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We have created this manual to
We are proud and excited to be
help you prepare for your trip.
your host in Costa Rica. We have
Please take some time to read
fun volunteer projects and adven-
through it carefully if you have
turous tours waiting for you!
any questions, please let us know
by email at
This is a land of beautiful, white
info@tropicaladventures.com
sand beaches, monkeys and lush
or by phone at 1-800-832-9419.
tropical vegetation. Costa Rica is
a family-oriented country. Be
See you soon!
ready to be welcomed with
opened arms!

The Tropical Adventures
Foundation is a non-profit
resource for empowering
individuals and communities
inside and outside of Costa Rica.
Our website address is
www.TropicalAdventures.com
Our goals are to:
What We Do:
• Support the inherent value of
• Encourage Self-Discovery
the individual,
• Provide Volunteer Opportunities
• Reduce poverty and injustice
• Book hotels, transportation and
• Create safe environments for
women and children Tours
• Foster Respect through our
• Promote international learning
and cooperation Projects
• Help create Self-Sufficiency in
• Foster personal and worldwide
Peace our Communities

A
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About Costa Rica
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Many attribute that to the relaxed i
Costa Rica is an amazing and biologi-
c
atmosphere and laid-back way of life
cally diverse country located in Central a
here. The major exports of Costa Rica
America. Costa Rica is bordered to the
are bananas, coffee, sugar cane and
North by Nicaragua and to the South
pineapple.
by Panama. The official language of
Costa Rica is Spanish.
Costa Rica is rich in natural beauty and
has many different micro climates,
Costa Rica is the “Switzerland of
which range from hot and humid
Central America” according to many
lowlands, spectacular volcanoes, tropi-
well-known guidebooks. Costa Rica is
cal rainforests, dry forests, and higher
a democratic nation with a Nobel
elevation mountainous zones. Costa
Peace prizewinner as its President,
Rica has 7 provinces: San Jose (also
Oscar Arias. Costa Rica is a peaceful
the capital city), Alajuela, Guanacaste,
nation with no army since 1948.
Puntarenas, Limon, Heredia, and
Cartago. Each province is unique geo-
Costa Rica is about the size of West
graphically and culturally. Costa Rica
Virginia. It is approximately 20,000
welcomes visitors from around the
square miles in area. The average life
world every year and those adventur-
expectancy here in Costa Rica is 76.1
ous tourists definitely do not leave
years, higher than that of the USA.
unsatisfied.
www.TropicalAdventures.com

Costa Rican Culture
Costa Ricans speak standard Spanish and asked, will have a more positive opinion of
Central American Spanish, but they, like someone who graduated from a public
most other Central American countries over university.
the years, have developed distinct patterns
in their language. Because of the interest in education, most
Costa Ricans firmly believe in education as
Costa Ricans normally use the respectful a way to improve their life.
\"Usted\" form when addressing each other;
this is somewhat formal and surprises some Costa Ricans usually greet one another
Spanish-speaking foreigners when they with a slight peck on one cheek or in the
arrive. Also, when they do use the familiar case of two men, a hand shake. If that
form, they often use the less polite vos situation is uncomfortable for you then
rather than tú, which is used in most other extend your arm and offer a hand shake.
Latin American countries. Costa Ricans are respectful of this type of
greeting especially when people meet for
Education is highly regarded in Costa Rica the first time and will not be offended.
by most of the population. 6% of the
country's resources are dedicated to educa- Costa Rica is generally a rather conserva-
tion and it has been proved to have positive tive culture. Men and women typically hold
results as > 95% of the population is traditional roles and that is the norm of A
literate. Costa Rican society. Alcohol use is legal for b
o
those over 18 years of age. The law in u
Primary (1st-6th grade) and secondary Costa Rica regarding recreational drugs is t
(7th-11th or 12th) are free and mandatory C
that they are illegal even though in various
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for all citizens. However, primary and parts of world they have been legalized. s
secondary public education is widely We encourage participants to abide by local t
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considered to lack the quality and laws during their visit to Costa Rica.
