Top 10 Costa Rica

- Costa Rica Things you should know

Travel agents are generally nice folks, but sometimes they don’t tell you what you need to know. Why don’t they? It may be because many have never personally visited the countries they sell.

What I DO know for sure is that many travel agents tell people who are visiting Costa Rica a whole lotta bunk on many subjects… and they FAIL to tell folks about the stuff they NEED to know. So I decided to put up a few things that are really important to know when visiting Costa Rica. If YOUR travel agent told you all this, then patronize them again and again as they are probably knowledgeable in other areas of travel. These are brief, but I hope clear.

● The water here IS safe to drink! Exceptions may be in VERY remote or rural areas, but unless you are way out in the boonies, you’re OK. I personally drink bottled water, but it’s your call.

● You do NOT need typhoid or malaria shots when you visit Costa Rica. That is just silly, but I constantly meet folks who get a bunch of inoculations before visiting. They were told to do this by their travel agents. A tetanus shot or booster is of course always a good idea. See your doctor.

● DO be concerned about is Dengue Fever!

● The sun here is HOT. We are only ten degrees North of the Equator, so bring sunscreen and use it. You can burn to a crisp in 30 minutes if you run around unprotected. The UV factor here is at least double that of Florida or Arizona. A wonderful vacation can be made not so wonderful if you are in pain.

● If you rent a car here, remember there are FEW or NO street signs here. There are also no street addresses. The BIG highways are marked, but as soon as you leave them, you’re on your own.

● Costa Ricans are… well lets say, creative drivers and often pay little or no attention to traffic laws. Be very careful.

● If you have an accident here, you MUST remain at the site without moving the vehicles until BOTH the police AND the insurance agent show up. If you don’t, you’re guilty and you may have no insurance.

● Many traffic laws are different here, like handling traffic circles (rotundas). Lanes often end without notice. Many bridges are narrow and one way (alternating). The potholes here are DEEP and DANGEROUS. Manhole covers are often missing. Do NOT drive at night until you thoroughly know what you are doing.

● In general, do NOT shop at stores or restaurants that have no prices marked, you are just asking to get taken. This is especially true in any area that caters to the tourist trade.

● Credit Cards. Use your credit card as much as possible for purchases as you will always get the correct exchange rate. Use your ATM card if you need cash funds in colones. Don’t do a cash advance thing unless you wanna pay silly interest rates. Now saying that… I have traveled extensively and I believe Costa Rica is about the ONLY country that does not extort money when you exchange foreign currencies. There are exceptions, but in general, you will be treated fairly. Finally, and VERY important, TELL YOUR BANK you are going to CR. Tell your credit card companies too. Many will block your credit cards, especially for cash withdrawals. Also, set a realistic daily withdrawal limit that fits your needs.

● Be very careful of petty theft like pickpockets, grab and run… etc. You are very unlikely to be the subject of a violent crime in Costa Rica, but you are always at risk for the small stuff. Don’t carry your passport. Have a copy made of your front (picture) page and the entry stamp. The police here are cordial to tourists and unless you act like a jerk, all will accept that as a valid ID.

● Never act like a jerk in Costa Rica. Relax. Enjoy this wonderful country and remember always you are a guest. Things are different here, and not always the way you want them. Foreign travel IS foreign and the Costa Rican culture is wonderful, but is very different from your home country.

● You can eat the food here. It is quite good and some of the best spots are the little roadside restaurants and ’sodas’. There is often some little old abuelita (grandmother) working in the kitchen and she likely makes a truly excellent meal. My WORST Tico meals are at the the big roadside restaurants that cater to tourist and advertise genuine Costa Rican cooking.

● You can’t legally drink alcohol and drive in Costa Rica. But remember, many people disregard this, so keep in mind that everyone else on the road could potentially be drunk and drive accordingly.

● While you do not need to worry about malaria or typhoid, you DO need to worry about Dengue Fever. This is especially true if you visit the tropical areas, rain forests or beaches. However, it also affects the Central Valley. Dengue comes in two varieties. The first causes flu-like symptoms and though you are uncomfortable, you are not dead. The second is NASTY and extremely painful and makes you wish you WERE dead… which you can be without treatment. The good news is that this is easily avoidable. Bring bug repellent or buy some here. Use it especially during the daytime hours (dengue is spread by a mosquito that ONLY bites in the daytime!)

● You DO need a passport to enter Costa Rica. It also must not expire in less than six months. You cannot enter with just a driver’s license or a birth certificate.

● Distances here are weird. Folks look at a map and say things like, “We can drive that in an hour, honey!”. No… you can’t. There are mountains, traffic, accidents, bad roads… and of course, as there are no street signs nor addresses, you will likely get lost. If you can possibly be delayed, you will be. The general rule I use is that I will average 20-30 MPH (30 KPH - 45 KPH) for travel around the country. So for example, if you see a place that is 100KM away (about 66 miles), plan on two hours to three + hours to get there.

