Costa Rica (Pacific coast)

Costa Rica, officially the "Republic of Costa Rica", is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island.

The beautiful Isla del Coco, situated 532 km from the Costa Rican coast in the Pacific Ocean, is a National Park and sought-after diving paradise. A permit is required to visit which must be applied for after arriving in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica now employs a force know as the Policia Turistica who keep a serious eye out that tourists are well protected and assisted as petty theft is very common here. As with all South America countries, keep your valuables under lock and key and padlock or secure down below any valuable loose items on deck. Cruisers who have visited recommend not leaving your boat unattended at night.

Take maximum precautions. Lock your outboard and dinghy at all times with a big chain so thieves cannot just cut the cables and pry things off with crowbars.

The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is drier, while the Atlantic coast has heavy rainfall. Both coasts are hot and humid. December to April are the dry months, while May to November are wet, hot and humid. The east coast is under the influence of the NE trade winds during the winter months, but the west coast has light winds and often calms. Costa Rica is rarely affected by tropical storms.