General Travel Information
Cal Poly Pomona – College of Science
Costa Rica Field Studies Course 2008
· We have a group reservation on American Airlines to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) near San José, Costa Rica.
· See the Trip Itinerary for details on flight numbers and times.
· Each person is responsible for arranging his/her own transportation to/from LAX. We should organize group carpools if possible.
· This is an international flight; plan to arrive 3 hours prior to departure. Don’t be late!
· Check the departure terminal and gate for this flight! Be aware that Costa Rica flights don’t always leave from the Bradley International Terminal.
· Be sure to have your passport and ticket information with you when you check-in
· After check-in, proceed to the gate area and sign-in with Dr. Marshall.
· This is an over-night flight. Be sure to get some sleep! We need to be alert and ready to roll when we arrive in Costa Rica early in the morning.
· Upon arrival in Costa Rica (6 am), it is important that we move efficiently as a group through immigration and customs!!
· Have your carry-on items ready to go, get off the plane and walk through the airport terminal quickly. Pay attention! Follow the signs to the immigration hall.
· If you need to use the restroom, do so quickly in the airport terminal before entering immigration.
· Once you enter the immigration hall, choose the shortest line designated for tourists (not the line for Costa Rican citizens). Have your passport, immigration form, and customs form in hand. The immigration agent will check your documents and admit you into the country. Be courteous to immigration agents!!
· After immigration, you will continue into the baggage claim area. This can be quite chaotic. Get a cart and find the baggage area for our flight. Be aware that at times, airport staff will pull luggage off of the belt and line it up on the sides.
· Once you have your luggage on your cart, get in line and proceed through customs. You will be asked to put all of your bags through an x-ray machine. You may be asked to open your bags for inspection. Be courteous to customs agents!!
· After customs, do not go outside the terminal! Wait for everyone else inside the terminal (near rental car desks). We will gather there as a group to organize ourselves and set up ground transportation to our hotel.
· You will need to leave your luggage cart inside the terminal. At this point it is very important to be ready to carry your luggage securely outside to the curb where we will board vans (taxis or rentals) for the ride to our hotel (a 30 minute drive).
· It is usually very chaotic outside the terminal. Keep your luggage under close watch! Also watch your pockets! Thieves commonly take advantage of tourist groups outside the airport to steal bags or to pick pockets.
· We will arrive at our hotel early in the morning. Rooms may not be ready. We may have to store our luggage at the hotel desk until afternoon. You should have clothing and other gear ready in a daypack for our outing to Poás Volcano.
· We plan to rent four SUVs for travel in Costa Rica (~5 people per vehicle).
· We will spend a lot of time in these vehicles. Please keep them clean and “tidy”.
· Throughout the trip, we will be on a tight schedule. It is very important to be on time for daily departures, to load your gear quickly, and to get in and out of the vehicles efficiently at field trip stops! Don’t be the one who holds up the group!
· Don’t leave valuables in the vehicles! Do your part to make sure they are locked.
· Be extremely cautious while on Costa Rican roadways (both in and out of the vehicles). Be aware of what is happening around you. Road conditions and driving styles can be very different than in the U.S.
What to Bring
Luggage
· Space for luggage in the vehicles will be limited, pack efficiently!!
· Limit yourself to one checked-bag and one carry-on bag
· Luggage should be easy for you to carry alone!
· Checked-bag: small suit case, duffel bag, or internal frame pack
· Carry-on bag: day-pack for use on field outings (hip-packs best in tropical heat)
· A list of recommended items is included on a later page
Passport & Money
· Everyone must have a valid passport (carry on your person at all times!)
· Make a photocopy to keep in your luggage (great help if passport lost/stolen)
· Bring your own spending cash for misc. purchases, souvenirs, etc
· Cash is recommended for small amounts (either C.R. Colones or U.S. Dollars)
· Exchange of travelers checks is difficult and can be extremely time consuming
· ATMs are new in Costa Rica. We will have limited access to them. Most dispense C.R. Colones straight from your bank account. Not all U.S. banks are accessible!!
· Always be on guard against pickpockets and theft (even in hotel rooms)!!
· Money belt or neck pouch recommended for money and passport
Health & Safety
Inoculations
· If you are concerned about immunization, ask your doctor for recommended inoculations for short-term travel in Costa Rica.
