FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Participants from North American, European and almost all Asian citizenships can simply use their passport to enter Costa Rica. These citizens are able to stay in Costa Rica for up to 3 months as a tourist. However, there are some countries’ citizens who will not be granted the automatic three month visa and must obtain a visa before entering Costa Rica. For more information, or to find out if your home country requires a visa prior to visiting, please contact the Costa Rican Embassy in your home country. You can look for some information on Costa Rican embassies at www.rree.go.cr or at www.migracion.go.cr

You should visit a travel doctor in your home country before traveling to be current with all needed COVID 19 vaccines.  WeVOL requires its participants to receive vaccinations, or any proof of vaccinations and we recommend that you speak with a doctor about health precautions while traveling abroad. Please keep in mind that many immunizations may require booster shots and may take a few weeks to be effective. It is a good idea to take care of any immunizations at least 4-6 weeks before travel.

There are ATMs in Dominical and Quepos center but not in Matapalo. There are national banks in Quepos and Uvita. The official currency of Costa Rica is the colon; however, U.S. dollars are widely accepted.  Most major credit cards are widely accepted. The exchange rate is approximately $1 USD = 630 colones, and you can check the current rate here: www.xe.com. 

Whatever kind of money you choose to bring, remember that it is always best to diversify. We recommend having some cash with you upon arrival, and it is always good to bring different kinds of cards. Some ATM’s will accept certain cards, while others will not. Make sure to check with your bank before you leave to make sure your card will work in Costa Rica. Do not exchange money at the airport, for this location is typically one of the lowest in the country. 

Since you will be living in a tropical, coastal environment, it’s recommended that you bring plenty of sunscreen and bug spray. These items are easy to find here, but very expensive. You will want to bring your own towel and any toiletries. Also, please bring a flashlight and/or headlamp.  Don’t forget your swim suit and a rash guard. The weather is very hot, so pack light, summer clothes. If you are working in the local public schools, it is mandatory to have your shoulders covered and typical to wear knee-length bottoms. We live in a tropical beach environment, but it is cultural to dress nicely when working. You can wear sandals during the day and night and hiking boots or quality waterproof shoes are highly recommended. We are happy to answer any packing questions you have!

All participants should fly into Juan Santamaria International airport (SJO). The WeVOL team is happy to assist you in finding the cheapest and best flight from your departure country. We will communicate prior to your arrival to arrange your airport transportation based on your arrival day and time. The ride from SJO is about 3 hours to our location in Matapalo. See below for options of getting from SJO to Matapalo.

Prior to your arrival, we will have finalized your arrival plan to Matapalo.
Getting Here:
1) SJO Airport Shuttle
The WeVOL staff will be at the SJO airport to pick you up. The arrival airport shuttle is included in your program fee and this is about a 3-hour drive.

2) Flight from SJO — Quepos
Book a flight from SJO to the domestic airport located in Quepos. When you land in Quepos, a WeVOL staff member will be there to pick you up. This taxi service is included in your program fee and it is about a 20-minute drive.

Although not included in your program fee, we will happily assist you with your departure transportation whether you are flying back home after your WeVOL experience or continuing to travel around Central America.

Costa Rica is considered to be one of the safest countries in Latin America. Serious violent crime is not unheard of, but it’s not common either. A visitor’s principal concern will be pickpockets and vandals. Avoid carrying large amounts of money in vulnerable spots such as the back pocket. 

The best thing you can do is arm yourself with knowledge and to err on the side of caution. Thankfully, we are located outside of the urban city rush and our beach town is quiet and peaceful. 

Wherever you are, stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Show that you are calm, confident, and know where you’re going. Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid the person or leave. And, always, let the WeVOL staff know about any incidents or feelings as soon as possible.

Costa Rica boasts some of the most fantastic beaches in the world, with year-round warm waters and what feels like never-ending coastlines. There are a few beaches that we highly recommend you seek out, either to soak up some rays, hit the waves, experience the wildlife, or simply relax.

Nicoya Peninsula- Costa Rica’s largest peninsula, a collection of secluded and tranquil beaches. Try Playa Hermosa, Samara, Flamingo, Conchal and Playa Grande for a relaxing beach experience.

Montezuma- located on the inner base of the Nicoya Peninsula, this is a truly diverse area. Befriend all the locals and the tourists, whether they are surfers, bohemians, Rastafarians,or anything else you can imagine!

Manuel Antonio- white sands, blue-green waters, surrounded by jungles and streaming waterfalls. A great place for any water sport you can imagine- and also one of the most beautiful and most visited beaches not only in Costa Rica, but probably in the world.

Playa Dominical- widely considered one of Costa Rica’s best surfing beaches. Located only 30 minutes south of Manuel Antonio and 10 minutes from Matapalo.

Tortuguero- amazing Caribbean beach with an exotic feel. While here, experience tours through jungle canals, hiking trails, guided safaris, and much more in the Tortuguero National Park. Look out for the endangered species throughout the park, including tapirs, ocelots, manatees, and green sea turtles – the area´s namesake.

Costa Rica’s year round climate is pleasant with naturally occuring breezes, cooling down most of our coastal area. Temperatures in the highlands and mountains are not so hot, especially during the day, producing an eternal spring feeling. The rainy or green season lasts from May to December with noticeably drier days during the rest of the year. Rainy during the day means that it will rain every day. A day may be filled with periods of bright sun and periodic brief thunderstorms or light rains. Or, a day may be entirely cool, foggy, and rainy with a few scattered moments of sunshine. We love the year-round diversity and life produced by our amazing climate.  

Manuel Antonio National Park- perhaps the most visited park in Costa Rica. The scenic hiking trails showcase steep cliffs growing out of the shoreline and forested hillsides. The park is home to many of the animals, plants and flowers that are Costa Rica’s unique attractions, including monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans, and scarlet macaws.

Corcovado National Park- without a doubt one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. Located on the Osa Peninsula, it was created to protect the area from gold mining and logging and has now become one of the wonderful spot for eco-tourists. Corcovado is home to beautiful Scarlet Macaws, Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Jaguars, and Tapir – the largest terrestrial mammal in Central and South America.

Arenal Volcano National Park- home to Costa Rica’s most active volcano. This area is alive with flora and fauna, as well as rivers, waterfalls, and of course, hot springs.

Barra Honda National Park- the main visitor attraction at Barra Honda is the deep limestone caverns. While at the park, explore the Terciopelo cavern, which is open to the public, and offers an extremely vertical descent. Climbing gear is available for those who would like to explore the cavern with a park ranger.

Chirripo National Park- the highest peak in Costa Rica- Mount Chirripo. This peak has an elevation of more than 12,500 feet and an elevation change of approximately 8,000 feet. The steep trail to the top of the mountain is 31 miles roundtrip- so plan on a 3-day hike if you want to master this mountain!

Marino las Baulas de Guanacaste National Park & Tortuguero National Park- both of these parks are nesting ground for thousands of sea turtles. From April to November, the turtles come in droves to lay their eggs on this beach. To get a good look at the turtles, be sure to go on a guided tour, as you will not be allowed on the beaches without a guide during the nesting season.