自从在2012年搬到哥斯达黎加,我听到d my fair share of wrong facts, impressions and ideas of Costa Rica. As an advocate forresponsible travel, I always recommend researching at least the basics about the country you’re going to visit.
So before you come, make sure you read up on these common misconceptions about Costa Rica!
Common Misconceptions about Costa Rica
These are a collection of misunderstood thoughts about Costa Rica we have heard.
Related: Learn somefacts about Costa Rica(history, culture, etc.)
Costa Rica is an island
This is the biggest common misconception about Costa Rica.So many people confuse Costa Rica for Puerto Rico and think it’s an island!
我’ve even had many people ask me “How is Costo Rico” or “how island life is.”
So just to make it clear, Costa Rica is not an island, it’s a small country in Central America. Nicaragua neighbors the country to the north, Panama neighbors the country to the South.
Costa Rica is part of the USA
Nope to this one too.
因为很多people mix up Costa Rica with Puerto Rico, they think Costa Rica is a US territory or owned by the US. Costa Rica is not owned by the US, they are their own independent country.
They were under Spain’s rule many years ago but gained theirindependenceon September 15, 1821. Costa Rica is a free, democratic independent republic.
Costa Rica is cheap
This is one of the most common misconceptions about Costa Rica. People think that since Costa Rica is in Central America or think that Costa Rica is a third world country, that it is cheap. Unfortunately it is not so. Taxes, insurance, gas and other things are expensive in Costa Rica which drives up the cost of food, hotels, transportation and tours.
You can stilltravel on a budget in Costa Rica(read our tips in the article) but be conscious of where you go, where you eat and what you do. Readhow much it costs to travel in Costa Ricain this article.
You will get malaria in Costa Rica
Actually, the worst disease from mosquitoes you can get in Costa Rica is dengue. Costa Rica has done a great job with malaria as there were only 67 cases in 2019. There were 8179 cases of dengue in 2019.
Make sure to bring plenty ofmosquito repellentand after bite care.Do not forget yoursunscreeneither as Costa Rica is just 8-12 degrees from the equator!
Costa Rica has a lot of shark attacks
Shark attacks are not common in Costa Rica like they are in Hawaii or Florida. It is extremely rare to hear of a shark attack here. In fact, it’s actually more normal for us to hear about crocodile attacks (not that common but happens more than sharks).
You can’t eat the raw vegetables or fruit in Costa Rica
我was told to not eat any raw veggies orfruitthe first time I came to Costa Rica because it all has E.Coli. But you can in fact, eat the fresh produce. Restaurants and supermarkets have fairly high standards and if you buy your own food, always make sure to wash them.
You can also drink the orange juice at restaurants here. Most of it comes from the supermarket anyways!
小心如果你有食物过敏症。我t is best to either write down how to stay what you’re allergic to in Spanish and choose restaurants in more touristic areas with staff that speak English if you have severe food allergies.
你不能喝的水在哥斯达黎加
Actually, Costa Rica has fairly high standards for water and most places have drinkable tap water. The cities likeSan Jose, particularly has good tap water.
However, there are some places in Costa Rica where you shouldn’t drink the tap water and that’s in more the more remote areas like Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero, Nicoya Peninsula, etc. You can read more aboutdrinking tap water in Costa Ricain this article.
Costa Rica doesn’t have paved roads
Costa Rica does have paved roads including highways. In fact, the InterAmericana highway by Liberia is very nice (it even has 3 lanes!)
Some smaller roads through local towns or undeveloped areas may have some unpaved roads (or roads in bad condition) as they are more rural and remote. Make sure to check your destinations because you may need ahigh clearance car or a 4wd. Some places areMonteverde,Osa Peninsulaand the Nicoya Peninsula.
我t’s never cold in Costa Rica
There are actually 26 micro-climates in Costa Rica and it is a very mountainous country. Due to all the valleys, some places can be more than 1500 meters (5000 feet) in elevation and though it doesn’t getcold, it can get chilly.
Monteverde,Poas, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon,San Gerardo de Dota, Vara Blanca and San Vito are some places that are high in elevation. The average temperature is around high 70s F (25 C) and goes down to mid 50s F – low 60s F (12-15 C) during dry season. In rainy season, it can get even colder if its windy so make sure to bring a jacket since it’s also usually very windy.
You can read more aboutCosta Rica weatherin this post. Also read ourCosta Rica packing listso you come prepared!
Mexican and Costa Rican culture are the same
A lot of visitors think Mexican and Costa Rican cultures are the same which is absolutely not true. The two countries actually don’t have that many similarities.
Mexican Spanish andCosta Rican Spanishare completely different (they don’t say “andale” in Costa Rica) and thefoodis different. Let me tell you that Mexican tacos are nothing like Costa Rican tacos!
All Costa Ricans are farmers
Although 10% of the country’s land is devoted to agriculture and farming, not all Costa Ricans are farmers. In fact, the biggest GDP factor of the country is technology services (around 75%). Agriculture is only 5.5% now. Tourism is also a big part of their economy, representing about 8%.
Many Costa Ricans in San Jose work in services because many big companies like Amazon, Dell and HP have customer service headquarters there. City Costa Ricans generally speak a high degree of English (the literary rate is nearly 98%). Furthermore, gambling is legal in Costa Rica so there are a lot of sportsbooks here.
All Costa Ricans speak English
On the other hand, many people assume all Costa Ricans speak English. If you go to touristic places, many Costa Ricans do speak good English because they work in tourism and customer service. But not all of them do!
Remember, Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica. (Learn basic Spanishin our guide here).
Costa Rica is a dangerous country
Although crime does happen here,Costa Rica is a relatively safe country.The biggest crime is petty theft and it is very difficult to get a gun in Costa Rica. Their government is stable and they haven’t had an army since 1954. In fact, it is one of 23 countries in the world that do not have an active army. Instead, they spend their money on healthcare and education.
Costa Rica is a popularfamilyand solo traveler destination due to its reputation as one of the safest countries in Latin America.
Costa Rica doesn’t have “first world amenities”
Actually, Costa Rica does. Costa Rica does indeed have malls, electricity, Wi-Fi, highways, movie theaters, cars, iPhones and all the like. They even haveUberand Uber Eats in San Jose.
You can have a little bit of everything in Costa Rica. In San Jose, you have all the city amenities and services and once you get out of the city, you can find completely undeveloped and rural places likeOsa PeninsulaorTortuguero.
Most Information about Costa Rica
我t’s important to be at least a bit educated on the countries we visit so we don’t go there with only the stereotype in our head. And that’s one of the best things about travel – you learn so much about other cultures and the world!
Learn somefacts about Costa Ricaor read ourCosta Rica survival guidefor more tips.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read ourFirst Time in Costa Ricaguide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read ourHow to Get Around Costa Ricaguide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailedCosta Rica Packing Listso you know what essential items to bring.
- Do not forget to purchaseTravel Insurancefor your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaidSIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money withMytanfeet Dealsfor tours and hotels. Save more money with ourCosta Rica Car Rental Discount.