SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS

SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS: Costa Rica in general, and Hacienda Pinilla in particular, are very safe places to visit, explore, and live. Nevertheless, it is important to exercise caution and maintain vigilance for your protection and the avoidance of theft. Below you will find a summary of some security measures, including recommendations from the American Embassy to its citizens. They apply to this area of the country.
Residences:

• Do not invite unknown persons to your residence.
• Check to lock all doors and windows before leaving your house or going to sleep.
• Do not share keys to your house with service personnel or people you do not know well.
• Do not trust people you do not know well.
• Do not leave valuables outside your house unattended.

Entertainment:

• Avoid areas with high concentrations of bars and nightclubs, especially at night.
• Seek entertainment in groups with people you know.
• Do not consume food or drinks you have left unattended or accept food or drinks from “friendly” people.
• Do not leave a bar or other facility with a stranger.

Sightseeing:

• Avoid walking around at night (especially in Tamarindo, and San Jose city center).
• Stay alert: crowded tourist attractions and resort areas popular with foreign tourists are also common venues for criminal activities.
• Steer clear of deserted properties or undeveloped land.
• Walk or exercise with a companion.

Transportation:

• Lock all doors, and keep all windows closed.
• Keep valuables on the car floor and out of sight of a person who could see and grab them.
• Leave sufficient space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to allow you to drive away quickly if necessary.
• Be alert to suspicious persons loitering on the side of the road.
• Use only licensed taxis (they have yellow triangle medallions with numbers painted on the side).
• Do not stop on isolated stretches of road.
• Use extreme caution if you have a flat tire. Drivers with flat tires are advised to drive, if possible, to the nearest service station or another public area, and change the tire themselves, watching their valuables at all times. Most car rental companies will cover the damage to the tire.
• Be wary of strangers offering to help with car problems.
• Park in secured lots whenever possible, and do not leave valuables in the vehicle.
• Travel with a cell phone.

In general:

• When you do not need it, keep your passport in a safe place, like a hotel safe, and carry only a copy (the photo page and the page containing the Costa Rica entry stamp). Carry on paper the name and phone number of your hotel, as well as the phone number of your country’s embassy (The U.S. Embassy – 2519-2000).
• Reduce risk by keeping valuables out of sight, not wearing jewelry, and traveling in groups.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, jewelry, or expensive photographic equipment.
• Minimize travel after dark.
• Avoid responding in kind to verbal harassment.
• Do not store valuables in a car’s trunk or glove compartment.
• Do not engage in a physical confrontation with criminals.
• Don’t try to outrun an armed criminal; no car or person can outrun a bullet.
• Immediately report any suspicious activity to police and the Hacienda Pinilla Security Department at 2681-4400.

For Book Now!, you can check the web page: https://cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/safety-and-security/the-threat-from-crime/