Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a passport?
A: Yes, as of January 1st, 2003 Costa Rica requires a passport for entry into the country.
Q: Do I need shots?
A: For the most up to date medical information for travelers check with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. U.S.A. www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm
Malaria medication and other tropical disease preventatives are usually only recommended if you plan to travel to the remote regions of the rainforest.
Q: How can I get money while in Costa Rica?
A: Bring traveler's checks, cash. These can be exchanged at one of our four banks in town. Also, ATM cards with the PLUS system, and beginning in December 2005 cards on the CIRRUS system can be used as well (look at the back of your card). Visa is accepted in most places. MasterCard and American Express are only accepted in a few places. We also have a Western Union office for wire transfers.
Q: How can my family reach me while I am at the school?
A: The student phone number here at the school is 011-506-643-1064 from U.S. and
Canada (00 506 643 1064 everywhere else). There are also several Internet cafes in town where the students
can send and receive e-mail. Students with a laptop
computer (with wireless network capability) can access the Internet via
Wi-Fi in a designated area of the new building.
Q: Are surfboards provided for the surf sessions?
A: Yes, boards are provided while students are surfing with the instructor.
If students wish to surf on the weekends there are many surf shops near
the school that have boards for sale and for rent.
Q: How far is the school from the beach?
A: We are approximately 5 minutes (walking) to the beach.
Q: What day should we arrive and what day should we plan to leave?
A: Check-in is anytime after 12 noon on Sunday one day prior to the beginning
date and check-out is before noon on Saturday the day after the last day
of class for the one week, two week, and four week sessions.
Q: How long do we surf?
A: We generally have a 2-3 hour window around the high tide which is when
the surf is the best here in Jaco. For more experienced surfers there are
breaks that are good at low and mid tides. Also, it depends on individual
endurance. Two hours of surfing is a good workout. Advanced surfers can
go to the other spots in the area that break better on different tides.
Q: Do we get to surf as much if we take Spanish?
A: We generally try to schedule classes around the high tide for students
taking combination sessions. There might be a day when you have to surf
a little earlier than normal or a little later, but in general it is not
a problem.
Q: Can I get college credit?
A: Yes, college credit is currently available for Spanish. Please email
for more details.
Q: Can I drink the water?
A: The water is generally good in the Jaco area, but it is better to stick
to bottled water as there can sometimes be bacteria and impurities that
your stomach might not be used to.
Q: How many students are there in a class?
A: Spanish classes generally contain 6 or less students per instructor.
Q: What are the ages of most of the students?
A: The majority of our students are between the ages of 18 - 45.
Q: How much do plane tickets cost from the city I live in to Costa
Rica?
A: Prices of plane tickets from the city you live in varies depending on
the time of year you wish to come. A good place to look for prices on the
Internet is travelocity.com, expedia.com, or
kayak.com. You will want to fly
into Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose (use airport code SJO) which is
the closest airport to Playa Jaco.
Q: What is the minimum age that students can be to attend?
A: 18.
Q: Will I have time during the session to travel on my own?
A: Yes, the weekends are free for independent travel. We also provide help
for students that want to travel and schedule a long weekend during the
four-week program.
Q: Is food included in the price?
A: No, but the school has two large kitchens equipped with an oven/stove,
microwave, toaster, blender, refrigerator, etc. so the students can cook
if they choose. Also, Jaco has a wide variety of restaurants, from cheap
local restaurants (called "sodas") to fine dining.
Q: Can I get packages sent to me, and if so what is the
school's address?
A: It is not advised to have packages sent to you while you are here because the mail system is very slow and unreliable. Also, many packages get stuck in customs and require a trip to the customs office (2 hours away) to be picked up. If you do find it necessary to have a package sent, UPS and DHL now have offices in Jaco. The following is the post office box if you need to receive a letter and the second is the physical address to find the school:
A: It is not advised to have packages sent to you while you are here because the mail system is very slow and unreliable. Also, many packages get stuck in customs and require a trip to the customs office (2 hours away) to be picked up. If you do find it necessary to have a package sent, UPS and DHL now have offices in Jaco. The following is the post office box if you need to receive a letter and the second is the physical address to find the school:
1. School of the World/ Escuela del Mundo, APTD 239-4023, Playa Jaco, Costa Rica, Central America
2. 350 meters east of Pops, 50 meters north
Q: What type of outlets (electricity) does Costa Rica have and do I need an adaptor?
A: The outlets (electricity) are the same as in the United States (110v). If you are coming from a European country, or Australia, you may need an adaptor.
Q: Do I need to bring sheets?
A: No, sheets are provided by the school, although you do need to bring a towel for the beach and to shower.
Q: Is there Internet access at the school?
A: Students with a laptop computer (with wireless network capability) can access the Internet via Wi-Fi in a designated area of the new building.
School of the World/ Escuela del Mundo, 350 meters East of Pops, 50 meters North.
Do not send non-refundable deposits to the addresses in Costa Rica as they are likely to get lost in the mail.
CR office phone: +506-2643-2462
US phone: +1-404-935-4251
CR student phone: +506-2643-1064
email*:
info@schooloftheworld.org
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