Costa Rica Travel Safety

Precautions

Do not walk alone after dusk or at dawn. Avoid remote or isolated areas, including roads and trails. If you are threatened by armed criminals, do as they ask without hesitation, as resisting may result in the escalation of violence. Cases of express kidnapping, where victims are picked up from the street and forced to withdraw funds from ATMs, have occurred, sometimes at gunpoint. Incidents of sexual assault against foreigners at beach resorts and by taxi drivers in San José have been reported. The risk increases when travelling alone. Only use official taxis (orange taxis at the airport and red taxis with a yellow triangle on the side elsewhere in the country) and avoid those that do not have working door handles, locks and meters. Do not ride in the front seat with the driver. Remain cautious with new acquaintances offering friendship, hospitality or assistance. Do not accept drinks from strangers. As incidents of sexual assault sometimes involve the use of sedative drugs, avoid leaving your drinks or food unattended in bars and nightclubs. Refrain from excessive drinking. If you are a victim of sexual assault, report it to police. Support and guidance is provided by local authorities to victims.

Road safety

Be careful after dark, especially on rural roads, as motorists often drive without lights at night. Travelling by road during the rainy season is particularly dangerous, given the increased risk of flooding and landslides. Costa Rica has one of the highest traffic accident rates in the world. Exercise great caution when driving or walking, since traffic laws are routinely ignored. In some areas, potholes, sharp curves, lack of traffic signs, landslides and narrow or unpaved roads create dangerous road conditions. Remain vigilant when stopped at lights or stop signs, and always drive with the doors locked and windows closed. Keep your valuables out of plain sight when driving and avoid travel at night to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. If you are involved in a driving accident, call 911 to notify authorities of the accident. You should also inform the car rental agency, if applicable. Do not move the vehicle until advised to do so by the police.

Adventure tourism

Ensure that the recreational activities you choose are covered by your travel insurance. If you have any doubt concerning the safety of the installation or equipment, refrain from using them. White-water rafting, scuba diving, bungee jumping, canopy touring and other adventure sports should only be undertaken with a well-established company that has insurance. Safety features on small boats are not always reliable. If you intend to visit jungle areas, always go with an experienced and reputable guide. The Costa Rican government requires all visitors to national parks to register their entry with the National Park Service and to obtain a permit to enter the park. Never walk or hike alone. Life-threatening fauna such as jaguars, pumas, wild pigs and poisonous snakes are common in some parks, especially in the densely wooded areas. Avoid camping or sleeping overnight on beaches.

Swimming

Very few beaches are supervised with lifeguards or have signs warning of dangerous conditions. Many people drown each year. Never swim alone. Seek the advice of local authorities before venturing into the water. Riptides and strong currents are very common on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The Costa Rican Tourism Bureau provides important advice on safety matters, such as swimming in the ocean and avoiding crocodiles.

Taxis

Only use official, radio-dispatched taxis. Make sure the driver's ID is clearly visible on the dashboard and that the driver uses the meter. Take measures to protect your personal belongings.

Marine transportation

If navigating the coasts of Costa Rica, proceed with caution, as safety and rescue operations are limited due to a lack of resources.

Public transportation

Public bus transportation is unreliable, yet relatively safe. Police checks of passengers on public transportation occur and are often used to determine whether foreigners have overstayed the 90-day visa exemption period.

Women's safety

Based on the crime situation of the Costa Rica, women should be vigilant all the time and aware of the surroundings. Avoid dark or non-tourist areas at night. Instead try to be around larger crowds, whether they are fellow tourists or local citizens. Females should be cautious while dealing with strangers and acquaintances. Women may be subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Avoid flash of money or valuables in public. Exercise a high degree of caution during travel. Female travellers should exercise caution at all times.

Crime

Violent crime against foreigners, though not frequent, is a concern. Incidents of armed (gunpoint, knifepoint) robberies, carjackings and home invasions have occurred in beach areas and on the main highways in the Central Valley region, even in daylight. Violent assaults against Foreigners have occurred in Puerto Limón and Puerto Viejo. Drug trafficking is increasing in Costa Rica. Local consumption of illicit narcotics, particularly crack cocaine, is a concern in the country, along with the continued rise in drug-related violent crimes, including homicides.

LGBT

Although the laws of Costa Rica do not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. However, homosexuality is less tolerated socially and public display of affection may attract unwanted and negative attention. LGBT travellers should be aware of local sensitivities, particularly when visiting rural areas.

Identification

You must carry your original passport at all times when driving in the country, photocopies are not acceptable. Failure to provide proper documentation when stopped by a traffic officer could result in a fine. Officers can impose fines but they cannot collect the money on site. Fines may be paid either at COSEVI (Costa Rican Road Safety Council) or at a bank. If a police officer asks you for money, you may make a complaint to the ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Bureau) – Service to Tourists Department: by calling 2299-5828 or 2299-5800, or by email to laura.chacon@ict.go.cr or quejas@ict.go.cr. Costa Rican immigration law requires all foreigners to carry original identification documents, however, local authorities will accept photocopies as long as the original documents are accessible. The exception to this requirement is when driving in Costa Rica.

Illegal drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and/or heavy fines. The minimum sentence is 8 years imprisonment. Don't get involved with drugs of any kind. The Costa Rican authorities treat the possession of drugs and drug trafficking severely.

Driving

The Costa Rican government may prevent any driver involved in a vehicular accident from departing Costa Rica until all injury claims have been settled. This is true regardless of whether the driver is at fault or covered by insurance. Travellers may be prevented from leaving the country for months, or even years, until a local judicial resolution is reached. Camera monitoring systems have been installed in various locations. Speeding fines are charged to individuals exceeding the speed limit. Transit officers often perform roadside inspection of vehicles and request the driver's licence, original passport, vehicle registration and insurance documents. Traffic fines are not supposed to be collected on site.