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MONEY- In Costa Rica, the local currency is colones. The US dollar is accepted everywhere, but credit cards are not. Most local restaurants and shops only accept cash or colones, but with more tourism, this is slowly changing. The closet bank in the area is located at the cross in Playa Carme. It is open from 1 pm-7 pm Monday through Saturday. The bank is closed on Sunday. There is a 24 hour ATM outside the bank.

SEASONS- In this part of Costa Rica, we have two seasons-dry and rainy. We locals refer to our dry season as summer and rainy season as winter. Dry season begins mid November and ends the first week or two of May. Our rainy season begins mid May and continues through mid November. Santa Teresa and Malpais are unique in that both seasons here are beautiful thus making our area a great vacation spot all year round. In dry season the skies are clear and sunny, the air is dry and warm, and we have very little rain. In rainy season we get our rains in the morning and the evenings, but the days are usually sunny with few clouds. In July and August we have our Veranillo, which means small summer in Spanish. During this time the rains taper off a bit giving us a taste of summer in the middle or our rainy season. The most rain falls in September and October.

VISA- When traveling in Costa Rica 90 days or less, a visa is not needed to enter or exit the country, just a current passport. From the first day of entry into Costa Rica, travelers are automatically granted 90 days to be in the country. After 90 days, travelers must exit the country for 72 hours before re-entering. After 72 hours, another 90 days can be granted.

FOOD- In Santa Teresa and Malpais, new restaurants are popping up along the roadside and beachfront each season. Because this area of Costa Rica is such a beautiful destination and is favored by travelers from all over the world, we have great local food as well as delicious international flavors.

  
 

The local food here is rice and beans with your choice of chicken, fish, shrimp, steak, pork, or vegetables. We call this a casado. There are also a variety of ethnic restaurants such as Thai, Middle Eastern, many pizzerias, Mexican, and a few fine dining restaurants. Two excellent choices for fine dining are Nectar Restaurant located in the beautiful 4 star Florblanca Resort and Soma Restaurant located in Milarepa. There are also a few grocery stores in town, and don't miss the open-air organic market every Saturday where local vendors sell fruits, vegetables, breads, and cheese. It is located in Playa Carmen.

NIGHTLIFE-Santa Teresa and Malpais offer a few bars in town that are always quick to welcome travelers and locals with a cold cerveza or a Cuba libre (rum and coke). D & N is an open-air beach bar located in Playa Carmen with a laid-back vibe, cool music, and dance. But, the best nightlife here, for both locals and travelers, are the spontaneous parties that seem to always be going on as we express our joy and excitement of living in this paradise. It is easy to find full moon beach parties, art and clothing events, fire spinning, (see picture on left), drum sessions on the beach, or live music at the local restaurants. Santa Teresa and Malpais are full of life.

ELECTRICITY- 110 volts.

LANGUAGE- Spanish is our official language, but English is quite common too. Most receptionists at hotels and most owners of the houses for rent speak English and Spanish. However, don't expect all taxi drivers, people at grocery stores, or people at the bank to speak English. Don’t be afraid to try to speak the language: An “Hola” or “Gracias” will go a long way.

HEALTH- Most travelers to Costa Rica get no vaccinations or take any special medications, but of course that is up to you. Even though we are in the tropics, there are very few bugs and mosquitoes in Santa Teresa/Malpais allowing enjoyment of the outdoors at its fullest. In case of a situation where medication is needed, there is a pharmacy located at the cross in Playa Carmen as well as in Cobano-10K from Santa Teresa. In Spanish, farmacia means pharmacy. Here, you can find basic over-the-counter medications as well as prescription drugs such as antibiotics. There is also a medical clinic located in Cobano.

DEPARTURE TAX- In some instances, when leaving Costa Rica, a departure tax of $26.00 is required. US dollars, colones, and most major credit cards are accepted.