Arrival & Departure Frequently Asked Questions

1. What will happen when I first arrive at the airport?
2. Will we be met by ILISA at the airport?
3. What if my pick-up doesn’t show up?
4. What if my luggage is lost?
5. Where can we exchange money after arriving?
6. What day should I plan on arriving in San José?
7. What time should I arrive at the school?
8. What do I need to know about leaving Costa Rica?

1. What will happen when I first arrive at the airport?
   When traveling by plane, you’ll arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela. Your first stop after disembarking will be at Immigration. The flight attendants should have provided you with two forms: one for Immigration and another for Customs.
   • For the Customs form, if you’re only bringing personal belongings into the country, simply write “personal belongings.”
   • The Immigration form will ask for your intended address in Costa Rica. Write: “familia ILISA.”

   Make sure to have both forms ready along with your passport.

   After clearing Immigration, you’ll enter a hall with two baggage carousels. Your luggage should be on one of these, but locating it might require a little patience, especially if several flights are using the same carousel. If the area is crowded, baggage handlers may remove luggage from the belt and place it on the floor nearby. If you don’t see your bags on the belt, check the surrounding area.

   Your next stop is Customs.

   • If you have two bags or fewer, you can usually proceed straight through.
   • If you have more than two bags, you’ll need to push a button. If the light turns green, you’re free to continue. If it turns red, your luggage will be inspected. (Note: Customs reserves the right to inspect any bag or individual, regardless of the light.)

   After Customs, take the stairs on the right to reach the airport exit. For heavy luggage, there’s a conveyor belt to your right for assistance. Be prepared to show your baggage claim tags at the top of the stairs; airport staff may ask for them. These tags, provided by the airline during check-in, are typically stapled to your ticket envelope.

   Finally, step out into the vibrant light of Costa Rica! The entire process should take less than half an hour.

2. Will we be met by ILISA at the airport?
   Airport pick-up is included in the homestay fee. Regardless of your arrival time, someone holding a white and blue ILISA sign with your name on it will be waiting outside the airport to take you to your host family. The drive to your host family’s home usually takes about 25 minutes.If you’re staying in a hotel, you can either take a taxi or request our pick-up service for an additional fee of $18. While we’ll do our best to accommodate missed flights or significant delays, we can only guarantee pickups scheduled in advance.
3. What if my pick-up doesn’t show up?
   Although we always double-check your arrival time before sending a driver, there’s a slight chance we may encounter a traffic jam, an unforeseen delay, or that your flight arrives a bit early. In the unlikely event that no one is waiting for you when you exit the airport—don’t worry!Here’s what to do:
   1. Stand outside the exit doors with your luggage. Our driver isn’t allowed inside the airport, so they will meet you outside.
   2. Wait for about 15 minutes while scanning the crowd for the ILISA sign with your name on it. To make it easier for the driver to spot you, avoid mingling too much with the crowd.
   3. If no one has arrived after 20 minutes, call the school at 2280-0700. If it’s outside office hours (Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–5:00 PM, contact Hellen, the program director, at +506 6278-7058. If no one answers, call your host family directly.

   Please do not take a taxi without notifying someone first. If needed, leave a message on the school’s answering machine. Rest assured, someone is already on their way to pick you up.

4. What if my luggage is lost?

   If your luggage is lost and you need to fill out baggage claim forms, we recommend briefly stepping outside to let the person waiting for you know that you’ve arrived but need to complete some paperwork.

5. Where can we exchange money after arriving?
   You’ll find money changers immediately outside the airport terminal. Ask your driver if they can direct you to one of these currency exchange services, saying “para cambiar dólares en colones.” While we’ve never heard of anyone being cheated, to be on the safe side, we recommend exchanging only what you’ll need for the first few days. You can also exchange dollars at ILISA on Monday or Thursday.(Please avoid changing money on the streets of downtown San José.)
6. What day should I plan on arriving in San José?
   

   We recommend arriving on the Saturday or Sunday before your program begins, and departing on the Saturday or Sunday after it ends. Our homestay week runs from Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday. If you’d like to arrive earlier or extend your stay after your classes end, please contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate you, if possible.

7. What time should I arrive at ILISA?
   Please plan to arrive at 7:30 a.m. on the day your classes are scheduled to begin. We will start with a placement evaluation, and your classes will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. On your first day, your host family will show you the way to ILISA, either by walking or taking the bus.
8. What do I need to know about leaving Costa Rica?

   Costa Rica charges an exit tax of $29 per person, payable at the airport (some airlines include this tax in the price of the ticket). In addition, you will need to arrange transportation to the airport. We can arrange for one of ILISA’s drivers to take you for $30, or you can take a taxi or Uber, usually for a bit less, depending on the time of day.