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resources seen in private elementary i
schools, therefore most of the middle class A person from the United States is normally c
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and upper middle class populations opt to referred to as a gringo. For Costa Ricans,
send their children to private institutions. the word \"gringo\" is slang for a United
States citizen as \"Tico\" is slang for a Costa
At the university level, the country has four Rican. This term is widespread as Ameri-
major public universities: The University of cans constitute a significant percentage of
Costa Rica (UCR),the Instituto Technoogico tourists in Costa Rica. Tourists are almost
(TEC), The Universidad Nacional (UNA) always well-liked and treated hospitably.
and the Universidad de Educacion a
Distancia (UNED), this last institution is a If you are blonde (especially women), don't
correspondence institution. Most of the be offended if you hear yourself described
national universities have institutional as 'la macha' or ‘la machita’ (literally, 'the
autonomy and considerable budgets that blonde') - it is used in polite speech in Costa
have allowed them to become some of the Rica and is more a term of endearment than
major universities in Central America. anything else. You may also find that some
men call out to you using this term while you
Due to the four main universities inability to are walking in the street. It is up to you
meet the demand of the growing popula- whether you wish to return the greeting with
tion, a great variety of private institutions a polite ‘hola’ or ‘buenos dias’ but ignoring it
have begun to appear in the country. usually prevents any unwanted advances.
Despite this boom in private investment,
private institutions are still fighting for the
www.TropicalAdventures.com
prestige mainly associated with the public
universities, and most Costa Ricans when

There are over 200 species of reptiles in
One of the most breathtaking species of
Costa Rica, over half of them snakes. But
butterflies is the morpho, with its 15 cm
snakes are rarely encountered, even by
(6-inch) wingspan and electric blue upper
those looking for them. Often they are
wings. Floating over the rivers, usually on
nocturnal or superbly camouflaged, and if
sunny mornings, they are a stunning sight.
they lie perfectly still on the forest floor,
When they land, only their brown under-
they can be virtually impossible to detect.
wings are visible; a camouflage to protect
them from their enemies.
More frequently seen are the country's
lizards. The common Ameiva has a white
Such camouflage is prominent in the
stripe running down its back. Bright green
butterfly community. Some species look
basilisk lizards can reach a meter (3 ft) in
just like the leaves and bark of the trees on
length. Their huge crests run the length of
which they rest. Yet others have wings with
their heads, giving them the appearance of
spots that resemble eyes. Predators occa-
a dinosaur. They are nicknamed \"Jesus
sionally attack their wings, leaving them
Christ lizards\" because they can run
with only minor injuries, their heads and
across water when disturbed.
bodies safe from harm.
Costa Rica is also home to crocodiles and
Costa Rica is home to roughly 150 species
turtles. The 14 turtle species include both
of amphibians, some of which are
marine and freshwater varieties. The larg-
extremely colorful and exotic. There are
est of the marine turtles are leatherbacks.
tree frogs which spend their entire lives A
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Their shells are up to a meter and a half (5
above the forest floor, breeding in the o
feet) and they weigh upwards of 360 kg
water of tank bromeliads or in holes in the u
t
(800 lb)! Marine turtles climb up sandy
trunks of trees. Others, the poison-arrow
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beaches to lay their eggs, a spectacular
frogs, are exuberantly colored, ranging o
sight because it happens en masse. Olive
from bright red with blue or green legs to s
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Ridleys nest synchronously -- tens of thou-
bright green with black markings. These a
sands of females sometimes emerge from
frogs emit skin toxins that are distasteful or R
the sea in a single night!
lethal to their potential predators, and their i
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bright coloration serves to warn predators a
of their danger.
Costa Rican Weather
Although Costa Rica is a small country in terms of area, there is a lot going on here in terms
of weather in Costa Rica. With a climate that is diverse and varied, Costa Rica can be
divided into several climatic zones, each of which is distinct and individual. Though generally
classified as a tropical country because of its close proximity to the equator, Costa Rica has
no real winter period, and the sun shines here throughout the year. With over 12 hours of
sunshine a day, the sun rises at about 5 am and sets at about 6 pm consistently throughout
the year.
