Passports: You MUST have a passport! It can take about three months to get one, so start your application NOW. Try to find a direct flight and plan your stay around availability.

Flights to Costa Rica: You will need to first fly into Juan Santa Maria Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica. The direct flights book up early. Here are some airlines serving Costa Rica:

1. America West - US Airways Only direct flight to Costa Rica from Phoenix leaves Saturday and returns Sunday
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. LACSA Airlines: This airline is the airline of Costa Rica with daily departures from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Orlando and Dallas.
5. Continental Airlines: This airline has one flight each day through the Houston airport.
6. Delta Airlines
7. TACA
8. There are other airlines which have minor service out of Canada and the U.S.

There are two international airports in Costa Rica. One is located in the North in Liberia which services most of the charter flights to the Pacific beach resorts. Continental Airlines and LACSA both have scheduled international services from the United States here. The other airport which we recommend is Juan Santa Maria (commonly known as San Jose Airport), 15 minutes drive to the capital city of San José.

Lodging in San Jose: If it is your first time to Costa Rica, we strongly recommend staying overnight in San Jose when you arrive and then do the two hour drive to Playa Hermosa early the next day. A good suggestion is the Hampton Inn & Suites right by the airport. If you want fancy, then stay at the Hotel Grano de Oro but it is further from the airport and pretty expensive for a place just to sleep. What the heck - pamper yourselves!

Driving: The roads are a bit treacherous and have unreliable road signs. We do not recommend night driving. You will need a car- preferably 4WD - especially if you are going to check out other parts of the country. Many tours offer transportation as well so you don't always have to drive everywhere. It is very difficult to get around the country, so plan carefully so you don't use up your vacation driving. Costa Rica surfers recommend using Orbitz. We have found great deals with Europcar.

Food: Food is good and fairly inexpensive in Costa Rica. There are several grocery stores nearby. The Jungle Surf Haven is equipped with a full kitchen. We supply a top of the line propane BBQ on the patio. We recommend drinking only bottled water as the house water is supplied by a river.