Costa Rica

Domestic flights (mainly Sansa and Sky Way) are the fastest way to reach more remote destinations like the Osa Peninsula or Tortuguero, which have limited or no road access.

A rental car, ideally 4WD, is the most flexible way to see the country and genuinely necessary for some destinations -- many rural roads are unpaved and river crossings are common in the rainy season. Shuttle van services connecting major tourist towns are a comfortable, popular alternative.

Public buses are extensive and cheap between larger towns. Tortuguero specifically is reachable only by boat or small plane -- there's no road access at all.

Costa Rica is one of the safer countries in Central America to visit, though standard precautions still apply, especially around theft rather than violent crime.

• Petty theft from parked cars, beaches, and unattended bags is the most common issue tourists actually encounter -- never leave valuables visible in a rental car (a frequent target at trailheads and beach parking lots), and keep an eye on belongings at the beach rather than leaving them unattended while swimming.
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• Rip currents are a genuine, serious hazard on many Pacific beaches -- Costa Rica has one of the region's higher drowning rates among tourists, and lifeguards are far less common here than in many other beach destinations, so checking conditions and swimming with caution matters more than it might elsewhere.
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• Wildlife encounters are generally safe when following guide instructions, but the country does have venomous snakes (including the fer-de-lance) -- stick to marked trails, wear closed shoes on hikes, and don't reach into dense undergrowth or under logs.
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• Road conditions can be rough outside main highways -- unpaved roads, river crossings, and washed-out bridges are common in rural areas, especially in the rainy season, and a 4WD is genuinely necessary for some destinations (parts of the Osa Peninsula, Monteverde) rather than just a comfort upgrade.
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• Natural hazards: Costa Rica has active volcanoes (Arenal, Poás, Irazú, Rincón de la Vieja) and sits in a seismically active zone -- follow official closures and alerts, particularly around Poás and Rincón de la Vieja, which have had recent eruptive activity.
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• Emergency number: 911 works nationwide and connects to police, fire, or medical services.