Costa Rica Health and Safety

Street crime is the principle concern of most travelers. While violent crime is low compared to American cities, pick-pocketing is common. Carry your money and passport in an inside pocket or in a money belt.

Between January 2004 and April 2005, there were 599 reported tourist assaults in Costa Rica, most of which occurred in San José. If you're held at knife or gunpoint, do not resist. Stay anonymous by not wearing flashy jewelry and by walking confidently. If you are lost, go inside a store or restaurant to get directions. After dark, travel by taxi. Women walking alone at night are sometimes tailed and mistaken for prostitutes. If you're bar-hopping, don't go alone.

In a common scam, thieves spill something on a passer-by, who is then pick-pocketed by the person who steps in to help 'clean up'. Another trend is for motorists to mug pedestrians and speed off.

In the capital, be careful around the Coca-Cola bus terminal and the red-light district south of Parque Central, especially at night. Men should beware of friendly Ticas who turn out to be prostitutes. They may take more than customers bargain for - namely their wallets. Also, AIDS is on the rise in Central America and prostitution is not regulated.

There is a small risk of injury or death in any adventure-tourism activity. Numerous tourism-related deaths in the early '00s led the government to pass laws in an attempt to regulate the industry. In 2003, Costa Rica became the first country in Latin America to pass a universal set of safety standards for adventure-tour operators. Unfortunately, compliance is dependent on enforcement, which in Costa Rica always tends to be weak. Most activities are safe, but be careful and choose adventure-tour operators who are recommended and have a good safety track record.

If driving, never leave valuables inside your car, even for brief periods. Always use a guarded parking lot at night and remove all luggage.