Editing Costa Rica

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=Visiting {{PAGENAME}}=
With easy borders, amazing beaches and wildlife and plenty of ex-pats, Costa Rica is a favorite for all travelers.

=Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike=
'''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">June 2013</span>'''

==Required Paperwork==
* Passport of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
* [[Drivers license]] of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
* [[Vehicle registration]] (original and 1 copy).
* Vehicle insurance (original and 1 copy). ([[#Vehicle_Insurance|see below]])

==Process at border==
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* As you drive over the border you will pass through fumigation (free) and be given a receipt.
* The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (''migración''), including a stamp in their Passport. A copy of this new stamp is required.
* Insurance for the vehicle must be purchased. ([[#Vehicle_Insurance|see below]])
* The owner must show the new Passport stamp (including a copy), [[Drivers license]], the original [[Vehicle registration]], vehicle insurance and the fumigation reciept to customs (''aduana'').
* The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle.

'''NOTE:''' You may encounter locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. See  [[Pan_American_Highway#Helpers|Border Crossing Helpers]] for advice.

==Cost of entry==
Free.

==Permitted length of stay==
90 days.

Not possible to extend the stay of the vehicle, and also be aware that you wont be allowed back in the country with the vehicle for 90 days after, so going out for a day is out of the question. Maybe is possible to store the vehicle on a bonded storage (almacen fiscal) to put the permit on hold, once out of storage the permit resumes with as many days as you had left. See Storage for further details

==Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country==
You can leave your vehicle in a bonded storage in Costa Rica to freeze the temporary importation papers, you can do it for as long as you want. Prices range from <price cost="3" currency="USD" /> to <price cost="8" currency="USD" /> per day depending on facilities and if it is indoor parking or outdoor. By mindfull that during rainy season you might want to leave it indoors, during the dry season a tarp is recomended to keep some of the sun out. Once you drive the vehicle into a bonded storage facility they freeze the permit for you, once you want to pick it up you have to go to customs first (there is an office by the airport but it is not inside the airport), get the permit reactivated (you will need proof of identity and to have a valid insurance) once the permit is active again you can go and pick up the vehicle.

There is an excellent writeup, along with Spanish translations for some important terminology on this site: http://headsouth.travellerspoint.com/19/ Followup article about steps to pick up are here: http://headsouth.travellerspoint.com/24/

==Exiting with a vehicle==
* The registered owner is stamped out of Costa Rica at immigration.
* The registered owner presents the temporary import paper to customs, where it is cancelled.
* VERY IMPORTANT, If you are planing to get back into Costa Rica make a photocopy of the termporary importation paper and get it stamped by the official, if you dont do that they will hassle you when reentering

=Driving in {{PAGENAME}}=
==Insurance requirements==
Insurance is mandatory in Costa Rica and you will be forced to buy it at the border before you are allowed to enter. There are always agents at the border to buy from.

===Cost of insurance===
<price cost="35" currency="USD" /> for 3 months for a 4x4.

===Where to purchase insurance===
Right at the border. The customs guys will tell you exactly where to go.

==Driving license==
Technically an [[International Driving Permit]] is required.  <br />
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.

==Driving side of road==
Right. <br />
Right hand drive vehicles are permitted without problem.

==Mandatory items in vehicle==
None.

==Roads==
===General Road quality===
Roads in Costa Rica are generally of good quality, except in some of the smaller towns where the pavement is cracked and broken. Lesser roads are gravel and vary greatly from very good, to extremely rutted and dusty to mud pits. Any gravel road on either coast will be horrendous in the rainy season.

===Road signs===
Road signs are mostly common and clear.

===Toll Roads===
Hwy 27 is a toll road, goes from Orotina to Limon. <br />
Free option is Hwy 1 but it takes twice as much time and probably will spend the booth money on gas.

==Bribery in {{PAGENAME}}==
Police bribery is not common in Costa Rica, but it certainly does happen.<br />
See the [[bribery tips]] page for advice.

==Checkpoints==
Police checkpoints are not common in Costa Rica, though you may encounter them. You'll be asked to show your Passport, [[Vehicle registration]], [[drivers license]], vehicle insurance and the temporary import permit you were issued at the border. For the most part, Police will not bother foreigners too much.

