International Volunteer Travel - Frequently Asked Questions

The language of business in Costa Rica is Spanish. Basic or working knowledge of Spanish is highly recommended but not mandatory. Overseas volunteers and interns with no basic knowledge of Spanish language are strongly encouraged to take the International Volunteer Travel 2-week Survival Spanish Program prepared especially for them or sing up for the Costa Rica Study Abroad program.

Q2. Can my Costa Rica Spanish Study Abroad classes be counted for college credits at my current school?

Ans. The International Volunteer Travel Study Abroad partner school has offered Spanish for credits in the past and we will be willing to help you in this area, so do enquire with us. We suggest you ask your school what they need to make the study abroad program credits transferable and we will work with you to do that.

Q3. When is the best time to participate in your programs?

Ans. Costa Rica is a good place to visit any time of the year.

Q4. When do the programs begin?

Ans. Beginning dates are Second (2nd) and Fourth (4th) Monday of each month. Please plan on arriving the day before.

Q5. Where can I read more about Costa Rica?

Ans. You can click here to go to the Costa Rica Country Profile Page, where you can read more about Costa Rica.

Q6. What is the Weather like in Costa Rica?

Ans. Costa Rica is a tropical country, situated fairly close to the equator. Although in the mountains above 2000 meters you get much cooler temperatures, the average annual temperature for most of the country lies between 21.7°C (71°F) and 27°C (81°F). The nation’s climate is classically divided into two major seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season runs from January through May and the rainy season from May to December. It is interesting to note that some of the coldest temperatures are registered during the early dry season or "summer". The coolest months are from November through January, and the warmest from March through May.
San José at 1150m (3772ft) has a climate, which the locals refer to as the "eternal Spring". It has simply delightful weather all year around. Average temperature ranges in San Jose are from 14 to 24 degrees Celsius (57 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in December to 17 to 27 degrees Celsius (63 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit) in May. National Geographic rates it some of the best in the world!

Section 2: Traveling and Visa Issues

Q7. What kind of visa do I need? Do I need a work permit?

Ans. Citizens of America and Canada and most countries in Europe do not need a Costa Rica Visa. To find out if you require a visa to enter Costa Rica, go to http://www.namasthenri.com/costarica/visa.php. People from elsewhere will need a TOURIST visa since they are often categorized as tourists because they you do not get paid for any services. For the same reason you may not need a work visa or a work permit.

Q8. How much do I need to pay for a Costa Rican visa and how do get one?

Ans. If you need a visa, the Costa Rica tourist Visa will normally cost you USD 20 for a 90 days stay. To find out if you need a visa to enter Costa Rica and where to apply for one, please go to http://www.namasthenri.com/costarica/visa.php

Q.9. What Airport should I fly to?

Ans. You will fly to San Jose, Juan SantaMaria International Airport. The conventional airport name is SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA and the Airport Code is SJO.

Section 3: Fees and Money

Q10. How much money should I bring for my personal expenses in Costa Rica?

The amount of money you bring depend on you. International volunteers and overseas interns should bring enough money for in-country transportation, and any other personal expenses.

All volunteer, internship and study abroad placements are a walking distance from your host home. If you decide to take a bus, the cost to you will not exceed $0.40 per round trip. Generally most overseas volunteers, interns and study abroad Spanish language students can live on USD 25 per week. A weekend getaway will cost you between USD 200 and 500.

Q11. What does my payment cover?

Ans. Please go to the Costa Rica Fees page and our terms of service page to find out what the fee does and/or does not cover.

Section 6: Living In Costa Rica

Q12. If I take the Costa Rica Survival Spanish program, will I need an extra two weeks to participate in other programs?

Ans. No, you can take the survival Spanish program and volunteer at the same time. The program takes two weeks. But if you want to be very effective in the volunteer placement you should consider doing two weeks of classes before you start to volunteer.

Q13. How much time must I spend in your programs in Costa Rica?

Ans. You can spend a minimum of 1 week in Costa Rica but if you don’t have basic Spanish you should consider staying for at least 3 weeks to get enough time to learn the basics of Spanish and volunteer effectively. If you are only taking the Study abroad program, 3 weeks is a good minimum, 6-8 weeks is best if you want to get a good grasp of the language.

Q14. What are the living conditions like in Costa Rica?

Ans. If you are looking for a unique experience, this is the program for you. You will live with a Costa Rican family to experience first hand, life in Costa Rica. The families are typical, middle class Costa Ricans. Houses in major cities like San Jose will have facilities similar to those available in developed countries including electricity, running water, flush toilets, etc. Housing in rural areas in most cases is comfortable although it may be below the standards of developed countries.

Q15. What is the food like in Costa Rica?

Ans. Costa Rican foods include gallo pinto – more like rice and beans; traditional Costa Rican rice and beans; vigoron – a meal of pork rinds, cassava and cabbage, served on almond tree leaf or plastic plate. Vegetarian foods can be arranged.

For questions of general nature, please go to the International Volunteer Travel general questions page. If you cant find answers to your questions or would like clarification, please Contact Us.