VIP Member Comments On Crime in Costa Rica

US crime and Costa Rican crime are two entirely different animals.

The crime in the US is usually very brazen while the crime here is “sneaky”.

What I mean by sneaky, is that a Tico may walk up to your house and greet you with the ole Pura Vida and ask for work or try to sell you something; if you have no idea who this person is or where they live, it’s probably best not to invite them in be it a he or a she.

If you do, or if you want to have a little fun, invite them in and watch them do a full inventory of your stuff.

Good Ticos or bad Ticos they all do this. If it happens to be a good one? Fine. It’s cool.

If it’s a bad one or one with idiot siblings or parents, they’ll give the full report back at the house and the dirtbags will know by exactly what window or door the ‘good stuff’ is located.

It’s a cultural thing that I’ve seen from all nationalities whether here or in Latino diverse Miami.

You do need an alarm.

You do need to have someone watch your house if your gone late into the night or overnight unless you are in a guarded community and I do not mean “gated”.

The Ticos and Gringos that I know who haven’t had something stolen follow these simple rules.

You need to learn the language and customs and interact with the Ticos. Once they know and like you and realize you are not a typical, arrogant, American who feels “important” (or is that impotent), they’ll watch your back like you are family.

I’ve seen a lot of Gringos come and go that thought life here was going to be just like the three weeks they spent partying in Fortuna and Tamarindo over the years. It ain’t so. It’s a different culture with a different set of rules and you cannot enjoy it without being “one” with it.

My Christmas party last year was six gringos (including me and wifey) and around thirty Ticos and a Cuban couple thrown in to help keep it loud!

I love it here but I, like Scott from WeLoveCostaRica.com and many others, have “immersed” ourselves into the Pura Vida cultural phenomenon. I can afford to live anywhere on earth but I aint goin’ anywhere !

Pura Vida! From Lake Arenal.

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Our thanks to Doug and Irene Ward at The Oasis of the Toucans

Please note that our VIP Member comments are their own comments and do not necessarily reflect the views and experience of all VIP Members.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.