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I see from the news that hundreds of US citizens have their passports stolen in Costa Rica, more than any other country and I do not want to be a bitch about this but is this because the thieves in Costa Rican are really brilliant at stealing passports? Or is it because the Americans that come down here are just plain stupid?
Having lived for over fifty years carrying a variety of passports, I have never once lost one and have never had my passport stolen. I mean how difficult is it to keep your passport safe? Really?
I suspect a very high proportion of those “reported” stolen passports are actually nothing more than misplaced or lost passports. Many people have trouble organizing their time and their belongings.
….and I suspect that many of those are people who do not value their passport but find it worth quite a lot on the black market. All they have to do is sell it or swap it for some drugs and then report it stolen to the Embassy. The cost and trouble of getting a replacement might be very small to some people in exchange for what they get for their old passport.
The likely answer is they keep it in their luggage for safe keeping and have their luggage stolen.
Most people think the pickpocket or the assault and robbery is the threat, but you are more likely to have your luggage lifted.
I cant believe the responses to the stolen passport theft problem. I sense a hate toward americans in this public forum by these responding people. Why dont you cut and paste a burning american flag in your response.
Why dont you accept the fact that theft is the national past time in costa rica. I prefer fishing, I personally had a computer stolen from a bed and breakfast hotel room in santa ana.
You gotta be kidding.
In my opinion the many thiefs in costa rica dont care if you live there they only want your tourist dollars and personal effects if they can get them,then you can pay your 26.00 and leave. Any person should be able to keep their belongings safely where they want,do you know how much an american passport is worth? I heard $10,000.00.
I used to eat at a bagelmans many times in the morning in escazu and after I recently stopped eating there I was told by a very reliable source that armed bandits came in one afternoon and stole everybodys computers enjoying their coffee and surfing the web,maybe even looking at this website!
hahaha get real.The problem soflodoug – is that you are not in the US – , you can’t expect to safely have whatever belongings you want wherever you want them. I would suggest this is not possible in all areas of the US or Canada for that matter.
In a country such as Costa Rica, I would say sitting in coffee shop surfing the net on your $2000+ laptop sipping a latte is rubbing a fair percentage of the local populations nose in it pretty good.
Costa Rican citizens don’t pay the type of taxes that would support the policing services provided in the US and Canada. Is that not part of the reason why people travel there because it is inexpensive?For the record, I did not pick up any latent US hatred in the posts preceding yours.
Well,you hit the nail on the head,when you talked about rubbing a computer in somebodys face,it sounds like there are some very jealous,mean and corrupt people there
better to stay out. Thank for the advise.I don’t pick up any latent hatred here either …
I have no idea what has happened to you SoFloDoug but your comments in this forum are becoming increasingly bitter.
We all appreciate educated and experienced opinions both positive and negative however, if your goal in contributing to this Forum is going to be nothing but abuse, hearsay with very few facts to back up all your sensationalist claims, and general criticism about practically everything in Costa Rica, I would like to encourage you rethink how you might like to contribute.
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comIt might be good to continue to put up with all shades of opinions here. For those who know Costa Rica well enough, when something too far out of line is presented, there are usually enough responses to quickly put things back into proper perspective. Those of us who do not yet know this country well should be able to get an idea of what is really happening by assessing everything that is written here.
I know the title of this site is “WE LOVE COSTA RICA”. That should attract the right kind of subscriber and contributor (and possible client) most of the time and as far as the odd complainer is concerned, well, you certainly wouldn’t want to be accused of the old “My country, love it or leave it” attitude, would you?Well stated, Sprite.
I only have to see the morning news or read the paper to see the amount of increase in crime right here in the US. Like all countries, Costa Rica may not be what it was 20 years ago, but, the increase in crime seems to be a worldwide phenomenon.
You really have to assess the situation, and your own comfort factor when traveling or moving to any other place than what you call home. Crime might even be higher where you presently live, and because it is where you live, you make adjustments for your own safety, and may not consider it all that crime ridden.
You also have to realize you are dealing with a population in CR that considers everyone of us rich. And by comparison to them, we are. Just the fact you are not a native, and especially if you are from a wealthy country, may make you a mark to a criminal.
Learning how to behave, and how protect yourself and your belongings in any foreign country would go a long way toward reducing the possibility of you becoming a victim.
I also wonder just what it is that happened to SoFloDoug in CR that soured him so much? Perhaps he’ll share his experience?
Petty crime is not new to ANY culture. Costa Rica is no different. Many situations are the result of folks walking around in paradise and forgetting that HUMANS are the main problem, but can be dealt with by observing some simple and basic rules. The very same rules that you’d follow ANYWHERE. The sad fact is that many people on vacation let their guard down. It’s very easy to walk around in a cloud enjoying the beauty of CR.
