Frequently Asked Questions
Our staff is here to answer all questions, but we have been doing this for over a decade, so you might just find the answer you are looking for right here!
First thing, is don’t forget your passport! After that, we recommend bringing sun block, your own personal toiletries, bug repellent, and 1 beach towel. Our homes are stocked with bath towels, toilet paper, linens, sheets, coffee pot, and kitchen and cooking utensils in the full homes. There are stores in driving distance where you can purchase most all standard products and amenities in case you forget something, but much more cost effective to bring your own travel sized.
You will have to fly into San Jose International Airport (Airport code SJO). Our vacation home resort is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes from the airport, and your driver can make stops along the way to grab some drinks or snacks, see a few sites, or stock up at the grocery store.
The water is perfectly fine to drink, however it has a slightly different composition that tap water in the US. We recommend bottled water, because it is just better to be safe than sorry when you have a limited amount of time for your vacation. At Surf Costa, we provide you with your first 5 gallon jug of bottled water in your home, so you can refill smaller bottles when going out on excursions.
The Costa Rican currency is called Colones, and the exchange is usually is about 500 Colones for every 1 dollar. (so a 5000 colones bill is $10 USD). The good news is that most all establishments in Costa Rica accept either US Dollars, or credit cards (Visa/Mastercard).
We recommend to bring about $100 in small bills in case, and then use credit or debit cards to take out local currency at the ATMs. This is how you will get the best exchange rate. It is fine to use American dollars for the duration of your trip, but you will lose out some with each local vendors exchange rate.
No specific shots are required to enter the country, however we always recommend you speak to your personal physician as everyone is different and worldwide health situations are constantly changing. If you want to find out up to date info on Zika you can visit to the CDC’s website.
Nothing is required as far as gratuities go, but most of our guests give external excursion guides (zipline, rafting, fishing) $10-$20 per person, and at the end of your stay a gratuity for your driving tour guide is always appreciated.
When you arrive in SJO, you will need to follow the lines through Immigration, baggage claim, and a final customs scan. There is only 1 exit in San Jose, so if you have made it outside, you are in the right place. When you exit, walk down the sidewalk to the right about 200 feet in order to get out of the crowd of taxi drivers. Your driver will find you there. Do not accept a ride from another agency unless we have instructed you to do so. For groups of 6 or less, we provide 1 scheduled airport transfer, both to and from the airport. If flights arrive at different times, we typically arrange a pickup for the final flight. We can add additional airport transfers for $120-$160 depending on how many guests will be taking the second ride. For groups of 7 or more, we offer 2 rides each way, so just let us know the flight info and we will coordinate pickups and drop off times.
