Safety Concerns

Is crime a problem in Costa Rica?
A rule of thumb while traveling is to always keep in mind that you are in a different country and different rules exist in these countries. Precautions should be taken to minimize risk. Be conscious not to flash large amounts of money on the streets, leave your nice watch at home, don’t leave belongings unattended on the beach and wear a money belt in the cities. Costa Rica has pickpockets and petty thieves similar to anywhere else in the world. However, violent crime in San Jose is much lower than similar sized American cities. Sol Encounter, S.A. is familiar with the country and can advise about areas that are safe or potentially dangerous. Likewise, we will always choose hotels and restaurants in safe areas and that have good reputations.

Can we drink the water?
Yes you can. In Costa Rica’s urban areas the water has been treated – good rainforest water. However, in more remote areas it is recommended to only drink bottled water—more so during the dry season as many of the water reservoirs and sources may be running low.

How are the roads?
Driving in Costa Rica outside of San Jose is an adventure by itself. Many “highways” are full of potholes due to the amount of rain that falls. Because of this, driving times are longer than for a similar distance in a different country. Additionally, don’t forget motion sickness medication for the drives if you’ve got a squirrelly stomach; most destinations have a fair share of curves, hills, bumps and mountains to negotiate. Sol Encounter provides comfortable transportation and reliable drivers so you can forget about the bumps and concentrate on the cloud forests and jungles and beaches and waterfalls instead.

What about the bugs, snakes and creepy-crawlies?
Costa Rica is paradise for an entomologist. Twelve different ecological zones in Costa Rica contribute to the diversity and magnitude of creatures. That being said however, it is our experience that in many areas the most irritating insect is the common horsefly. Mosquitoes and other biting insects such as sand fleas do exist in Costa Rica but are usually no worse than the same insects during a North American summer. Yes, there are many snakes in Costa Rica, but a snake-lover would be lucky to see one unless actively seeking it. Many snakes make an appearance at certain times of day and in specific locations. We will always advise if there is a danger of encountering a venomous snake or insect and plan accordingly to minimize the risk. Consider that there have been no fatal snakebites in Costa Rica for the last seven years. The same cannot be said for traffic accidents.

Should I be in shape for this trip?
-Sol Encounter is an adventure tour company. Days on the river will be moderately strenuous for the upper body, just as days hiking through the rainforest will be moderately strenuous on the lower body and your endurance. While you certainly do not need to be a star athlete to enjoy a trip, the better shape you are in, the more you will see and be able to experience. You should be able to comfortably walk/hike for several hours in a day and be able to perform strenuous exercise such as running or weight training on a limited basis.

Safety Concerns
Medical Concerns
Travel Reminders
Recommended Packing
Miscellaneous




	Safety Concerns Is crime a problem in Costa Rica? A rule of thumb while traveling is to always keep in mind that you are in a different country and different rules exist in these countries. Precautions should be taken to minimize risk. Be conscious not to flash large amounts of money on the streets, leave your nice watch at home, don’t leave belongings unattended on the beach and wear a money belt in the cities. Costa Rica has pickpockets and petty thieves similar to anywhere else in the world. However, violent crime in San Jose is much lower than similar sized American cities. Sol Encounter, S.A. is familiar with the country and can advise about areas that are safe or potentially dangerous. Likewise, we will always choose hotels and restaurants in safe areas and that have good reputations. Can we drink the water? Yes you can. In Costa Rica’s urban areas the water has been treated – good rainforest water. However, in more remote areas it is recommended to only drink bottled water—more so during the dry season as many of the water reservoirs and sources may be running low. How are the roads? Driving in Costa Rica outside of San Jose is an adventure by itself. Many “highways” are full of potholes due to the amount of rain that falls. Because of this, driving times are longer than for a similar distance in a different country. Additionally, don’t forget motion sickness medication for the drives if you’ve got a squirrelly stomach; most destinations have a fair share of curves, hills, bumps and mountains to negotiate. Sol Encounter provides comfortable transportation and reliable drivers so you can forget about the bumps and concentrate on the cloud forests and jungles and beaches and waterfalls instead. What about the bugs, snakes and creepy-crawlies? Costa Rica is paradise for an entomologist. Twelve different ecological zones in Costa Rica contribute to the diversity and magnitude of creatures. That being said however, it is our experience that in many areas the most irritating insect is the common horsefly. Mosquitoes and other biting insects such as sand fleas do exist in Costa Rica but are usually no worse than the same insects during a North American summer. Yes, there are many snakes in Costa Rica, but a snake-lover would be lucky to see one unless actively seeking it. Many snakes make an appearance at certain times of day and in specific locations. We will always advise if there is a danger of encountering a venomous snake or insect and plan accordingly to minimize the risk. Consider that there have been no fatal snakebites in Costa Rica for the last seven years. The same cannot be said for traffic accidents. Should I be in shape for this trip? -Sol Encounter is an adventure tour company. Days on the river will be moderately strenuous for the upper body, just as days hiking through the rainforest will be moderately strenuous on the lower body and your endurance. While you certainly do not need to be a star athlete to enjoy a trip, the better shape you are in, the more you will see and be able to experience. You should be able to comfortably walk/hike for several hours in a day and be able to perform strenuous exercise such as running or weight training on a limited basis.		Safety Concerns Medical Concerns Travel Reminders Recommended Packing Miscellaneous