● Do they accept dollars and credit cards everywhere in Costa Rica? No, they do NOT. Hotels and many restaurants take credit cards of course, and many will accept dollars, but there are MANY places especially outside the Central Valley where nothing is accepted except the colón. This includes some fine restaurants. And here is a hint… some of the best stuff you can buy at great prices are in the more remote areas… and they will happily accept colones, but will not take credit cards or dollars. The good news is that CR is full of ATM’s where you can use your bank card to get some colones at the proper exchange rate. Also many places will not accept travelers checks as they can take merchants up to two months to receive the funds. Also, many hotels now no longer accept travelers checks.

● When you leave Costa Rica, you will need an exit visa… about $26.00 per person as of this writing. You get them inside the airports. They accept dollars, credit cards or colones. Great way to get rid of the extra colones as you leave.

● When renting a car here, HUGE deposits get pre authorized on your credit card. This freezes your available funds. If you do not have a large credit limit, you can find yourself unable to use your credit card. Organize your credit and cash needs before you come.

● Check your bills at restaurants. While almost all restaurants are honest folk, I have had ‘errors’ on maybe as many as ten percent of my bills. Check for ‘extra items’.

● I have traveled extensively and Costa Rica is was the only place I know where you will not get screwed exchanging dollars for colones… even at hotels. Sadly… this is changing as businesses here are now catching on that most tourists have no clue how to convert currency “on the fly”. Thus, I must caution you to learn how to do these conversions before you arrive in order to avoid getting taken.

Here are my top ten rules and travel tips for anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica. I have listed them in order of importance. The tips are invaluable to you having a safe and fun time in this wonderful country. Please don’t let this scare or dissuade you from traveling to Costa Rica. If you follow these simple rules; I am sure you will have the time of your life and a safe trip.

(Rule #1) Never leave your bags inside you vehicle unattended, particularly at tourist spots. I would say the number one occurrence of theft in Costa Rica is caused by tourist leaving their bags and valuables in plain sight in their vehicles. You’re asking for trouble if you don’t follow this rule closely. While I was in Bagaces, I was fortunate enough to have a local tour guide who showed me around to all the best tourists’ spots like the Bagaces waterfalls. Two days earlier, a group of tourist who had just landed at the Liberia airport, stopped by there quickly to walk down and take a look at these beautiful waterfalls. They left their bags in the car while heading down; only to return to find their window broken at all their valuables stolen. Their wallets, passports, and everything else was taken on their second day in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, at most secluded spots like this one, there is no police presence and local thieves pray on these particular areas. Use the trunk if possible, or drop your bags off at the hotel or hostel if you’re before heading to this kind of location.

(Rule #2) The second most common occurrence of theft occurs while using the public bus system. Particularly when traveling to and from San Jose, groups of thieves will look for tourists on the bus and attempt to pick-pocket them while they’re loading or unloading their bags. Usually it will be a female who attempts to distract you and invade your personal space while the accomplice will attempt to pick-pocket you. They’re professionals and will be very unassuming and quick; so be on guard. You can prevent this by being aware, watching out for your friends, and not letting anyone invade your personal space. In addition, it is a good idea to keep your passports, money, and credit cards in a travel belt that you can put around your waist and tuck away; or the shoulder belts that you can hide under your shirt. I know these belts aren’t the most popular or stylish items; but even having one for your group to use when going from location to location is a good idea. The Interbus, which is mostly used by tourist, is the safest and best way to travel in Costa Rica for a little extra money. Usually, 30 to 40 bucks will get you anywhere you need to go.

(Rule # 3) Always keep a backup source of money, keep a bank card or credit card in a separate location. You should always have some sort of alternative means to get money if you’re the unfortunate victim of a theft. I always keep my most valuable cards and money with my passport in my travel belt. However, I also keep one bank card or credit card stashed away somewhere hidden in my bag along with a little petty cash. This way, if your wallet or purse gets snatched, you will have something to really on. Traveler checks are always a good idea as well; and be sure to keep the receipts in a separate location from the checks.

(Rule # 4) Get to know the flawed banking system in Costa Rica. In the major cities like Tamarindo, Jaco, and Liberia this won’t be a problem; but in the smaller tourist spots like Santa Theresa and Manuel Antonie, there is often only one ATM that will decline cards for no reason 40 to 50 percent of the time. Even if the ATM says you can use your card with the Plus system or whatever, for a reason that was never explained to me, it often doesn’t work. So if you’re heading to a smaller city, always take out money before you leave. With today’s modern banking, Traveler Checks have become less popular; but I would have been up shits creek without them on my trip. Two times, I was in towns that had inadequate ATM that wouldn’t work for me, as with many other travelers. It was so bad that the people behind you in line would ask you if it worked because this is such a common occurrence. In Santa Theresa, it was not uncommon to see backpackers in the local liquor stores asking people if they could purchase their booze on credit card and get cash back from the purchase because they had no other means of getting money.