Here is a pretty handy chart. It shows our project locations and dry / wet season info:
Area Dry (High) Season Green (Rainy) Season
Central Valley December to April May to November
Caribbean: Feb-March & Sept-Oct Nov-Jan & Apr-Aug
- Puerto Viejo
- Cocles
- Bambu
Arenal Area: April to November December - March
- Wildlife Project
- Arenal Nat’l Park
Guanacaste: December to April May to November
- Hojancha
- Daycare Center
- Monte Alto Natural Reserve
- Camaronal Sea Turtles

Pura Vida
Literally translated means \"Pure Life\" but
means contextually something approximate
to \"Full of Life,\" \"Purified life,\" \"Going
great,\" or \"Cool!\". Some foreigners view the
phrase as an expression of a leisurely
lifestyle, of disregard for time and wanton
friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use
the phrase to express something akin to a
philosophy of strong community, persever-
ance, good spirits, and enjoying life slowly
and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes
small and large alike.
Indigenous Populations
The Indigenous populations in Costa Rica are rapidly decreasing in numbers as their
children are forced to adapt to modern culture in an effort to survive. As these children leave
for the cities they often leave part of their culture behind. Tropical Adventures works with
other non profits and strives to create and implement programs that assist these local tribes
in empowering themselves while maintaining their cultural traditions.
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Costa Rican Wildlife
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Over 200 mammal species have been recorded in t
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Costa Rica. Observant visitors to the national parks
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and other protected areas are almost certain to see s
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one of the country's four types of monkeys -- howler,
a
spider, white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys.
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The country is also home to a wide assortment of
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tropical mammals. There are two types of sloths: the
more commonly seen three-toed sloth, and the
more rarely seen two-toed sloth. Three types of
anteaters, reside in Costa Rica; the tamandua is
most commonly seen, while the others, the giant
and silky anteaters are rarely glimpsed.
Visitors to Costa Rica's rainforests are likely to see
armadillos, agoutis, coatis, peccaries (wild pigs),
kinkajous, raccoons, squirrels and bats. However,
some rainforest animals are almost never seen.
Jaguars and tapirs, for example, are now consid-
ered endangered species. Still, their tracks are
regularly seen in the more remote, larger expanses
of undisturbed forest such as that surrounding the
Rara Avis Reserve.
Over 35,000 species of insects have been recorded
in Costa Rica, with thousands more still undiscov-
ered. Most noteworthy among these are the butter-
flies. It is estimated that 10% of the world's butterfly
species reside in Costa Rica.

Food
Time Zone
Costa Rica is in the Central Standard
Time Zone (same as Chicago), 6 hours
behind Greenwich mean time. Costa Rica
does not use daylight saving time, so the
time difference is an additional hour April
through October.
Electricity & Water
Water and electricity are things that we
often take for granted in first world coun-
tries. In Costa Rica, there are often distur-
bances in the delivery of these services The food in Costa Rica is based around
due to rationing or poorly maintained rice, beans, some meat and plenty of
pipes/lines. You might consider bringing delicious tropical fruits. For breakfast,
anti-bacterial gel for hand washing should expect wonderful, fresh fruit along with
you find yourself in a water or power eggs and “Gallo Pinto,” a national dish of
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outage (sometimes water pumps are run fried rice and black beans. Typical lunch b
on electricity). In Costa Rica they use110v o
and dinner meals include rice and beans,
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electricity therefore adapters/converters salads, and either fish, chicken or beef. t
should not be needed for those coming On the Caribbean Coast you will also find C
from the United States and Canada. o
delicious homemade Caribbean-style
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food, such as jerk chicken or curry dishes. t
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The food will vary depending on which
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center or host family you are staying with. i
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Toilet Paper
The Costa Rican plumbing system has
very low pressure in all but the best hotels
and more modern buildings. Often, putting
toilet paper into the bowl clogs up the
system, so a waste receptacle is provided
for the soiled toilet paper. This may not
seem particularly sanitary but it’s much
better than clogged toilet bowls. In places
where toilet paper baskets are provided,
volunteers are urged to use them. Pretty
much every host family, hostel and
restaurant will require that you place your
toilet paper in the trash. It may seem a bit
strange at first, but it won’t seem as
uncomfortable as asking your host family
to help you when the water from the toilet
is flowing all over the bathroom floor if you
decide to flush the paper down the toilet
instead and it all gets clogged up!

