General Traveling Information

No visa is necessary for travelers from the U.S. You do need a passport.

There are no required immunizations for entering Costa Rica. However, it is always wise to keep up your basic shots such as tetanus and diphtheria.

Risk of contracting malaria is minimal, but for itineraries that include the Caribbean lowlands many guide books recommend to take malaria pills to visit Costa Rica, My wife, kids and I have never taken any malaria medications and neither have any of my tour guide friends who travel throughout the country all the time. I have only once met a person with malaria, and he got it in Nicaragua.

Decisions about immunizations and anti-malarial medications should be made on a personal basis after consultation with your personal physician.

If you take prescription medication, be sure to have enough for the entire trip or have your doctor give you a spare prescription with a note suggesting an alternative medication if your first choice isn’t available.

Arenal Volcano.

The conical Arenal is the youngest stratovolcano in Costa Rica and one of its most active. The 1657-meter volcano experiences continuous explosive eruption activity accompanied by slow lava effusion. The occasional emission of pyroclastic flows (avalanche of hot gases, rocks and ashes) occurs from vents at the summit and on the upper western flank. Its eruptions are of the strombolian type (named after the volcano Stromboli in Italy: A type of volcanic activity which produces frequent, moderate eruptions). We will hope to see one of the eruptions of this impressive volcano, which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world open for tourism. However, a cloud cover sometimes obscures it, so it’s a matter of luck if we see it or not.

The Baldi Hot Springs

These natural springs and geysers are the result of the volcanic activity of Mount Arenal, which the springs are located directly below and are fed by.  The Baldi Springs have formed nine different pools, all at slightly different temperatures, that visitors can relax and bathe in while enjoying the beautiful views of the mountain and surrounding jungle.  The property also has several waterfalls.  Surrounding the pools are well-built, attractive platforms, and some of them are partially covered by roofs to ward off rain. 

The facility also has a bar, serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a restaurant, and offers spa treatments such as massages and facials.  There is also a hotel on the premises.