University of California, Education Abroad Program
Student Guide for Costa Rica
Personal Safety
Past Students Say…
"I feel very safe here, actually safer here than I do in L. A."
"It’s not dangerous, but you have to use your head. For example women should keep their purses close, and not walk alone at night, especially in certain neighborhoods.
The "safe haven," eco-tourist image that many students have of Costa Rica runs head on into reality when you realize that San Jose increasingly finds itself troubled by problems similar to those of other major international cities. In the past, EAP students in Costa Rica have experienced some form of petty theft, mugging, or minor crime. Sexual harassment (verbal comments or even physical advances) has surprised a good number of EAP students. Beware—petty theft and burglary are common. Special care has to be taken when traveling or walking around; for example, be careful with purses and wallets at discotheques and marketplaces. This is not meant to discourage you but to make you aware of the need to take the appropriate precautions once abroad.
Ocean Undertows Are Dangerous
Although the beaches in Costa Rica are especially alluring, the undertows are particularly treacherous and most beaches are not protected by lifeguards. Drowning is the second cause of accidental death in Costa Rica, and most of the victims have been tourists.
Past students have experienced petty theft in San Jose, Montezuma, Puerto Viejo and Manuel Antonio. Beware! The likelihood of robbery can be minimized with a few simple precautions: Carry your backpack on your front, not your back; don't place money, documents, or other valuables in your backpack; keep on guard in public or crowded places. Past students who have been the victims of robberies have experienced the inconvenience of cards, obtaining new documents, etc. A little precaution can save a lot of headache. Past students also report that Costa Rica now has a large "sex tourism" industry. Unfortunately, many locals cannot differentiate who are the tourists and who are the college students. Sex tourism has become more frequent in three of the most beautiful beach areas: Puexto Viejo on the Caribbean, and Montezuma and Manuel Antonio on the Pacific. Female students should not travel-alone to these places.
Like many international cities, San Jose is subject to the problems associated with dense urban living--increased crime, pollution, higher population density and its associated lack of privacy, or standards of living that are not comparable to life at UC. While there may be little that you can do to mitigate these problems, you should not underestimate the tension, disappointment, and adjustment that you may experience in dealing with them. Most of these problems can be overcome with flexibility, anticipation of what to expect, and perhaps most important, perspective and sense of humor.
You need to familiarize yourself with the particular aspects of your new host country and city and take the necessary precautions. Your preparation should begin before departure with independent reading about your host country, and orientation sessions where you can talk with returnees about their experiences. Find out what challenges were posed and how previous participants met these challenges. Once on site, you will have additional orientation sessions. Learn which areas of the city are safe. Become familiar with the best means of transportation and well-traveled routes as you go about your daily business. Learn how to handle cash and the transmission of funds from the U.S.
As a traveler, be well-organized. Keep documents safe but readily available. Study local maps to become familiar with your destinations, noting which areas are safe. Always rely on yourself for money, access to transit, housing options, etc.
Theft: Take Precautions
You are responsible for your own personal property. You can safeguard your things from damage or theft by locking your room, and securing your money, travelers checks, jewelry, passport, and other possessions. Use logical precautions: don't carry valuables, don't wear expensive clothing or jewelry, and avoid questionable parts of the city, especially at night or when alone. Be cautions about inviting casual acquaintances into your home. Minimize your "foreignness" through your actions and appearance.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Federal Aviation Administration recently learned of a widespread hustle to steal laptop computers at airports. The scheme involves two persons who look for a victim who is carrying a laptop and approaching a metal detector. Both perpetrators position themselves on line in front of you, the unsuspecting passenger. They stall until you place your laptop computer on the conveyor belt. Then the first subject moves through the metal detector easily. The second person sets off the detector and beans a slow process of emptying pockets, removing jewelry, etc. While this is happening the first subject takes the laptop from the other end of the conveyor belt and moves away quickly. When you finally get through the metal detector, your computer is gone. The subject that picked it up has disappeared in the crowd. Sometimes there is a third subject who will take the computer from the first subject and the computer is out of sight befog you even know it is gone.
This is becoming a widely practiced crime and has been reported at airports everywhere. When traveling with a computer or any other valuable luggage, avoid separating yourself from it. If there are lines at the metal detectors, delay putting your luggage on the conveyor until you are sure that you will be the next person to pass through the metal detector. As you move through the detector, keep your eyes on the conveyor belt for your luggage and watch what those in front of you are picking up.
