From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Costa Rica Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 18:32:33 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1693 Path: world!daemon Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199804211435_MC2-3A8B-7129@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Lines: 172 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Costa Rica ============================================================ Costa Rica - Consular Information Sheet April 21, 1998 Country Discription: Costa Rica is a middle-income, developing country with a strong democratic tradition. Tourist facilities, particularly in the capital city, San Jose, are generally adequate. English is widely spoken. Entry Requirements: A valid passport is required to enter Costa Rica. At the discretion of Costa Rican authorities, travelers are sometimes admitted with a certified copy of their U.S. birth certificate and valid photo I.D. for tourist stays up to 90 days. Additional information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Consular Section of the Embassy of Costa Rica at 2114 S Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 328-6628, or the consulate in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, St. Paul, San Diego, or San Francisco. Medical Facilities: Costa Rica has suffered a reemergence of dengue fever in recent years, although the incidence remains lower than in other Central American countries. Dengue is transmitted by mosquito bite and there is no vaccine. Travelers should take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Medical care in the capital city of San Jose is adequate. In areas outside of San Jose, however, medical care is more limited. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, has proven useful in many emergencies. For further information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at 1-888-232-3228, or their autofax service at 1-888-232-3299, or their internet site at http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Crime is increasing, and tourists as well as the local populace are frequent victims. Most crimes are non-violent, including pickpocketings and house and car break-ins, but criminals have shown a greater willingness to use violence in recent years. Travelers should ensure that they purchase an adequate level of locally-valid theft insurance when renting vehicles. Never leave valuables in the vehicle, and park in paid lots whenever possible. Carjackings have occurred in recent years, and motorists have been confronted at gunpoint while stopped at traffic lights or upon arrival at their homes. One U.S. citizen was killed in October 1997 during an apparent robbery attempt, and five U.S. citizen women have been victims of sexual assaults at beach resorts on both coasts and in San Jose since 1995. There have been several kidnappings, including of foreigners, in recent years. Incidents of crime commonly occur in downtown San Jose, at beaches, at the airport, and at national parks and other tourist attractions. There were assaults on tourist buses in recent years. Travelers who keep valuables out of sight, do not wear jewelry, and travel in groups during daylight hours lessen their risk. Local law enforcement agencies have limited capabilities. Money exchangers on the street pass off counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency. Credit card fraud is growing. Some trails in national parks have been closed because of low numbers of visitors and reported robberies of hikers in the area. Tourists should check with forest rangers for current park conditions. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the U.S. Embassy in San Jose. Travelers may wish to carry a copy of their passport data page and leave the passport itself in the hotel safe or other secure location. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." This publication, as well as others, such as "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America," are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties in Costa Rica for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Investment Issues: -- Irregular Land Registrations: Due to irregular enforcement of property rights, investors should exercise extreme caution before investing in real estate. Costa Rica has a long history of investment and real estate scams and frauds perpetrated against U.S. citizens and international visitors. U.S.-style title insurance is generally unavailable in Costa Rica. There have been numerous instances of duly-registered properties reverting to previously unknown owners who have shown they possess clear title and parallel registration. -- Expropriations: Some U.S. citizen landowners have long-standing expropriation disputes with the government of Costa Rica. Some expropriation claims from the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s remain unresolved, with the landowners not yet compensated. Unexecuted expropriation decrees have clouded titles even when owners remained in possession of their property. -- Squatters: Properties throughout the country have been invaded by organized squatter groups against which the government has been reluctant to act. These squatter groups, often supported by politically active persons and non-governmental organizations, take advantage of legal reforms that allow people without land to gain title to unused agricultural property. This phenomenon is particularly common in rural areas, where local courts show considerable sympathy for the squatters. The squatters regularly resort to threats of violence or actual violence and often are able to block U.S. citizen landowners from entering their property. In November 1997, a U.S. citizen was killed in a confrontation with squatters in the southern region of Pavones. -- Due to the irregular enforcement of property rights, existence of unresolved expropriation claims, and squatter invasions, property protections are uncertain, particularly in rural areas. Aviation Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Costa Rica's civil aviation authority as Category 1--in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Costa Rica's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288. Traffic Safety/Road Conditions: Traffic laws and speed limits are often ignored; turns across one or two lanes of traffic are common, and pedestrians generally are not given the right of way. Roads are often in poor condition, and large potholes with the potential to cause significant damage to vehicles are common. All of the above, in addition to poor visibility because of heavy fog or rain, makes driving at night especially treacherous. All types of motor vehicles are appropriate for the main highways and principal roads in the major cities. Many roads to beaches and other rural locations, however are not paved, and some out-of-the-way destinations are accessible only with high clearance, rugged suspension vehicles. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens may register with the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, where they may also obtain updated information on travel and security within Costa Rica. The U.S. Embassy maintains a website at http://usembassy.or.cr. This website can also be accessed through the Department of State's website at http://www.state.gov. The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica is located in Pavas, San Jose, tel. (506) 220-3050. The Embassy is open Monday through Friday, and closed on Costa Rican and U.S. holidays. For emergencies arising outside normal business hours, U.S. citizens may call (506) 220-3127 and ask for the duty officer. No. 98-39 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated December 11, 1997, to update information on crime and investment issues, and new CDC telephone number. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories