Costa Rica FAQ

Do I Need a Passport? Yes. You must have a valid passport that will not expire for at least six months after arrival in Costa Rica. Apply for a passport (or renew) online with the US Department of State.

Do I Need a Visa? No. A visa is not required for stays of less than 180 days (only a return ticket is required).

Do I Need Vaccinations? No. There are no vaccinations required by either Costa Rica or EWE Tours (including for COVID).

Do I need to speak Spanish? No. All of our trip leaders are bilingual. And on each Costa Rican sports team, there are always groups of coaches and players who speak English. Keep in mind that your trip is a great opportunity to learn and practice Spanish!

What Documents Do I Need?

1. Passport. Apply or renew here.

2. Participant Agreement. Our contract that includes the terms of the trip and the rules of conduct during the program.

3. Medical Form. To inform us of any medical conditions, allergies, medications etc. we should be aware of in order to ensure your child’s health and safety on the trip.

4. Parental Consent Letter. A notarized letter from parents giving consent for their child to travel abroad without them.

Air Travel. Our Director Scott Burke and a US Coordinator will travel with your group on the flight from either Newark NJ (EWR) or Philadelphia (PHL) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica. After your group signs up for the trip, we will book the flights based on your desired trip dates.

Ground Travel. In Costa Rica our group will travel daily by private buses operated by our local partners. The professional drivers have many years experience with foreign tours.

Staying In Touch. Parents can call our trip leaders including Director Scott Burke 24 hours for any urgent concerns. Parents will have all of our cell phone #’s before departure. We are also available by email and text for non-urgent matters. We will also post daily on social media for parents to follow the trip’s activities.

Accommodations. Students stay at 3+ star hotels, with 2-3 students of the same gender per room. Students occasionally stay one or two nights with a host family. All bedding and pillows are provided by hotel / host family.

Meals. Meals and snacks will be mostly local, traditional food, with occasional fast food visits. A typical breakfast is “Gallo Pinto” which is rice and beans, plus cereal, bread, eggs, plantains, pancakes, and fruit. Lunches and dinners will have combinations of rice, beans, vegetables, green salads, chicken, beef, pasta, stir-fries, potatoes, and tacos. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets are easily accommodated.

Athletic Trainers. All of our sports tours have a professional trainer present at all matches and training sessions.

Water
Tap water is safe to drink in Costa Rica. We will also provide bottled water daily.

Dress Code
We ask that you please be respectful and follow Costa Rican customs on dress: neat, clean, and modest.

Cell Phones
Cell phone coverage in cities is good in Costa Rica, but not as fast or reliable in rural/beach areas. Make sure you have a data roaming plan with your carrier before the trip. Your phone will automatically connect to one of Costa Rica’s cell phone networks upon arrival.

WIFI. All of our accommodations have free WIFI including hotels and host families.

Injuries / Illnesses. Our staff will escort you 24 hours to the nearest medical facility for treatment. We will also immediately call your family back home to inform them of the situation. There are hospitals and clinics in all of our program areas.

Insurance. We provide a travel/medical insurance policy as part of your program fee. The policy will be through either World Trips or Berkshire Hathaway and covers medical bills, trips delays and lost baggage.

Spending Money. Students typically spend about $100 outside the program — on souvenirs, snacks, and drinks. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted, and you can withdraw Colones at ATM’s.

Weather. Costa Rica is a tropical country with two distinct seasons: a dry season from December to April, and a wet season from May to November (with most rain in the afternoons). Temperatures vary with elevation and are consistent year-round. In San José temperatures range from 60°F – 78’s°F, with the Pacific coast ranging from 75°F – 95°F.

Laundry. For sports trips, laundry for your uniforms is included in your program fee and will be done by our local staff. For other laundry the cost is $5-$8 per load.

Packing List. Please click here for our suggested packing list.