www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Tico Times..

Costa Rica’s tourism sector, a longtime bedrock of our national economy, continues to face an ongoing decline, with visitor arrivals dropping for seven consecutive months, according to industry data. A strong colón and persistent safety concerns remain key factors undermining the country’s standing as a top travel destination.

Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) President Róger Madrigal has acknowledged that the exchange rate, with the dollar near ₡500, is likely contributing to the sustained tourism downturn. “It must have some effect, but we shouldn’t focus exclusively on the exchange rate, as a wrong diagnosis could lead to inappropriate measures,” Madrigal said, underscoring the issue’s complexity. He indicated that intervening in the exchange market could disrupt other economic sectors, despite ongoing appeals from the tourism industry for action.

The appreciated colón is placing significant pressure on tourism businesses, 85% of which are micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. In Guanacaste, hoteliers have increased prices by up to 15% to offset losses, potentially deterring budget-conscious travelers. The sector’s repeated requests for exchange rate adjustments have yet to be addressed, with authorities prioritizing broader economic stability.

Persistent safety concerns are also driving tourists away. A National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) survey found that 62% of prospective U.S. tourists cited safety as a reason for choosing destinations like Belize or Mexico. Official data reports 880 homicides in 2024, 225 in 2025 to date, and over 6,300 tourist-related crimes, including thefts and assaults. A high-profile robbery near Tamarindo in early April 2025, widely circulated online, has further damaged Costa Rica’s reputation.

KLM will be adding flights in October..I guess the ladies will have to learn Dutch

AirFrance is adding 2 flights a week during peak times in Dec-Jan and Feb-March.
KLM is adding 1 additional flight a week Oct-April
So the ladies will have a few months to hit Duolingo

Now, why a monger would want to fly from Amsterdam to San Jose, that's the question.

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If you let the devil ride, he's gonna want to drive

Well, I just speak for myself....but Mexico has everything that Costa Rica has when it comes to general tourism and sex tourism, is bigger, has much more variety, and is significantly cheaper and closer to where I live! So, that's where I've been going instead of Costa Rica. Perhaps I'm not the only one.

What parts do you recommend checking out in MEX? & what part of the states are you flying out from?

Hello, if you want a destination literally right over the border, I recommend Tijuana. However, Guadalajara is great for both conventional tourism and sex tourism. The Guadalajara massage parlor and escort scene is great. However, the further south in Mexico you go, the ability to speak Spanish becomes more and more important. I don't want to give too much information about where I live, so I'm not going to directly answer your other question. However, I will say that when I go to Tijuana, I fly into San Diego, and then head to the border where I cross on foot. If you want any more information, let me know. You can also PM me.

I have never checked the exchange rate nor use it to determine when and where I go on vacation.

Who is making vacation plans based on the exchange rate?

Now how good my experience was will determine if I return. This is something ALL businesses in the tourism industry need to keep in mind.

Steely Dan says Guadalajara won't do!

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If you see me at the bottom, please bring me my running shoes!

Always trust a steam powered dildo

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If you let the devil ride, he's gonna want to drive

Many regular tourists do, directly or indirectly. You look at prices for resorts in Costa Rica, for example, and they are 40% higher than they were 2 years ago, and when you compare to other alternatives you find Costa Rica too expensive. And voila, the fact that the US dollar once got you 710 colones, now gets you 500, may have been part of why Costa Rica is more expensive now, and also possibly in comparison to other destinations. So of course, most people look at cost when making vacation plans.

When I first went to Costa Rica in 2007, I thought because I spoke Spanish and had colones, I wouldn’t be charged tourist prices. Man-O-live was I wrong. Every hotel wanted $100 no matter what a flea bag hotel it was. When I asked how much was the room in Colones, they got out a calculator. I said, “You don’t know how much a room is in Colones without a calculator!” They said, “for you the price is different.”

If you’re coming from USA, the price is “different.”

It may not be good enough for her, but it more than satisfies my needs....in more ways than one.

That’s interesting my first time in Costa Rica was 2004. For last 21 years I had never paid more than $100 per night before tax Even now. I booked my hotel in the states. Only twice I decide to stay extra week and check in different hotel and I got better price in cash.

Before Covid, I stayed at hote Morazán. And you are correct it is a roach motel, but only hundred yards from Del Rey. It’s worth it.

In 2007, I didn’t stay in the Gulch. I rented a small 4x4 and drove around the country. I spent one night in Jaco at the Best Western. Jaco was the only place that was like the Gulch. I only stayed in Jaco as it was getting dark and it was the city coming up.

On my first trip, I didn’t know about Del Rey or Sportsmen’s.

And I'm never going back to my old school!

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If you see me at the bottom, please bring me my running shoes!