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Home > EcoClassroom > Frequently Asked Questions |
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 Where do we stay? What about medical facilities? What will staying at Punta Mona be like? What should I wear/carry with me on the plane? How can we make it affordable? How much spending money do we need to bring?
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Q. Where do we stay? A. We patronize locally owned eco-hotels and lodges as it is our intention to keep your tourist dollars within the communities we visit. All have beds and restrooms. They all have fans (when necessary) and hot, running water. However, remember that hot water is a commodity and if roommates aren't considerate, it can run out! On our EcoClassroom student trips, the number of students per room varies from 2 to 4. Students may be required to share double beds with travel-mates. Q. What do we eat? A. We view food as an obvious (and delicious) connection to both the Earth and to the people who live in the regions we visit. Most of our meals are eaten at local restaurants or people’s homes where regional specialties are served. We make a special effort to taste tropical fruits and vegetables that are not readily available in North America. At all meals, you will have a choice of a main entree (chicken, fish or vegetarian) with a set menu of side dishes. Be prepared for LOTS of rice and beans (gallo pinto) cooked with a special Costa Rican flavor. This is the staple of all Costa Ricans' diets. Remember that you are going to a different country. Please don't expect to find American food! DO notify us of any special dietary needs; we will do our best to meet them. Because we are an eco-tourism organization and the cattle industry has played a large role in the deforestation of Costa Rica, we have made a conscious decision to eliminate beef from the Costa Rican Adventures experience. This is one way we show how our personal decisions can be affected by, and in turn effect, global environmental issues. |
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Q. How do we get around? A. When we are not hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and white water rafting, we travel from activity to activity on our own air-conditioned bus with a professional driver. Every bus has a stereo system so we can listen to local tunes, but feel free to bring your own music to share with the group. |
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Q. Who will be our guides? A. Privately guided and group tours will be led by a highly trained Costa Rican naturalist, a member of our in-country staff and extended Costa Rican family. |
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Q. Do I need a passport? A. Yes! A passport that is valid for at least 30 days after your arrival date is required. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, please consult with the Costa Rican consulate nearest you to determine if you require a visa to enter the country, or go to: http://www.costarica-embassy.org/consular/visa/country-selection.htm Please contact our office with specific questions regarding travel documents or consult the Passport Agency website. If you are traveling to a country other than Costa Rica (Belize, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, etc.), please contact us if you have questions concerning documentation. If you are not a US or Canadian citizen, please consult with the Costa Rican Embassy to determine if you require a visa to enter the country.
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Q. What about medical facilities? A. Throughout the trip we are never very far from a clinic, hospital, or Red Cross station. When we do travel to several of the more remote locations, we always have communication with a base camp. In addition, our staff is trained in First Aid and CPR and they carry a professional first aid kit with them at all times. Costa Rica is famous for its excellent medical care. Emergency Travel Medical Insurance is included in the cost of our trips. Care at clinics and hospitals are paid for by the traveler or school at the time of service and reimbursed by the insurance company upon return (deductibles apply). For more information about this insurance policy, please contact us. |
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Q. Do we need any shots? A. The Health Department of Costa Rica does not require any immunizations to enter the country. However, we view health as a very personal issue and encourage people to consult with a trusted physician, travel clinic, health service organization or other medical professional in making any decisions about vaccinations. The Center for Disease Control takes a conservative stance and recommends several vaccinations. You may consult their website at: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm Malaria prophylaxis is recommended by the CDC but not required. There have been scattered cases of malaria over the past few years, but none that we have had direct contact with. Some of our travelers choose to take the anti-malaria medication under the care of their physician, while others have chosen not to take anything. Again, we strongly suggest you consult a trusted physician who is knowledgeable on the most current and effective malaria prevention medications. Dengue fever is another mosquito-borne illness that is becoming more prevalent in the tropics of Central and South America. There is no vaccination and travelers are encouraged to bring AND WEAR insect repellent to avoid being bitten. Other tips are to wear socks at dusk & dawn, long-sleeved, lightweight shirts & pants when hiking in the jungle, and to keep doors and windows closed & fans on when in rooms at hotels & lodges. |
