Costa Rica

[Hartley]

Apparently Canada has issued a warning to residents about travelling to Costa Rica. Robberies and violence are apparently prevelent and residents are targeting tourists.

The worst area according to the report is downtown San Jose.

I know there are a few posters and books here from Costa Rica. Can anyone confirm or deny this report. I know a few people that were considering flying to Costa Rica for a holiday.

[reno]

When I visited San Jose, Costa Rica in 1994 (prior to the offshore betting boom ), it was considered to be a city with very little crime. A person walking around town only had to be careful late at night in a few isolated bad areas. What has happened to change that?

[sportshobby]

I just returned from 11 days in Costa Rica, two of those days being in San Jose. My impression is that the country is safer than in comparable-sized towns in the U.S.

I'll write up some of my experiences shortly.

[fletcher01]

Hartley,
You or whoever want to come down to C.R. is more han welcome to. All that crap going around of the place being unsafe is not completely true. I wont say it is a lie because there are some robberies on the street. Hey, which city is completely safe and no robberies are commited? I don't think there is any city in the world that can say that.
Now, with that being said, let me say this. soem years ago crime and robberies did increase, now that has been controled and the place is safe, downtown San Jose is safe enough to walk around during day time, at night you want to watch were to go to and who you talk to, like any other city.
The problem is that there were some turist being unfortunate enough to get robbed, so what was the easiest thing to do, go back to their country and start bitching and giving the place a bad reputation, which really is undeserved.
Now you walk in the streets downtown and you'll see cops all over the place, of course if you walk around with a rolex gold watch, gold chains and rings looking like B.A. Baracus, for sure you'll call the attention of a lot of persons.
Advise, if you are in the country, for your own safety, use the least jewelery that you can, carry only the cash you will need for the day or the time you'll spend shopping, don't caryy your passport with you, get a xerox copy of the main pages and that will be enough id, even at the bank they'll accept it.
So, i you or anybody you know want to come down for vacation for some time, come on, do it, just take care, use comon sense nad enjoy the place.
I asure you that you'll love it.

[Jeff]

I think what fletcher says makes alot of sense......use common sense. No different than going to any other city.

I felt much safer there then in the closest city to where I live here in the states. Here, they shoot 1st and ask questions later.

Also, I imagine that most people going on a vacation to CR wouldn't be spending much time in San Jose. More likely, they would be at a resort which they would never have to leave........

If Canada is issuing warnings on traveling to Costa Rica, I hope they are also warning people about traveling to New York, Miami, and every other major (and minor) American city!!

[fletcher01]

Jeff,
absolutely right, if they want to warn the canadians not ot come to costa rica, it's because i guess all the canadian citites and towns are crime free.
maybe why they are warning is because they think because it is a small country there is no crime.
Part of the blame could fall for the advertising the C.R. government is doing.The picture they are giving out is of a paradise, it is a beautiful place with a lot of places to visit, but it is still a place on earth and not a crimeless perfect paradise.
use common sense and you'll be safe

[chestrockwells]

Hartley, when you say Canada, are you saying its an official gov't warning or advisory?
From my last trip I'd say its probably a little above avg. in safety.
On a short list of the worst that I've been to is Rio. Unless you head to the real crap parts of town, no one's going to shoot you, but petty crime is impressive.
One of the safer, and certainly cleanest....Singapore.

[Hartley]

I can't find the exact warning online - it was in Wednesday's edition of the Toronto Sun. But I see the U.S. Consolate issued a similar travel warning. Here it is FWIW. Note I'm not trying to stir up trouble but rather just trying to find out the truth .

____

COSTA RICA TRAVEL WARNING:

CRIME INFORMATION: Crime is increasing, and tourists as well as the local populace are frequent victims. While most crimes are non-violent, including pickpocketing and house and car break-ins, criminals have shown a greater tendency in recent years to use violence. U.S. citizens are encouraged to use the same level of caution that they would exercise in major cities or tourist areas throughout the world. Local law enforcement agencies have limited capabilities and are not up to U.S. standards, especially in remote rural areas.

