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 | Costa Rica Warnings or Dangers | Tips 21 - 30 of 215 |  |
 ring of fire by zrimLeave a Comment
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 Taxi! by zrim
We somehow ended up with an affable yet unofficial taxi driver. The guy said he'd take us to our hotel for $12--we thought he had one of the nice new shiny taxis waiting at curbside. Wrong. He led us to a corner, told us to wait a minute and came round with a clunker. Should have backed out at that point--he didn't have our fare yet. But somehow we ended up putting our bags in the rusted out trunk and taking our seats in back.
The entire half hour ride to the hotel I had visions of being shanghaied, led to a dark alleyway, robbed at gun or knifepoint and left stranded, pennieless or worse. Of course, this being Costa Rica, it all worked out and the unofficial taximan dropped us at our hotel and didn't ask for a cent more than the agreed-upon fare. Since it was the eve of Christmas Eve, I even gave him a few bucks tip.
Although it all turned out ok, my advise is to play it safe and queue at the cabstand for an official taxi. You never know who is out there, even in a relatively safe country like Costa Rica. Leave a Comment
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 over the mountains in a small
plane by zrimLeave a Comment
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Make sure you watch out where you are going, and when. They have only 8,000 police for 4.3 million people, the worst in the globe ratio wise. Everything is on good faith, However, the poverty economy and lower end lifestyle leaves people to rob and plunder. Per capita income is $13,000. It is said that if you leave your house over one day, it may be vacated of most items. Not to put a scare into you, but you should be aware of your surroundings. These are gentle people, but poverty can created desperate people and crime.
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 Storm off the tip of the Gulfo
Dulce-Golfito side by Suzie3
The coastal areas are always much warmer. Slightly cooler, by just a few degrees, during the green season. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily translate into it feeling cooler as that is when it will also be more humid.
The caribbean slope on down to the shore are much rainier with well over a hundred inches each year. The northern Guanacaste area is considered the dry area and you will see that the trees are a bit shorter and things are a lot less lush. Still a great place just not as green.
The southern Osa area tends to lean towards the caribbean type weather during the green season and the green season ends later than in other areas.
Don't let the words "green season" scare you away. More people than not who live there will tell you they prefer the green season because it is so much prettier.
The seasons are reversed to ours. Leave a Comment
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 Famous Tarcoles
Crocodiles by Suzie3
Do be careful if you are driving by and want to stop and take a look. This is a notorious high theft area. Many personal belongings are removed from cars while the owners are checking out the crocs. Leave a Comment
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 Coral reefs haeved upward out
of the water by BruceDunning, 4 more photos
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 Morpho butterfly at La Paz
Waterfall garden by Suzie3
First off, Costa Rica is more of a developing country than a third world country (there is still a bit of the third world mentality down there but not like most other countries in latin america). I am sure people who actually live there can tell some stories about the frustrations of dealing with the government and the laws down there.
A hard working country where most people work hard to earn what they have. Proctor and Gamble is a big presence down there as well as Intel and have created a lot of good jobs for the Costa Ricans (unfortunately that means fewer in the U.S.).
Petty theft is on the rise. Except for more rural areas, most houses have bars around them. Some have cement walls with broken glass imbeded in the top or razor wire. A sad but true reality of life down there. Violent crime is much less common.
When renting a car..never never leave personal items in it. When riding on a bus. Hold on to your luggage when possible or try to put it in the storage under the bus first so that other peoples luggage is on top. If a grab and run comes along, less chance of yours being taken. Sit on the side of the bus where the luggage is loaded so when stops are made you can keep an eye on things.
Now for the good things........ Leave a Comment
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 Picture of line alongside the
highway by BruceDunning, 1 more photos
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Due to the earthquake from over four years ago, the tour guide said the trash trucks could not pick up rubbish. The people threw it alongside the roads. It is not yet picked up, if ever. Then the railroad also broke down with separated tracks. Cleanliness is not a forte here, but should they be conscious?
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