Costa rica global health insurance / costa rica travel advice

While traveling to Costa Rica, one must be aware of the societal differences and the issues that might arise when you arrive. The following are some general travel advice to keep in mind while making a visit to Costa Rica:

Please be advised that the costa rica travel advice contained on this page is not fully comprehensive and may be liable to change without prior warning; as such you should consult a travel expert or your local embassy prior to departing on your journey.

Costa rica travel advice

• In recent years Costa Rica has seen an increase in violent crimes against tourists, this includes gang muggings and armed robberies which have been known to take place in daylight on busy streets. The govererment has advised tourists do not carry around large amounts of money, valuables or travel documents.

• Personal attacks, including sexual offenses and rape are rare. However in recent years there has been an increase in report of crimes of this nature. You are strongly advised to stay vigilant whilst alone and never accept rides from strangers.

• Tourists are advised to take official taxis and to avoid unofficial taxis as incidents of violence have been reported. Official taxis are red with a triangular sticker, a plastic box on the roof with the name and number of the taxi company.

• Be vigilant when traveling on buses as thieves are a common problem, using distraction tactics to target victims.

• Thefts from cars are common and it is strongly advised to park in secure paid car parks. Avoid leaving valuables in hire cars and leaving them visible from outside the car.

• There has been a number of incidents where slashed tyres have been used by criminals to “assist” the victim in changing the tyres, while an accomplice steels the vehicle. This coincides with a number of short-term and opportunistic kidnappings, known as “express kidnapping”. Victims are chosen at random, then forced by gunpoint to withdraw cash from a ATM.

• Whilst on popular beaches in Costa Rica it is advised to be watchful of valuables.

• Within bars and places of entertainment there have been reports of “spiked” drinks, therefore avoid leaving drinks unattended.

• It is advisable to carry a photocopy of your passport with you at all times for identification purposes, as embassies and consulates state the majority of incidents reported to them are for replacement passports.

• The terrorism threat in Costa Rica is low, however it is advised tourists still stay aware of possible attacks.

• The rainy season is from May to November, coinciding with the hurricane season in the Caribbean.

• Costa Rica has also experienced Earthquakes in the past. An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck central Costa Rica, on 8 January 2009. The epicentre was in Alajuela Province, 37km north of the city of San Jose. On 11 March 2009 there were 3 earthquakes measuring between 5.2 and 6.0 just off the Pacific Coast near Golfito.

• If visiting jungle areas you should be accompanied by an experienced guide. When visiting volcanoes in Costa Rica it is strongly advised to read notices prohibiting entry to the areas as dangerous eruptions may occur.

• Road conditions in Costa Rica are generally good, although potholes and landslides are common in the wet season caused by heavy rains. Driving standards are lower in Costa Rica compared to western countries therefore caution is recommended whilst driving, if you are involved in an incident you must not move the vehicle, not even to the side of the road, until the traffic police have come to inspect it.

• Take special care when swimming from all beaches in Costa Rica, as rip tides are common.

• The Pacific Coast has experienced an increase in crocodile numbers from Playa Azul down to Playa Esterillos.

• Being Involved with drugs of any kind in Costa Rica carries a minimum sentence of eight years in prison.

• When entering Costa Rica you should have a validity of more then six months from the date of entry.

• When partaking in activities in Costa Rica, such as rafting, hiking, biking, surfing, diving and trekking, it is vital to have comprehensivehealth insurance cover to ensure you are protected against extreme eventualities such as transportation to your home country in the event of an accident or unforseen illness.

• You are recommended to obtain a comprehensive travel and medical insurance policy before traveling. You should check any exclusions, and ensure that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.

Costa rica global health insurance

Costa Rica Global Health Insurance policies offered by Globalsurance can assist you to customize the policy coverage to suit your individual requirements. We offer a variety of insurance plans for individuals, families, teachers and groups which may include benefits for inpatient, outpatient, dental, maternity, travel and many others. To discuss more with our experienced consultants on the most appropriate level of insurance that meet your needs, please contact us either by phone now or by filling in the simple form here.