Health and Safety in Costa Rica
Staying healthy, wealthy, and wise throughout your travels
Costa Rica is a fairly safe place to live, work, and visit. However, as always, you should be aware of where you are and
take some safety precautions. Keep in mind that travel elsewhere in Central America may require more vaccinations and
precautions than what is recommended for Costa Rica.
Theft: Just like everywhere else, theft happens in Costa Rica—and unfortunately, tourists are often targets. Keep
valuables locked up or out of sight, and don’t flash around large amounts of cash. In general, theft is more common in bus
stations and in tourist-heavy beach towns that in Monteverde, which is considered a very safe place. There have been some
home robberies in the past couple of years, but the targets are mainly North Americans who live in secluded areas.
Water: The tap water in Monteverde is among the best in the world—true, fresh, mountain spring water! In fact, tap water
in all major towns and cities in Costa Rica is considered safe. Smaller beach towns and other lowland rural areas may have
water quality issues during dry season when the water table is low, and it is recommended that you purchase bottled water
there just to be safe.
Immunizations: You should see your doctor at least 4 weeks before your trip for vaccinations, travel advice, and a
general physical. The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/costa-rica.aspx)
recommends the following vaccines for Central America. None of these are required for Costa Rica, and not every traveler
needs all of them.
 Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B, Rabies (if you are going to be exposed to animals)
 Typhoid (especially if visiting developing countries in the area)
 Yellow Fever (if you are going to the rural areas of mostly eastern Panama)
 Booster shots for tetanus-diphtheria and measles
Malaria and Dengue Fever: There is mild risk of malaria and dengue fever risk in Costa Rica, mostly in the lowlands on
the Caribbean coast. There is a low risk in the northwestern lowlands as well, but not in Monteverde.
Chloroquine is the recommended anti-malarial medication for Costa Rica. Dengue fever can only be prevented with insect
repellant.
Available Health Services: As an international teacher with a work visa, you will be provided with Costa Rican public
health care benefits. There is a public clinic in town which has its own pharmacy. The closest hospital is in Puntarenas (2
hours away). Every month you will be given an “orden patronal” which is essentially a health insurance card. Use this
when going to the public clinic for treatment. The public health care system is admittedly not up to par with US-quality
health care, although high-quality options are available—for a price—in the form of private doctors.
There is a private 24-hour health clinic with English-speaking doctors and ambulance service in Monteverde. They can
conduct lab work and provide prescriptions to our local pharmacy. A visit costs roughly $35 and follow-ups are free. There
are also three private dental clinics and a private gynecologist/obstetrician practice in Monteverde. The best private
hospitals are located in San Jose (3-4 hours).
For mild ailments, you can go to the pharmacy in town—pharmacists in Costa Rica are very well-trained and authorized to
prescribe a wide range of medicines and even mild antibiotics. This saves you the time and/or cost of a doctor’s
appointment, although you will have to pay out-of-pocket for the medicine prescribed.
10 tips to stay healthy and safe:
1) Use insect repellent, protective clothing and mosquito nets in at-risk areas (lowlands, especially Caribbean
coast).
2) Do not leave your clothes or bath towel on the floor, and always remember to shake out your shoes before
putting them on. There are plenty of scorpions in Monteverde (although fortunately their stings are not at all
dangerous and really only as painful as a bumblebee sting).
3) Always carry a flashlight. Remember that it gets dark here at 6pm year-round! There are some poisonous
animals, but getting lost or not being visible to motorists are more serious dangers.
4) Always wear shoes—this prevents parasites which are often found in the soil around livestock.
5) Be careful in and around water. Swim with a partner, and do not underestimate the strength of riptides and
currents. There are no lifeguards in Costa Rica! Check to be sure that there aren’t crocodiles or sharks.
6) Let someone know if you have diarrhea for more than 2 days or if you have a cut that doesn’t heal.
7) Be aware of the message your style of dress, body language, etc, sends to people of a different culture.
Observe how Ticos behave in situations.
8) Remember that pregnancy and AIDS happen here, just like everywhere else. Condoms are available at the
supermarket.
9) When walking at night or hiking in an unfamiliar area, always bring a friend and/or let someone know where
you are going, and when you’ll be back.
10) Drug laws are taken seriously here, and the authorities are strict on it. Keep in mind that the drinking age is
18.
11) Be aware of the possibility of theft. Be careful with your things.
12) Be careful of cars, especially in San Jose. There is no such thing as a right of way! Walk with someone. And
girls, get ready for catcalls! You can ignore it, or politely say hello.
13) Keep the phone number for the local clinics handy in case of an emergency.
14) If you are allergic to bee stings, peanuts, etc, be sure to carry an Epi-Pen with you at all times.
Thanks to the Monteverde Institute for much of this information.