Keeping In Touch
Cell Phone Coverage Keeping a Travel Blog
If you want to use your own cell phone, you
We would also love to post your story or blog
need to know the following:
entry about your experience in Costa Rica on
our Tropical Adventures Volunteer Blog
1 Your telephone must by a GSM phone K
(www.crazyjungle.com). Please email your
e
with either Tri-Band capacity or work on the story to e
1800Mhz frequency blog@tropicaladventures.com, along with p
i
a few pictures. Prospective volunteers love n
2 Your telephone must have the bands to hear about what it was like in Costa Rica g
and what they can expect. I
\"unblocked\". Many carriers in the U.S. like
n
AT&T, T-Mobile and Cingular block their T
Many of our volunteers like to keep an online
bands when you the telephone is included o
account of their travels and experiences to u
on their plans. If your telephone is blocked it c
show their family and friends back home.
will not work in Costa Rica. h
We can recommend TravelPod –
www.TravelPod.com. All you have to do is
3 Most European phones are not blocked
register for a free account using your email
and will work well in Costa Rica if you meet
address; you can then write about your expe-
the criteria in item 1 above.
riences, upload photos and create a map of
your journey. It’s a nice way to show people
We recommend that you buy international
back at home what you are doing and a good
calling cards for calling the USA or Europe.
souvenir for when you get back!
They are available at our online store,
www.volunteercards.com for just 0.075
cents per minute. Be aware that iPhone and
other data roaming charges are incredibly
expensive unless you have pre-purchased a
discount roaming plan from your telephone
provider.

Health and Safety For a list of which countries require their
citizens to get yellow fever vaccinations,
please refer to the Centers for Disease
Your health and safety is of the utmost
Control website:
importance to Tropical Adventures. The
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBoo
water in Costa Rica is safe to bathe with
kCh5-MalariaYellowFeverTable.aspx
and certainly is much safer to consume
Neither Canada nor the United States
than other Central American countries, but
it is not up to the standards of North require this vaccination.
America or UE. In most areas drinking
water is totally safe. However, we suggest
Prescriptions
that you drink bottled water during your visit
Please pack your prescription medications
to Costa Rica if you have a sensitive
in your carry-on luggage and carry prescrip-
system or are nervous about getting ill.
tions in their original containers. Bring
Bottled water is readily available at stores,
along copies of your prescriptions in case
restaurants and bars. The ice is safe to
you lose your pills or run out and carry the
consume. We strongly encourage all volun-
generic name of prescription medicines.
teers to drink much more water than they
would normally at home. The heat and
Culture Shock
humidity of Costa Rica combined with
Culture shock is a feeling of discomfort (this
physically challenging volunteer projects
can be physical, emotional or both) as a
will require more hydration for your body.
result of being away from the comforts of
Heat stroke is a common ailment for
home and being in a completely new envi-
tourists and we don’t want any of our
ronment. Having to contend with a different
participants to become victims of heat
language, new foods, different customs and
stroke.
a different pace of life may leave you feeling
a little under the weather at first. Symptoms
We recommend that participants who want
may include:
to explore the local area do so in small
groups just as a standard safety precaution
- Anxiety
when traveling to any foreign land. We ask
- Homesickness
that volunteers be wary travelers and to not
- Tiredness
carry their passports, large amounts of
- Apathy
money, etc with them when not needed.
- Digestive discomfort
Your belongings will be safe in your host
- Obsessiveness over cleanliness
family homes and if there is a safe in your K
- A disliking of your new e
hostel or near your project location, we
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environment
encourage participants to utilize this free p
- Feeling isolated
service. i
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COPING WITH CULTURE SHOCK
If you become ill, please contact your Tropi- I
cal Adventures Volunteer Coordinator right Most people experience 'culture shock' at n
away. Please familiarize yourself with the some point during their travelling lives and T
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medical insurance we offer and the add-on this is something you may experience when u
travel insurance we have available for you arrive in Costa Rica. We have found c
purchase.More information available at h
this more common with first-time travelers.
http://medical.tropicaladventures.com
These feelings are usually mild and you can
No vaccinations are required to enter Costa deal with them and settle in more quickly if
Rica for citizens of most countries, but we you are aware that what you are experienc-
would recommend that all participants have ing is simply a natural reaction to being in a
up-to-date typhoid, hepatitis A, yellow fever new environment. You will find that the
and tetanus vaccinations. For more infor- Costa Rican people (Ticos) are very friendly
mation about requirements and sugges- and polite, and will try and help you settle in
tions, please see our Frequently Asked as quickly as possible. But don't worry if you
Questions section of our website: still feel out of your comfort zone - this is
natural!

