Prepare for the Worst... Then Avoid It
This page contains no warnings. We did not invite you to a dangerous place, and there are few special preparations you need to make before going. That said, we want to offer some detailed information so that you can make an informed decision for yourself. On the destination wedding forums and boards we've read, people are worried about all sorts of things, so we're going to touch on those things individually.
The routine vaccinations that United States residents get are pretty comprehensive and good. It is enough for the area we're travelling to.
- Hepatitis (A/B) - no more necessary there than where you are now.
- Typhoid - Unlikely. Costa Rica is a hygenic, sanitary country.
- Rabies - Wild Animals Aren't Pets. Treat it if you get bitten.
- Malaria - The area we're in is not malaria-prone.
- Dengue - Yellow book says CR is safe, but use mosquito repellant.
- Dutch Elm - Not prevalent in CR. Only affects elm trees.
- Sun Poisoning - Or massive sunburn. This is the most serious threat to you. Use a lot of sunblock. If you are not smart about this... if you think you are tougher than the sun... you will lose. And you will get no sympathy from Terry. Please be smart about this.
The Centers for Disease Control have a page for Costa Rica: Health Information for Travelers to Costa Rica which actually mentions Dengue in a vague sense, but links back to the yellow book map shown above. Suffice to say it's unlikely you'll contract anything while you're there, but it's not 100% impossible. So wear insect repellant. Aside from the possibility of disease, mosquito bites are just no fun. Kia uses and highly recommends 3M Ultrathon. She says, "It is low in DEET, long lasting, and travels very well." Good stuff.
Medical Facilities
In the event that you do something stupid and get yourself hurt, there are a number of places to get treated. Hone Creek, the next town north of Puerto Viejo, has emergency medical services and a dental clinic just 50 meters from the bus stop. There are several hospitals in San Jose, should (God forbid) something more serious happen.
First Aid
For minor injuries, there will be first-aid supplies at Casa Viva. The supplies pictured above are ours, and will be coming down with us. Let's do a quick run-through, shall we? C'mon, bulleted lists are fun! I'll start with the big stuff.
- SPF30 Sunblock - Waterproof! An ENTIRE TUBE!
- Aloe Vera - Also a good idea!
- Tattoo Bandages - Cute, ok, but these are SUPER EFFECTIVE, even wet
- Vinegar - for Jellyfish stings
- 3M Ultrathon - Insect repellant linked above
- Gold Bond - for heat rash, or if you get into something itchy
- Gauze/Tape/Bandages - For, you know, cuts and scrapes
- Neosporin - seals and heals
- morestuff - and so on and so forth, more little things
- Epi-Pen - The cylinder. For severe allergic reactions (If you have severe allergies, BRING YOUR OWN! Ours isn't new, so bring a fresh one with you!
- Loratadine - Claritin, whatever you want to call it. Antihistamine
- Ace Bandage - Versatile necessity for any first aid kit
- Trash bags and duct tape - You don't want to know. Just make damned sure you don't need it. But if you do, we'll be ready.
- Immodium - Bring an anti-diarrheal. Nobody likes sharing that sort of thing. Just in case, but let me reiterate: CR food is safe and delicious!
- We are NOT bringing helmets. If you need a drinking helmet, this is your own responsibility! Don't make us send out liability waivers!
Your Medicine
Make sure you have enough medicine on hand, for whatever is ailing you. Terry, for instance, will be bringing his nasal spray and perhaps some Claritin. If your medicines are liquid, you may wish to leave them in your checked luggage (same for contact lens solution, and any other necessary liquids) so you don't have to worry about the 3-1-1 restrictions, or whatever the FCC may be enforcing at the time. For your convenience, here are the Current FAA regulations.
Other Tips
Colin (The owner of Banana Azul) has posted a long list of travel tips on his site. A lot of his tips are outisde the scope of this page, so I'm sticking to health and medical. Some highlights (if you don't want to read it all): 1. The water is safe to drink. 3. The sun WILL COOK YOU. 8. The food is Safe and GOOD! 9. No such thing as DUI. Be careful walking on the road. 10. Dengue details... Wear insect repellant!