Costa Rica

Top 5 Orte

1. Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna · La Fortuna

   Volcano views, hot springs, hanging bridges and the La Fortuna waterfall.

2. Monteverde Cloud Forest · Monteverde

   Misty cloud forest reserves with hanging bridges, ziplines and birding.

3. Manuel Antonio National Park · Quepos

   Small park with beaches, monkeys and sloths; book tickets online in advance.

4. Tortuguero National Park · Tortuguero

   Canals reachable by boat; sea turtle nesting season roughly July to October.

5. Corcovado National Park · Osa Peninsula

   Remote rainforest with high biodiversity; visits require a licensed guide.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Taxi

  Official red taxis

  Official taxis are red with a yellow triangle on the door; make sure the driver starts the meter ('la maría'). At San José airport, use the orange 'Taxi Aeropuerto' with fixed fares. Avoid unmarked 'taxis piratas'.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Uber / DiDi

  Widely used in San José and some other areas and usually cheaper than taxis, but not fully legal; pickups at the airport can be difficult because of police and taxi drivers (varies).

• Busse

  Public buses

  Very cheap and reach most towns, but slow, with several companies and terminals in San José. Pay in colones.

• Busse

  Tourist shuttles (Interbus and others)

  Shared door-to-door vans between main tourist towns; more expensive than buses but much simpler. Book a day or more ahead.

• Mietwagen

  Car rental

  4x4 is useful for rural roads. Mandatory third-party liability insurance is added at the counter, so online quotes can look much cheaper. Photograph the car at pickup to avoid false damage claims.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: CRC · Costa Rican colón

US dollars are widely accepted, especially for tours and hotels, and many prices are quoted in USD. Cards work in most hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; carry colones for buses, sodas (small local eateries), markets and tips. Change given for dollars is often in colones at the shop's rate. Use ATMs inside banks or malls.

Wechselkurs nach CRC prüfen

Trinkgeld

Restaurants add a 10% service charge (set by law) plus 13% VAT (IVA), so extra tipping is not required. Tipping guides, drivers and hotel staff is common, especially in tourist areas.

Nützliche Sätze

• La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.
• ¿El servicio está incluido? Is service included?
• Pura vida. Common friendly greeting and thanks.

Umgangsformen

• 'Pura vida' is used for hello, thanks and goodbye; Costa Ricans are informal and friendly.
• Greet with 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas' before asking for anything.
• Addresses use landmarks rather than street numbers; give drivers a landmark or GPS pin.
• Do not feed or touch wildlife in parks; it is illegal and harmful.
• Expect a relaxed pace ('tico time') for buses and service.
• Bargaining is limited; mild haggling at craft markets is acceptable.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Flat tyre robbery

  Wo: Roads near San José airport and rental car routes

  So funktioniert’s: Criminals slash or puncture a rental car tyre, then 'help' when you stop, while accomplices steal bags from the car.

  So vermeidest du es: If you get a flat, drive slowly to a busy, well-lit place like a gas station before stopping. Keep bags locked and out of sight.

• Pirate taxis

  Wo: Airport, bus terminals, nightlife areas

  So funktioniert’s: Unmarked or unofficial taxis overcharge (often about double) and can be unsafe.

  So vermeidest du es: Use red taxis with the yellow triangle, the orange airport taxis, or an app ride.

• Rental car add-ons and false damage claims

  Wo: Rental car desks

  So funktioniert’s: Mandatory insurance is added at the counter, and some companies charge for damage that was already there.

  So vermeidest du es: Read the total including insurance before booking, film the car at pickup and return, and use companies with good reviews.

• Theft from cars and beaches

  Wo: Beach car parks, trailheads, Caribbean coast

  So funktioniert’s: Thieves break into cars or take bags left on the sand while people swim.

  So vermeidest du es: Leave nothing in the car and take only what you need to the beach.

• Spiked drinks

  Wo: Bars and nightlife areas

  So funktioniert’s: Drinks are spiked to rob or assault victims. Cheap spirits have also caused methanol poisoning deaths.

  So vermeidest du es: Watch your drink, buy your own drinks and avoid very cheap or unlabelled spirits.

• ATM theft and skimming

  Wo: Street ATMs

  So funktioniert’s: People watch users at ATMs and follow them, or skimmers copy cards.

  So vermeidest du es: Use ATMs inside banks or malls during the day and stay aware of who is around you.

Sicherheit

• Theft and mugging are the main risks, especially on the Caribbean (Atlantic) coast and in San José at night.
• Do not leave anything in parked cars, even in the boot.
• Do not stop for strangers signalling for help on the road; staged accidents and carjackings occur.
• Rip currents cause frequent drownings and few beaches have lifeguards; ask locals where it is safe to swim.
• Crocodiles live near some Pacific river mouths and beaches; follow warning signs.
• Keep an eye on bags on buses, including overhead racks.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Good in tourist areas, lodges and with tour guides; limited in small towns and on local buses. A few Spanish phrases help a lot.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Costa Rica, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: Costa Rica
• Wikivoyage: San José (Costa Rica)

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