How can you adjust to your new environ-
When you leave home and all the things
ment? How can you make a successful
that are familiar, you encounter many new
transition to living in a new culture?
and confusing situations. These situations
naturally create stress (culture shock).
First: understand that there are and
Some of the differences between life at there will continue to be uncertainties and
home and life in a new place are obvious: confusion. Imagine how a local resident
might react to living in your country.
• Language
• Climate Second: observe how people in your
• Religion new environment act in situations that are
• Food confusing to you. Try to understand what
• Educational System they believe and why they behave as they
• Absence of family do. Avoid judging things as either right or
wrong; regard them as being merely
Other differences are not as obvious: different.
• How students relate to teachers Third: remember the ways you have
• How people make decisions been able to reduce stress in difficult
• How people spend their leisure situations in the past and apply those
time methods in your present circumstances.
• How people resolve conflicts For example, you might take a long walk,
• How people express feelings and go to a movie theater, or write a letter to a
emotions close friend or relative. Try to see the
humor in confusing situations that you
These differences cause feelings of encounter; laughter is often the best
uncertainty and anxiety: \"medicine.\"
• \"Am I speaking properly?\"
Fourth: accept the difficult challenge of
• \"Will I be a successful student?\"
learning to study and live in a new cultural
• \"Will I find friends?\" K
setting. Believe that you can learn the
• \"Should I discuss my personal e
skills to make a satisfactory transition. e
beliefs or my political opinions?\" p
Gradually try to apply some of the skills
• \"What does it mean when some i
you are learning. n
one looks directly into my eyes?\" g
• \"Should I trust this friendly I
Fifth: recognize the advantages of
stranger?\" n
spending time in a different culture. Your T
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life will be enriched by meeting people
All of these uncertainties . . . and more . . . u
whose cultural backgrounds are not the
are confusing. You may also feel that you c
same as yours. Share your time with h
don't know what to do in certain situations.
many different people. Avoid having
Probably you did not think about these
friends only from your country but main-
things at home because you knew what to
tain strong personal ties to your culture
do and what to expect. You also knew how
while you are away from home. Think
other people acted and thought. In other
about how you can help local residents
words, you understood \"the rules\" and
learn how people from your country
\"the signs.\" Life was easier at home.
believe and act.
www.TropicalAdventures.com

Sixth: acknowledge your progress in Compassion is empathy. It is a quality of
being with someone. It’s not a “doing”
adjusting to the new culture. Think of all
thing. You can’t pretend to know why. Just
that you have learned since the day you
be willing to through the experience with
arrived. Recognize that, like other people
the other person(s).
who have lived in an unfamiliar country,
you can and will make a successful
You will likely see and smell things that
adjustment to the other culture.
you have never encountered before which
will be an eye-opening experience. Costa
If you believe yourself to be suffering from
Rica is a beautiful tropical paradise, but it
symptoms of culture shock, you should
is still a developing country. There are
speak with your Volunteer Coordinator, or
exotic species of plants and trees that
someone in the Tropical Adventures
exist only in Costa Rica and among the
office.
beauty there are often issues with
garbage strewn along roadsides,
Here are some other suggestions for your
potholes, temporary blocked/closed
consideration:
roads, and malnourished street dogs.
There is no Right or Wrong. Things are
Typically here in Costa Rica you will see
what they are. Please do not think that
some families living in poverty, but Costa
because you’re coming to Costa Rica, a
Rica has an ever growing large middle
denominated “third world country” that
class population which own vehicles and
people are not happy just because they
have modest cement block homes on a
may not have access to the material com-
small plot of land.
modities that the average US citizen has.
Costa Ricans are well known as being
We strongly encourage participants to
very happy people who work to enjoy life
ask questions about vegetation that they
instead of living their lives to work.
see, wildlife that is observed at volunteer
sites or en-route to these areas, and about
Remember, there’s a thin line between
any cultural customs that are new or seem
“Sympathy” and “Compassion.” Sympathy
unique.
is feeling sorry for someone, and it leads
to over-responsibility.
