Costa Rica Safety Tips

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Safety Tips

Here's a link to the info on an ICT (Costa Rican Tourism Institute) brochure entitled: Tips for having a great and safe vacation in Costa Rica and the rest of the world (I was going to type it out, but looks like someone else already did!) samarabeach.com/faq.htm

Below is a list of what one single woman traveler has done to keep herself safe on buses all over Latin America. These tips can sound overcautious and a money belt is overkill for some small towns, but the bottom line is that she hasn't been robbed yet in Central America. Remember that most thefts are preventable!!!

The following are good guidelines regardless of location: downtown San Jose Costa Rica, rural Isla de Ometepe in Nicaragua, the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala, or the beach in Honduras:

• Travel with someone else when possible. A trusted friend is best, of course - not just someone you met last night at the hostel, but he or she will do in a pinch. (Trust your gut feeling with new friends – most are great, but some may be con artists!) Traveling with a friend makes the journey more entertaining and more fun... you can talk and share travel stories and each of you can take turns sleeping on long bus rides. Also, there is the fact that "two heads are better than one" and it's always good to be able to brainstorm if you aren't sure what the answer to your travel question or concern is.

• When possible, leave your passport in a hotel safe or at a trusted CS host's house and carry only a photocopy. (Please note, there is a passport check on the Caribbean coast between Puerto Limon and Cahuita and you will need your official passport.) When traveling, wear a money belt with your passport, cash, credit/debit cards and ticket (bus or plane). Even if all your other belongings are stolen, you would still be able to get home. The waist belt is more dependable; a neck pouch can be lifted while you are asleep. A thief would really have to disturb you and your personal space to get a waist belt.

• On any bus ride (1st, 2nd, 3rd class, whatever!) try to sit above the luggage compartment so that you can watch that your bag doesn't "walk away" when others get off the bus.

• Try not to fall asleep or take turns with a travel partner (when you are lucky enough to have one.)

• Make conversation with locals on the bus so that they can see that you know the language and are comfortable in a Spanish speaking environment. (This is a way to enjoy yourself plus this may make my neighbors feel friendly towards you and more willing to alert you if someone is snooping in your stuff... or it might warn them that if they steal from you, you can and will talk to the bus driver and police and make a full report.) Remember, some Spanish is better than none – use what you have! It's great practice and the more you improve the safer you'll be!

• Don't bring anything you are not willing to lose. Keep my day pack ATTACHED TO YOU at all times when traveling – wrap the straps around your legs and the bag squeezed between your knees or feet. Be especially vigelent if you have travel notes and/or a camera.

• Make use of hostel or hotel lock boxes if they are really secure – this is great when you want to swim or kick back and really not worry.

• Do have a few beers and enjoy yourself, but never drink so much that you won't be alert and aware of what's going on.

• On a long trip, it's advised that you make back-up CDs (or DVDs) of your digital photos and send a copy back home. In the event that you are robbed, you will thank yourself!!!

• When encountering a new currency, learn the exchange rate from a reliable source (online ahead of time or a local bank, preferably) and create a little cheat sheet converting it to US dollars or the other Central American currency you are fluent in. Travel with small denominations of US dollars (crisp 1s, 5s, 10s) as back-up... usually you will been able to use them if you run out of local currency.

• Go to a bank to change money when possible and practical. If you find yourself needing to use the services of a person who is a money changer (Sunday morning at the border, for instance) make sure to have your own calculator. As a general rule do not trust money changers and their doctored calculators. Change the least amount of money possible and take a hard look at the bills – there's lots of false ones out there. Insist that your change be in small bills – you would lose more at one time if a large bill is false plus large bills are hard to change (even the equivalent of $20 USD in Costa Rica or $5 USD in Nicaragua can be difficult in some small towns, believe it or not!)

• Traveling alone is fine and generally safe, however, there are some common sense things you can do to stay safe. It's a good idea to hike with other people and explore a new city with other people. On short solo forays, if you feel uncomfortable do seek out a group of other people that includes a mix of both women and men. A well lighted place with people you can trust is always a plus... usually a busy restaurant or hostel is a great source of local info as well as a great place to relax and recharge.