Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Toilets
Public restrooms are rare, but most restaurants and cafes will let you use their facilities,
sometimes for a small charge - never more than 500 colones.
Bus terminals and other major public buildings usually have toilets, also at a charge.
Don't flush your toilet paper. Costa Rican plumbing is often poor and has very low pres-
sure.
Dispose of toilet paper in the rubbish bin inside the bathroom.
Tourist Information
The government-run tourism board, the
ICT
( in USA 800-343-6332;
www.visitcostarica.com
)
, has two offices in the capital.
The ICT can provide you with free maps, a master bus schedule and information on road
conditions in the hinterlands. English is spoken.
Consult the ICT's English-language website for information.
From the USA call the ICT's toll-free number for brochures and information.
Travelers with Disabilities
Independent travel in Costa Rica is difficult for anyone with mobility constraints. Although
Costa Rica has an equal-opportunity law, the law applies only to new or newly remodeled
businesses and is loosely enforced. Therefore, very few hotels and restaurants have fea-
tures specifically suited to wheelchair use. Many don't have ramps, and room or bathroom
doors are rarely wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
Outside the buildings, streets and sidewalks are potholed and poorly paved, making
wheelchair use frustrating at best. Public buses don't have provisions to carry wheelchairs,
and most national parks and outdoor tourist attractions don't have trails suited to wheel-
chair use. Notable exceptions include
Parque Nacional Volcán Poás
,
INBioparque
and the