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Arrival in Costa Rica
Airport Instructions
Continue straight back until you reach the
The following are instructions for those of
escalators and head down the stairs. Here
you who are flying into the San Jose Juan
is where you will claim your luggage. Once
Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
you have all your luggage, head towards
the exit. You’ll have to stand in line again
Most airplanes arrive at a gate, but be
and place all your luggage on the conveyor
aware sometimes there isn’t any room at a
belt.
gate and you will park on the tarmac. If that
happens, you will deplane using the stairs,
The customs officials scan your bags, you
board a bus and be driven to the terminal.
pull them off the conveyor and you hand
your last remaining piece of paperwork to
In either case, you want to look for the
the officer standing by. (Note: Sometimes
signs that say “Immigration.” Follow the
they are too busy and don’t even collect
signs to the Immigration area and stand in
your paperwork.)
one of the left lanes that say “Tourist.” This
process is usually pretty fast, but it
A
Continue walking outside. The exit is very
depends on how many people and
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obvious. Be aware that a million taxi drivers
airplanes arrived at the same time you did. r
will be asking if you need a ride. Either i
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ignore them and focus on getting out, or
The Immigration official will need your
a
just politely say “no gracias.”
passport and the paperwork you filled out l
on the airplane. Most of the time they don’t i
ask you any questions, just stamp your n
paperwork and hand back one of the C
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sheets of paper to you, along with your
passport.

Pick-Up – IMPORTANT
Please print off the following information We are very excited to meet you! You’ll be
greeted by one of us and we will take care of
to bring with you.
your immediate needs (ATM, food, etc.).
Unless you have been advised otherwise,
Unless you arrive early enough to continue
our friendly driver, Manuel, will be waiting at
on to your project, you’ll be taken to a
San Jose International Airport to collect you.
nearby hotel to rest until the morning, when
we will pick you up and get you transported
to your project location. Our goal is to make
your trip comfortable – and FUN!
Tropical Adventures 24-Hour
Support
As you exit the final door of the airport you
will see a wall of glass in front of you. Your
Tropical Adventures experienced bilingual
driver will normally be standing there behind
staff will be available 24 hours a day during
the glass holding a sign with your name(s)
your stay here in Costa Rica. Once here in
on it. Acknowledge them and then continue
Costa Rica, you can call any of us collect if
walking out the exit toward the right.
anything at all goes wrong or you need help.
This is how:
If you miss your driver or can’t find them for
some reason, simply go to the pay phone
Pick up the phone and Dial 110
1.
area and they will find you. The pay phones
are to the right as you exit to the street.
2. After the opera-tor sasy a sentence
or two in Spanish, press 1
Manuel’s number is 8-332-8726.
3. After another sentence in Spanish,
You need to please call us if you miss your
enter 2-574-4412 (our office)
flight, or if for any reason you will be
delayed. Our number is toll-free at
4. One last sentence and a beep, then
1-800-832-9419. Airport pick-up is included
say your name
in the price you have paid, but if you don’t
advise us you missed your flight, you’ll be
5. Wait a minute or two. Either you’ll
responsible for paying for your 2nd pick-up.
hear us come on the line or the opera
tor will tell you we weren’t available.
PLEASE be careful of your bags. Do not
leave them unattended for even a minute.
Should we not be available, repeat the
Petty thievery is an issue at this – and all
above, substituting the following numbers
airports around the world
for instruction number 3.
Once here in Costa Rica, if you need any
help or anything goes wrong, please contact
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us using the support numbers on this page.
r
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i
As mentioned above, this is Costa Rica. On
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the rare occasion, something goes wrong
a
(traffic, accident, or any number of other l
uncontrollable issues) and we will be late, i
please wait at the airport. We know you are n
coming and are on the way to get you. But C
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feel free to call at any time. We are here for
you!

IMPORTANT
Please ensure you print a copy of this We do most often answer the phone, but in
page to leave with somebody at home. the event you can't reach us, please leave
us a message on more than one number
Your family can call any of us if there is a and we will get back with you just as soon
need to get a message to you. Here at the as possible.
