be defensive but polite.
Buy a second ticket on the bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo. Put your stuff on the second seat. Anybody tries to sit there show them your 2nd ticket. You will be more comfortable on the four hour ride and you can keep your stuff safe. Don't put it in the baggage compartment. Keep your eyes on your stuff. Put your pass port in your pocket. Don't put stuff in the overhead. It moves out of your sight and you can be ripped off.
Don't drink a lot of liquids until you get to your destination as the bus makes very few stops, like ONE.
The bus might drive right past your hotel, so find out. it will save you time and money. Most people get off in Puerto Viejo only to find that they could have stayed on the bus..
There are a lot of little private beaches nice but robbers hide and while you are in the water, they will take your stuff.
Learn the numbers, That is the most important thing I can tell you and learn to say, "I want "this or "do you have .....?
The same is true for the bus ride to Moin for the boat ride to Tortuguero. It is a long ride with only one stop along the way and jungle on either side of you.Wear a hat.
It is a nice little adventure
If you are going to see all of those places in a week, you will have limited opportunity to get out and see things or try your Spanish. Your Spanish is fine for a short visit and Costa Ricans generally like it when you try to speak the language. San Jose is not a safe city, but it is not as dangerous as say New Orleans or Baltimore but the bad neighborhoods are nearer to tourist zones than in the fore mentioned cities. It is much more dangerous than Canadian cities however. After dark, have your hotel call a cab and when you return to your hotel have the establishment call a cab, or use the cabs they recommend. Limon is a very dangerous city but you will not be spending any time there. Try Costa Rican food at least once, gallo pinto is the traditional Costa Rican breakfast and casados are a typical meal at a small restaurant (normally you can choose meat chicken or fish with it). Arroz con pollo is another traditional dish. .
Hey! I'm Canadian too!
I live in this wonderful, fabulous and beautiful tropical country since 2007.
I can say: you will love it!
Well, 1 week is short to visit all that. But well, I hope you enjoy it anyway.
I can suggest you Sansa Costa Rica. They do domestic flights:
http://www.sansacostarica.com/
So that way, you won't lose time travelling slowly bu bus or by car.
Your Spanish sounds great! Tico are very kind, you'll see.
They will appreciate your effort.
Don't spend a lot of time in San José, there are not much to see...1 day will be enough.
I hope you a great trip!
Bienvenido a Costa Rica!
Just be careful and use your common sense, be very polite but malicious at the same time. Don't take things for granted and be very careful with your belongings, have them with you the entire time
I don't wanna sound like this is a warzone, but just to warn you.
In all honesty the probabilities that something bad will happen to you are close to none, you but can never be to cautious.
All in all, Costa Ricans are happy, laid-back, relaxed people that are super friendly, so enjoy your trip!
Going to costa rica in one week ! we are going to San Jose, Puerto Viejo, Tortugero, Carara etc (all around costa rica) I was wondering if there was anything i needed to know ? I am taking Spanish class but it just started this semester so my Spanish is limited, how does this sound? Hola me llamo Pat, Como se llama? Que te gusta hacer? A mi me gusta mirar la television y comer. Soy de Canada, De donde eres? Soy perezoso
