Central America

Costa Rica

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.

There has been an increase in crime against tourists over the past few years. Gang muggings and armed robberies can occur even in daylight on busy streets. Car theft is common and a number of opportunistic kidnappings, called "express kidnapping", occur in Costa Rica. Personal security, general travel, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation/sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, cultures/customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Bottled water only.

Coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes.

Tropical and sub-tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands.

Occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes.

Bilharzia, dengue fever, hepatitis A, malaria, polio, typhoid.
Hospital: Hospital Mexico, San Jose. Tel: 232 6122

Deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution.

Road conditions are generally good, although potholes are common. Caution when approaching bridges as these are normally only one way. If you have a road accident you must absolutely not move the vehicle (even to the side of the road) until police have inspected the scene.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.