Tropical Adventures Foundation, your
safety is our primary concern. In the event Our office numbers are:
of any emergency, please use the follow- Toll-Free from the US or Canada:
ing information to contact us here in Costa 1-800-832-9419
Rica. International Direct-Dial:
+506 25-74-44-12
Please be aware that we not only live in a
developing nation where communication If you can't reach anyone in the office
and technology are inconsistent, but we (nights, weekends, and holidays), please
also work in remote areas. start calling people from this list. To dial a
+506 number from the US or Canada,
please dial 011-506 and then the rest of
the numbers:
Susan Schuetze Tour Coordinator +506 8358-6161
Ray Reynolds Project & Tour Coordinator +506 8335-9857
Scott Pralinsky Executive Director US number: 504-208-4412
Isaac García Director US number: 425-329-3395
Medical Insurance
Tropical Adventures offers insurance at no
extra charge to our volunteers (not tour-
only or voluntour clients) as part of our
basic package. Additional coverage is
available for $25 per week for those tour- • Emergency Medical Evacuation
only and voluntour guests, as well as • Travel Accident Coverage
those volunteers seeking coverage in • Luggage Loss or Theft
Costa Rica before or after their volunteer • Sporting Equipment Loss or
time. Damage
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption
Please see our Medical Insurance web-
page at: You can read more about the insurance
http://medical.tropicaladventures.com they offer at:
for more detailed information on the insur- A
http://medical.tropicaladventures.com.
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ance policy. We highly suggest you r
consider purchasing some additional and Please note: if you purchase the insurance i
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affordable insurance for your trip. We have using the link above, Tropical Adventures a
a great relationship with an international will receive a 10% commission and 100% l
company who provides insurance that of the money will be used directly to i
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covers such things as: support our projects. The cost to you will
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be the same as if you went to the provider R
• Medical and Dental Emergency yourself. Thank you for your continued
Coverage support!

Important to note:
• Sometimes there will be changes to your
•If you have chosen to stay in a hostel or
itinerary which are beyond our control. We
have purchased an upgrade to a hotel, you
are always available to help you make
will be responsible for buying your own
other choices and adjustments.
lunch and dinner ($20 per day should
cover that easily).
• If we are unable to accommodate you on
your chosen date, we will, at your option,
•Transportation between projects and
either reschedule your date or refund your
back to the airport is not included in your
payment.
package. Depending on how you decide to
travel (bus versus shuttle van), transporta-
• Full payment is required at the time of
tion between projects and to the airport will
reserving with Tropical Adventures to
likely vary anywhere between $1 and $45.
secure your spot. We will email you a
confirmation of payment received.
•You will be required to pay a $26 exit tax
at the airport per Costa Rica law.
• Different Tour Operators have different
cancellation policies. Please ask about
•If you fly in late or depart early, you’ll likely
these at time of booking.
need to stay in a hostel or hotel near the
airport. We are happy to help you with the
• Should your plans change and you are
reservations, but this is not an included
unable to make your tour, we will work with
program cost. To avoid this cost, please fly
the tour vendor to either accommodate
in before Noon and depart as late in the
you on another tour or refund your money.
day as possible.
However, many tour companies have
Tour Info already committed resources to your tour
when you book it so refunds are not
Tropical Adventures offers many tours. It’s always guaranteed. The more notice you
most likely that you have already booked give us, the more likely we will be able to
some through our Tour Department. Here accommodate your request.
are some things we want you to be aware
of: • Prices on our website and in our emails
to you are subject to change (this happens
• Most tours run daily but have a minimum when the Tour Operator changes prices
number of persons required for the tour to and hasn’t notified us in advance).
operate. They may also reach their maxi-
mum number of clients they can
accommodate
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What to Bring
The best rule of thumb for packing for your trip to Costa Rica is to pack a few extra sets
of clothes due to the heat and humidity of the tropics.
Here are our suggestions for things you should consider bringing:
• Insect repellent with Deet
• Sun block (SPF 25+)
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Anti-bacterial hand gel and/or hand wipes
• Personal Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush etc)
• A small first aid kit with items for cuts and bites (make sure you include some ant
iseptic ointment of some sort – it is important in this climate to ensure any cuts are
kept clean).
• Towel
• Light-weight cargo pants
• Light-weight long-sleeve shirt
• A good supply of cotton T-shirts
• Sturdy, open air shoes (such as Keens)
• Light clothes....it can be hot and humid
• Mosquito net (optional, but nice to have)
• Rain coat
• Bathing suit
• Small umbrella (this is indispensible during the rainy season!)
