We are headed to the Arenal region then Montezuma the end of June. With this being the rainy season, should we take Malaria pills ?

Here's the CDC link for CR:

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationCostaRica.aspx

It's really just your own personal decision; we don't take them.

Agree, it's a personal decision. I'd say the majority of people I've talked to don't take them, I don't myself. Just use bugspray, as nothing you can take med-wise prevents dengue.

malaria is a nasty disease which hangs around the rest of your life. If in doubt, I'd take the malaria pills. If you manage without any bites, stop taking them when you leave CR. If you get bitten, take the full course of tablets.

Alternatively: Don't go out in the evening or night if you can help it. Spray your room in the evening. I have even given my clothes a light spray before now (but not too often or hard as sprays contain poisons.) There are various repellants that are said to keep them away.

As tully said, you could still catch dengue fever if bitten so prevention is good.

I asked one of our guides when we were there what they take for malaria prevention, and he said they never take anything, but that they worry more about dengue because it's more prevalent and there's no preventative for it like tully said. We did wear repellent every day. When we were there, mosquitoes didn't seem to be much of a problem, but it depends upon the area and time of year when you're visiting.

Guides in Africa don't even take malaria pills. They are for short term use only, not long term.

But that being said, the chances of getting Malaria in CR are very, very slim. And it's the more easily treated and rarely deadly kind, not the one found in Africa and Brazil.

I posted a lot more information about it a while back. Try searching my name and malaria.

www.mdtravelhealth.com

Costa Rica

Details all health info you need
for your visit.Recent outbreak around Limon none in your areas.
The two areas where Malaria does occur is near Los Chiles in the Central North on the border of Nicaragua and also an area in the Central Caribbean just inland from Limon.Malaria very rare in tourists.

In your area I would just do usual
insect precautions would also work for Dengue.Malaria is easily treatable in most cases with oral antibiotics if you do suddenly get an unexplained fever see your local MD.

So no worries...have fun,