Puerto Viejo- questions about lodgings and safety
 

I think that I may have read too many forum posts on another website! Now I am having doubts about traveling to Puerto Viejo. I noticed that some of my favorite Fodorites are still around and so I am hoping to receive some trust worthy advice.

This is what I am looking into: I would like to volunteer for three weeks at the Jaguar Rescue Center. I may travel solo or with my fifteen year old daughter. The two lodgings that are my favorites so far are Korrigan Lodge and Finca Chica. I also came across a house that it rented out by Jungle love that seems to have a good monthly rate. I had not been looking at houses because I thought that it would be better to stay where more people are around.

Okay first off- my over zealous reading of posts has made me worry if we will be safe, and if we will be worrying if we are safe while we are there. How bad is it?

With either Finca Chica or Korrigan Lodge we (or I) would be riding bicycles to and from the rescue center five days a week. Could anyone tell me what the ride is like, distance and safety?

Are there places that we can eat near to either lodging? Is it safe to get there at night?
From the reports that I have read, I worry about walking to a near by soda, if there is one.

Will it be safe for us to go to the beach? Will there be other people around and should we only use the beach if there are others around?

I am looking forward to some replies so that I can either shelve this trip or look forward to it.

Thank you!!

I've taken my daughter, now 15, to PV 3 times over the past few years. We love it there and it's one of our favorite areas in CR. Personally, I wouldn't be out walking alone after dark (but this would apply everywhere) and use taxis instead. Bicycles for during the day. We always walked or biked and never had any trouble, but you will see a decent variety of people there which is part of what makes it interesting. The Jaguar Rescue Center is a great place and I imagine you'll make some friends to hang out with since you'll have so much time. Lucky!

It is so nice to hear from you Hipvirgochick! I am feeling better about things. I was a little freaked out by some of the posts.

Do you think that it is too far to bike from Punta Uva to the Jaguar Recsue?

PV is nice pachamamacaribe.com for me last daytime biking around Korrigan is fine.It is however sort of dodgy with a Rasta vibe and a known drug trans-shipment point.The military has a check point and frequently does tourist shakedowns and many kids come from all over to do cheap drugs there .Many of the rasta dudes will offer you drugs when I was there 20 times at least. I like PV but there is a dodgy risky element there particularly for solo females why
the postings on other boards there has been a convicted serial
rapist there in jail finally of late. travel.state.gov CR
for crime/entry info. If a savy backpacker odds are you will like it,if a newbie consider www.playamontezuma.net www.lunallena.com pretty way less dodgy particularly
with kids.Rescue at Cabo Blanco there too.

Good luck!

Good luck!

The much talked about sexual offender in Playa ... Neither the Tico Times, a.m. Costa Rica, or Talamanca ... Rolando Brown is the accused serial rapist, and that is the ...

http://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/.../rapist-jailed

Photos and description of the hotel Luna llena in Montezuma Costa Rica.

lunallenahotel.com

Qwo - first off, CR has NO military, so hard for them to "shakedown tourists" if they don't exist. Next, the OP is asking about Puerto Viejo, not Montezuma. Lastly, yes there is a sanctuary in near Cabo Blanco, it has received extremely poor reviews (by people who have actually visited it), including hipvirgochick here at fodors.

No way would I ride a bike on the roads anywhere in CR. Ever.

You have to love reading these forums. It re-enforces why I choose to live here and have for 7 years. If you spend all your time watching CNN or reading about all the bad things that could happen to you, you like most Americans will never go anywhere.

We rent bikes to our guests all the time and there are many bike rental places. No, I am not aware of tourists getting hit by cars on bikes. That does not mean it does not happen... It is just currently not an epidemic.

Yes, there was Rolando Brown who was serial rapist the area. But thanks to serious efforts with police and locals he went to prison quite some time ago... I think 2 years now.

Yes, there is a rasta drug element to parts of the community. However, I as most tourists can overlook that and see the uniqueness and beauty of the area despite it's shortcomings.

Bottom line... You can read all you want... But balance it out with all the other stuff you read how people loved their vacation there and travelled without incident. If you still are not sure... Save yourself the agony and just don't go. That is what most choose to do.

Thank you Colin, your input is much appreciated as you're there and are definitely in a place to know.

For myself, I am hoping to book airfare in the next 1-2 weeks and then book at Banana Azul to enjoy the area that I've heard so many great things about.

