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...]
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...]
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...]
Real Estate Fraud & White Collar Crime in Costa Rica
Big scams involving real estate, investments, contract bribery, and banking are rampant in Costa Rica, but do not typically affect tourists. However if you’re thinking about moving there know that the U.S. department of State rated Costa Rica as one of the worst places in the world for protecting … [Read more...]
What If You’re a Victim?
In reality most foreigners who are victims of crimes, fraud, scams or just plain bad service shrug it off and go home. Tell the Police If you’re the victim of a crime in Costa Rica you should report it to the local police. Even if there is nearly no chance of an arrest, conviction or recovery … [Read more...]
Justice in Costa Rica
Not so Much If you’re a criminal and considering relocation, Costa Rica is a very attractive destination. Residency laws are favorable, the standard of living is high and it’s unlikely you’ll be caught, less likely you’ll be prosecuted and almost impossible to be convicted. The rights of the … [Read more...]
Crime Against Costa Ricans
The Dark Side of Pura Vida Costa Rica works very hard to prevent crimes against tourists and for the most part does a very good job. Unfortunately the same cannot be said when it comes to protecting her own population. There are many reasons Costa Ricans are tens if not hundreds of times more … [Read more...]