Costa Rica is a safe and peaceful country, aggression and violence are uncharacteristic of the Tico culture. However...

Costa Rica is a safe and peaceful country, aggression and violence are uncharacteristic of the Tico culture. However, as with all touristy places in the world, thefts and robberies do occur to those who leave their common sense at home.

In the capital city, San Jose, tourists need to be careful not to wonder into dark corners at night; do not walk through a deserted park alone, even in daylight; at bus stations and bus stops, look out for pickpockets; never leave valuables in the car, visible or in the trunk; park in a well lit area or in a paid parking lot; do not walk around the city with a laptop over your shoulder.

On the beach, do not take for granted that there is no one around and leave valuables lying around unattended; on the other hand, do not assume that because there are many people around no one would steal; if you are driving a rental car, you will be a prime target for car burglars, so do not leave any valuables behind.

You should be watchful of crime gangs’ tricks that attempt to distract you while the other takes advantage of your loss of focus.

As far as possible keep your passport locked away in a hotel safe or somewhere, instead, carry a photocopy of the identification page, and the page with your entry stamp; these are all you need to travel or drive around with within the country. 

Do not get into a taxi that does not have a yellow triangle on the door, with the car plate number inside the triangle, even if it is red and has a meter.