Thank you for all of the replies. What a mixed bag! I have been doing more research and plan to go. I can't wait to hear about your trip Tully!!

Colin and Roberto are excellent hosts at Banana Azul. My first time there they had just (barely) opened. Now the grounds are full and lush and gorgeous, the pool is a great hangout and the frog, coy and turtle ponds are just lovely. I hope you enjoy your time there as much as I have, Tully!

http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edi...August-26-2011

http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edi...tember-09-2011

I'm sure Rolando Brown was in prison when this happened.

Has it ever dawned on you that the media focus on the Caribbean for crime? In OSA peninsula on the Pacific, 5 or 6 foreigners have gone missing in the last 2 years. They have found the bodies of some.. Hardly a thing about was printed in the media.

Caribbean of costa rica is only place without an airport. Even the Limon one does not function. They have tiny airports all over the country and yet no airport except Tortuguero for travellers. Big money has put a lot of effort into making sure the Caribbean does not develop. Right now... Carbbean gets 10% of tourists. Imagine what the costs to the projects in the interior and the Pacific would if Caribbean was able to get 20%? It would be disastrous for the country.

Anyone that lives here will knows very well that crime in Puerto Viejo is really no different then the beach towns on the Pacific. And how anyone can compare crime risk to San Jose is totally beyond me.

All this is too funny. I am on my first trip to Thailand and Bali. I find it amusing that all these people have told me to be careful. What are they referring to? Have I done much research? No. Have I posted on forums asking a whole bunch of questions about all the details? No. Why? Because I have travelled a lot in developing countries and have an idea what to expect. I also love the element of discovering.

When I first moved to Costa Rica, my twin sister was worried about me. She said... Colin what if you get sick? ( I was 43 at the time). I thanked her but reassured her I was not going to feel better at 60 lying in a hospital with an illness thanking my lucky stars that I did not move to. Beach in Costa Rica. She now loves it and spends a couple weeks with me every winter she can.

I look at our happiest guests... And they are always the ones that are open to adventure and deal with life on vacation as it comes to them. I had 3 british girls that were trapped in a flood. I felt bad for them. Btw hey we're looking for fun and sun and got everything but. I apologized to them as I drove them to the bus stop. This one girl said "are you kidding... This was an experience I will never forget." I just thought WOW..

Again... If it is all too much for you to handle... Just stay at home. With no disrespect intended... Maybe take in the Disney Park. At least that way you will likely have a more predictable experience. Most people are just not ready for this type of adventure in their lives and that's okay.

http://www.travelexperiencecostarica...uth-caribbean/

check out this website-this woman is an expat and she writes alot about the area. Frankly, it sounds wonderful, & i'm seriously thinking of going there now

"We rent bikes to our guests all the time and there are many bike rental places. No, I am not aware of tourists getting hit by cars on bikes. That does not mean it does not happen... It is just currently not an epidemic."

No one mentioned "epidemic";I speak against tourists riding bicycles because the roads are narrow, almost none have shoulders, and CR drivers come very very close to them as they whiz by. It is not a "vacation adventure" form of transport, IMO, and should be done very cautiously, much more so than casual riding on streets in the U.S.

"Again... If it is all too much for you to handle... Just stay at home. With no disrespect intended... Maybe take in the Disney Park. At least that way you will likely have a more predictable experience. Most people are just not ready for this type of adventure in their lives and that's okay."

I do not think that I deserve that. It seems like that might be your pat answer since both of your posts to me have the same tone.

I just wanted to know what the real situation was and was asking advice. I like to know what I am getting into before I go. I like to make the choice. The posts that I had read were very alarming and I wanted to know what was the real deal.

Everyone speaks so highly of you Colin and your resort looks lovely. I am surprised that your tone would be so condescending.

It's pretty clear that Colinsito is one of those with the "cover it up" "it can happen anywhere" mentality. Fortunately there are other hotel owners and agents who believe in advising their guests about the do's and don'ts for a safe trip in this area. Their anti-crime efforts are making a difference, but that is because they've decided to not stick their heads in the sand.

Thank you Lojobblais. I will check out the site.

