"The Arenal volcano tour ends with a sunset mirador at 5:30 p.m. so we'll just pack and drive up to Monteverde for dinner then..." More like breakfast if you're lucky. Although a few km of modern highway are added to Costa Rica's road system each year driving at night on most routes is … [Read more...]
Traveler Health & Safety in Costa Rica
Travel in Costa Rica is generally very safe but there are a number of things that are probably different than your home country. Taking a few minutes to learn about rip-currents or even altitude sickness could make the difference between a health happy trip and a miserable or even disastrous one,
Self Test for Travelers Returning to the U.S.
Update June 10, 2022 - TESTING IS NOT REQUIRED - as of Sunday June 12, 2022 12:01 EST travelers will be permitted to board international flights departing for the U.S. with NO testing. Update April 1, 2022 - Several companies have begun offering just proctoring services so travelers can use any … [Read more...]
NO Covid Vaccination for Costa Rica
UPDATE: As of April 1, 2022 the vaccine mandate and all other Covid related entry and travel restrictions for Costa Rica have been suspended. No testing required No vaccination required No "pase de salud" electronic health pass required No travel insurance required No QR codes … [Read more...]
Traveler’s Health Tips
Some basic planning and precautions can help keep you healthy and happy while traveling. Where to Get Care Emergencies Dial 911 toll free, and no coin required at a pay phone for emergency assistance. The Red Cross Rescue unit may be reached directly at 128 throughout the country (2221-5818 in San … [Read more...]
New Instant Covid Viral Test – $30, FDA Approved
Update February 28, 2021 - eMed modified their website to include the following statement " these tests are NOT APPROVED for international reentry requirements" Update February 22, 2021 - The Chief Marketing Officer of eMed contacted us today requesting that we stop recommending their … [Read more...]
Coronaviris & Covid19 in Costa Rica
The recent sixth consecutive extension of the closure of Costa Rica's borders from the end of June until at least August 1 was expected but disappointing. At a press conference at the end of June the president promised international visitors a comprehensive and detailed plan with specific … [Read more...]
Corruption in Costa Rica
Corruption is a Latin American stereotype and Costa Rican headlines continuously announce the latest official caught taking bribes for anything from automotive safety inspections to construction contracts. Corruption impacts residents much more than tourists, but visitors may experience it in a few … [Read more...]
Preventing Theft
Each time I update this page I struggle to figure out how to get people to take crime seriously without making Costa Rica sound like a war zone. What the tourist board wants everyone to know is that "Costa Rica has the lowest crime rate of any Central American country", but this a dubious … [Read more...]
The Most Dangerous Thing in Costa Rica
Can you guess what danger is hiding in plain sight in this photo of a room with a view in Costa Rica...? There are a lot of candidates for the most treacherous, risky, menacing peril awaiting visitors to Costa Rica - crocodiles in the estuaries, dengue mosquitoes in the swamps, deadly vipers … [Read more...]
National Parks & Reserves Under Siege
Most visitors would never consider intentionally taking a tresspassing tour to areas closed for safety and wildlife conservation but according to officials Costa Rica's National Parks, Reserves and Wildlife Refuges are experiencing a crisis of trespassing and more serious illegal activity. tourists … [Read more...]
Safe Healthy Travel
It’s tough to think about things like accidents, illness, disasters and crime in paradise, but a little awareness can go a long ways towards making your visit safe. Read this, heed this and get out there and have fun. In general Costa Rica is a very safe place, but as a traveler it's … [Read more...]
Natural Disasters in Costa Rica
hurricane | volcano | earthquake | tsunami | flood | updates Earthquakes Earthquakes are quite common in Costa Rica with small ones occurring daily and tremors strong enough to feel a few times a year. Major quakes strike about once a decade but no tourist has ever been killed or seriously … [Read more...]
Unexpected Expatriate
If a one week vacation turns into a forced stay of a couple of years it would have severe consequences for your job, your home and your family. A Hypothetical Situation Tom slams on his brakes to avoid hitting a child dashing across the highway. The car following crunches into the rear of Tom's … [Read more...]
Crime Tips for Photo, Video & Content Pros in Costa Rica
Photographers, naturalist guides, video teams, bloggers and other professionals face two difficult security challenges in Costa Rica. Protecting tools and work product in Costa Rica requires education and hyper-vigilance. The most important thing to learn is that being surrounded by genuine … [Read more...]
Con Artists and Rip-offs in Costa Rica
Internet Travel Scams If you’re shopping for travel on the internet you should check the company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), ICT, and Canatur before sending any money. Nearly all of the travel service companies, tour companies, hotels and lodges are honest and legitimate but … [Read more...]
Violent Crime in Costa Rica
Violent crime involving tourists is rare in Costa Rica but it's a serious and rapidly growing problem for residents. Since 2015 the murder rate has significantly exceeded the World Health Organization homicide epidemic threshold of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2016 the U.S. Department of State … [Read more...]
Terrorism in Costa Rica
Because of the nature of transportation and the use of hostages to leverage the U.S. and European governments, international terrorism has become part of travel. Fortunately Costa Rica is not a prime target. There is almost no connection with the hatred in the Middle East and Islamic extremism, … [Read more...]
Scientific Perspective on Zika Virus
I was planning a Costa Rica vacation for my extended family (3 years to 73 years old, none pregnant) in 2016 and wanted to know what risk the Zika virus posed. My PhD in Biochemistry doesn't usually contribute directly to my current job as a travel writer, but in this case it provided me with the … [Read more...]
Zika Virus in Costa Rica
Zika is the latest tropical mosquito borne virus to appear in America. While more closely related to West Nile virus the symptoms are like a mild case of dengue or chikungunya - usually a slight fever, headaches and sometime red eyes or mild joint pain. The disease is spread by day flying … [Read more...]
Chikungunya New Mosquito Threat
It spreads like Dengue and it feels like Dengue but it's a newly introduced mosquito borne viral disease from Africa called Chikungunya. The name is an African word with the ominous meaning "contorted with pain" The virus is spread when an infected individual travels to a previously unaffected … [Read more...]