Any tips, insights or warnings for traveling to Costa Rica?

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Kristina L

Tips & Insights: Be careful with your money and don't flash wads of cash. Don't carry valuables with you. Don't drive in San Jose (trust me on this one). Experience as much as possible, there is so much to do and see and try doing as much as you can as your time/money allows. Oh, and definately zip line (canopy tour)- it is so much fun! Meet the people - they are so kind and will add color to your entire trip. Don't forget to tip. In regards to vaccinations, I never get them. However, if you are going hiking in the Limon area or close to the Nicaraguan border, you should do the malaria thing, otherwise just be liberal with your bug spray and you should be fine. Whenever you are in a new region, take a guided hike before hiking on your own. You want to know what you can touch and can't touch and behind what flowers the vipers are hiding. They have some poison fauna here that makes poison ivy look like a pleasant experience. Don't ever leave your hotel without your camera, because that is when you'll see the perfect thing you want to capture and you'll be without. Murphy's law.

Warnings: You may not want to ever leave.

Edit: Pink Diamond is correct, the crime rate isn't that bad, just use common sense as you would anywhere else you are unfamiliar. Costaricanativa is correct on many things but I think is a little over the top. Dengue fever is in CR but it isn't that common. Malaria is only located in a couple of areas. Check out this website for the straight shoot on disease in CR: http://www.therealcostarica.com/health_education_costa_rica/disease_costa_rica.html

Also, I always get ice in my drinks, I eat salad and fresh fruit by the ton when in CR. I was told on my first trip that the water (unless in very very rural areas) was safe, and I've never had a problem. Take a few precautions, but no need to fester over it.

hitech.man

I have a farm in CR so I go there quite often. It helps a lot to know Spanish but even a few words are helpful. The crime rate is grossly exaggerated and is actually lower than most USA cities but like anywhere, don't be stupid and leave you bag on the beach while you go surfing!!

It is true that Gringos are viewed as rich so be prepared to negotiate some on prices but most restaurants have a fixed price menu and stores are the same. You will find the Ticos are a good and kind people so if you smile and are polite to them, they will be the same for you.

Have a good holiday and visit the Southern Carribean coast below Limon, it is the best! Most people do not go there because Limon is such a dump but the beaches are amazing and everything is so quaint and unspoiled, you will love it.

*Amber*

people exagerate so effin much. Costa Rica's crime rate is low.Of course use common sense.

chunky4694

enjo the view is the best if your on a good beach and ther is a lot of hiking bring a raincola and boots and a swimsuit and specifically a camera also go on skytrek you wont regret it!!!!

bebe

Warnings - don't take too much cash with you.HUGE crime rates right now and if you happen to get robbed,please don't waste your time calling the police,they not gonna show up and if they come they might take what is left.Be ready to pay 3 times for any service as soon as a Tico "smells" foreigner.Remember that they are nice because of your $1
Watch yourself when you are walking,thousands of holes on the ground.

Beside that - yes,enjoy the view,have fun but if I was you Panama would be my choice

www.costaricanativa.com

Wash hands often with soap and water.

Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering through an â€œabsolute 1-micron or lessâ€ filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. â€œAbsolute 1-micron filtersâ€ are found in camping/outdoor supply stores. Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
Pay special attention to mosquito protection between dusk and dawn. This is when the type of mosquito whose bite transmits malaria is active. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Apply insect repellent to exposed skin.

Do not put repellent on wounds or broken skin.
Do not breathe in, swallow, or get into the eyes . If using a spray product, apply to your face by spraying your hands and rubbing the product carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.
Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing, purchase a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin or deltamethrin. Or, spray the bed net with one of these insecticides if you are unable to find a pretreated bed net.

Children under 10 years old should not apply insect repellent themselves. Do not apply to young childrenâ€™s hands or around eyes and mouth. For details on how to protect yourself from insects and how to use repellents, see Protection against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods.

If you are visiting friends and relatives in your home country in areas where malaria occurs, please read the malaria prevention recommendations for recent immigrants on the CDC malaria site.
To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
To avoid getting sick...
Donâ€™t eat food purchased from street vendors.
Donâ€™t drink beverages with ice.
Donâ€™t eat dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Donâ€™t share needles with anyone.
Donâ€™t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague). (For more information, please see Animal-Associated Hazards.)
Donâ€™t swim in fresh water. Salt water is usually safer. (For more information, please see Swimming and Recreational Water Precautions.)
Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat to wear while outside whenever possible, to prevent illnesses carried by insects (e.g., malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis).
Bed nets impregnated with permethrin. (Can be purchased in camping or military supply stores. Overseas, permethrin or another insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed nets and clothes.)
Flying-insect spray or mosquito coils to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product should contain a pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly kill flying insects, including mosquitoes.
Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea.
Iodine tablets and water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. See Doâ€™s above for more details about water filters.
Sunblock, sunglasses, hat.
Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s).

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