• Snack bars (you will receive three meals if with a host family and breakfast if at
the hostel, but these come in handy!)
• Flashlight (non-battery if possible)
• If volunteering at a school, you'll have to have sleeves and you must wear pants
or a skirt. You might also want to bring stickers, temporary tattoos or other small
gift to hand out as prizes in class.
• Backpack
• Camera (don’t forget extra batteries and memory cards)
• Passport and at least two copies
• Copies of your other legal documents – e.g. insurance policy, flight tickets etc.
• Money (small USA bills) and ATM card
• English / Spanish Dictionary
• Possibly gift(s) for your host family (if applicable), such as photos of your family,
post cards and a map from your community, a \"treat\" local to your area such as
maple syrup or something fun to share.
• Any required medications in their original containers
• A few plastic bags to keep soiled/wet clothing in
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• Consider filling up any extra space with donations!
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If you are working with our turtle project, there are a couple of extra points to think about: i
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• Bring dark clothes l
• Bring closed-toed shoes (like sneakers) that you won't mind getting dirty from i
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walking on the beach
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Spanish Basics
Spanish English
Buenos dias Good morning
Buenas tardes Good afternoon
Buenas noches Good night
Buenas Hello
Gracias Thank you
Con mucho gusto It’s my pleasure / you’re welcome
You will hear this a lot in Costa Rica.
Disculpe Excuse me (sorry)
Con permiso Excuse me (let me by) May I enter the
house? May I leave the table?
Por favor Please
Por favor, hable mas despacio Please speak more slowly
Disculpe, no hablo español Sorry. I don’t speak Spanish
Mucho gusto Nice to meet you
Baño Bathroom
Me presta el baño por favor May I use the bathroom?
Izquierda Left
Derecha Right
Directo Straight (direction)
Me regala… Literally: “Gift me”
But used when ordering food or buying
something instead of “sell me”
Cuanto es…? How much is…?
Cuanto vale…? What’s the cost…?
Cuanto cuesta…? How much does it cost…?
Voy a… I’m going to…
Va a…? Are you going to…?
Me nombre es… My name is Anna
Pura Vida / Tuanis Tico expression meaning “right on,”
“great,” “thanks” and many more things.
Donde esta…? Where is…?
Tengo hambre I’m hungry
Me regala agua por favor May I have some water please
Que hora es? What time is it?
Don Timoteo/ Doña Pastora Mr. Timoteo/ Ms. Pastora
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What You Can Expect From Us • We expect you to speak with us immedi-
ately should you encounter an issue, or if
something is not right about your lodging or
Our goal is to help you have an exciting,
project.
fun, rewarding and learning experience.
Hopefully you’ll remember your trip to Costa
• Should you need to change something on
Rica as one of the best trips you have ever
your itinerary, we expect you to notify us
taken!
immediately (this will save you money and
heartache).
• You can expect that our number one
concern is your safety and that we will do
• We expect you to notify us of any changes
our best to help you have a safe trip. Should
or deviations you are going to make to your
something happen to you, you can expect
itinerary. This will help us know where you
we will go out of our way to help by getting
are so we can best care for your safety and
you get to a doctor, hospital or to do what-
find you in the event of an emergency.
ever is necessary.
• We are very aware that sometimes people Fundraising
have a different expectation of what Costa
Rica or their project will be like. You can If you would like to do some fundraising at
expect us to do our best to educate you in home to help reduce your program fees –
advance so you have a pretty darn good or to pay for them in full – please contact us
idea of what to expect when you arrive.
at: info@tropicaladventures.com.
However, if you encounter an issue with
your hotel, host family, staff, professor or
Bringing Donations and How
project, you can also expect us to listen and
to Help from Home
do our best to make any changes within our
means to assist you.
As you know, Costa Rica is still a develop-
What We Expect from You ing nation. That’s why we exist. We can
always use help and donations of cash or
• We expect you to engage, participate, do materials and supplies. Please see
your best – and to have FUN! http://help.tropicaladventures.com or
contact us for more information as to what
• You have already agreed to our Enroll- you can bring with you and how you can
ment Policy at the time of enrollment. We help.
expect you to adhere to these policies at all
times.
See you soon!
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www.TropicalAdventures.com