Post-Trip Addendum of Notes

• We spent more time outside the sanctuary than we had expected too; we should have learned some basic Spanish before leaving.
• The malaria prevention pills were likely unnecessary -- we were the only volunteers who were taking them. Regardless, as they were covered by insurance, and we experienced no side-effects, we have no regret taking them.
• Exchange rate of colón to USD was exactly 500 colón for $1 US. We could use either currency in any mixture everywhere, public or private, for services or goods, and change was always given. 
• In most places, you don't flush toilet paper -- there is a garbage can beside the toilet.
• Construction standards were lower than we are used to. This photo was not taken at the sanctuary.

• Everyone is resigned to having bugs and lizards indoors.
• Beers in supermarkets were about $1.40. Beers in bars were about $2.00. In either case, they were always ice cold, and the drink fridges always had the temperature digitally displayed.
• Although it was not explicitly permitted, you could drink alcohol in public without issue. Having said that, almost no-one was. We only seen a few people on the beaches were drinking beers, and a guy manning the bus ticket counter was working on a 6-pack of Old Milwaukee. 
• Cahuita was 30 minutes away, and the bus cost $0.94. Puerto Veijo was 60 minutes away, and the bus cost just under $2.00. 
• There is a government checkpoint of sorts between the sanctuary and the towns; they are apparently looking for liquor smugglers from Panama, and/or North Americans who have overstayed their 90 day welcome. Only once were we asked to show our passports, and when they did, we just showed them photocopies.
• A bar we frequented, Cocos, had urinals in a doorless room within sight of the dance floor.
• Tipping in bars and restaurants was almost always a mandatory 10% -- no more, no less. If you paid with credit card, you often got hit with an additional 13% (government) tax.
• Costa Rica has a mandatory on-site airport departure fee of about $30 per person. If you use a credit card, it is treated as a cash advance.