Costa Rica is accessible by air, land and sea. There are regular flights from the United States and other countries through numerous airlines, landing in the capital city of San Jose, or in the northern city if Liberia.

Cruise ships also transport the luxury-minded tourists, and Costa Rican ports, Caldera and Puerto Limón, are frequent stops for cruises visiting the Caribbean or México. The trips taken by cruise ship tourists while in dock aren’t as thorough as visitors staying longer, but are popular nonetheless and are improving.

The more adventurous visitors often arrive to Costa Rica by bus or car. The trip driving takes about three weeks from North America (U.S. and Canada). With a politically stable region, land travel is increasingly popular. The Pan-American Highway stretches all the way from Mexico to Panama, with the condition of it varying depending on the region and time of year.

With whichever means of arrival that you choose, there are a few items travelers are advised to bring with them: passport, visas, driver's license and another form of identification. Money, of course, is a necessity, and U.S. dollars are widely accepted at even the smallest of shops and restaurants.

Other essential articles include casual clothes. T-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes and lightweight pants are acceptable almost anywhere in Costa Rica. Beach clothing, swim clothing, as well as cool-weather gear (jackets and sweaters) are advisable with the extremes in elevation and humidity you will encounter. Of course, one or two semi-formal ensembles is recommended for nightclubs and social events.

Suntan lotion, insect repellant and your photo equipment are other things you’d be well advised to bring along, as acquiring them in Costa Rica will prove to be a good deal more expensive than in your home country.