· Our trip will be short, and we will stay in clean tourist accommodations. In general, the risk of contracting major diseases in Costa Rica is low compared to elsewhere in Latin America. However, exposure is always possible, especially to: rabies, hepatitis, cholera, malaria, dengue, and intestinal parasites (giardia, amoeba, ascaris).
· Your risk of illness is greatly reduced if you drink only bottled water!
· Bring any necessary personal medications (some may not be available in C.R.)
· Allergies & asthma: you may be exposed to new allergens (pollens, molds, insects), so bring any allergy or asthma medicines you might need.
· Everyone should bring: sun-tan lotion, insect repellent, antibiotic cream, ibuprofen or other pain killer, band-aids/small bandages, anti-itch lotion, diarrhea medicine.
Health Insurance & Medical Emergencies
· Please verify that your health insurance covers you while in Costa Rica. If not, obtain travel insurance (see other handouts for recommended student insurance)
· All trip participants must provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of persons we should contact in case of an emergency.
· Costa Rica is known in Central America for its advanced health care. If the need should arise, we generally will have access to decent medical services (rural clinics & red cross EMTs). However, we may at times be fairly far from emergency help. Therefore, it is imperative that each person assumes responsibility for his or her own safety!! Always be cautious and keep alert to the potential for injury or illness.
· In case of a significant medical emergency, we will try to use the Hospital Clinica Biblica in San José: http://www.edenia.com/medical/biblica.htm
General Health & Safety Issues
· Water: Costa Rica probably has the safest water supplies in Latin America. However, contamination is on the rise. During this short trip it is recommended that you drink only bottled water to reduce your risk of exposure.
· Food: We will usually eat as a group at our hotels, at tourist restaurants, or in the field with bag lunches. Food safety is pretty good in Costa Rica. Be aware that the food selection will be limited to what is available; therefore we cannot cater to special diets. If you anticipate needing any special foods, bring them with you.
· Heat, sunburn, & dehydration: These are serious concerns. While temperatures will be pleasant in the Central Valley (70s-80s), it will be hot in our field area at the coast (80s-100s). It is critical that everyone stays hydrated (drink plenty of water!). Wear a hat and sunglasses, and always use sunscreen! Costa Rica is only 10oN of the equator. The sun is intense and you will burn much faster than in the US!!
· Creepy crawlers & things that howl in the night: We'll be traveling and lodging in rural settings amidst a living tropical rainforest. Don't be surprised to find scorpions in your shower, big hairy spiders on the wall, bats buzzing past in the darkness... This is all part of the fun!! There's nothing to fear, just keep your eyes open. Be aware of ticks, fire ants, killer bees, scorpions, and plants with thorns!! Oh, and that demonic roar you hear in the night, those are howler monkeys.... really.
· Swimming: Costa Rica's beaches are infamous for their big waves and for rip currents (undertow). Be careful!! Also, the tidal range is nearly 3 meters (9 feet), always be aware of the tide when walking along coastal platforms.
· Alcohol & drugs: The legal drinking age in Costa Rica is 18. We expect responsible adult behavior. Any activity that endangers group safety, or interferes with our travel/work schedule will not be tolerated. Use or possession of illegal drugs is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program and return to the U.S.
· Personal safety: Remember, you are traveling as a guest in a foreign country. The world does not always work the same way as it does in the U.S. Use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. The people of Costa Rica are very friendly, courteous, and honest. Enjoy their openness, have conversations, learn from their perspective, make friends. But as with anywhere, there are always a few bad-mangoes out there. As a “wealthy gringo", you may be viewed as a target. Always be aware of the potential for theft (pick-pockets and hotel burglars). Never leave anything unattended. Be wary of overly friendly "scammers" (especially in beach towns). Women should expect to receive a bit of extra-attention from men (this is Latin America after all!!). Most of this is in good humor, but be on guard. Keep an eye out for each other. Never wander away from the group alone.