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Q. Can we drink the water? A. While it is okay for North Americans to drink the water in many parts of Costa Rica, we don't like to take any chances. Every morning we provide 5-gallon jugs of bottled water for you to refill your bottles. You will need at least one 1.5 liter bottle or hydration pack to refilled every day. By refilling the same bottles we will cut down on unnecessary plastic waste. Costa Rica has yet to implement a strong recycling program and we aim to help reduce waste. |
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Q. Do we need to know Spanish? A. Though it can only add to your experience and help you to get to know the people more, it is not essential that you speak any Spanish. Our guides and staff are bilingual and will help you with any communication issues, though we will encourage you to learn some during your stay! It is possible to participate in our homestay experiences with local families even without prior Spanish knowledge. |
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Q. How do we get to Costa Rica? A. There are many different commercial airlines (including American, Delta, JetBlue, Continental and TACA) that now fly into Costa Rica's capital city, San Jose (SJO). If you are traveling with 10 or more people, we encourage you to call the Groups Desk of your airline of choice for a quote. Alternatively, we can work with you and our air travel partner to make all of the reservations and arrangements for travel from your home city for a small convenience charge. |
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Q. What are the hikes like? A. We will never be hiking simply to get from Point A to Point B but rather to experience the beauty and wonder of the places we visit. None of the hikes are too difficult for anyone in reasonably good health and moderate physical shape. One thing to keep in mind is that in order to keep its name, there must be lots of rain in the rainforest. And lots of rain leads to lots of mud! Mud can add to the fun (and the mess) of all of the hikes! For this reason, we provide a selection of rubber boots for some of the muddier hikes. Please bring a pair of knee high socks for comfort.
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Q. What should I wear/carry with me on the plane? A. Depending on your group's arrival time, you may be scheduled to begin your adventure immediately upon arrival. If this is the case, you should wear or carry with you the clothes that you would like to wear for the first day's activities. This may include hiking clothes, boots, bathing suit, and towel. Don't forget to leave your camera, sunblock and insect repellent easily accessible as well! You may also want to pack a change of clothes and basic toiletries in your carry-on bag just in case your luggage arrives to Costa Rica after you do. |
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Q. What about bugs? A. The rainforest does have bugs…lots of them, and big! While they may look scarier than they actually are, we wouldn't want to kick them out of their homes just because we're coming to visit. Most of them do not have any interest in you. It is the mosquitoes that may "bug" you the most. Please remember to bring AND WEAR insect repellent. You may also want to take it easy on sugar for a couple of weeks before your trip, bring socks, and lightweight, breathable pants for hiking as extra protection against the bugs. |
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Q. Can we be in touch with home? A. Because of the remote locations of ecolodges and activity sites, access to telephones can be limited. Most of the hotels only have one phone line, so calls need to be relatively short. The most convenient way to phone home is by using a local calling card which can be purchased upon arrival and used from any phone in the country. We do NOT recommend bringing personal cellular phones as service can be spotty or non-existent and charges are high. Q. How can we make it affordable? A. We have hosted groups that have paid for their entire experience through fundraising. The key to successful fundraising is enthusiasm and timing. Make sure to get an early start and plan several different events and programs. Please contact us for more ideas and information on fundraising. |
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Q. How much spending money do I need to bring? A. The only spending money you will need is for the $26 airport departure tax and any souvenirs that you may want to buy. A total of $100 - $150 has been more than enough for most participants on our 8-day adventure, including tips to guides, incidentals and souvenirs. Add to this amount if your stay is longer. You can bring traveler's checks but make sure to have some cash as well. Always bring checks and bills in small denominations (nothing larger than $20s). These will be easier to exchange. Most places accept US Dollars, but there will also be an opportunity to change money into Costa Rican colones. For current exchange rates, please click here. |
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Q. Do we have free time? A. Our days are jam packed with activities, and we stick together as a group for the entire experience. We will have some (supervised) free time at the beach and in town. In the evenings before and after dinner, you will be able to find some "down" time for journal writing, reading or hanging out with each other within the hotel grounds. |
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For any other not-so-frequently asked questions, contact us. |
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