I did a bit of digging, and found this. If I had known about any of it, I might have been much more cautious on a recent Osa trip. Wouldn't stop me, but I would be more aware. Of course everyone should ask questions and plan trips with an open eye! Insulting people for wanting to be knowledgeable travelers, whatever their ultimate choice, is really not necessary.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/08/17/d...he-rainforest/

It seems like in a lot of areas the local police don't follow up in a lot of situations. We had friends that stayed on the Pacific side in a house that they rented, and it was broken into in the middle of the night while they were asleep, and all their stuff was stolen. The police kind of gave them an "oh well" and said there wasn't anything they could do about it. My friend thought it was probably an inside job since there were no signs of forced entry.

I know Colin personally, and he's definitely not a "cover it up type of person". Quite the opposite. Try to understand his annoyance of some of the alarmists on the forums. He does not try to downplay anything, just tells it like it is.

And Sylvia, I'm not sure what roads you're talking about, but the ones we're talking about bicyling on are dirt/rocky roads with some potholes and quite often straight and flat with a lot of visibility. MANY people use these roads for pedestrian and bicycle traffic as a way of life. I think maybe you're referring to the windy roads that go up and down with lots of traffic and passing.

Sparkle gem... What is it you want me or anyone else to tell you? You have obviously read more then even I know about crime down there... Judging from all your posts here andvon other boards, you have really done research. You want me to tell you it is unsafe and you should not go? It is not unsafe for me.

But seeing all your posts on all these different boards, makes me feel it's not for you. If you were writing us as a potential customer and transmitting all this anxiety... I would tell you the same thing.

Covering anything up is almost impossible on the Internet. All guests upon check in are thoroughly briefed on aspects of safety which includes crime and water safety. You ask anyone in the community and the last thing they would say about me is someone who sticks their head in the sand.

I agree the Disney remark was a little much. I am sorry. The posts you refer to, I can only assume are true. I have been physically robbed in 2 different countries. It does not stop me from traveling to all parts of the world or returning to the places I was mugged.

I was just in Columbia recently. I could not believe how thriving the tourist scene was with almost no Americans. I can only assume that they feel it is too dangerous for them. I thought it was great. I had the same experience in Mexico recently on 2 recent trips.

And yes Sylvia... We advise caution when riding the bikes. However I like to think that after you have either driven or tralvelled 4.5 hours to get to Puerto Viejo, people can make their own decision as to whether bike riding is for them. But... That's my opinion.

Oh... And mlgb... Our check in briefing is so detailed along with hotel orientational manual that we get complaints. People have expressed it is over kill.

And thanks VirgoChick... I too found the Cover it up type person remark funny as well. I have been accused and called many things, but that was not one of them ;-). I have plenty of references if people need them.

Colin,

I was not asking you or anyone else to tell me anything. After your first post I replied "Thank you for all of the replies. What a mixed bag! I have been doing more research and plan to go. I can't wait to hear about your trip Tully!!" Only to have you continue to lecture me in a condescending fashion.

I posted, I researched, I made up my mind and posted that. I was not asking for anything else.

You are responding to me as if I am hysterical newbie, which I am not. If you read this thread you can see that I was questioning the validity of what I had seen on another board.

I am not posting on all these different boards as you say. I do not like the way that are creating a hysterical person that needs to just stay home. Your three post on this thread that are directed to me are very demeaning. I do not know what agenda you have but please do not use me as an effigy to get your point across.

It seems like you have had it with people who are afraid to travel and people who bring up old news over and over in a hysterical or inflammatory fashion. I can assure you that I am neither. I have been traveling to developing countries and developed, big cities solo and for extend periods of time for over thirty years. I just wanted to check in to see if the Puerto Viejo area is a safe place in which to travel. I had read some scary posts (and some of the inflamers' posts). I wanted to see what the real situation was. I am not interested in getting mugged or chased with a gun on my vacation. I tend to avoid areas like that. I did not know if this was a constant problem or something that could be avoided or was just a few instances that have been repeated and hyped up to an extreme.

sparkelgem, we were in PV area Oct 2011 and LOVED it there! You are going to have a blast!

- Jaguar Center is a wonderful place. I envy you )
- Many people travel by bike during the day. It gets dark early, so get some type of light. Punta Uva is about 2.5 miles from the Jag Center on a nicely paved road.
- Check out Caribe Town at Cochles beach. They have a nice setup there and it looks like prices are comparable. I know that they are flexible and will probably work out a weekly rate, if you contact them. I know there are several restaurants and other hotels nearby. We felt very safe and loved the "vibe" Also, it's even closer to the Jag Center. Enjoy!!!