I’m guessing that based on your username (SoFloDoug) that you’re from southern Florida… is crime much better there? How about drugs? Poverty? Petty crime would be a blessing as VIOLENT crime (last I checked) was much worse there then in CR. As for your current push toward Panama… have you checked the problems there? Major drop in new money coming in as it seems a good chunk was dirty in origin. I also seem to remember they recently had to suspend shooting of the new James Bond movie due to uncontrol violence in the area… if Bond couldn’t handle it… what chance does a casual tourist or expat stand? 🙂
There is good and bad everywhere. Most of us know that. Most of us can also avoid the bad with a little effort and enjoy the the good all the more!
Give it up, the james bond filming went fine in panama. Accept the truth guys. The police in costa rica who are suppose to protect you are scrawny litle old underqualified creeps,that eat sausages and juice for dinner,the issue is that the society reflects itself in what you see and I see a lack of respect for themselves and bitterness.
God bless you all.Most people are pretty adept at putting a good spin to whatever direction they happen to be heading. It doesn’t matter whether they chose that direction or were forced to go that way. The point is, we are all creative enough to come up with good reasons in order to feel good about things. Perhaps Souflodoug has had to leave CR and is in need of some rose colored glasses when he looks at Panama. And in order to leave Costa Rica, which, as far as most of us are concerned, is a far superior place to so many others, he needs to tear it down a bit. He probably laments having to leave CR.
Well Mr Sprite, I would not say laments as I could care less if you want to know the truth about leaving costa rica as it was not worthy of my existence. However the word is “violation” I think I now know how a raped woman would kind of feel.
When I would project mutual basic respect as any human would like to receive in this foreign land and the “reality” of what it is and the outright slap in the face of downright lack of concern and regard for life and limb and “property rights” by what is suppose to be the concern of society,I dont care if they are rich or poor,but raping ones self worth is unacceptable to me. Maybe you cant understand what I am saying. I dont need to pay for that. Much less live in it. You only live once and you need to feel you are in the right place,this is living. Not to mention the obvious over pricing and lack of respect for foreigners by the ticos. I saw i lived it, I know. And I am not the only one by far, I hope maybe what im saying benefits you too.
I have no reason to fabricate anything and the panamanian people are much nicer by far,they are used to americans,however the driving here is madness,but I can deal with that, and you can live away from the poor people and the police here are very active much stronger being paramilitary and I see them in action. Sowhat ever you do, There is somebody coming off a plane right now interested what do they know.A yes costa rica paradise or roll of the dice?
Please think about this.
Have a nice day.I think it shows a lack of respect for women that any man who has not in fact been physically raped should equate some non violent life experience with the rape of a woman.
In reading comments like yours soflodoug, I often wonder what am I doing so that I do not have these same bitter experiences. I have not suffered at the hands of a criminal, I have never been attacked or mugged or my house burgled and yes! Very rarely has anyone tried to rip me off but when that happened, it was not Ticos responsible.
In my experience, the largest percentage of scam artists by far operating in Costa Rica have been from the US and I am investigating a Brit who appears to be responsible for some wanton destruction in a particularly beautiful area of Costa Rica.
And have you seen the US government website at [ http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_994.html ]?
It states: “U.S. citizens are warned not to travel to Darien Province. Embassy personnel are only allowed to travel to Darien Province on official business with prior approval of the Embassy’s Regional Security Officer. This restricted area encompasses the Darien National Park as well as privately owned nature reserves and tourist resorts. While no incidents have occurred at these resorts, U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals and Panamanian citizens have been the victims of violent crime, kidnapping and murder in this general area. Reliable communications and medical infrastructure are not readily available in the region, which makes travel therein potentially hazardous. Moreover, all around the Panama-Colombia border area the presence of Colombian terrorist groups, drug traffickers and other criminals is common, increasing the danger to travelers. Note: The Secretary of State has designated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
And …
“CRIME: Crime in Panama City is moderate but increasing, particularly because of the activities of youth gangs. The city of Colon is a high crime area. Police checkpoints have become commonplace on weekends on roads in both cities. Based upon reported incidents by local police, the high-crime areas around Panama City are San Miguelito, Rio Abajo, El Chorrillo, Ancon, Curundu, Veracruz Beach, Panama Viejo, and the Madden Dam overlook. Crimes there are typical of those that plague metropolitan areas and range from rapes to armed robberies, muggings, purse-snatchings, “express kidnappings” from ATM banking facilities, in which the victim is briefly kidnapped and robbed after withdrawing cash from an ATM, and petty theft. Tourists recently experienced a problem with armed bandits during an organized canoe trip on the Chagres River.”
For Costa Rica the same US government site at [ http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1093.html ]is not nearly as dramatic and does speak of theft in Costa Rica and suggests that: “U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise the same level of caution they would in major cities or tourist areas throughout the world.”
Clearly the US government feels that Panama is far more dangerous than Costa Rica.
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com
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