Safety tips for tourist to Costa Rica:

If you are staying in a hotel room make use of the safety deposit box for your passport and extra larger amounts of money.  Carry a copy of your passport around with you.  However, if you want to change money at a bank or at hotel front desk you will need your original passport.

Leave your valuable jewelry at home.  Dress casual as not to draw attention.

As for cameras, video cameras,  binoculars,  ipods,  laptop computers,  cell phones, etc.  You must be extremely careful with these.  These are the most commonly stolen items.   Do not lay them down, turn your back, or get distracted- these are hot items for petty thieves.  ALSO  do not leave them unattended in your hotel room.  Do not let anyone “watch” these items  for you while you do anything else.

Don’t let anyone distract you in a public park..this is a common tactic of thieves..while you are being distracted someone else steals your stuff.  This happened to my husband in the public park in La Fortuna but he was very much “on to what they were up to”  and shewed them off.  He had a video camera with him.

When using ATM machines, do so only in very well lighted areas where there are other people around and not at night!  Don’t count money near by the ATM machine.

Carry your purse in front of you, if someone bumps you then “hang onto the purse and get quickly out of their way.”   Common tactic of thieves,  one will spill a liquid on your shirt and then offer to help wipe it off….their accomplice will meanwhile steal your purse or pick your pocket.

Don’t walk alone in alleys or unlighted areas-even during the day time.

In a restaurant do not hang your purse or backpack on the back of your chair or put your camera, etc on the floor beside you.  Keep it near you and where you can protect it at all times.

It’s better to carry your money and credit cards, passport, etc in a money pouch  (money belt)  beneath your clothes.

A fanny pack is better than a purse.   It stay on you at all times.

Use only taxis that are easily identified as the government approved taxis..in Costa Rica they are red taxis.

If you rent a car:

1. Try not to drive at night.

2. Keep doors locked when you are inside the car.  And the windows up.

3. Don’t leave valuables visible inside the car when you are not in it.  Also keep you purse in a nonvisible place while driving.

4. If you stop at a restaurant, park the car where you can see it and keep an eye on it, make sure all the doors are locked.

5. Park only in guarded parking lots, not on side of road, etc.  Make sure at night they are well lighted.

6. If you have to stop and change a tire have someone watch the valuables in the car and the ladies should take their purse out of the car and have it with them.  Beware of friendly people offering to help change the tire, they could be “up to taking your valuables”  This happened to  a friend of mine coming home from the San Jose International Airport.  Her purse was stolen.

7. Do not pick up hitchhikers.

8.  When stopped at a traffic light do not open your window for anyone wanting to talk to you.

9. In crowded areas,  such as central markets always have you guard up against pickpockets.

10. Don’t leave your car running and get out of it to do an errand…not for even a few minutes.

11. In case you get lost stop at a place where there is a lot of people, like a gas station.

Dealing in colones : (the monetary unit in Costa Rica)  It’s best to  get colones in small denominations.  That way it is easier to figure the exchange rate (quickly)   Think about the exchange rate a head of time so you don’t make mistakes when you pay or when you receive change.

The number to call for emergency is 911     But you may or may not get an English speaking person.

One of my girlfriends who did a tour of Costa Rica took a whistle with her and had it on a chain around her neck…sounds like a very good idea.

Here at costaricalearn.com we like to hear from you..any experience you have-good or bad-while visiting Costa Rica.  WE love to share it with our readers.  Simply click comment or reply at the end of this post.

Answer from “The Costa Rica Expert” There is no yes or no answer to this question.  Depends  on the location.

The country of Costa Rica has LOTS of water flowing  from the deep reserves  born in the steep mountain ranges.  So there is no shortage of water. Over all, one would say:  Costa Rica has good water.

I have lead many tour groups to Costa Rica.  Not commonly, but sometimes,  some of these tourist could not tolerate  “the change in the drinking water”  resulting in stomach cramps and diarrhea.  So what I advise travelers is avoid possible problems and  drink bottled water. And  check the seal to see it has not been broken.

Bottled water is available everywhere in Costa Rica.

One home remedy of sorts is to take one Pepto Bismol by mouth each morning.  This helps sooth the stomach lining , thus reducing stomach upsets.

Petty theft is common in Costa Rica so keep the following in mind:

1. Don’t wear flashy  jewelry,  especially in the cities.

2.  Carry  money in a money pouch -preferably under your clothes.  (I use the type that straps around the waist)  If you carry money in your  purse don’t carry large sums.  Keep you purse close to your body while walking  crowded streets and congested areas.  Pick pockets are common.

3. Make a copy of your passport  front page with your name and photo and a copy of the page showing when you entered Costa Rica:  keep it  with you all the time.   Most hotels have safety deposit boxes in the rooms where you can lock up your passport and extra money,  and airline tickets or reservations forms.

4. Don’t lay camera, binoculars, etc. down and walk off  and leave them unattended.   Keep these with you at all times.  Don’t hang your purse on back of your chair in restaurants.

5. Tie a colorful ribbon on your suitcase handle for easy identification at the luggage pick up ramp.  Seems most suitcases are black and they all seem to look similar.

6. If traveling by public bus, don’t place your luggage in the luggage compartment under the belly of the bus.  If possible take it inside the bus so you can watch it.

7.  If you change money into colones,   Practice counting it.  It’s easy to get confused if you are in a hurry…like paying a taxi.   Also you will know if you are being given correct change.  It’s better to have colones in small denomination bills (it’s less confusing when you get change back)

8.  Some stories told to me by my clients over the years:  1. A small group of young people were walking behind me and one of them  spilled  a drink on me.  Taking advantage of my confusion, one of them snatched my purse and they all ran.  And of course I never saw my purse again.  2. We got into our car (parked in the airport parking lot)  a couple miles down road we noticed a flat tire,  got out to check it,  when  two well dressed young men pulled over and offered to change the flat for us.  I left my purse in the car to check out the tire, and while I was distracted one of the young men removed my purse from the car.  I didn’t realize my purse was gone  until I arrived home.

9. Don’t lay your watch down on your  beach towel and go into the water.

10.  Late at night avoid areas where there is high concentration of bars and night clubs.

11. Don’t walk around at night in poorly lighted areas.

12. Don’t pick up hitchhikers.

13. Always leave your car parked in a lighted-guarded parking lot, not on the street.  And lock it.  Don’t  leave suitcases etc visible, especially don’t leave cameras, etc. in the car.   Take them with you.  My husband and I travel with two  video camera and a digital still camera (inside backpacks)  We never leave them inside the car–no matter where we are!

14.  If you have your luggage on top of the vehicle (luggage rack)  park the car so you can watch it  (if you are going into a restaurant, etc.)

15.  US Embassy is located in Pavas,  a western suburb of San Jose.  Monday-Friday call  2 519 2000.  After hours 2 220 3127.

For comments or questions at the bottom of the post  click on  “no comment”   Thanks for reading costaricalearn.com