Is it safe for rich, white, Americans to travel in Costa Rica?
Question by George: Is it safe for rich, white, Americans to travel in Costa Rica?
My friend’s rich, white, American family will be going on vacation there this Summer for a week.
He is literally freaking out–he is afraid he (and his family) will be mugged, kidnapped, raped, exploited, tortured, and imprisoned.
What do you think? Does he have anything to be afraid of?
Best answer:
Answer by Heems K
Costa Rica is a white majority country and it is quite a prosperous country. Although there is crime, I don’t think your ‘rich, white friend’s family’ should have anything to worry about.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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about 1 year ago
costa rica has a higher percentage if white people in the total population than the u.s. has.
costa ricans are americans too, it’s in central america.
costa rica is one of the richest countries in latin america, and most people there do not autamaticly think people from the u.s. are rich. i know a family whose parents were from the u.s. and the children from costa rica, and no one thought the children were of u.s. origen. (because they talked like costa ricans) but even the parents, who had english accents, never had problems with crime.
there are however, some parts of san jose, than are quite dangerous, so just avoid those areas.
it would help alot though, if at least some of the family could speak spanish, if you don’t speak spanish, people can have the impression that you are ignorant, and easily tricked.
about 1 year ago
Hes been watching to many movies.
Rich white bastards already took over CR so theyll be safe.
Rich people go on vacation there all the time and also live there so no worries. Its Costa Rica not Colombia or Mexico.
about 1 year ago
I’ve been four times and it’s fine. And I don’t even go to the tourist areas as much–I go to the small communities–and it still seems to work out okay. They do like my natural blonde hair and sometimes I get a bit of attention because of it, but that is quite rare and never makes me nervous or anything…I am always careful, but I’ve never never been made uncomfortable or threatened or anything like that.
And I’m not rich, but my family is somewhat well-off as compared to the community I travel to and as long as you don’t go around flaunting your cash, you’ll be okay. Just beware of pickpocketers and keep your purse/wallet close to you.
about 1 year ago
They should be fine, as long as they use common sense. It also depends where they are going. I doubt they are going to San Jose. They’ll probably land at SJO and go directly to a resort on the beach. In San Jose, you can”t walk around at night. In beach places, that isn’t as big of a worry. Another tip would be to leave ALL jewelry and expensive (flashy) watches at home. All that “showing off” does is attract criminals to you, and makes you a likely target.
If they are “rich”, chances are they will park themselves in (and never go outside the gates of) an overpriced American-type resort, so they will have nothing to worry about security as those places are pretty secure. That’s what most of these elitist Americans do. I’ve been there over 30 times (my wife is from there) and see how some don’t want to have anything to do with the people or the culture. They never experience the real Costa Rica, and are happy eating the Americanized food at the resorts.
about 1 year ago
they should be totally safe unless they start flaunting their wealth – expensive clothes, large sums of money, lots of jewelry on etc.. use the same common sense you would for any city in the world and you are fine.
about 1 year ago
we have 94% of white population… yes it is dangerous in the cities if you carry valuables… but nothing to worry about if your not. there’s worse places in the usa then here.
about 1 year ago
If a thief is gonna rob you in CR they dont care what color you are. Most people that get robbed are poor and working class locals. If they just use common sense like if they were going to East LA or Bronx NY theyll be fine. Anyways, they will most likely be in the tourist areas and be just fine.
They are not going to go to the getto neiborhoods im sure and the only place where they should take more precautions is in Downtown San Jose. Dont let themselves get set up by pretty prostitutes and dont get in the wrong pirate taxis and dont walk in places where they are alone. People do not get kidnapped there but if they get robbed it will be at that moment either with a weapon and pick pocketed and that would most likely happen in the Downtown San Jose but if they use common sense and dont put themselves in a situation to get robbed, they will be fine.