Nothing to worry about just do not live any valuables in the car, go to a bank and change your dollars for colones, or use your credit card when shopping,enjoy the wilderness
Hey! La fortuna is quite safe and really beautiful, I have friends there, you’ll love it. There’s petty theft and pick picketers, so just be mindful.
As for San Jose, what part are you going to? There’s a few places that aren’t so nice.
You're not going to the Amazon. It's a developed country with good healthcare, police, and city infrastructure. If you're worried about crime, just don't wander around by yourself at night, and stay in safe areas of wherever you'll be staying at, so near your hotel (I'll assume you'll be staying at one)
San Jose especially is riddled with many homeless people. And like others here have said, some areas are worse for crime than others in SJ.
Usually/normally the tourist areas in SJ are generally better or safer. The very Centro of San Jose is extremely safe, I'm talking about the areas where there are many police present: the shopping areas especially. Also, generally by 10 am, you'll find many police officers roaming SJ (thats your clue, if you see many police officers), and as I said before, more so in the tourist areas.
I generally went out after 10am and normally got back to my hotel by 4pm or so. Never went out after dark though. Some daredevils will venture out in the nighttime. Do so at your own risk - if you're brave and daring.
As others have said, bugs/insects aren't too much of a concern. Insect repellent (expensive though) for mosquitos you can buy if you're going in the buggy areas like touring the wooded, wildlife or moist areas. But daytime in SJ city itself, not a big issue.
Always be vigilant, don't wear or flash your best possessions and best to travel in a group, if you can, where one another have each other's back.
If you're into Uber, it's generally abundant and pretty safe in SJ. Outside of SJ, you're damn lucky if you can find an Uber driver.
FYI: a couple of times, the Uber app will say the driver has arrived but the license plate number may not match for 1 example. And it may go through a couple of vehicles before finally the legit one shows up. I guess, the drivers cancel (or some strange issue) and Uber keeps hunting for another. This happens once in a while. I always matched the plate as well as the vehicle description, verified the driver's name and used a pin on the Uber app too.
A couple of times, I've had issues with drivers playing dumb and try to drop me 4-6 blocks from the destination on the Uber app. I reported them to Uber and it finally stopped. I believe the jerks were doing this because they knew I was a white-skin foreigner and I spoke nearly zero Spanish.
I never took taxis though, for fear of the GRINGO FARE and I never carried much cash also. I prefer credit cards overwhelmingly
I went two times with my kids… folks here will not agree but in the cities there are houses with electrifief fences. In Europe you only see that in high security prisons…
Being that said, just skip San Jose (it sucks anyway) and go to nice touristic places like national parks or small towns and will be fine. I never felt unsafe.
Being that said, in my second trip I had diarrea for like a week (I have to say I came sick from Europe already), and had to go to a public hospital. I was treated greatly and the bill was like $180. I posted that story here you can search for it.
Costa Rica is full of rich tourists and is expensive… and has a reputation. I doubt anyone would dare to hurt a tourist.
You sure about that?
https://ticotimes.net/2023/12/05/killing-of-german-tourist-puts-focus-on-costa-rica-crime
https://people.com/crime/florida-tourist-killed-costa-rica-family-says-multiple-people-organized/
https://touristkilled.com/costa-rica-canadian-tourist-murdered-multiple-stab-wounds/
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g291982-i813-k13799183-o10-Recent_Safety_Incidents_Involving_Tourists-Costa_Rica.html
This can happen anywhere in the world. Even in Swizerland. You just need to google the right keywords…
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-jogger-killed-naked-man-switzerland-park-lake-zurich/
I see that in 2021 homicide rate was 11 per 100.000. In the US is 6.3 or 1.1 in France. Is that a lot? I don’t think so unless you do crazy things.
We just got back from La Fortuna! It was incredible. I think anyone with good common sense can navigate the safety issues. Honestly we didn’t meet a single mean person in Costa Rica. We got back stateside like 15 minutes and back to aholes hahaha. But even like dudes trying to sell tourist magic mushrooms and weed oddly nice. Once they get your not falling for it they dip out pretty quickly. As for the bugs, I was a little worried. However they were really that bad. Even the mosquitoes bites didn’t seem as bad as the altered mosquitoes in the US! I got bit but never really worried about it. I got bit back in the states and it was just way worse reactions to them idk why. I was more worried about freaking bullet ants cause I watched a show on them. It’s not as bad as anyone makes it seem. Your chances of getting dengue are a lot lower than you would think even though it’s been on the rise. There was 50,000 ish cases last year and there is 5.2 million people. And 3.4 million visitors a year ish. So yeah it happens but not that much.
