The wife and I are going to Costa Rica in about three weeks. Lonely Planet says crime has gone up, but we’re going to be spending the whole time on the coast (Nicoya Peninsula), and the crime has supposedly gone up in San Jose only.
As for the terrorist thing, I feel pretty confident that Costa Rica isn’t exactly on their radar, but I’m a little concerned about the locals. Since neither of us has been before, my question is, how concerned for my safety should I be? Should I be taking extra precautions?
My wife and I went there for our honeymoon two years ago if you call that recent. I did not think that it was very dangerous at all. We used to live in New Orleans and it was much more dangerous there IMO. Most people are people but neat, clean, and seem to be honest. Most people love Americans and try will try to speak English if you can’t speak Spanish. They take American dollars almost everywhere too because a great deal of their economy is based on American tourism. I rank it about as dangerous as one of the safer islands in the Caribbean. I really wouldn’t be too concerned but, as always, have some common sense.
If you have time to spare, go and visit the Arenal volcano and the beautiful hotel there. That was our favorite part of the trip. It is an active volcano and there are monkeys and other wildlife running around the woods surrounding the hotel. The hotel is surrounded by these cascading hot spring that form streams, waterfalls, and rivers that you can swim in. There are several day tours that will take you there and back for a relatively modest price. Hope that helps.
Probably. Costa Rica had a homicide rate of 5.7 per 100,000 in 1998 and an overall crime rate of 1,063; San Francisco (I checked your profile) had a homicide rate of 7.5 in 2000, and an overall crime rate of 2,274. (I found these figures on the web; I’m not sure they are measuring the same crimes, but they’re probably not too far off.) Even if Costa Rica’s crime rate has gone up, it’s still not as bad as most U.S. cities. And most crime is non-violent - mostly petty theft.
This site seems to have some pretty good advice. I visited Costa Rica four or five years ago. I drove to Liberia in Guanacaste Province (near where you’re going) by rental car from San Jose, and went to Santa Rosa and Palo Verde National Parks. It was great - it’s a beautiful area. Where exactly are you going?
Lovely stats, Colibri. Since I live in the Haight, I have no doubt that I can get mugged walking to get a burrito easier than I could anywhere in CR. But the wife wanted me to find out.
We’re staying strictly on the Nicoya Peninsula. Mal Pais for a few days, followed by Tango Mar for a few days. We’ll have a car, so we will probably venture out to Arenal, perhaps check out the beaches in Playa Samará. My goal is to spend T-Day doing absolutely nothing, as far away from my relatives as possible. Sounds like it will be mission accomplished.
I was in Costa Rica about 6 years ago, so… not at all recently. I can’t speak for issues surrounding the present global situation, though I can’t imagine that it will effect your trip much, if at all.
“Ticos” are very friendly and welcoming, and for lack of a better description: peaceful. The constitution drafted after the civil war in 1948 abolished the national army, which in itself speaks volumes for what a unique place it is. I’d go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance.
As far as worrying about crime, the only thing that you should actively take precaution against is theft. I was 17 and traveling alone and never had a single thing happen. Many of my acquaintances did, however, while wandering in certain areas of San Jose or when leaving things unattended, particularly at the beach.
I would advise not leaving anything of value in your car or carrying cameras or purses in plain sight unless you’re positive they can’t be snatched. Common sense really: don’t advertise that you’re a tourist and you shouldn’t have problems.
I don’t want to make you paranoid about this, though! I spent a month in San Jose and a month in Quepos (a coastal city south of where you’ll be) and never had a single negative experience. I have to echo the recommendation of seeing Arenal, it was breathtaking. I took a horse back riding tour of the area and it was one of the highlights of my trip.
The only regret I have is that I never saw the Caribbean coast. The beaches there are supposed to be quite different from the Pacific side, and the food and culture infused with a Caribbean flavor unique to that side of the state.
Anyway, I’ve rambled long enough. Think you could fit me in your suitcase?
My wife and I went to CR about a year and a half ago. We rented a car in San Jose and drove down to Jaco Beach. The people are very clean, happy and friendly. The driving is something you have to get used to and there were some bridges we crossed that scared the hell out of us both, but we were never afraid of anything related to crime. I’d go back with no worries. Have fun!
Now having said that, my experience is going to be almost no help to you. We were there for a missions trip, and most of our time was spent on the grounds of a seminary just outside of San Jose. It was surrounded by a security wall, but the gates were open (though guarded) all day and much of the night.
We walked out into the city a couple of times – and while I found myself more alert, it was purely because of “culture shock” and not at all because of any feeling of danger or threat. We did go to the mall one day and out to a couple of different restaurants, and we never felt threatened at all. In fact, I felt safer in the Mall San Pedro in Costa Rica than I did in a downtown Indianapolis mall just a month earlier.
On our trip to the beach at Manuel-Antonia, I felt extremely safe. It was a touristy area, and the beaches are INCREDIBLE. I generally don’t like ocean swimming – but there, I stayed in the water for something near four hours. It’s absolutely amazing.
I have to put in a good word for (as already mentioned) Manuel-Antonia. It’s just an awesome place – there are monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and other wildlife within a few yards of the breathtaking beaches.
Enjoy your trip. I envy you going there! Oh – and kniz is right about the driving. It’s insane! We rode a bus through the mountains – WHEW! – it was wilder than any roller coaster I’ve been on. And scarier – because there were no assurances that you wouldn’t go over the edge!
I go there every month and a half or so for work, and was there at the beginning of October for a week. The influx of Nicaraguan refugees has increased theft and small crime in San Jose, but you’ll be well taken care of where you are going. Take LOTS of film for the camera, Costa Rica is THE best place in the world for Eco-tourism. I must say, I am jealous. When I go there I work my butt off, I wanna go there and PLAY!
I beg to differ! Panama has more forest, more wildlife, more birds, more coral reefs, deep-sea fishing, lower prices, better value for money, better roads, a much greater variety of cultures, AND FEWER TOURISTS.
Long term Panama resident - and sometime Costa Rica visitor - here. OK, Panama doesn’t have the tourist infrastructure that Costa Rica has - it’s about where Costa Rica was twenty-five years ago - but it also doesn’t have the crowds. If you find yourself tripping over the heels of other gringos in CR, consider Panama for your next trip.
Just as a background, I was in Costa Rica for about six months, mostly just outside of where kniz was, Jaco beach. I returned in April. Words of caution, get out of the airport as soon as you can and go right to a Hertz or Enterprise, or whatever your rental car company is. The Nicoya Penninsula is beautiful, Arenal is beautiful, most of the country is beautiful, but like anywhere, where there is heavy tourism, there are thieves. I was unfortunate enough to have had about $1000 worth of camera equipment stolen. Well, from that I learned that everything moves at an extremely slow pace, like having the OIJ come to investigate. Just go with the flow and throw out that structured American vacation. Just stay cautious with your personals, but interact with locals at EVERY chance. It will impact your trip exponentially. Good luck and Pura Vida!
Since I live in the Haight, I have no doubt that I can get mugged walking to get a burrito easier than I could anywhere in CR. But the wife wanted me to find out.
I can’t speak for issues surrounding the present global situation, though I can’t imagine that it will effect your trip much, if at all.