@4deckers- Thank you so much for your reply! How fantastic that you LOVED it there!! That's just what I wanted to hear :)

I am think that I will want to be closer to the Jaguar Rescue since I will be biking back and forth often. Thank you for the tips about Caribe Town. I will definitely check it out. I like the idea of staying where I can walk to a few places after my day at the JRC.

"MANY people use these roads for pedestrian and bicycle traffic as a way of life."

Precisely my point. If one is not a regular bicycle rider, and rent one as a lark or as part of a vacation experience, the result could be a frazzled rider making a wrong move when a motor vehicle comes up from behind at speed.

You will love it here and the Jaguar Rescue center is a wonderful place and the owners are truly passionate about their animals. I can't imagine a better way to spend your time in Caribesur.

If you use common sense here like anywhere else you travel you will be just fine. Take cabs at night, don't bring valuables to the beach and watch out for rip currents. Biking is a great way to get around here during the day but the roads are not well lit at night and pot holes are abundant which makes biking hazardous after sundown

I too know Colin personally and I can assure you he is the last one to swipe anything under the rug. Quite the contrary he is known for being outspoken. I can understand his frustration as I too often wonder why the Puerto Viejo area gets a bad rap when its no worse than any other beach communities - I read the local newspapers every day - and I suspect some of it has to do with a deeply rooted racism along with commercial interests.

I have had along stream of friends visiting and many with kids and all have enjoyed their stay here and I am sure you will too.

I can't imagine riding a bike making anyone frazzled, it's not like a strange foreign mode of transportation; it's a simple bike. If you travel around CR, you will find just about everywhere people riding bikes & walking along the side of the road, they are used to it as the drivers are too.

"I can't imagine riding a bike making anyone frazzled...they are used to it as the drivers are too."

Yet again, that's the point I'm trying to make. Yes, people ride bikes and walk along the side of the road, and they and drivers are used to it. People ride everywhere here in Colorado, too; to work, for recreation, etc. That and the availability of wide, smooth, paved bike shoulders hasn't stopped people from dying after being hit by motor vehicles (two quite near my house on US 36).
Riding in CR is different; the roads are different, the drivers are different; if someone is expecting to be given the right of way, for example, they might find themselves clipped and in a roadside ditch (even with the new "decade of safety" promoted by the president, double yellow lines, passing lanes, etc., are looked on as suggestions, not rules).
It may be a "simple bike" and yes, we all know or remember how to ride one, but tourists should know that the fatality rate is double that of western Europe.
(And after watching some folks on rental bikes near Arenal, wobbling their way into traffic, I can certainly imagine riding a bike making someone frazzled.)

Ok Sylvia... I think we all got your point. You won't ride a bike in Costa Rica.

Sylvia, I read the article that you gave the link for, and it does seem that this woman's murder wasn't exactly random.
Colin-you did get a little snotty, there. I had a similar experience on another site, where I asked about the safety of travelling to Guatemala and/or El Salvador, and I asked several times, about different areas, etc.
This would be the first time for me to travel to an developing area, and frankly it's my hubby who's really nervous about it because he feels responsible for keeping me safe. And neither of us speaks Spanish.
Well, some world-traveller type get real snotty and uppity w me. To be honest, much nastier than you did, and it was nice that you did apologize.
Listen, someone who's not used to bikes could get themselves really hurt.
Could someone tell me how far Puerto Viejo is from one of the volcanic areas? I would like to see a volcano & bathe in the mud!
Also-is there any reasonable way to get from either Tikal or Copan - either from the ruins to volcano-PV-Roatan? Or maybe doing those things in a different order? We had about 17 days. Am I being completely crazy?

I agree that my posts sound a little condescending and snotty. I don't mean them to be.

To give you an idea where I am coming from, I just had this young couple ( under 30) leaving our place going to pacific. They had a wonderful time and were really looking forward to the next leg of their adventure.

At breakfast I saw them conversing with another solo traveller who comes to costa rica on occasion and now claims to be an expert. He just finished terrifying this couple about all the problems they could experience while driving through San Jose. You could see that they were concerned and were asking me ways to go where they wanted to go without going through San Jose. No route that I know is logical. I told them I travel to san Jose twice a month and have been without any real incident that one might expect when traveling in a developing country.

