ARA Tours is available to assist you during our office hours from Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in English, German, Spanish, and French. On weekends and public holidays, you can reach us from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

You can contact us at our main office phone: +506-2232-0400

During the office hours you can reach us via text or audio message on Whatsapp at +506-8893-3863.

To contact us in urgent matters outside office hours and on international holidays you can contact us by phone or via Whatsapp at the emergency number: +506-8946-8222.

¡Hello!

Here we will teach you, everything you should know from getting off the plane until you receive our welcome service at the airport of San José.

• After landing, you pass through Migration for your passport control.

• Your next stop is the baggage carousel indicating the flight and airline number you travelled on.
• Once your baggage is identified, please continue through the customs area and take the exit to the right.
• Just where you exit the airport building, we will be waiting for you with an ARA Tours sign and this yellow t-shirt, so it will be easy for you to identify us.
  * Only valid if you have booked an arrival transfer. This service can only be booked at Juan Santamaría Airport.
• During this first meeting, we will provide you with all necessary information for your trip and take you to the transfer bus which will take you to your city hotel.

Important tips at the airport:

How do I identify the ARA Tours guide?

• The guide is uniformed with a yellow shirt and a label with the ARA Tours logo
  * Only valid if you have booked an arrival transfer. This service can only be booked at Juan Santamaría Airport.

What can I do if my luggage does not arrive?

• On the right side of the carousel area where you pick up your baggage is the baggage claim office. There you can make your claim by filling out the report form, the staff will be helping you by coordinating the location with the airline and delivery of the luggage. It is good that in addition to your data, you also provide our phone number (+506-2232-0400) and e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Although we should clarify that we also depend on the information provided by the airline; we cannot expedite the arrival of the luggage, but we can mediate in the process of sending it to the place where you will be within the country.
  Please contact us at +506-2232-0400 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be informed of your situation.

Can I change money at the airport?

• In Costa Rica, dollars are accepted in many places, although we recommend you change your money in your hotel or in a local bank.

Can I use the luggage service?

• If you are going to use this service, we recommend you to hire the service within the airport, not in the departure area.

Thank you very much for using our services. We wish you a nice trip!

Here you will find some tips about your safety during your trip through Costa Rica.

Costa Ricans are very open, helpful and happy people and will certainly inspire you with their "Pura Vida" lifestyle. This relaxed way of dealing with people and the seemingly peaceful nature usually rightly convey a sense of security and lightheartedness. And although Costa Rica is relatively a safe country to travel, you should use common sense and follow the international safety tips, but without spoiling the joy of travel. Here we go:

• Tip #1: Opportunity makes thieves. Do not carry expensive jewelry or a lot of cash around with you. Credit cards are accepted everywhere. Do not leave your valuables unattended. This is especially true at the beach, when checking in or out in hotels, in restaurants and in busy places.

• Tip #2: If you're discovering Costa Rica with a hired car:
  • Park only in guarded parking lots (so-called "Parqueos Públicos"), hotels and restaurants and take the valuables always with you.
  • Do not transport hitchhikers.
  • Take care of your valuables in the event of a puncture, especially if assistance is offered.
  • In Costa Rica it gets dark all year round at 6pm, so plan to arrive at the destination in daylight.
  • In a tropical heavy rain, you better seek a safe place and wait until the view is better again.
  • Follow the traffic rules and be patient on the narrow and winding roads with slow moving trucks.
• Tip #3: As for the local safety at the hotels. Refrain from participating in activities or excursions that someone offers you on the street. Check beforehand if the provider has an official license from the Ministry of Tourism (ICT) or a Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST). These companies are committed to ensuring your safety. Or, of course, you can always contact us.
• Tip #4: Please visit beaches at night only in groups

• Tip #5: The many beautiful beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific coast sometimes make you forget that there are potential dangers here as well. Rip currents are relatively common and can be detected by good observation. But do not rely on your eye and ask the local people or surfers if it is safe to swim. If you still get into a current, it is very important stay calm and do not swim against the current. Let yourself drift and when the current subsides, swim left or right away from the current and then with the waves back to the beach.
• Tip #6: A bath in one of the many rivers is a unique experience. However, ask locals first whether it is safe to swim. When thunderstorms are forming in the mountains or the surrounding area or if the water turns brown, move away from the river immediately because a flash flood could happen.
• Tip #7: Avoid jumping into the sea or rivers. You can not know if the water is deep enough or if there is a reef or tree trunk under the surface of the water.