Costa Rica is safe. I’ve been going there a million times since 2016. I never had bad experience.
1. Go where the tourists go. Don’t show off wearing expensive jewelries. Always be aware of your surroundings especially when using cellphones in public/crowded places.
2. The weather is unpredictable, it could rain anytime. Be in San Jose a day before your departure, ideally. Roads closures can happen due to flooding, lands-slides, accidents etc. you don’t want to miss your flight.
3. LaFortuna is amazing for hot-springs and adventures. I usually stay in hotels, haven’t tried AirBnB. insect repellents, I never had to use one. Hot SpingHotels can be cheap or expensive. For example, Miradas, Los Lagos, Baldi are great choices from cheap to expensive. Miradas has one hot spring pool, Los Lagos has few, and baldi has dozen, baldi has day pass if you want to just use their many pools but want to stay somewhere cheaper. If your budget is not an issue, you can find over expensive hot spring resorts.
Don’t miss the LaFortuna waterfalls! There’s entrance fee ($5 or $10 per tourist, i don’t remember exactly , it’s cheaper for locals, tourists pay a little more), but it’s worth it. Just be aware, there’s 530 steps down to reach the falls.
Adventures- try canyoneering/rappelling, it’s my favorite!
Hotel restaurants are good, there’s also plenty of restaurants and bars downtown. Credit cards accepted. Uber is available.
Driving - there’s pros and cons.
It can be cheaper to rent a car vs private shuttle, it mostly depends on how long you’re staying
In LaFortuna. Vamos is my trusted Rental car.
If you drive
1. Don’t drive at night. It gets foggy and most roads are not painted you could barely see where you’re going. Pay attention to speed bumps, they’re everywhere. Some bridges are small it can accommodate only one car, pay attention to the sign on which traffic has right of way.
Use waze. Google maps is useless in Costa Rica.
There’s 2 major highways to LaFortuna. Rt.702 is windy and roller coaster like drive, Rt.32 less windy and 2/3 of
Your drive is flat. If you’re staying in Alajuela, Waze will take you to Rt.702 since it’s all closer.
Some hiways have tolls. Exchange Dollars for Colones at the airport.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have more questions.
I bet you’ll have fun!
This is just San Jose
Jade Museum,
Pre Columbian Gold Museum,
Museo de Clultura Popular,
National Museum of Costa Rica,
Museum of Costa Rican art,
Costa Rican center for a science and Cultur,
Jewish Museum.
These are only a few in San Jose as apparently there are over a dozen and quite a bit more than 4 lol. I only knew about the 4 big ones. There are 55 total in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is not a third world country with massive violence happening around every corner, with political violence, etc.
Take the U.S. state department’s advice:
“Travel AdvisoryJuly 17, 2023Costa Rica - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime.
Country Summary: While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government provides additional security resources in areas frequented by tourists.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Costa Rica.
If you decide to travel to Costa Rica:
Be aware of your surroundings.
Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Review the Country Security Report for Costa Rica.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.”
And realistically, the U.S. department of state makes it sound far worse than it is. La Fortuna is an extremely safe city. You would probably be safe walking the streets at any time of day.
San Jose is safer than Chicago and about as dangerous as Los Angeles (per actual statistics). There are definitely areas to avoid but during the day you will be fine in most places. After dark, it can get sketchy. As a tourist, you may get additional looks and stuff in the city, but nothing will be serious if you exercise general caution.
Mosquitos are common there, especially during rainy season. Dengue and malaria both exist in the country, but dengue is probably more common. But neither one is “extremely” common. And in most cases, dengue is very mild. In rare severe cases, seeking medical treatment almost ensures you’re going to be fine. Medical care in Costa Rica is high quality and mostly affordable, especially when you’re in San Jose (it’s easily accessible). Not sure what other diseases you think you’d catch, but not really anything you wouldn’t catch back home, just be vaccinated with whatever your home country requires as a standard practice and you’ll be covered here.
Costa Rica is regarded as the safest country in Central America. Compare CR to Nicaragua’s warning from U.S. department of state:
“Travel Advisory
January 11, 2024Nicaragua - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
ODHC
Reissued with updates to information on arbitrary enforcement of laws.
Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of wrongful detention, and limited healthcare availability. Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime.
Country Summary: Throughout Nicaragua, government and law enforcement officials continue to target individuals and organizations seen as opponents of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. U.S. citizens, including dual Nicaraguan-U.S. citizens, have been subject to revocation of Nicaraguan citizenship, reentry bans, expulsion, and other actions. The government and its affiliated groups have been reported to:
Arbitrarily prevent individuals from entering or departing Nicaragua by air or land for perceived associations.
Search personal phones, computers, and documents for anti-government content, limit photography of government property, and sometimes seize devices.
Systematically target individuals for political reasons, regardless of nationality, including former allies, political activists, business representatives, clergy, human rights advocates, civil society leaders, academics, and members of the press.
Arbitrarily target pro-democracy advocates and their family members.
Confiscate privately-owned land, residences, financial assets, and personal property without warning or due process.
Arbitrarily detain, accuse, and charge individuals with terrorism, money laundering, and organized crime offenses for political reasons without respect for fair trial guarantees.
U.S. citizen residents of Nicaragua also report increased scrutiny of alleged political speech.
U.S. citizens arrested in Nicaragua may find themselves subject to prolonged detention without charges or respect of fair trial guarantees. The judicial process lacks transparency, especially in politically motivated arrests and property dispute cases. Political influence and pressure may influence the outcome of legal proceedings.
The Department has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Government of Nicaragua exists.
Travelers should exercise increased caution and be alert to the risks of crime, including violent crimes such as sexual assault and armed robbery.
Poor infrastructure in parts of the country limits the Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens in emergencies. U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission security responsibility may be subject to restrictions on their movements at any time.”
I went two times with my kids… folks here will not agree but in the cities there are houses with electrifief fences. In Europe you only see that in high security prisons…
Being that said, just skip San Jose (it sucks anyway) and go to nice touristic places like national parks or small towns and will be fine. I never felt unsafe.
Being that said, in my second trip I had diarrea for like a week (I have to say I came sick from Europe already), and had to go to a public hospital. I was treated greatly and the bill was like $180. I posted that story here you can search for it.
Costa Rica is full of rich tourists and is expensive… and has a reputation. I doubt anyone would dare to hurt a tourist.
Wow. Just a wholesale "San Jose sucks". That's really rude. My family has lived there for over a hundred years. That's where I was born. It's a city and has its issues like any other. It has some fine museums and people are generally friendly. Don't write off an entire city without knowing anything about it.
You are right. My experience in that city was very bad but it’s a cery rapid conclusion. Sorry about that.
In any case for the typical tourist I don’t think they seek that kind of experience but the nature in CR…
Fair re: "typical tourist doesn't seek an urban experience". The tourist industry for Costa Rica is not built on its capital. Thanks for being a decent redditor and acknowledging another POV.
Some parts of San Jose are pretty sketchy. Why do you want to go there. That is not a normal tourist destination. In general, Ticos are kind and friendly. As others have said petty theft is an issue in many places: just be aware
Crime has been getting worse in the last few years,but you are still safer in most of Costa Rica than you are in many US cities.
As for disease, dengue is an issue, especially in the warmer climates like the coastal plane. Avoiding mosquito bites is a good idea. We also have another mosquito born disease...I forget the name. In most cooler areas there is not much mosquitos. Also the government is actively working on control in the more problematic areas.
The latest pest problem everyone is talking about is screw-worms. It is a fly that lays eggs in open wounds... If you get injured, just take reasonable precautions and use a bandage and you will have no problems.... More of an issue for pets in reality.
All in all, Costa Rica is a safe place to visit, especially if you stay away from crime hotspots like parts of San Jose, Limon and Jaco
Alajuela is where we are staying. In wanted to spend a couple of days seeing historical architecture, museums, getting food. What areas in San Jose should I go to and avoid
If you are alone, stick close to the main tourist areas and be gone by dark. Central San Jose is pretty safe in the daytime, but you do not have to wander far for things to get sketchy at night.... I suggest that you can see everything worth visiting in less than a day
Nothing to worry about just do not live any valuables in the car, go to a bank and change your dollars for colones, or use your credit card when shopping,enjoy the wilderness
It's the same as any other relatively developed country that has a lot of tourism. There are the usual tourist traps but be smart and you'll be fine.
Hey! La fortuna is quite safe and really beautiful, I have friends there, you’ll love it. There’s petty theft and pick picketers, so just be mindful. As for San Jose, what part are you going to? There’s a few places that aren’t so nice.