Like many responses here, the other person accused me of " covering up" and not being responsible host for not validating his own fears and his own insistence in installing those fears into this couple. I guess it helps validate his own fears...

It gets very tiring... This is why I respond this way. I am responding as a longtime resident here who hosts a couple of thousand tourists a year. If that offends people, I am sorry. But I refuse to take on other peoples issues about what I decide is acceptable for me. I know what is acceptable for me is not acceptable to everyone else. This is one the main reasons I discourage many people from coming to this coast. Seniors, people with young kids, first time travellers on the whole do not fare out as well other types of travellers in this area. In fact I do not think our place is appropriate for kids on many levels, I do not even allow kids under 16.

Sometimes we also get people who are caught up in the reviews of our property and want to come. But at the same time, I can tell from other things they have wrote in their email that we might not be a good fit. I tell them that. Sometimes that is met with a negative response. Your dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

Anyway, bottom line is yes, do your research. I totally encourage it. But if it is going to be too much for you, I think it is best to think more about rather then seeking out people that will try and either validate or invalidate your own fears and what you feel is right for you. People making blanket statements like "I would never ride a bike in Costa Rica" are hardly of the majority that travel here or live here.

Pura Vida, Colin.

In response to lojoblais, I have not heard of bathing in volcanic mud, but the most impressive volcano with the best hot springs is Arenal. You can work that destination in if you are either traveling to pacific or Caribbean.

If this is your first time, without knowing you, it would be automatic for me to suggest the pacific. I think it would help set you hubby at ease and still give you a great holiday.. With 17 days you can take in almost whole country.

As for including honduras in this vacation, you should look at flying. As seasoned as I am, I still don't like driving around central America. Definitely not if it is your first time.

And for people who read crime statistics, last count... You were up to 10 x more likely to be murdered in Honduras then you are costa rica. Although, I would still travel there, as I have not seen the famous ruins and I love to snorkel. But I will take a bus.. Or hire a driver.

Wow. Pompous, much? Self-righteous, condescending, obtuse, and insulting, certainly.
As a senior who has several times traveled to Costa Rica and parts south of the U.S. border, always on a shoestring budget (yes, bus rides, even hostels, and never ever hired a driver), I take exception to your stereotyping and pronouncements. Although my health has not been great lately, I've biked all my life in the streets, and after observing bikes and drivers in Costa Rica, no, I would not tempt fate; but I was suggesting that people not used to bike riding not attempt it as a lark, a point I repeatedly tried to make, and you decided to ignore. Whatever.
My husband is a senior (evidently you don't want them),in his upper 60s and an elite runner, and would fare better than many 25 year olds in your little enclave.
Your statement that you don't mean your posts to be "condescending and snotty" rings false.
"It gets very tiring... This is why I respond this way. I am responding as a longtime resident here who hosts a couple of thousand tourists a year. If that offends people, I am sorry."
Perhaps you should find a less tiring line of work.
And, a final note: "I would never ride a bike in Costa Rica" is not a "blanket" statement, but rather a personal observation, followed up by reasoning, logic, and links.

Someone needs a Xanax.

Now THAT is snotty.

I guess this snotty condescending comment was directed at me
"Like many responses here, the other person accused me of " covering up" and not being responsible host for not validating his own fears and his own insistence in installing those fears into this couple. I guess it helps validate his own fears... "

Just as I don't know Colinsito, he doesn't know me (who is not a "he" btw but a solo female traveler. One who Kingston before Colinsito was even a twinkle in his mama's eye. Please don't imply that I am sheltered, fearful, racist, etc. EG I just returned from a solo trip to Bolivia.

What I do object to is the fact that shortly before I visited CR I stayed at a lodging in an area where there had been a rash of home invasion robberies and assaults, and nothing was ever mentioned to me. I applaud Banana Azul as well as those in the Dominical area for their crime prevention efforts, but I am well aware that these are RECENT developments and probably in response to media reports as well as efforts of families of missing and murdered expats and tourists.

Anyone who chooses to spend a vacation where they don't have to worry about taking a backpack and guitar for a walk on the beach is entitled to not be belittled and to be given a respectful response.

RIP Steve Edelson.

Edit missing phrase "One who grew up in Kingston Jamaica"

I would NEVER take a Xanax and ride a bike. What a thing to suggest!