So, now enough about the risks. Costa Rica is a fairly safe destination. Look forward to it! See you soon and Pura Vida.

• Tips for mitigating environmental impact while traveling Costa Rica
  Hello! I am Sofía Soto, Sustainability and Occupational Health Coordinator at ARA Tours.

  Today I would like to share some tips to ensure that your trip to Costa Rica has the least possible environmental impact.

  We know that there are now many tourists who are looking for more sustainable trips, with less environmental impact and that support local economies. That's why we're going to give you a series of tips and advice so that you can achieve this.

  

  1. When you travel with us, you can be sure that we comply with environmental protection programmes and high standards, so that your trip has the least possible impact. 
  2. It is inevitable when we travel, we pollute. This is why it is important that we take into account the carbon footprint generated by our trips and ensure that airlines and car rental companies can offset this. And we will also offset it on our part.
  3. During your trip, try to avoid using plastic bottles. Throughout the country drinking water is available at practically all tourist destinations. You can always find a hotel or restaurant where you can refill your bottle. In addition, in national parks the use of single-use plastics, such as bottles, is prohibited.
  4. Separate all your waste. If you cannot find the appropiate bins, keep your waste with you and when you arrive at your next destination, you can find a hotel where you can dispose of it.
  5. Help save electricity. When leaving rooms, ensure that all electrical devices are switched off or unplugged. This includes fans, air conditioning, and all lights.
  6. For heat: It is best to open windows or use fans. Avoid using air conditioning as much as possible and, if you need to use it, keep it at a temperature between 23°C and 25°C (73° - 75°F).
  7. When you go to eat, serve yourself in moderation. This way we avoid wasting food. Also, when ordering drinks, consider wheter you really need a stirrer or plastic straw and, in the best case scenario, use a reusable one.
  8. Save water. Turn off the tap when washing your hands or brushing your teeth.

  Some hotels change bed linens and towels every day. You can ask them to change them every other day or at the end of your stay.

• Tips for visiting sites
  Hello! I am Sofía Soto, Sustainability and Occupational Health Coordinator at ARA Tours. Now I would like to give you some tips for visiting national parks, beaches, trails, and communities in our country.

  

  1. Stay on the trails. Follow the instructions and signs you will find on them.
  2. Enjoy the scenery and the animals. Do not use flash when taking pictures, as this may scare the animals. Also, avoid feeding them or trying to touch them, as this may alter their behaviour.
  3. Do not touch plants and walk carefully on the trail. Leave everything as you found it. Do not remove rocks, sand, or shells, as these will be confiscated at the airport.
  4. Keep your voice down. Keep it at a low volume so that you have better chance of observing animals. Also, avoid smoking in public areas. It is prohibited in Costa Rica.
  5. If you have time, visit local communities, go to restaurants, get to know our cuisine, visit artisans and contribute to the economy of these communities.
  6. Learn about and respect the culture of the communities you visit. Maintain an attitude of respect and appreciation for everything you are going to discover.
• Our tourism sustainability certification
  Hello! My name is Sofía Soto, Sustainability and Occupational Health Coordinator at ARA Tours. Now we want to tell you what ARA Tours does as a travel agency to help the environment

  Since 2010, we have held the Tourism Sustainability Certification awarded by the ICT (Costa Rican Institute of Tourism).

  This certification recognises tourism companies that make efforts to mitigate their impact on the environment as well as economically and socially.

  

  1. The aspects that are evaluated are the physical space, the impact that is being generated by the travel agency, as well as the social and economic aspects, to find out what benefits we are providing to the communities in which we operate.
  2. We also look at the customer side to ensure that our quality standards are being met and that customers are also being motivated to work towards this sustainability.
  3. Service management: this point focuses on the design of tourism products being in line with market trends and country characteristics.
• Our commitment to the environment
  Hello! My name is Sofía Soto. I am the Sustainability and Occupational Health Coordinator at ARA Tours. Now I am going to tell you what ARA Tours does to manage its environmental and social impact.