1. Course reading material - (we'll provide before the trip)
2. Field pack (hip packs work best to avoid the tropical sweaty-back syndrome)
3. Field notebook, pencils/pens, rulers, etc (write-in-the-rain notebooks are best)
4. Camera (charger, extra batteries, plastic water-proof bag, and cleaning cloth)
5. Binoculars (for fieldwork & viewing wildlife – you will see monkeys & cool birds)
6. Water bottle(s) (Nalgene quart bottles, carried on the belt are best)
7. Hand lens, hammer, Brunton, GPS unit (don't put hammer in carry-on luggage!)
8. Hat - the sun is intense! (light-weight, with brim, bring extra in case you lose one)
9. Sunglasses (with good UV protection)
10. Sun screen & lip-balm (SPF 30 or greater, you'll burn in 10 minutes without it)
11. Shorts and light weight long pants (jeans are uncomfortable in tropical heat)
12. T-shirts or other light cotton tops (if sun-sensitive you may want long-sleeve)
13. Undies and socks - enough for the whole trip! (It’s tough in the tropics to wear them two-days running without insulting your friends!)
14. A few “clean” clothing items for evenings at the hotel or restaurants
15. Long-sleeve shirt & light fleece for cool Central Valley nights and volcano trips
16. Lightweight breathable rain jacket or poncho (avoid plastic!)
17. Small collapsible umbrella
18. Field boots (light weight, low top, breathable are best)
19. Sandals (Tevas or Keanes) and Tennis Shoes for beach, evenings, and lounging
20. Bathing suit and lightweight beach towel
21. Flashlight (small), extra batteries (essential at night for getting back to your room!)
22. Swiss-Army knife with useful gadgets (for first-aid, clothing repair, and to slice mangoes and other tasty tropical fruits in the field!) Don’t pack in carry-on luggage!!
23. Field First-Aid Kit
24. Watch and/or travel alarm
25. Plastic zip-lock bags to keep stuff dry (like cameras, etc)
26. Laundry bag to isolate sweaty, stinky, moldy, burr-infested field clothing
27. The usual personnel hygiene items that you take on a trip to a foreign country.
28. Insect repellent with Deet (There are a few pesky critters down there)
29. Tylenol / Ibuprofen (or equivalent), antibiotic cream, Band-Aids, allergy medicines, antacid, anti-diarrhea stuff, anti-fungal cream, etc.
30. Any necessary personal medications
31. I-Pod or Walkman and CD’s.
32. Portable musical instruments (anyone play guitar?)
33. Address book and stuff for writing postcards
34. Night-time reading (if you get bored with the course reading...)
35. Frisbee and/or hacky-sack
36. Passport pouch and/or money belt.
Well, that's the list. I'm sure I forgot something, but let's hope it's nothing critical!
Note: Do not expect to have access to telephone or Internet service outside of San José. Cell phone service in Costa Rica is not compatible with most U.S. phones. Some companies offer special international service at a hefty cost, but coverage is never guaranteed. Public phones are few and far between. There is no guest phone or Internet service at our field hotel. We may have occasional opportunity to use an Internet Café in the nearby town of Cobano (20 min drive).
Costa Rica Travel & Nature Guides
Travel Guides:
There are many general travel guides available for Costa Rica. The better ones are listed below. Blake & Becher (New Key) is most complete with informative chapters on culture, history, etc. Sheck (Natural Destination) is less complete, but good info on parks and preserves. Rachowiecki (Lonely Planet) is compact and well designed for student/budget travelers.
Blake, B. and Becher, A., The New Key to Costa Rica: Berkeley, California, Ulysses Press.
Sheck, R.S., Costa Rica: A Natural Destination: Santa Fe, New Mexico, John Muir Publications.
Rachowiecki, R., Lonely Planet Guide: Costa Rica: Berkeley, California, Lonely Planet Publications Inc.
National Park Guide:
This is an excellent guide to Costa Rica's world-renowned National Parks and Wilderness Preserves. It provides generalized trail maps and a nice discussion of CR flora & fauna, conservation history, and nature-travel tips.
Franke, J., 1993, Costa Rica's National Parks and Preserves: A Visitor's Guide: Seattle, Washington, The Mountaineers.
Costa Rica Bird Guide:
Costa Rica is home to one of the most diverse and spectacular bird populations on Earth (over 850 species in a country the size of West Virginia). If you are an avid bird watcher, this beautiful (but price) book may be worth purchasing. Otherwise, Jeff will have a copy on hand. Co-written by Central America's legendary ornithologist and naturalist Alexander Skutch, this is considered one of the best bird guides in the world. In addition to brilliant illustrations and species descriptions, this guides provides excellent narratives on Costa Rican geography, climate, biodiversity, habitats, etc.
Stiles, F.G., and Skutch, A.F., 1989, A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica: Ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press.