I first visited Costa Rica as a 19-year old student in 1991 with a study-abroad group. I returned to study again in 1993, a trip which solidified my fluency, giving me near-native proficiency.

In 1998, I begain bringing my own students to Costa Rica and have done so ever since. This year, 2008, was an eye-opening experience.

Petty Theft in Costa Rica is not just a problem. IT’S AN EPIDEMIC! Petty theft is a profession because it is not punishable by law under $500.00. Criminals have nothing to lose and at least your camera, purse, or back-pack to gain. San José is not safe at night. Anything goes. It’s almost a lawless society without consequences. Almost everyone has a story about being asaltado o robado. Avoid Downtown San José completely. Go no further than the Museo Nacional and the vendors immediately in front of the museum.

Yo amo Costa Rica porque es parte de quien soy, pero: if you go, you better be alert, never let your guard down, and pretend that you belong there, radiating confidence. If you are fair-complected, blonde, red-headed, or obviously “American,” you are a walking target so do everything in your power to make others think differently. If you are a student, I wouold not carry a back-pack. Even if you only have books, los ladrones are going to thing you have something else. Just carry your books.

Speak Spanish, adopt Tico customs, be polite, but internally be vigilant and thinking about the “what-ifs.” Avoid “crazy-looking” people, and always be on the look-out for suspicious types. Develop a plan as you go. Look for stores to enter for safety if needed or just until a supicious person is out of sight.

Sadly, this is now the reality of life in San José for everyone. I am only referring to life in San José. TRAVEL BY TAXI AT NIGHT! NEVER WALK AT NIGHT! DON’T GET DRUNK OR STONED! You will only diminish your control and make yourself an easier target. Stay in control!

Costa Rica holds some of the most beautiful places on earth so it is worth experiencing. If you can avoid spending time in San José, do so. If not, be smart.

Fuera de la capital, Costa Rica lives up to the praise of the past.

Jaime

Does anyone know if renter’s insurance (particularly against theft) exists in CR? or does anyone have any experiences with it?

Thanks!
Manda

NOW what do I say?? Thanks!

To put it in perspective, the RCR web site gets over 30,000 visitors monthly from nearly every country in the world that has Internet availability.

This Blog gets about 10,000 visitors monthly. Between the two, I get 200-300 emails weekly.

This year, Walter was only the second person to say anything negative.

If only two folks are unhappy out of that many visitors, I am not going to get too worked up over it.

BTW, the other negative emails were from:

1. a real estate guy who did not like me telling people to wait and check out CR before buying and telling people only to buy from an agent who is actually a Permanent Resident i.e. legally here. Many, many are not!

2. Some other people who did not like my Post on satellite Internet and telling people how it is illegal here (unless purchased from ICE/RACSA. Odd! They were in the satellite sales/installation biz!

As a woman traveling alone once and with my daughter once, I felt safe enough - maybe I just wasn’t paying attention. But, I’ve lived all over the US and traveled plenty. I can say that I felt alot safer in Costa Rica than the last few times I went to NY City or when I’ve had to go through a lockdown because of ‘gang activity’ where I work.

At the same time, it didn’t seem as safe as my ‘high end’ neighborhood in the Denver suburbs - but I didn’t expect that. People were pretty friendly, encouraged me to try out my little bit of Spanish, spoke slowly so I could understand them, and even the policeman that stopped me for speeding just gave me a warning ticket. All in all, I had good experiences and loved the country because of the people, weather, and beauty of the landscape.

But I will suggest that Walter read my numerous posts here and in the http://www.therealcostarica.com web site on this topic.

While Estefan is correct about there being no laws making it a requirement to learn Spanish or far that matter to learn anything about Latin culture, to live in a foreign country and make no attempt to learn the native language and the culture is, in my mind, just rude and demonstrates a lack of respect for the host country. I know when I lived in Chicago, a place known for its ethnic neighborhoods, it really irritated me that so many people could not speak one word of English. They did not even try but they sure enjoyed the benefits of living there.

In any case, you pretty much did miss my whole point Walter, but no apology is necessary. I did notice though that you do seem to carry a LOT of emotional problems about Gringos in general and your experiences in particular. Probably learned behavior while in the US. You need to get back here. The US is fouling up your life. Tim (Blog Owner)

Did you not get it that he was telling people how dumb they were to live with a bunch of other “Gringos” as opposed to living in a Tico neighborhood where they could lean the language and adapt?

To wit:

“First of all you’re wrong. You and any other American who thinks they can come to Costa Rica, not assimilate the culture, not learning the language which is Spanish and spewing the “right” to not integrate? Pal, I have every right to retaliate against comments like this because I’ve lived in the States for 13 years straight.
Every year that lived here I heard how if we, the immigrants, wanted to be Americans or American Like, we had to abide, assimilate, learn and integrate to the American lifestyle. Not doing so would render us, undesirables.”

What are you talking about?

First, this blogger has written at least twenty times that foreignors living in Costa Rica absolutely must learn the language in order to enjoy life here and to fit in to the culture. They must respect the laws and if they do not like them, they should return to the own country. How you possibly could get anything other than that indicates that you surely have trouible undertanding plain English!

“Well, I’d like to slap the concept in your face now. I’m going back home and after being a proud American Like immigrant, I’m proud to say I paid my taxes, obeyed the laws, assimilated the culture, improved on my English, and socialized with the locals. It wasn’t out of options, I had no choice.”