  

  1. Our building has large lattices and windows to manage the proper use of natural light, thereby minimising the use of articifial light, as well as our electrical resources.
  2. We have replaced our equipment to ensure that computers, printers and all other electronic devices we need are as efficient as possible and thus save electricity.
  3. On the subject of saving water: Our sanitary facilities are equipped with low-consumption tanks and low-consumption taps.
  4. We run awareness campaigns on the low consumption of water, electricity and resources such as paper with our employees, through training, competitions, and other types of programmes.
  5. In addition, we have a programme for solid waste management so that employees can bring their waste, dispose of it correctly, and we can manage it through the municipality and other companies.
  6. For organic waste, we have a compost bin, which generates compost that can be used for our gardens, and the surplus is sold to employees.
  7. The cleaning products we use are biodegradable, ensuring a lower impact on water consumption. In addition, paper and other supplies are sourced from renewable materials.
  8. We develop various activities with communities, such as river clean-ups, reforestation, and training on proper waste management.
  9. When designing our itineraries, we try to include visits to small communities and entrepreneurial projects. In this way, we are strenghening the economy of these towns and promoting the acquisition of services such as tour guides, transportation, and souvenirs.
  10. We incorporate visits to monuments and historic sites. This generates a sense of belonging and importance to these sites..
  
  11. We also promote the conservation of natural resources through visits to the different protected areas we have in the country, such as national parks and refuges.
  12. The hotels and companies we give priority to have some type of certification, wheter it be the "Blue Flag Programme", the CST, or other projects that ensure environmental and social responsibility.

  We hope that your stay in our country will be an unforgettable experience and that when you return to your home country, you will share with your family and friends the ways to travel pleasantly and respectfully with the environment.

  You can visit our website where we include more responsible recommendations for your stay in our country.

  Thank you and Pura Vida!

Download Checklist

Hello!

My name is Sandra, and today I will give you some tips about what you should pack for your trip to Costa Rica!

• First, the suitcase shouldn't be too large and should have a packing weight of 40 pounds.

• For the international flight we recommend having certain articles in your carry on, in case your main luggage doesn't arrive with your flight and the airline takes some time to deliver it later.
  • Personal medication
  • Basic toiletry
  • One set of clothing
  • Sun block
• If you have a domestic flight on your itinerary, 40 pounds are permitted. The carry on may have 10 pounds
• On destinations like Drake Bay, or Corcovado, the boats have limited luggage capacity.In that case, take an additional light and foldable bag with you, where you can carry up to 30 pounds.
• You are allowed 10 pounds in your carry on. It is more convenient to travel with lighter luggage into these places and its not even necessary to bring everything with you.
• Three items are essential for the protection against rain, sun and mosquitos:
  • A raincoat and/or an umbrella
  • Repellent containing DEET has shown to be very effective.
    Don't fear a mosquito plague, but there is a mosquito who may transmit dengue, zika and chikungunya. Most hotel's windows are equipped with screen and it's not necessary for you to bring a mosquito net.
  • Sunscreen with Sun protection factor 30 or higher and a hat will help against the high UV radiation.
• In regions higher than 3000 feet above sea level, evenings and nights can be fresh and a light Fleece jacket is recommendable.

• A light trekking shoe is excellent for walks in national parks and around volcanoes. In addition bring tennis shoes or sandals, maybe a dressing shoe for the evenings.
• Clothing should be light and breathable for your outdoor activities. Other than that bring the clothing you like, just make sure its not too bulky. Don't forget your swimsuit!
• You may want to consider using laundry service in the hotels during your journey, thus avoiding too much luggage.
• Electricity outlets are US-standard, flat poles. 110 Volts everywhere. You may need to bring an adapter for your electric and electronic devices.
• Optional articles could be also: Flashlight, binoculars and camera.

We wish you a wonderful journey.