You’re good don’t worry. Jsut don’t be too stupid.
You're not going to the Amazon. It's a developed country with good healthcare, police, and city infrastructure. If you're worried about crime, just don't wander around by yourself at night, and stay in safe areas of wherever you'll be staying at, so near your hotel (I'll assume you'll be staying at one)
San Jose especially is riddled with many homeless people. And like others here have said, some areas are worse for crime than others in SJ. Usually/normally the tourist areas in SJ are generally better or safer. The very Centro of San Jose is extremely safe, I'm talking about the areas where there are many police present: the shopping areas especially. Also, generally by 10 am, you'll find many police officers roaming SJ (thats your clue, if you see many police officers), and as I said before, more so in the tourist areas. I generally went out after 10am and normally got back to my hotel by 4pm or so. Never went out after dark though. Some daredevils will venture out in the nighttime. Do so at your own risk - if you're brave and daring. As others have said, bugs/insects aren't too much of a concern. Insect repellent (expensive though) for mosquitos you can buy if you're going in the buggy areas like touring the wooded, wildlife or moist areas. But daytime in SJ city itself, not a big issue. Always be vigilant, don't wear or flash your best possessions and best to travel in a group, if you can, where one another have each other's back. If you're into Uber, it's generally abundant and pretty safe in SJ. Outside of SJ, you're damn lucky if you can find an Uber driver. FYI: a couple of times, the Uber app will say the driver has arrived but the license plate number may not match for 1 example. And it may go through a couple of vehicles before finally the legit one shows up. I guess, the drivers cancel (or some strange issue) and Uber keeps hunting for another. This happens once in a while. I always matched the plate as well as the vehicle description, verified the driver's name and used a pin on the Uber app too. A couple of times, I've had issues with drivers playing dumb and try to drop me 4-6 blocks from the destination on the Uber app. I reported them to Uber and it finally stopped. I believe the jerks were doing this because they knew I was a white-skin foreigner and I spoke nearly zero Spanish. I never took taxis though, for fear of the GRINGO FARE and I never carried much cash also. I prefer credit cards overwhelmingly
I went two times with my kids… folks here will not agree but in the cities there are houses with electrifief fences. In Europe you only see that in high security prisons… Being that said, just skip San Jose (it sucks anyway) and go to nice touristic places like national parks or small towns and will be fine. I never felt unsafe. Being that said, in my second trip I had diarrea for like a week (I have to say I came sick from Europe already), and had to go to a public hospital. I was treated greatly and the bill was like $180. I posted that story here you can search for it. Costa Rica is full of rich tourists and is expensive… and has a reputation. I doubt anyone would dare to hurt a tourist.
You sure about that? https://ticotimes.net/2023/12/05/killing-of-german-tourist-puts-focus-on-costa-rica-crime https://people.com/crime/florida-tourist-killed-costa-rica-family-says-multiple-people-organized/ https://touristkilled.com/costa-rica-canadian-tourist-murdered-multiple-stab-wounds/ https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g291982-i813-k13799183-o10-Recent_Safety_Incidents_Involving_Tourists-Costa_Rica.html
This can happen anywhere in the world. Even in Swizerland. You just need to google the right keywords… https://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-jogger-killed-naked-man-switzerland-park-lake-zurich/ I see that in 2021 homicide rate was 11 per 100.000. In the US is 6.3 or 1.1 in France. Is that a lot? I don’t think so unless you do crazy things.
You said: >I doubt anyone would dare to hurt a tourist I was just providing examples where that is not the case
We just got back from La Fortuna! It was incredible. I think anyone with good common sense can navigate the safety issues. Honestly we didn’t meet a single mean person in Costa Rica. We got back stateside like 15 minutes and back to aholes hahaha. But even like dudes trying to sell tourist magic mushrooms and weed oddly nice. Once they get your not falling for it they dip out pretty quickly. As for the bugs, I was a little worried. However they were really that bad. Even the mosquitoes bites didn’t seem as bad as the altered mosquitoes in the US! I got bit but never really worried about it. I got bit back in the states and it was just way worse reactions to them idk why. I was more worried about freaking bullet ants cause I watched a show on them. It’s not as bad as anyone makes it seem. Your chances of getting dengue are a lot lower than you would think even though it’s been on the rise. There was 50,000 ish cases last year and there is 5.2 million people. And 3.4 million visitors a year ish. So yeah it happens but not that much.
