Safety and Health Concerns

Safety:
Costa Rica is considered a very safe, stable country although there have been some unfortunate incidents involving tourists in the past few years. Violent crime against tourists is a rarity here and in most cases, avoidable. The general rule of thumb is do not do anything in Costa Rica that you would not do in your home country. Do not buy drugs, party late with strangers, walk alone late at night in San Jose, carry large amounts of cash or visibly wear anything of value. The most common crimes against tourists are pick pocketing, “street scams” and theft of unaware travelers at busy places such as bus stops. Be careful, use good judgment and you will most likely come and go without any incident. Prevention and awareness are your best defense against these minor and inconvenient occurrences.

It’s recommended to register online at the US Embassy before traveling to Costa Rica in case of emergency or loss of passport: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. Always leave a copy of your itinerary with a trusted person at home, copies of credit cards, passport, flight information and any other vital information that would be inconvenient to lose. IMPORTANT: Be sure to get international numbers for credit card cancellation hotlines in the event you need to call quickly. Be aware that most 800 numbers based in the US are not toll-free when dialed from Costa Rica. Be sure to ask for a number you can use in Costa Rica to call the US.

Health:
Although no inoculations are required for entry into Costa Rica, there are recommendations for precautions when traveling to remote areas. Please consult your physician as well as the CDC's website for the latest updates when planning your trip to Costa Rica. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm.

Many people ask about taking malaria pills before traveling to Costa Rica. Malaria is not a cause for concern in Costa Rica, however, if you should decide to take malaria pills, be sure to ask your physician about their side effects.

In the event of an emergency Costa Rica

uses the same emergency notification system with the phone number 911. However, you can also dial the Red Cross from any phone at 128. Costa Rica boasts a modern and renowned medical health system, under the administration of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). Facilities are updated, sanitary and reliable. Sol Encounter, S.A. uses private facilities, when possible, which offer quick and efficient care and attention. Furthermore, any foreigner who is temporarily in the country has the right to receive health attention at hospitals and clinics in case of an emergency, sudden illness or a chronic disease.

Sol Encounter strongly urges you to check your medical coverage before leaving home to confirm if your coverage extends internationally. If not, please consider temporary traveler’s insurance complete with the Optional Hazardous Activity coverage which includes white water rafting and surfing in the event of a serious emergency.

Costa Rica Information
History
Safety & Health Concerns




	Safety and Health Concerns Safety: Costa Rica is considered a very safe, stable country although there have been some unfortunate incidents involving tourists in the past few years. Violent crime against tourists is a rarity here and in most cases, avoidable. The general rule of thumb is do not do anything in Costa Rica that you would not do in your home country. Do not buy drugs, party late with strangers, walk alone late at night in San Jose, carry large amounts of cash or visibly wear anything of value. The most common crimes against tourists are pick pocketing, “street scams” and theft of unaware travelers at busy places such as bus stops. Be careful, use good judgment and you will most likely come and go without any incident. Prevention and awareness are your best defense against these minor and inconvenient occurrences. It’s recommended to register online at the US Embassy before traveling to Costa Rica in case of emergency or loss of passport: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. Always leave a copy of your itinerary with a trusted person at home, copies of credit cards, passport, flight information and any other vital information that would be inconvenient to lose. IMPORTANT: Be sure to get international numbers for credit card cancellation hotlines in the event you need to call quickly. Be aware that most 800 numbers based in the US are not toll-free when dialed from Costa Rica. Be sure to ask for a number you can use in Costa Rica to call the US. Health: Although no inoculations are required for entry into Costa Rica, there are recommendations for precautions when traveling to remote areas. Please consult your physician as well as the CDC's website for the latest updates when planning your trip to Costa Rica. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm. Many people ask about taking malaria pills before traveling to Costa Rica. Malaria is not a cause for concern in Costa Rica, however, if you should decide to take malaria pills, be sure to ask your physician about their side effects. In the event of an emergency Costa Rica uses the same emergency notification system with the phone number 911. However, you can also dial the Red Cross from any phone at 128. Costa Rica boasts a modern and renowned medical health system, under the administration of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). Facilities are updated, sanitary and reliable. Sol Encounter, S.A. uses private facilities, when possible, which offer quick and efficient care and attention. Furthermore, any foreigner who is temporarily in the country has the right to receive health attention at hospitals and clinics in case of an emergency, sudden illness or a chronic disease. Sol Encounter strongly urges you to check your medical coverage before leaving home to confirm if your coverage extends internationally. If not, please consider temporary traveler’s insurance complete with the Optional Hazardous Activity coverage which includes white water rafting and surfing in the event of a serious emergency.		Costa Rica Information History Safety & Health Concerns