We are a family of 5 children ages 10,8 and 6. I am trying to gage what the overall feeling of safety is while traveling in Costa Rica. For those that have been-- do you feel safe almost all the time? Is it comparable to driving through the rough part of big US city at its worst? What analogies come to mind? Any suggestions for how to prepare the children? I want them to be aware but not afraid...

I would have to say we felt safe basically all of the time .... It was my third trip , this last time with the children . We did not put ourselves in any potentially suspect situations .... No late night partying , stumbling home on dark roads , etc., etc., Wait ..... Yup ... That was the FIRST trip !!!! The biggest trouble there WAS stumbling home tipsy late at nite on a very dark road , I heard this low rumble , kind of like a growl , wait ... it IS a growl , then We hear slow steps , faster steps , ferocious growling , and suddenly a HUGE Rottweiler is literally lunging through the air at me and is completely stopped short and wrenched backwards flat on his back , just like in the movies !!! That was coming home from Barba Roja , walking on the main road in the pitch black , but that was then !!! You will be fine , act the way you would in any strange or new place , and most of all have fun !! Faith

We have almost always felt safe in CR. The only time I was uneasy was walking in the downtown area of SJ. I suppose mainly because there were just so many people and so many cars. Actually we probably feel so safe that we may tend to get too lax.

As for Arenal and MA, I never felt at all uneasy. Even when we were lost.

So SJ is the only place we have been uneasy. Places we have visited (many times doing the driving) northern Guanacaste, Monteverde, Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Montezuma, Tortuguero and many stops between.

As for preparing your children, I as all mothers, had taught my children to not talk to strangers, some time later, one of the children asked "What is a stranger"!

Just stay aware of your surroundings. And use common sense, as you would at home.

Missed an integral point of my story ! poor puppy was rudely wrenched backwards and through the air by his heavy chain that first I heard unravelling slowly... then faster... and faster .... You know the rest( Could not SEE a thing !!) Tooo many Pinas had me frozen on my spot !

" Is it comparable to driving through the rough part of big US city at its worst? "

Absolutely not. I felt perfectly safe, as a female solo traveler, in CR; much more so, in fact, than I have in several places in the US.

You guys are great! Thanks I get the picture.

Have FUN !!