Costa Rica

Staff Writer 

The courses of Costa Rica have little in common, as the varied landscape of the country makes for unique courses on both coasts and in between. But the courses do have two characteristics in common: none are very young and all are built by big name deisngers.

Golf Courses at a Glance

• Cariari Country Club
  Ph: 506 293 3211
  This George Fazio designed and Tom Fazio built championship course in San Jose sits on a former coffee plantation..
  
  
• Garra de Leon
  The golf course at the Paradisus Playa Conchal Beach & Golf Resort was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and challenges Cariari for the honor of top course in Central America.
  
  
• Hacienda Pinilla
  This championship course designed by Mike Young is spread over 4,500 acres on the north Pacific coast.
  
  
• Los Suenos Marriott Beach & Golf Resort Course
  Ph: 506 630 9000
  One of the newer courses in the region, it was designed by famed-architect Ted Robinson, Jr., and sits on the country's Pacific coast.
  
  
• Parque Valle del Sol
  Ph: 506 282 9222
  Tracy May design located only 15 minutes from San Jose, the country's capital.

FAQ

1.Where is Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. It has two coastlines, the Pacific and the Caribbean, with a few volcanoes and a rain forest packed with monkeys in between. The capital, San Jose, is home to a quarter of a million people. One of the country's key features is its undulated landscape. La Meseta Central is the highest plateau and it runs down the middle of the country. Surrounding this plateau are several mountain ranges as expansive and as high as any throughout Central America.

2. Do I need any special documents once I get there?

All U.S. and Canadian citizens will need a passport valid for six months and a pre-paid ticket out of Costa Rica. Tourists may remain in the country without a visa for up to 90 days.

3. Will I suffer from any jet lag?

Well, that of course depends on what part of the world you are traveling from, but Costa Rica is in the US Central Standard time zone, and it does not observe daylight savings time.

4. What type of weather should I expect?

The temperature is fairly constant in Costa Rica throughout the year. The highs usually range in the mid 80s, while the lows are in the mid 60s. May to November is the rainy season, and is usually characterized by sunny mornings, with bouts of warm afternoon rain to follow.

5. What is the official language and currency?

The official language is Spanish while the official currency is the Costa Rican Colon. You will find that - like many international locations - many people speak some English, but brushing up on a little Spanish prior to your trip may be a good idea.

6 What kind of taxes will I pay when I am in Costa Rica and how much should I tip?

There is a departure tax of $17US for all non-Costa Rica citizens upon leaving the country. Tipping is not necessary at restaurants as 10 percent is automatically charged to your bill, but kicking it up to 15 or 20 percent depending on the service is of course appreciated. It is also standard to tip tour and taxi guides.

7. Besides golf, what are some worthwhile activities?

One of the more outlandish activities popular among Costa Rican tourists is bungee jumping. A frequented venue is the Old Bridge over the Colorado, home to a 300 foot drop. Surfing on either of the country’s coasts is also a popular past time. Finally, visiting the Costa Rica's many national parks and volcano ranges are other solid tourist options.

Transportation Information

Costa Rica is over seven hours from New York, but only an hour and half from Miami, and is served by several major U.S. carriers. Continental makes departures from Houston, Montreal and Toronto; Delta from Atlanta; and United from Houston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Additionally, Air Canada flies out of Montreal, while Iberia, LTU and Grupo Taca fly from Miami.

Alamo, Adobe, Mapache and Europcar are the car rental agencies that will be available upon your arrival. And for those looking to get to the areas not as easily accessible via a rental car, there are many day and multi-day tours available for spots all over the region.

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