There are 3 rules on wildlife trails – keep quiet, don’t talk & shut it. Wildlife don’t like humans and with good reason. They scarper back into the forest when they hear us coming and especially when they hear rowdy ignorant yah yahs coming. So do yourself and everyone else a favour and hold onto those lies for when you are back in the parking lot.

Toilets for nature parks are usually only found at the entry so go before you go in. The parks are busy so good luck finding a discreet tree to go behind. Plus human do do in the park is a don’t don’t. The toilets are usually really clean and well supplied. The loos are the pedestal European style, flushing variety. 

All nature parks charge an entry fee. They range from US$10 to US$20. I could not find a pattern in their charges. Some private are more expensive and some less. I was happy to contribute to preserving the wildlife in a country that values nature, flora and fauna so highly. The money seems to be directed back into the maintaining the natural environment and the creatures that inhabit it. So pay up and feel good about it.

You can pay for most things in US$ or the local colones. Credit cards are widely accepted but not everywhere. I like to carry cash as banks are not that plentiful; especially those that can access foreign accounts and especially in more remote areas. Stash cash and cards in more than one place and only have enough in your wallet for immediate use. 

WiFi is available for free in almost every café, hotel and pub. Its not lightning fast but enough to do the basics. Phone cards are cheap but with WiFi access so ubiquitous, it’s hardly necessary. 

Costa Ricans seem a little geographically challenged. Maps are uncommon and often misleading at best or plain inaccurate. Get your own before you go or download Google maps. The locals give poor directions when you are lost, which can be fun at times but a drag repeatedly. Trail maps are not commonly available even with the significant entry fees. Entry booths will at best offer for you to photograph their map with your phone. I'm a bit of a map freak so I prefer a physical map. 

Much of Costa Rica is windy….really windy. San Jose, Monteverde and the northern Pacific coast are super windy. My sons did lot of kite surfing and the windy conditions suited them perfectly. I've been through 3 cyclones and its up there. I was amazed at how the vegetation had adapted to the constant typhoon that is the norm.  La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) is in the lee of the mountains and not windy at all.

Eat in “sodas” rather than restaurants if you are looking for inexpensive local food. These are locally operated cafes. They are not usually open in the evenings but for breakfast & lunch their meals will work out to about half what you pay in restaurants with twice as much food. The food is simple Costa Rican fare. Spiced rice and beans are served everywhere for all meals of the day. Alcohol is also sold everywhere. The locally brewed beer companies pay the farmers to preserve the trees in the water catchment to maintain pure water for the beer. There's a motivation to drink more beer; if you needed one. 

Vegetarian options are available everywhere but don’t expect too much variety. The Costa Ricans love their meat. As long term vegetarians we didn’t go hungry but it is not a vego destination. Much of South and Central America seems to have a high meat diet. There's lots of fruit, lots of rice and beans and if you are not vegan there are eggs served all ways. There is always fabulous coffee and great beer to supplement the vegetarian diet.

It is a safe country. There is more crime in the larger metropolitan areas but the standard of living is high and people are super friendly and as safe as you can be as anywhere in the world. There are bars on almost all windows and security guards everywhere. There are certainly not for show so I am guessing it has its fair share of theft. The usual vigilance is advisable like not leaving valuables in you car or flashing wads of cash about. It is a politically and financially stable country and has no military as, I assume, it has no enemies or resources that the fat nations want to get hold of. 

I could write a a long list of things that went wrong with our flights, constant delays, cancellations, lost bags, theft from check on baggage, poor service and on it goes. If you have to pay a little more and fly a different airline, do it. I wish I had read the reviews before booking.