www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'll be in CR for the first time in June with a buddy. We rented a car. Is it safe to drive there? I'm not referring to crazy drivers (I can handle them, I'm from NYC) but I'm more concerned about road bandits, kidnappers, etc. I have heard about this kind of stuff going on in Colombia and Panama. How is CR in terms of this? Any suggestions/tips?

-thanks

Very safe compared to the others.
You are more at risk from overpaying the chica or cab driver.

San Jose itself is safe to drive, but outside of the city, the roads can be really bad. Especially around Poas, Arenal, and between Orotina and Heradurra on the way to Jaco. Pot holes are huge. I would not drive to these areas at night.

There are two scenarios that come up over and over on CR travel boards and guides. I think this is the sorta thing you are asking about…

Thieves will puncture a tire on a rental car and follow. If you have a flat - be very leery of Good Samaritans that pull up and offer assistance. One guide goes so far as recommending driving on the rim to a safe spot. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but just so you know. This has never happened to me, but I still make sure the spare, jack, wrench is all good when I pick up the car.

Never Ever leave valuables you can’t live without in a rental car out of your sight. Even for a moment in the trunk or otherwise, whether in town or the country. A popular spot to get nailed is the bridge where you can stop and look at the crocodiles. Breaking into rental cars is one that I can attest to: On the Pacific Coast in a hotel lot with ‘security’ I had a car broken into. No I had not left anything in it except the rental paperwork that had the credit card slip (which be careful of – many of the CC machines down there print out the full account number instead of just the last 4 digits). The slip was taken BTW. I just called the card company and had no problems.

And yes the ‘huecos’ – potholes. Watch it or they will eat you, passenger and your car…Definitely give some thought to the insurance coverage. I always max it up and have had no problems (which I could have had if I hadn’t).

P.S. to Orange…What Flag are you flying there man?

Manaje bien y seguro mae!

Polish

OR UPSIDE Down Indonesian

Yea , I too am in sorrow passing of El Papi, Pope John Paul

Cygnus

I'm not a practicing Catholic anymore, but his passing is a great loss to the world. If not for him, there could have been WWIII back in the 80's. RIP