Crimes committed against tourists visiting Costa Rica usually involve a petty theft of some kind for the simple fact many tourists lack common sense when traveling abroad.
Well, now STUPID tourists have a friend in Costa Rica. The powers that be have buckled under the pressure and have decided to give 'Stupidity' one more chance to be less STUPID, by placing 2 booths in the San Jose Airport, aka the Juan Santamaria International Airport, in order to provide tourists some crime prevention tips. This is called reinforcing STUPIDITY.
This out today in AM Costa Rica (this is not the entire article):
"José María Tijerino, the minister of Gobernación, Policía y Seguridad Pública, said that by contacting tourists early there were more opportunities to provide information for a safe visit.
The agencies appear to be responding to the many negative experiences that have given Costa Rica a bad name in other countries. For example, the U.S. Embassy reported that in 2009 more than 1,200 U.S. passports were reported missing or stolen there."
Okay, maybe booths at the airport are a good idea. My point is who in their right mind would travel to a country and not do at least a little homework before traveling? I can guarantee out of the 1,200 passports missing or stolen, about 1,100 were due to some sort of irresponsibility on the tourists part.
In the AM Costa Rica article they also mention the flat-tire scam:
"Crooks use the punctured tire routine to get tourists, usually in rental vehicles, to pull over and expose themselves to highway robbers."
This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. ANYONE who is visiting Costa Rica should already know this with just an hour or two of pre-travel research. These 'booths' can't tell you anything you shouldn't already KNOW.
I suppose it's how it ALWAYS is- the responsible taking the responsibility for the irresponsible- STUPIDITY should be PAINFUL, and to many tourists it often becomes just that. And of course it's these idiots that shout the LOUDEST about how dangerous Costa Rica is, unable or unwilling to take responsibility for their lack thereof. *Their should be an asterisk next to the 1,200 missing passports with the percentage of those that could have been avoided through common sense.
In an ironic twist, these guys followed our Travel Tips and had no problems while in Costa Rica.
KNOW THIS: it's the STUPID tourists giving Costa Rica the bad name.....
I'm sorry, I'm just so OVER this topic.
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The soon to be defuncted, 'official' taxi of the Juan Santamaria International Airport.
It appears the ubiquitous orange taxi's (all 75 of them), that provide service only from the Juan Santamaria International Airport aka San Jose Airport, to the surrounding San Jose area, are being 'kicked to the curb'.
Doesn't really matter WHY, but in about 3 months it looks like their licenses will be REVOKED- figuratively and literally.
So, here's our NEW video, combined with the old yet still pertinent footage about flying into the San Jose Airport- Hope it Helps.
Costa Rica needs about 4 more International Airports.
In the BEGINNING, there was the Juan Santamaría International Airport aka, the San José Airport. Then came the Daniel Oduber International Airport aka, the Liberia International Airport, so tourist types could hit the beaches of the northern pacific coast without the hassle of navigating the shitty roads Costa Rica is known for- I get that. Now, the powers that be, mainly Costa Rica’s President Oscar Arias Sánchez, and his Panamanian counterpart, Ricardo Martinelli, have decided it would be a good idea to build another international airport in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica (in Palma Sur), which would benefit both countries. Costa Rican officials are hoping a southern zone airport will have the same developmental impact that the Dan Oduber Airport in Liberia has had on the pacific coast. I have NO doubt.
Personally, I think this is a GREAT idea. I’m a HUGE advocate of progress, development and modernization, especially when it attracts the TOURIST dollar for the overall economic betterment of the country. Businesses and specifically ones connected to the tourist industry (which is pretty much EVERYONE) will benefit BIG time- this of course is all that matters.
I’ve always argued that Costa Rica should be more accessible to Joe Schmo tourist. If I were running the show, I would build International Airports in Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, Manuel Antonio and even in Penas Blancas on the Nicaraguan border (we don’t want our neighbors to the north to feel left out). For example, it’s ridiculous to have to rent a car and navigate the shitty roads or figure out the bus system in order to visit the leatherback sea turtles in Tortuguero when a strategically built airport and hotel shuttle could put anyone at a Leatherback nesting site in short order. And an International Airport in Manuel Antonio/Quepos is just sound LOGIC, since it’s a TOP Costa Rican destination and included in just about anyone’s travel itinerary- HELLOOO…who doesn’t go THERE?
