Avoid Trouble in Paradise
Located in the heart of Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is a popular vacation destination for everyone from families to adventure travelers.
Traveling to Costa Rica
Costa Rica has 900 miles of combined Pacific and Caribbean coastline, and over half of the country is rainforest.
That means there are endless outdoor activities to enjoy and adventures to have, but it also means you need to be prepared for the unexpected, both in the jungle and in populated areas.
Travelers can fall prey to scams in larger cities like San Jose, and some smaller port, jungle, and border towns are dangerous after dark.
December through April is Costa Rica’s dry season, and not coincidentally, also the peak tourist season. To escape the crowds, you may head into the jungle, but it’s important to be aware of some of the health and safety risks as you do.
Costa Rica is home to 16 volcanoes, a handful of which are considered active, so be sure to travel with a guide or ask a park ranger before you head out. It’s also prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, with the most recent large tremor being a magnitude 6.5 in 2017.
Unlike other countries in the region, however, Costa Rica has a modern disaster response system and updated building codes that have mitigated the negative impact of many recent quakes.
The rainy season in Costa Rica, also called the “green season,” runs from April to October. Visitors who arrive during this time will find fewer crowds, but also the potential for heavy rains, flooding, and the occasional hurricane.