1. Some taxis at the airport or in San Jose will tell you that your hotel is full or closed to take you somewhere else and overcharge you. Don't believe them! Take a different cab or tell them you have reservations.
2. Hotel web sites often have breathtaking photos but do not always fairly represent the actual property. Do your research!
3. Vets are extremely inexpensive in Costa Rica, but they are closed on Sundays and don't offer emergency services. UNA (the National University) is open Sundays and offers the best service for a decent price.
4. The water in Costa Rica IS safe to drink!
5. You are not allowed to leave the country with a rental car.
6. Make reservations if you want to hike up Mt Chirripo. and don't try to sneak in there are guards at checkpoints who will ask for your voucher.
7. When outside the city keep an open mind when searching for a restaurant. "Soda's" (local food places) are usually good as long as they're clean. They are usually cheaper than most restaurants and fast food places.
8. There are many poisonous snakes in Costa Rica, if you go into the jungle wear some good boots!
9. Decide what you want to do, then do it! Don't hold back. You'll regret holding things back when you leave this beautiful place.
10. Waterfalls and hikes in Montezuma can be dangerous when it rains. People have been killed by mudslides. Go when it's sunny and dry out.
11. Take the red taxi from the airport, not the orange one. The orange cabs will charge you more.
12. Keep lots of small change with you, 100 and 500 coins are good. Also, keep low amounts of colones with you as not everywhere will break a 10,000 colones bill.
13. You can stay in "Cabinas" or cabins for cheap- and they're usually cleaner and more private than hostels!
14. The best time to visit Tortuguero is July- October- you can see the endangered turtles nesting on the beach!
15. Did you know that there is a village, museum, zip lines and hotels in Tortugeuro?
16. Don't feed the monkeys! They are dangerous!
17. Toilets do not always have toilet seats here...choose your bathroom wisely!
18. If you go past Playa Cahuita on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, you will need a 4x4.
19. You can swim with Dolphins in the south pacific!
20. You can find cheap overnight tours to Tortuguero for under $150 including accommodations and meals!
21. If you go to the corner store and buy a glass bottle of coke they will pour out the coke into a baggie and give u coke in a bag with a straw.
22. When visiting any of the Volcanos, Irazu, Poas, Arenal, etc go early in the morning before the smoke and clouds set it. Otherwise you will not be able to see very much.

Stephanie A Stover is an online journalist and author of Tips for Costa Rica. For more tips visit her Costa Rica Blog http://www.tipsforcostarica.com/blog.