(Rule #5) When you head to the beach leave your valuables safely put away at place you’re staying. In addition, if you head into the water; put your sandals and beach stuff next to someone who will watch it. You can ask almost anyone; preferably someone who looks like they’re on the same type of trip as you. Everyone that I asked was happy to do this for me and I didn’t lose a thing while at the beach. They will take whatever they can get, including your 10$ sandals, so be safe rather then sorry. If you’re a surfer, who is heading to remote locations; try burying or hiding your stuff somewhere on the beach out of view from people passing by. Furthermore, don’t leave or put down your camera or purse on the tables or bars. One girl that I met from Miami, got pretty hammered one night, and while fluttering around the bar kept leaving her purse and camera laying around. Twice I picked it up and gave it back to her; but she ended up losing it anyways. Before she had time to cancel the credit cards; the thief was able to charge over 190$ at the local gas station. I also witnessed a German lady have her pursed snatched from the back of the chair she hung it on. The assailant made a quick snatch and run to the beach and ended up getting away; keep your purse on your lap or tuck neatly underneath the table at all times.

(Rule #6) Get to know the Ocean by asking questions about the right locations for swimming and surfing. The rip currents and hidden rocks can end your vacation in a hurry; so ask for information before you dive in. Its always a good idea to follow the crowd when in doubt: if you don’t see anybody in the water at a certain location, then there is probably a reason for it.

(Rule # 7) Never disrespect the locals. It’s their view regardless of your situation, that we have everything and they have nothing. Treating locals poorly or without respect is asking for trouble. In addition, never get into a conflict with a local at the bar; they always stick together against the Gringos (which is you or any other traveler), regardless if they’re friends or not. They never fight fair and always use bottles, so don’t bother thinking about winning. They pride themselves on knowing this and have the winning record to prove it. If a situation does occur, my best advice is to say sorry and Pura Vida. Saying Pura Vida with compassion in your eyes may just save your life. Ultimately, the locals are very friendly and helpful people who are out for a good time as well. In my month stay in Costa Rica, I was out every night and only saw two fights. Both included ignorant Americans, bottles and victory going to the home team.

(Rule #8) Ask, ask, and ask; and always use your common sense. The people working at the hotels and restaurants are your best source of information. So just ask; ask what to do, and what not to do, this will help your trip will be a safe one.

(Rule # 9) Avoid San Jose if possible, or spend the least amount of time there you can. San Jose is considered by the locals the shame of Costa Rica, and for good reasons. It’s the only place you will find robberies as apposed to petty theft. Land at Liberia Airport if possible, or get the hell out of San Jose as soon as you can. Port Limon is also a place you want to avoid. It’s the drug port of Costa Rica which is controlled by fierce gangs who even intimidate the local authorities by threatening their families. Even the locals don’t go out at night in Port Limon and you shouldn’t either.

(Rule # 10) Make a local friend. They people of Costa Rica are a beautiful people; they consider themselves to be one of the friendliest and happiest people in the world. I believe this to be a very true statement. All the locals that I met were wonderful and very kind. I made many local friends who I knew would help me out of an unpleasant situation if necessary. Especially once you leave the big tourist cities where all of the crime happens, the locals are from small farming communities where helping others is a part of everyday life. I heard more stories of locals helping travelers here then any other third world country I can think of. From being lost to having a flat tire, the locals want to help you and show tourists their pleasant and charming nature, as well as the beauty of their country. These are precautionary rules and guide lines to follow while traveling to Costa Rica or any country in Central America. Please don’t let this discourage you from heading to Costa Rica: thousands of tourist and travelers head down there every year and have a safe and amazing trip. The chance of something bad happening are very slim and if you follow these simple rules, I can almost give you a 100% guarantee you will not have any problems on your journey or vacation. Pura Vida and safe travels…

Around here the critter is just part of the landscape

Expats here generally take their critters in stride.

Spiders and ants are the cleanup crew in Costa Rica. They eliminate many of the nastier bugs.

They are everywhere, be it the Central Valley or the coastal regions. And always on patrol.

Snakes are everywhere, too. Any vacant lot even in downtown San José can be home to such a reptile.

Those who reject the use of strong chemicals to fight critters in their homes are rewarded with a proliferation of spiders and geckos who run their own control program.

Every once in awhile a gararobo will drop by to take the sun.

At lower elevations, no home is complete without an iguana in the roof. Or maybe a bat population.

Those close to the coast sometime report seeing crocodiles crossing the roadway, usually in bad weather. That happens in Florida, too, without much damage to the two-legged creature.

In fact, crocs are a tourist attraction on the Río Tarcoles. One guide even has a trained crock who dances for a chicken dinner. At last report, the guide was still reporting for work.

Coastal dwellers also have the annual parade of crabs to announce the beginning of the rainy season.

Usually it is the unseen critter who does the most damage. A dose of dengue from a passing mosquito is far more troubling than a confrontation with a frightened snake.

And there are other insect-born ailments that common sense and a dose of repellent can prevent.

The statistics show that swimming in the ocean is far more dangerous than walking in the jungle. Rip tides do not run away.

So when outsiders come to Costa Rica, they are driven by their own preconceptions and do not really learn that humans can live in harmony with the country’s natives. Although not too closely!