Visitor Information

The ubiquitous "Tourist Information" signs you see around downtown are really private travel agencies looking to sell you tours rather than provide unbiased information. The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, the official tourist office, operates an office on Avenida Central and a booth in the arrivals area of the international airport. The staff here are not allowed to make specific recommendations, so answers to questions often come across as vague and lackadaisical.

Visitor Information

Instituto Costarricense de Turismo. Avda. Ctl., Cs. 1–3, San José, San José, 10101. 2222–1090; www.visitcostarica.com.