Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Costa Rica Warnings or Dangers
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Caribbean and Central America » Costa Rica » Warnings or Dangers

Costa Rica Warnings or Dangers


Costa Rica travel tips posted by real travelers and Costa Rica locals.
Map
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Earthquake
  • Tip Rating:
  • zrim
  • Updated By zrim on January 7, 2004
  • Costa Rica Page by zrim
  • ring of fire - Costa Rica
    ring of fire
    by zrim
    Our first night the strangest thing happened around 2:00 a.m., the bed started swaying and rocking. It felt as if the bed had turned into a hammock tied to two trees rather than having four legs on the floor. Having been sound asleep it took me fifteen to twenty seconds to register the fact that we were experiencing an earthquake. A first for me. The epicenter was down in Panama and it registered 6.1 on the Richter scale. I don't believe there was any damage in San Jose where we were spending the night.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Costa Rica?

    Read reviews about Costa Rica Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Hustling for taxi business
  • Tip Rating:
  • zrim
  • By zrim on January 8, 2004
  • Costa Rica Page by zrim
  • Taxi! - Costa Rica
    Taxi!
    by zrim
    Pass through immigration, collect baggage, clear customs, walk out the doors of the arrival hall and you reach utter chaos. It seems as if every taxi driver and his brother are attempting to hustle your business. It resembles the madness of a commodities exchange.

    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

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Single prop planes
  • Tip Rating:
  • zrim
  • Updated By zrim on January 7, 2004
  • Costa Rica Page by zrim
  • over the mountains in a small plane - Costa Rica
    over the mountains in a small
    plane
    by zrim
    To be frank, small planes scare the willies out of me. And the weather conditions flying over the mountains that encircle San Jose did nothing to soothe my frazzled nerves. At one point a wind gust turned our plane almost completely upside down. Our guide, Arturo, told us that sometimes when he disembarks from the cabin of a single prop that he feels like a shaken margarita.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Security is a serious Thing
  • Tip Rating:
  • BruceDunning
  • Updated By BruceDunning on February 27, 2009
  • Costa Rica Page by BruceDunning
  • Concertina wire and fencing - Costa Rica
    Concertina wire and fencing
    by BruceDunning, 3 more photos
    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.

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    General Travel Tips II Weather..
  • Tip Rating:
  • Suzie3
  • Updated By Suzie3 on July 13, 2004
  • Costa Rica Page by Suzie3
  • Storm off the tip of the Gulfo Dulce-Golfito side - Costa Rica
    Storm off the tip of the Gulfo
    Dulce-Golfito side
    by Suzie3
    Because of its location to the equator, CR weather is pretty predictable. Temperatures are pretty much the same year round. The main difference in temperature depends more on your altitude than anything. The central valley and hills surrounding it are quite comfortable to cool year round. The higher you go the cooler it will get. Frequently I have needed a sweater in San Jose.
    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

  • Website: http://www.costarica.com/Home/Weather/Temperature_Rainfall,_}amp;_Humidity/By_Cities_}amp;_Towns
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Costa Rica?

    Read reviews about Costa Rica Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    No swimming here!!!!
  • Tip Rating:
  • Suzie3
  • Updated By Suzie3 on May 5, 2004
  • Costa Rica Page by Suzie3
  • Famous Tarcoles Crocodiles - Costa Rica
    Famous Tarcoles
    Crocodiles
    by Suzie3
    These are the famous Crocs below the Tarcoles River bridge. Located near Carara Reserve and Jaco .

    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

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Earthquakes, floods, volcanoes.
  • Tip Rating:
  • BruceDunning
  • Updated By BruceDunning on February 27, 2009
  • Costa Rica Page by BruceDunning
  • Coral reefs haeved upward out of the water - Costa Rica
    Coral reefs haeved upward out
    of the water
    by BruceDunning, 4 more photos
    Just one month before our trip, there was a 6.1 earthquake about mid country north of San Jose. It killed 40 people. The supposed after effect was down in Limon, coral reefs upheaveled a bit, and all trash service stopped. But then it seemed like maybe some of this damage was form 2004, or even maybe before that. The railroad, even though not too functional, had torn up tracks; now closed for good. Then the floods of torrential rains came right behind whenever that quake was, and wiped out some agricultural land. Next is a possible volcano eruption of Izura near Turrialba and close to SAn Jose about 20 miles.

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    General travel tips
  • Tip Rating:
  • Suzie3
  • By Suzie3 on June 2, 2004
  • Costa Rica Page by Suzie3
  • Morpho butterfly at La Paz Waterfall garden - Costa Rica
    Morpho butterfly at La Paz
    Waterfall garden
    by Suzie3
    Costa Rica truly is the land of Pura Vida (Pure Life) but like any place in the world it has its own little warts.
    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

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Oil Lines Are Fragile
  • Tip Rating:
  • BruceDunning
  • By BruceDunning on February 27, 2009
  • Costa Rica Page by BruceDunning
  • Picture of line alongside the highway - Costa Rica
    Picture of line alongside the
    highway
    by BruceDunning, 1 more photos
    They go from one side of the country to the other. As a result of the earthquake in 2007, the lines were broken, and service to San Jose ceased for a while. It is fragile in that there is only one line going through the terrain; up and downhills and over waters.

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Trash Lays Around-Abaondoned Buildings
  • Tip Rating:
  • BruceDunning
  • Updated By BruceDunning on February 27, 2009
  • Costa Rica Page by BruceDunning
  • Costa Rica Warnings or Dangers
    by BruceDunning, 4 more photos
    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?

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Costa Rica Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 523 - Photos: 584
    Things To Do
    Tips: 819 - Photos: 1,101
    Nightlife
    Tips: 77 - Photos: 41
    Transportation
    Tips: 236 - Photos: 188
    Restaurants
    Tips: 235 - Photos: 195
    Shopping
    Tips: 56 - Photos: 60
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 190 - Photos: 194
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 72 - Photos: 31
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 215 - Photos: 150
    Local Customs
    Tips: 100 - Photos: 70
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 83 - Photos: 39
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 49 - Photos: 42
    General Tips
    Tips: 320 - Photos: 264

    Best Costa Rica Travel Deals

    Costa Rica Ten Days $995
    Fully Escorted Tour. All Inclusive. Free 28 Page Information Guide.

    Costa Rica Experts
    Custom Costa Rica vacation and honeymoon packages for over 20 yrs.

    Costa Rica All Inclusive
    Luxury, all-inclusive vacations to Costa Rica! 100% local based team.

    Costa Rica Bicycle Tour
    Explore lush rainforest, beach and villages by bike, raft and on foot

    Costa Rica Beach Hotel
    Stay at Hotel El Velero on the beach 20 mins. from Liberia Airport

    Sponsored Links

    More Costa Rica Travel Deals

    Costa Rica Tarpon Lodge
    Come Fish, Hike, Eat & Stay at Our All-Inclusive Rainforest Lodge.

    Los Suenos Marriott
    Costa Rica Ocean and Golf Resort. 40% Off Stays from Jan 1-April 30!

    Tamarindo Diria Hotel
    Special Offers,Tamarindo beach hotel in Costa Rica, Book Online!

    Sponsored Links





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.