MY International Airport in Puerto Viejo, located in the Southeastern part of the country, would complete the 4-corners, making Costa Rica much more ‘USER’ friendly.
On a somewhat related note: Upon exiting the plane in Puerto Viejo, tourists would be entertained by authentic Caribbean locals belting out popular reggae tunes… as well as given some sort of foo-foo Coconut drink…. i think it's a nice touch.
I applaud Arias, do you know how much time will be saved with an International airport close to Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula… DAMN IT, people want their wilderness areas more ACCESSIBLE. Seriously, even I haven’t visited Corcovado yet because it’s such a pain in the ass to get to. But not only accessible, like most Americans, I want what I want when I want it… and for the record I don’t DO tents or hostels, so I better have access to nice hotels, resorts, restaurants...
and of course a plethora of souvenir shops in order to pick out the perfect wooden toucan which BEST represents MY Costa Rican experience. Oh, and I really don’t care for rice and beans, a Burger King would be nice. (I think this is the positive developmental impact they’re talking about). Actually, even a handful of all ‘inclusive’ resorts scattered about might bring in some folks who wouldn’t normally visit a country like Costa Rica, that way they could have a wilderness experience in LUXURY, if you know what I mean. Everyone should have an opportunity to visit the ‘Happiest’ and ‘Greenest’ country on the planet. Including Heidi and Spencer from 'I'm a CELEBRITY, Get me out of HERE'
The best part is, EVERYONE will be HAPPY, businesses will prosper, land values will increase in the International Airport areas, and foreigners will have yet another reason to relocate and purchase a little piece of paradise… and of course tourists will be happy they EXPERIENCED Costa Rica without too much effort.
Actually, I have a few other IDEAS Costa Rican officials should consider:
*All National Parks should have a monorail system in place so they can be observed and experienced in a timelier, more eco-friendly manner. This also shows we care about our handicapped brothers and sisters. All Costa Rican wildlife should be placed (STOCKED like fish in a pond) in these parks so animal and bird sightings are GUARANTEED. It would also be a nice touch if at the end of the monorail there was a sort of petting zoo, where tourists could actually hold a sloth, pet a kinkajou or ride on the back of a giant Leatherback sea turtle. Then everyone would have a perfect photo opp.
*It should be mandatory for ALL Costa Ricans to learn the English language. We gringo’s should feel comfortable when traveling abroad.
*ANY major tourist destination should have at least 1 of the following located in close proximity to its central area: WalMart, Home Depot, Borders Books, Target, Starbucks, Office Depot, Costco, Radio Shack, Payless Shoes and of course some kind of indoor MALL area (just in case it happens to be raining a lot and/or the kids get bored), complete with movie theater and food court.
*It goes without saying that Costa Rica should have at least 3 or 4 amusement/water parks- with PURA VIDA type themes.
Something about a rollercoaster going 120 mph through the rainforest just seems so NATURAL.
I have more, but this would be a nice START.
I’m all about progress… I’m 21st Century (Digital) Boy.
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Most people visiting Costa Rica fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport, aka San José Airport; although Liberia's Airport, (Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport), in the northern part of the country also handles many tourist types headed for the nearby beaches, such as Tamarindo.
Frequently people get a little intimidated when flying into a foreign country, often with good reason depending on the country. We made this short video to show you what you can expect when flying into the San José Airport in hopes it will relieve any anxiety you might have. There’s more info on flying into Costa Rica here- Travel Costa Rica NOW.
Crimes committed against tourists visiting Costa Rica usually involve a petty theft of some kind for the simple fact many tourists lack common sense when traveling abroad.
This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. ANYONE who is visiting Costa Rica should already know this with just an hour or two of pre-travel research. These 'booths' can't tell you anything you shouldn't already KNOW.
