance. Additional details are on our website at: http://www.accesstrips.com/company/insurance/
Passports & Visas: All countries require a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity. Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. Please see below for more details:
Citizens holding valid passports from the following countries are exempt from all visa requirements for stays of 30 days in Costa Rica, though once inside the country, they can apply for extension from the Immigration office, for an authorized period of stay of 90 days:
Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Saint Kitts/Nevis, San Marino, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Taiwan, Turkey, The Vatican, Venezuela, Estonia and Monaco.
Citizens of all countries not listed above are required a visa from a Costa Rican embassy or consulate before traveling.
Visitors from most countries can stay in Nicaragua for 30 or 90 days without a visa, as long as they have a passport valid for the next six months. Citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Peru, Rumania, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Vietnam and Yemen must have a visa to enter Nicaragua.
Age: Most of our trips do not have any age restrictions. The majority of our clients are between the ages of 28 and 50, but we also have many clients who are older and younger than this. Please contact us with any questions.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Emergency Contact: If you need to contact Access Trips in an emergency, you can reach us at the following:
Email: customer_service@accesstrips.com
Mobile-phone: +1 (415) 260-7270
Dialing within North America: 1 (650) 492-4778
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (650) 492-4778
If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Health requirements: Please carefully review the health information section of the following webpage for up-to-date health information, including information on the quality of medical care, the availability of medications and the necessity for vaccinations in the destination country:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html. We strongly recommend that you visit a travel doctor before embarking on international travel. You are responsible for ensuring that you receive any necessary vaccinations before traveling on your trip with us.
Fitness requirements: The majority of our trips are open to people who are beginners in our target sports. Nevertheless, you should have a reasonable level of fitness before attending any of our trips and you should enjoy physical activity and the outdoors. During the majority of our trips you will be able to take a rest if you find that you are over-exerting yourself, but in order to maximize your enjoyment of our tours you should ensure that you are in reasonable shape. We recommend seeing a doctor before participating in any new physical activities.
Safety & Security: To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals. For information on safety and security in Costa Rica, please review the safety and security section of the following webpage: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html
Drinking Water: Some people have no problems drinking tap water in the more developed parts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. However, in general, we recommend drinking only boiled or bottled water.
Climate, Currency, Banking, and Electricity
Climate: Costa Rica's and Nicaragua's climates are warm and tropical year round. Their summer (dry season) goes from December to April, and winter (rainy season) goes from May to November. Fortunately, it just rains for a short period of time and these are often spectacular, tropical downpours. Generally, temperatures vary roughly between 22 degrees celcius (72° F) at night and 30 degrees celcius (86° F) during the day.
Currency & Banking: The Costa Rican currency is the colon. Nicaragua's currency is the córdoba (C$), sometimes called a 'peso' or 'real' by locals. All banks will exchange US dollars, and some will exchange euros and British pounds; other currencies are more difficult. Make sure the dollar bills you want to exchange are in good condition or they may be refused. However, US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, unless they are worn or damaged.
For the latest currency exchange information please go to: http://finance.yahoo.com/currency
ATMs: It's increasingly easy to find cajeros automáticos (ATMs) in Costa Rica, even in the smallest towns. The Visa Plus network is the standard, but machines on the Cirrus network, which accepts most foreign ATM cards, can be found in larger cities and tourist towns. Note that some machines will only accept cards held by their own customers.
Credit cards: You can expect a transaction fee on all international credit-card purchases. Holders of credit and debit cards can buy colones and sometimes US dollars in some banks, though you can expect to pay a high transaction fee. Cards are widely accepted at some midrange and most top-end hotels. In Nicaragua, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted and you can almost always count on midrange hotels and restaurants to take them.
Traveler's Checks: Most banks and exchange bureaus will cash traveler's checks at a commission of 1% to 3%. US dollar traveler's checks are preferred. It may be difficult or impossible to change checks of other currencies.
Electricity: Costa Rica's voltage is 110-120. US and Canadian travelers can plug any normal electric-powered device (hair dryers, shaver, laptop computer, etc.) directly into an electrical wall outlet.
WHAT TO TAKE
Bike
Bike Rental: We have bikes available for rent. This option saves you the time and hassle of dismantling and shipping your own bike. Please see the optional extras in our booking form for information about our bike rental prices or email us at customer_service@accesstrips.com
However, you are welcome to bring your own bike if you prefer. We recommend that your bike have at least front suspension and that it is a quality brand (Giant, Trek, Kona, Cannondale, Scott, Specialized). If you bring your own bike it is important that you check it thoroughly to ensure it is in good mechanical order before you depart for your trip. Our team is equipped to make minor repairs but to save you hassles during the journey it is a good idea to check your bike before you arrive. If you are not familiar with bike maintenance, your local bike shop can help you with this.
Surf Board
Surf Board: Surf board and leash rental are included in the trip price. However, you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
If you intend to bring your own bike or surfboard, please check with your airline regarding policies for checking and transporting sports gear and equipment before you book your flight. This includes inquiring as to weight, charges, and liabilities.
What to bring: Many of our trips require us to move our base several times, so we recommend that you pack as lightly as possible. There will not always be someone available to help you carry your bags so you should only bring as much as you can carry on your own.
We suggest that you bring the following items:
Clothing & Equipment
* Your bike (if you decide to bring your own)
* Helmet (this is provided with bike rental)
* Biking gloves
* Cycling shoes
* Padded shorts for biking
* A rash guard (you can buy this from any surf shop)
* T-shirts
* A lightweight raincoat (just in case!)
* Walking or hiking shoes
* Sandals
* A sweater for evenings
* Toiletries
* Money belt
* Sunscreen
* Sunglasses
* Swimsuit
* Beach towel
* Insect repellant
* First-aid kit with lip balm, aspirin, band aids, cream for sore muscles (e.g. deep heat), Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking.
Documents & Money
* passport (with photocopies)
* travel insurance (with photocopies)
* airline tickets (with photocopies)
* credit and/or debit card and/or travelers checks and/or cash
* any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Spending Money
* Meals All breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner are included. You should budget USD $15 per day for dinners and USD $10 per day for lunches.
* Other expenses Aside from meals, there are no required additional expenses for this trip, but you might like to take spending money for such things as souvenir shopping, nightlife and internet cafes.
* Tipping A 10% tip for meals is standard in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Discretionary tips to your tour staff for good service are much appreciated. We recommend USD $5-$20 per instructor, multiplied by the number of days in the tour, and half that amount for drivers.
USEFUL LINKS
Country Information: For additional information about traveling in Costa Rica:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html
http://www.visitcostarica.com
Country Information: For additional information about traveling in Nicaragua:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html
http://www. intur.gob.ni/index.php
" http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nicaragua"
Currency Exchange: For the latest currency exchange information: http://finance.yahoo.com/currency
FINAL NOTE
The information contained in this document is provided in good faith. Due to the nature of travel, details in this document may change. You should thus use the above information as an indication only and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Access Travel, Ltd.
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