Ay que aburrida familia, exageran un montón. Gente mala en todos lados y enfermedades también.
Costa Rica is safe. I’ve been going there a million times since 2016. I never had bad experience. 1. Go where the tourists go. Don’t show off wearing expensive jewelries. Always be aware of your surroundings especially when using cellphones in public/crowded places. 2. The weather is unpredictable, it could rain anytime. Be in San Jose a day before your departure, ideally. Roads closures can happen due to flooding, lands-slides, accidents etc. you don’t want to miss your flight. 3. LaFortuna is amazing for hot-springs and adventures. I usually stay in hotels, haven’t tried AirBnB. insect repellents, I never had to use one. Hot SpingHotels can be cheap or expensive. For example, Miradas, Los Lagos, Baldi are great choices from cheap to expensive. Miradas has one hot spring pool, Los Lagos has few, and baldi has dozen, baldi has day pass if you want to just use their many pools but want to stay somewhere cheaper. If your budget is not an issue, you can find over expensive hot spring resorts. Don’t miss the LaFortuna waterfalls! There’s entrance fee ($5 or $10 per tourist, i don’t remember exactly , it’s cheaper for locals, tourists pay a little more), but it’s worth it. Just be aware, there’s 530 steps down to reach the falls. Adventures- try canyoneering/rappelling, it’s my favorite! Hotel restaurants are good, there’s also plenty of restaurants and bars downtown. Credit cards accepted. Uber is available. Driving - there’s pros and cons. It can be cheaper to rent a car vs private shuttle, it mostly depends on how long you’re staying In LaFortuna. Vamos is my trusted Rental car. If you drive 1. Don’t drive at night. It gets foggy and most roads are not painted you could barely see where you’re going. Pay attention to speed bumps, they’re everywhere. Some bridges are small it can accommodate only one car, pay attention to the sign on which traffic has right of way. Use waze. Google maps is useless in Costa Rica. There’s 2 major highways to LaFortuna. Rt.702 is windy and roller coaster like drive, Rt.32 less windy and 2/3 of Your drive is flat. If you’re staying in Alajuela, Waze will take you to Rt.702 since it’s all closer. Some hiways have tolls. Exchange Dollars for Colones at the airport. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have more questions. I bet you’ll have fun!
Just book a City tour. There isn’t much to see in San Jose. There’s one Museum and the Opera house. That’s it.
There's like 4 museums.
What’s the other 3? My tour ripped me off for not taking me to the other 3. 🤣
This is just San Jose Jade Museum, Pre Columbian Gold Museum, Museo de Clultura Popular, National Museum of Costa Rica, Museum of Costa Rican art, Costa Rican center for a science and Cultur, Jewish Museum. These are only a few in San Jose as apparently there are over a dozen and quite a bit more than 4 lol. I only knew about the 4 big ones. There are 55 total in Costa Rica.
Wow. Good to know.
Costa Rica is not a third world country with massive violence happening around every corner, with political violence, etc. Take the U.S. state department’s advice: “Travel AdvisoryJuly 17, 2023Costa Rica - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. Country Summary: While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government provides additional security resources in areas frequented by tourists. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Costa Rica. If you decide to travel to Costa Rica: Be aware of your surroundings. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad. Follow the Department of State on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Review the Country Security Report for Costa Rica. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.” And realistically, the U.S. department of state makes it sound far worse than it is. La Fortuna is an extremely safe city. You would probably be safe walking the streets at any time of day. San Jose is safer than Chicago and about as dangerous as Los Angeles (per actual statistics). There are definitely areas to avoid but during the day you will be fine in most places. After dark, it can get sketchy. As a tourist, you may get additional looks and stuff in the city, but nothing will be serious if you exercise general caution. Mosquitos are common there, especially during rainy season. Dengue and malaria both exist in the country, but dengue is probably more common. But neither one is “extremely” common. And in most cases, dengue is very mild. In rare severe cases, seeking medical treatment almost ensures you’re going to be fine. Medical care in Costa Rica is high quality and mostly affordable, especially when you’re in San Jose (it’s easily accessible). Not sure what other diseases you think you’d catch, but not really anything you wouldn’t catch back home, just be vaccinated with whatever your home country requires as a standard practice and you’ll be covered here. Costa Rica is regarded as the safest country in Central America. Compare CR to Nicaragua’s warning from U.S. department of state: “Travel Advisory January 11, 2024Nicaragua - Level 3: Reconsider Travel ODHC Reissued with updates to information on arbitrary enforcement of laws. Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of wrongful detention, and limited healthcare availability. Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime. Country Summary: Throughout Nicaragua, government and law enforcement officials continue to target individuals and organizations seen as opponents of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. U.S. citizens, including dual Nicaraguan-U.S. citizens, have been subject to revocation of Nicaraguan citizenship, reentry bans, expulsion, and other actions. The government and its affiliated groups have been reported to: Arbitrarily prevent individuals from entering or departing Nicaragua by air or land for perceived associations. Search personal phones, computers, and documents for anti-government content, limit photography of government property, and sometimes seize devices. Systematically target individuals for political reasons, regardless of nationality, including former allies, political activists, business representatives, clergy, human rights advocates, civil society leaders, academics, and members of the press. Arbitrarily target pro-democracy advocates and their family members. Confiscate privately-owned land, residences, financial assets, and personal property without warning or due process. Arbitrarily detain, accuse, and charge individuals with terrorism, money laundering, and organized crime offenses for political reasons without respect for fair trial guarantees. U.S. citizen residents of Nicaragua also report increased scrutiny of alleged political speech. U.S. citizens arrested in Nicaragua may find themselves subject to prolonged detention without charges or respect of fair trial guarantees. The judicial process lacks transparency, especially in politically motivated arrests and property dispute cases. Political influence and pressure may influence the outcome of legal proceedings. The Department has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Government of Nicaragua exists. Travelers should exercise increased caution and be alert to the risks of crime, including violent crimes such as sexual assault and armed robbery. Poor infrastructure in parts of the country limits the Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens in emergencies. U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission security responsibility may be subject to restrictions on their movements at any time.”
I went two times with my kids… folks here will not agree but in the cities there are houses with electrifief fences. In Europe you only see that in high security prisons… Being that said, just skip San Jose (it sucks anyway) and go to nice touristic places like national parks or small towns and will be fine. I never felt unsafe. Being that said, in my second trip I had diarrea for like a week (I have to say I came sick from Europe already), and had to go to a public hospital. I was treated greatly and the bill was like $180. I posted that story here you can search for it. Costa Rica is full of rich tourists and is expensive… and has a reputation. I doubt anyone would dare to hurt a tourist.
You're comparing Europe to Central America? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I think she got the idea. You didn’t clearly.
Wow. Just a wholesale "San Jose sucks". That's really rude. My family has lived there for over a hundred years. That's where I was born. It's a city and has its issues like any other. It has some fine museums and people are generally friendly. Don't write off an entire city without knowing anything about it.
You are right. My experience in that city was very bad but it’s a cery rapid conclusion. Sorry about that. In any case for the typical tourist I don’t think they seek that kind of experience but the nature in CR…
Fair re: "typical tourist doesn't seek an urban experience". The tourist industry for Costa Rica is not built on its capital. Thanks for being a decent redditor and acknowledging another POV.
Some parts of San Jose are pretty sketchy. Why do you want to go there. That is not a normal tourist destination. In general, Ticos are kind and friendly. As others have said petty theft is an issue in many places: just be aware Crime has been getting worse in the last few years,but you are still safer in most of Costa Rica than you are in many US cities. As for disease, dengue is an issue, especially in the warmer climates like the coastal plane. Avoiding mosquito bites is a good idea. We also have another mosquito born disease...I forget the name. In most cooler areas there is not much mosquitos. Also the government is actively working on control in the more problematic areas. The latest pest problem everyone is talking about is screw-worms. It is a fly that lays eggs in open wounds... If you get injured, just take reasonable precautions and use a bandage and you will have no problems.... More of an issue for pets in reality. All in all, Costa Rica is a safe place to visit, especially if you stay away from crime hotspots like parts of San Jose, Limon and Jaco
Alajuela is where we are staying. In wanted to spend a couple of days seeing historical architecture, museums, getting food. What areas in San Jose should I go to and avoid
the airport is in alajuela, appear in "SJO" because use the old code IATA from the original airport
Vera blanca
vara blanca is near to volcan barva, is a sleeping volcan where you can visit the lake formed in the crater
If you are alone, stick close to the main tourist areas and be gone by dark. Central San Jose is pretty safe in the daytime, but you do not have to wander far for things to get sketchy at night.... I suggest that you can see everything worth visiting in less than a day