==Traveling with pets==
As with all borders in Central America, be ready for bribery if you have a pet. <br />
According to travelers in 2012, you need: <ref>[http://www.earthcircuit.org/blog/2012/08/19/central-american-borders-and-dogs/ Central American Borders and dogs]</ref>
* A Health Certificate for the animal in Spanish (updated at least every four months)
* A vaccination record (the European Pet Passport works well)
You might not be asked for either one, but you should have them ready.

=Gas and Diesel price in {{PAGENAME}}=
'''Last updated: <span style="color:red">June 2012</span>'''<br />

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{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Gasoline Grade
! Price
|-
| Regular
| ??
|-
| Super (90)
| ??
|-
| Premium (95)
| <price cost="5.66" currency="USD" unit="galUS" />
|-
| Ultra (97)
| ??
|-
| Normal Diesel
| <price cost="0.99096" currency="USD" unit="liter" /><ref>[http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/4wd-overland-travel/fuel-price-anybody-49494#post292247 fuel price - anybody ? - The HUBB]</ref>
|-
| Diesel (low sulfur)
| ??
|-
|}

==Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency==
Gasoline shortages in Costa Rica are not a problem.<br />
Typically gas stations are not more than 100 - 200km apart.

==Gas and Diesel Quality==
Accepted to be good quality.<br />
Sulfur content of diesel is unknown.

=Safety and Security Considerations=
==Driving at night==
Driving at night is not considered a huge problem in Costa Rica, though it's not recommended due to safety concerns and road hazards that can not be seen in the dark.

==Vehicle parking==
Parking vehicles on the street in smaller towns during the day is typically OK. Find a secure parking lot in big cities and at night. Secure parking will be around <price cost="2" currency="USD" /> per night.

==Special driving considerations==
None.

==Security advisories and information==
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=Camping in {{PAGENAME}}=
Camping is popular in Costa Rica, both with backpackers and locals. Virtually all beachside towns have multiple sites to choose from for around <price cost="3" currency="USD" /> to <price cost="5" currency="USD" /> per person, per night.<br />
Being far away from major roads is preferable for wild camping.

==Camping guide books==
No specific book exists, though the usual backpacker guide books mention a campground in virtually every town and city.

==Drinking water==
Tap water in Costa Rica is not safe to drink. Every corner store sells 1 and 2 liter bottles, and 20 liter bottles can be bought at most large grocery stores.

=Navigation=
==Paper maps==
Purchase maps before arriving in Costa Rica.
Reise Know-How Maps are highly recommended, they are updated yearly. Order directly from the German website to ensure you have the latest version. <ref>[http://www.reise-know-how.de/rkh_englisch.php Reise Know-How Maps]</ref>

==GPS Maps of {{PAGENAME}}==
* Open Street Map: Appears to have good coverage.<ref>[http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=10.09&lon=-84.07&zoom=8&layers=M OpenStreetMap Costa Rica]</ref>
* Garmin: Apparently no map of Costa Rica.
* TomTom: No map of Costa Rica. <ref>[http://uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9885/ TomTom Map availability]</ref>
* Cenrut: Free Open Source GPS map of Central America. Coverage is occasionally better than OSM. <ref>[http://www.cenrut.org/adw/over.htm Cenrut Mapping Project]</ref>

==GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in {{PAGENAME}}==
*[http://www.dare2go.com/campingCA.html#CostaRica Camping Sites: CostaRica] - Detailed list of campsites and propane filling with description, directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
*[http://www.questconnect.org/ca_camping.htm Central America Camping Locations] - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.
* [http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Site/Camping_Log_1__Central_America.html Camping Log 1: Central America] - List of campsites, shopping, fuel, propane and border crossings with excellent descriptions and GPS co-ordinates.
* [http://www.whiteacorn.com/theamericas/camping/camping.php#log White Acorn camping log page] - GPS co-ordinates and excellent description of campsites]
* [http://liferemotely.com/trip-shenanigans/costa-rica/213-costa-rica-campgrounds-and-hotels Costa Rica Campgrounds and Hotels - Life Remotely] - List of campgrounds and  hostels with photos, GPS co-ordinates, descriptions and amenities from 2012]

=Special Overland Travel interests=
None.

==Travel Guide Books==
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=Vehicle Maintenance=
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==Local Garages==
''Add known good mechanics here.''

=Buy or sell a car or motorbike in {{PAGENAME}}=
'''Buy'''<br/>
Unknown.<br/>
''Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.''
''List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.''

'''Sell'''<br/>
Unknown.<br/>
''Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

=References=
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=Helpful External links=
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