Good for you! That is exactly what this blogger has said ANY foreigner must do to live here and enjoy it. How you got anything else from his posts is beyond me.

“If you, or any other American wants to go to Costa Rica, you will have to abide by our laws, learn our language, assimilate our lifestyle and not doing so doesn’t constitute your right!

What makes you better than us Costa Ricans who come to your country to do as you say and have you not do as we say? What are you out of your mind?”

If someone is out of their mind buddy, it is YOU.

1. American does NOT mean Gringo. ANYONE from north America, south America or Central America is AMERICAN. Maybe YOU meant North American? In any case, I have never seen this blogger say anyone did not have to obey laws in Costa Rica. What nonsense!

2. There is no law here that says anyone has to learn Spanish much less assimilate the culture. Costa Rica is a free and democratic country and makes no such demands on foreigners. Some people do, some don’t, but there is no law that says it is required. Why speaking Spanish is not even required if a foreigner applies for Costa Rica citizenship. Did you know that?

The guy who writes this blog and the main web site state clearly that learning Spanish and appreciating the culture is something that should be done if ANY foreighner want to truly enjoy life here. He constantly tells people how their lives will be more enjoyable if they do learn Spanish, but make no mistake, it is not required by anyone much less the Costa Rica government.

He stated:

“They do not want to learn Spanish and have no desire to integrate into the Latin culture. That is fine and is their right”

He is correct! That is their right. If they want to live with a bunch of other people from their country and never do anything to to join in, that is their right. There is again no law that says different. Go to New York, Chicago, LA or any big US city and you will find whole neighborhoods where there is no English spoken, they have their own newspapers, TV and radio stations. That is their right just as it is here. I am glad you learned and tried to adapt, but as you well know, you did not have to. You chose to in order to fit and perhaps make a better living.

“I will absolutely dissagree with any gringo or any other NON COSTA RICAN CITIZEN wanting to come to my beautiful Costa Rica to do as they please. Costa Rica is not your ground to do as you please sir nor it is your playground.”

Where did he say that??

It is unbelievable that you read his words yet understood not one thing he was trying to say. In case you have not kept up with the enormous increase in violent crime here, let me send you a message. It is not the North Americans that are the problem. It is foreigners the large majority of whom DO speak Spanish and have no respect for Costa Rica.

A larger number of criminal every day are Ticos and are gang members.

The foreign criminals do not care. Many brag that if caught, and they are all the time, and are deported, they just come back the following week. WHy? Because Costa Rica seldom jails them. The just deport them and back they come a few days later because Costa Rica is easy on criminals, especially foreign criminals.

I have lived here for almost 20 years and I have never once read about US citizens hijacking cars, murdering people, robbing tourists or anything else like that.

Also, I visit my home near LA and travel frequently to the US. There are no laws there that say anyone need learn English. In fact there are areas where nobody speaks one word of English. California schools are faced with this all the time.

I read your comment twice and for sure, you have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe if you really are Costa Rican, you are referring to a Costa Rica from many years ago. Belive me, that Costa Rica is gone.

I will not say I agree with every single word this guy writes, but of all the web sites and blogs on Costa Rica, this is only one that never disrespects the Costa Rica people and never tries to sell out Costa Rica. He speaks bluntly and tells the truth, and over the past several years, I know of only once where I did not think he hit the nail squarely on the head. He tells people what they need to know if they plan to live here.

You sir, just have no clue about what you are writing about and if you have one ounce of class, you would post a retraction comment so you do not look so foolish.

The owner of this blog wrote: “I find this pretty amusing (the irony, not the crime) that Gringos moved there in the first place to be comfortable living with other Gringos. They perceive safety (in numbers) living behind those gated communities while not actually having to deal with the “natives”. They do not want to learn Spanish and have no desire to integrate into the Latin culture. That is fine and is their right”

First of all you’re wrong. You and any other American who thinks they can come to Costa Rica, not assimilate the culture, not learning the language which is Spanish and spewing the “right” to not integrate? Pal, I have every right to retaliate against comments like this because I’ve lived in the States for 13 years straight.
Every year that lived here I heard how if we, the immigrants, wanted to be Americans or American Like, we had to abide, assimilate, learn and integrate to the American lifestyle. Not doing so would render us, undesirables.

Well, I’d like to slap the concept in your face now. I’m going back home and after being a proud American Like immigrant, I’m proud to say I paid my taxes, obeyed the laws, assimilated the culture, improved on my English, and socialized with the locals. It wasn’t out of options, I had no choice.

As I type, I can’t stop thinking of how I will make sure the same nonsense I endured here doesn’t spread in my beautiful Costa Rica.

If you, or any other American wants to go to Costa Rica, you will have to abide by our laws, learn our language, assimilate our lifestyle and not doing so doesn’t constitute your right!

What makes you better than us Costa Ricans who come to your country to do as you say and have you not do as we say? What are you out of your mind?

I will absolutely dissagree with any gringo or any other NON COSTA RICAN CITIZEN wanting to come to my beautiful Costa Rica to do as they please. Costa Rica is not your ground to do as you please sir nor it is your playground.

As immigrants you will be treated as such, exactly as we immigrants were treated here. You gave us, we will give you, you granted, we will grant, you provided we will provide.

Don’t forget, that there are immigrants here in the United States who are going back home filled with knowledge, wealth, skills and with a taste of the American lifestyle and we will make sure, the same way we were treated here in the states is the same was we will treat you there, in Costa Rica.

God bless everyone! Not just america!