Topic Wiki

List of TR's:
Fan Of Dan, BrooklynCPA, momo Part 1, momo Part 2, lechaim2life, eliteflyer, Pbaruch, Rcarentals (Guanacaste)

Bringing food/meat through the airports:
  • San Jose Airport SJO - customs are known to be ruthless here with meat. There are many stories in the forums and online of people having all their meats or kosher travel meals seized at customs.
  • Liberia LIR - Recent experiences were that LIR customs didn't check anyone at all.
The general advice which is the only method that seems to consistently work, is bringing in specifically USDA certified products. For example most hotdogs will have an actual USDA certification printed on the hotdog packet. Some companies like Teva, Agri in various supermarkets and most manufacturers have the USDA certification and approval number printed on the label. This is rarely the case for supermarkets who repackage and butcher things themselves and do not have a USDA-certified processing room.
There have been reports of stickers like the USDA organic stickers regularly used to label meats in supermarkets working as well if they look like THIS
In the most ideal world, your food has a clear description of: The product, the nutrition, and a USDA label on the manufacturer packaging.

In a worst case, food can be airshipped to anywhere for a fee - for example from one of the SJO kosher suppliers to Liberia for example the JW Marriott for around $400.

Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
  • SKCR/Super Kosher has takeout under the local Chabad rabbi.
  • The Israeli restaurant in Jaco may not be acceptable for many.  It is my understanding that while they get some meat/chicken from Chabad, they have no hashgacha.
  • Supermarket Automercado has pas yisroel bagels in the freezer per the Chabad rabbi in tamarindo - may or may not be tamarindo specific.
  • Walmart is 6 minutes from Liberia airport, and has tons of American, kosher products and snacks.

Synagogue:

Things to Do:

West side/Liberia

Hotels:
The JW Marriott Guanacaste has amazing suites. If you book there, it's worth speaking to the reservations department before or after to see if you can negotiate an upgrade for a small fee. They offered off the base room, an upgrade of $175 a night for a suite, or $200 for a suite with ocean view, and plunge pool.

Getting Around:
A 4 Wheel drive here is mandatory. Not just because the humidity and rain create muddy and slippery roads, but mainly because the potholes here, are really huge and bad, and your car needs clearance to drive... The roads in costa rica are absolutely terribly maintained. they are completely manageable with a SUV - but expect a ton of bumps and thousands of potholes - almost the entire country is made up of 2 lane roads including highways. All overtaking is done in the direction of opposing traffic. cars here are seriously used and abused - so when you pick up your car.. it's worth going for one with as low mileage as possible.


Notes:

ALL CAR COMPANIES CHARGE MANDATORY LIABILITY INSURANCE. This seems to be one of the biggest complaints from tourists who don't know and consider this a tourist trap - like Israel.
CDW here often REQUIRES the letter - more than Israel.. so have that prepared.


Author Topic: Costa Rica Master Thread  (Read 177441 times)

Offline myb821

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #540 on: July 11, 2021, 08:39:27 PM »
We just came back from CR. You need travel insurance that covers Covid to get in, everything is open and most stores and activities require masks.
when can we expect a TR?

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #541 on: July 11, 2021, 10:57:49 PM »
We just came back from CR. You need travel insurance that covers Covid to get in, everything is open and most stores and activities require masks.
How was?
When we visited, we didn’t have to wear mask anywhere.

Offline Divora M

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #542 on: July 11, 2021, 11:12:31 PM »
How was?
When we visited, we didn’t have to wear mask anywhere.

Awesome! Tysm for all ur help! In all the stores they required masks and during the zip lining as well. All water related activities we didn’t need them.

Offline Divora M

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Offline Sboy773

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #544 on: October 19, 2021, 10:58:01 AM »
Has anyone here done a day trip from the Andaz Papagayo to Arenal (4 hours each way)?  Do you recommend it or is it to far?

Offline Cw3323

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #545 on: October 24, 2021, 12:45:16 AM »
Has anyone here done a day trip from the Andaz Papagayo to Arenal (4 hours each way)?  Do you recommend it or is it to far?
Don’t drive at night roads are dangerous. Sleep over for The night.  It’s way less then 4 hours though.

Offline myb821

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #546 on: October 24, 2021, 10:01:19 PM »
Anyone who flew into LIR have any comments on what kosher food they found in the local stores?

Offline Divora M

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #547 on: October 24, 2021, 10:07:18 PM »
Anyone who flew into LIR have any comments on what kosher food they found in the local stores?

We found tuna, chips, cereal, milk, ice cream and much more that I can’t remember. If you have specific items you want to know about I can try to help.

Offline LFR

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #548 on: November 07, 2021, 12:35:14 PM »
If anyone is considering the Andaz Papagayo for the shabbos of January 22 2022 please pm me. We have 5 for a potential minyan.

Offline robbiesam

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #549 on: November 07, 2021, 08:52:57 PM »
We will be there the week after with 3

Offline LFR

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Offline Yaalili

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #551 on: November 09, 2021, 07:56:30 PM »

Offline LFR

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #552 on: November 29, 2021, 12:40:05 PM »
It seems that since initially posting this Costa Rica has quietly changed their requirements. If anyone knows that I'm wrong please let me know but in an updated pdf of the link above now it says that 18 and under will NOT require proof of vaccination. If anyone has insight into this please let me know.

Thanks!

Offline emineh17

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #553 on: December 09, 2021, 12:05:57 PM »
Has anyone gone recently and know what the situation is regarding vaccination?

Has anyone stayed at the Nayara Springs Resort?

Is it worth renting a car or just taking taxis or local methods of transportation?

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #554 on: December 09, 2021, 07:02:54 PM »
Has anyone gone recently and know what the situation is regarding vaccination?

Was there last week and there are no vaccine requirements yet. I believe those start in January.

Offline LFR

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #555 on: December 22, 2021, 08:01:47 AM »
Seems that the restrictions now begin in February NOT January.

Offline lansky

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #556 on: December 22, 2021, 05:46:51 PM »
Has anyone gone recently and know what the situation is regarding vaccination?

Has anyone stayed at the Nayara Springs Resort?

Is it worth renting a car or just taking taxis or local methods of transportation?
nayara is legit up there, rent to many places to go need wheels

Offline Suave

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #557 on: December 23, 2021, 07:02:39 AM »
Can anyone recommend a private kosher chef or catering service?
Anyone have any experience with Tulemar resort?
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Offline robbiesam

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #558 on: December 29, 2021, 12:46:28 PM »
Is anybody going to be at Andaz or in Guanacaste for Yeshiva week and might be interested in splitting delivery on a food order?
we will be in Arenal 23-25 and then Andaz 25-30
Please PM

Offline Cbs

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #559 on: January 06, 2022, 12:51:20 AM »
Last minute trip planning here - for next week
so far:

Sunday - fly into LIR
rent car with budget (seemed to be best rate)

Sunday night debating Andaz or Four Seasons - any pro's and cons or recommendations one over the other?

Monday drive to Nayara Tented Camp (looks amazing and has only 5 star reviews) for 3 nights
Thurs morning Drive to SJO and fly out in afternoon

Was thinking to bring some food but also order from SJO catering - they said they can deliver for $300 to Papagayo area (maybe less for Nayara)

anything else a must do/see ?