In March 2000, two college-age U.S. citizen women were murdered near the town of Cahuita, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. The investigation of that crime is ongoing. In October 1999, two elderly U.S. citizens were murdered in a remote area of Guanacaste during an apparent robbery attempt. As of July 2000, no suspects have been apprehended.

U.S. citizen women have been victims of sexual assaults at beach resorts on both coasts and in San Jose in recent years. There have been several attempted sexual assaults, including one rape, by taxi drivers. Travelers should be careful to use taxis that have working door handles, locks, and meters (called "marias"), and not ride in the front seat with the driver. There have been several kidnappings, including those of foreigners, in recent years.

Carjackings have increased recently, and motorists have been confronted at gunpoint while stopped at traffic lights or upon arrival at their homes. Two U.S. Embassy employees have been carjacked by armed assailants in the past year.

Travelers should ensure that they purchase an adequate level of locally-valid theft insurance when renting vehicles. One should never leave valuables in the vehicle, and park in paid lots whenever possible. Criminals reportedly have used skeleton keys to break into cars, particularly rental cars. Incidents of crime commonly occur in downtown San Jose, at beaches, at the airport, bus stations and on buses, and at national parks and other tourist attractions. There have been assaults on tourist buses in recent years. Travelers who keep valuables out of sight, who do not wear jewelry, and who travel in groups during daylight hours lessen their risk. Money exchangers on the street pass off counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency. Credit card fraud is growing.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Travelers should carry a copy of their passport data page and leave the passport itself in the hotel safe or other secure location. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department of State’s pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad, for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey. This publication and others, such as Tips for Travelers to Central and South America, are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402; via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs; or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

[Underdog7]

Anyone here who had been in downtown New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, could basically go ANYWHERE without worries.

[fletcher01]

well, unortunately the not having resources is true, specially in the rural area.
The two turists getting murdered near Cahuita was a good example of not using common sense. The two girls we driving at night pick up one guy they have never seen in their lives. I mean, who would risk to pick up some guy in the middle off a road that is surrounded by jungle?
About the two elder americans getting murdered, the problem is that the place they lived in is far out of a city or town, they were living in an open area where it is really easy to hide in the mountains, walk for a few hours and you are in Nicaragua. It takes the police too much time to movilize from where they are to the crime scene and by the time they start looking for somebody, well, most likely they won't find traces of the guys.
Carjacking, and other minor robberies, yes they are, unfortunately, common but again, if you take care of your stuff you'll be fine.
The best to do is to ask your travel agency what to do, where to go, what to take and all that kind of info. Also you can always ask for advise at your hotel when you get to the country.
sometimes it's the turist's fault, to much stuff on them, or they simply do not pay attention to the avises people give them.
When i worked as a tour guide many times i told people exactly what i've been posting here, what to take, where not to go or at what times not to go, etc. Well a lot of times what is the answer? "Don't worry we'll be fine, no one will do anything to us"
WEll, a few times after some time they will come to me saying "Someone took my wallet with all my money, passport, and credit cards."
so, if you don't pay attention of what they tell you, you are taking your chance of getting robbed.
The problem is that some turiss think that you tell them the things to be an asskiser or because you want to be a smartass.
You know, i htink the locals are the ones to listen to, we live here and know how things work around, so if you ask and they tell you don't go there because it is not a nice place, take it into consideration, it could save you problems.
The robberies being commited downtown, beaches, national parks etc, damn, all Costa Rica is beaches, national parks and other turist atractions!!!!
come on, don't freak out the place is a beauty, just enjoy and be careful. ask around and pay attention to what they tell you.
fletcher01

[Hartley]

I'm sure it's still a lot safer at night than Washington or Detroit at any time. Again I wasn't trying to cause trouble, I just wanted a reply to this warning that was posted.

Thanks Fletcher and all for your responses.

[fletcher01]

Hartley,
no problem, I know you idn't want to cause trouble, believe me, if i was planning o go to some place that is given bad publicity, i would also ask around to see what's up.
Again, if you or anybody that you wants to come down, please do so, we welcome our visitors.
We always try to be as friendly as we can!
Thanks for asking around to see what the truth is, you had the common sense to ask and not just believe what is written inthe papers.

fletcher01