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South and Central America > Central America: Costa Rica for women - Dress code? Harrassment?? Help please!

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loki866
Jan 12th 2009
edited
im 16 years old and for a school field trip im going to Costa Rica in March. Me and about 30 other north americans are going. i have heard that woman shouldn't wear shorts that arent knee length and no tank tops. also that because that i am from noth america that the costa rican boys will whisle at us. is this true? or are my teachers parnoid? Are their any other dangers i should know about the people in Costa Rica. We also are told we shouldn't wear two peice bathing sutes or wear a shirt. is the harrassment that bad? also that we may be "hit on" and asked to get marryed??? because we are of legal marrying age.
please help me. the more my teacher drag on about this the more it worrys me. lol are americans seen as loose? i was told that also.

anything that you could tell me about the people in costa rica would be nice. also this info can be shared with my classmates so we can be safe. i have read about the petty crime about the pickpocketing. so i know about that, but this dress code stuff, im not use to it so i dont believe it. i dont know how i would be able to wear pants in 80 degree weather! I'm from New York USA so the shorts and sun is a VERY nice break..
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loki866
Jan 12th 2009
sorry more info...
my teacher told us that we may be targeted for harrassment that we need to try to blend in, but im fair skinned and with blonde hair. so were going to stick out like a sore thumb. (winter just is ending so everyone is very pale skinned). will people skeek us out? do you think people will be mean to us because were americans? i know many countys hate the US, but i dont believe that Costa Rica has anything against us, but i dont know for shure. are northren americans a target?
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DavidF
Jan 12th 2009
Loki - Relax, you are going to have a great time in Costa Rica. This is one of the safest countries in the world to travel in, even for women travelling alone. There is very little hostility to Americans, and your presence in their country is very welcome.

Behind Amsterdam and Ireland, Jessica Labrencis, staff writer for the travel website SmarterTravel.com has named Costa Rica as the third safest destination in the world for female travelers, as reported in the daily USA Today.

It is worth mentioning that South African men have a tendency towards "machismo" which is evident in whistles, cat-calls and forward remarks. These are pretty harmless and if you ignore them nothing further will happen. It is true that if you dress revealingly you will get a lot more machismo behaviour. In fact, the less you wear the more you'll attract unwelcome attention. So while shorts and a t-shirt are just comfortable wear for you - to a macho local they send a message that you want that sort of attention. The solution? Dress conservatively in long, cool, cotton pants and similar tops.

Most important of all: have a sense of humour, keep your wits about you, and relax into the experience of being in this wonderful country. Have a great trip! (And please send us your experiences via this blog and on wwwTripreport.com)
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Guest
Aug 4th 2009
edited
Look, I've lived here 3 years and no matter what you do, if you look different, people will stare at you. I am blonde.. I tried blending in but that never worked.. they KNOW you are a foreigner.
Piece of advice... please bring your tank tops... It's hot here and you will need them. Secondly, who cares if you stand out.. Just deal with it, and don't let all the attention you get make you paranoid.
Women commonly wear hoochie clothing here, so I'm pretty sure you wont' be dressed that provocatively,no matter what you do.
Just do yourself a favor. spare yourself from being laughed at, and DO NOT WEAR jurassic park style clothing.. By this I mean, khaki coloured everything, wearing hikers in San Jose, wearing those dorky tourist hats, or t shirts that are splashed with the words COSTA RICA or PURA VIDA.
For the guys.... Hawaiin style shirts with large flower prints or parrots ARE OUT... YOU WILL LOOK LIKE A GRINGO TOURIST if you dress this way, which makes you stand out wayyyyy more..
Best advice... wear your normal summer clothes, just as you would back home.. trust me... You will look less like a tourist, maybe more like a foreigner that lives here.

OH and learn some spanish.. that always helps..... And if the guys honk at you, just ignore it or smile. To them, it's just their way of telling you that yo are hot! HAve a good trip
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José
Aug 16th 2009
Hi loki866,

Honestly, I think your teacher is kind of paranoid. As of now, you might have gone to C.R. and returned to the U.S. again. It's good to take precautions to any place you go, but please never become paranoid because *for sure* you will not enjoy. I am a Costa Rican, and yes, you might find whistles from un-educated guys roaming the streets, but the majority of people in CR would not bother to even notice you.

As a Costa Rican I do not hate "gringos" or have any bad feeling, we are pretty relaxed people in that sense. I even have a "gringa" aunt. The only thing that bothers me is when a US person comes into any restaurant or shop screaming in english that he needs something and complains in a bad way about our way of doing things. We really make an extra effort when treating foreigners. Costa Rican love to make foreigners feel even better than home. Just be friendly and receptive. And if go the extra mile and learn spanish, you will have queen-treatment :-)
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Al
Oct 23rd 2009
Hi there! I have worked in Costa Rica with exchange students, mostly from the US and this has always been a source of concern...
like someone said, if you look different they will catch people's attention...and pick-up lines will also be part of it. But from that to being harassed or getting married proposals...hehe! that's a bit over the top! I think many people don't know what the culture's really like and they love making up stories and stuff. So no need to worry. If you hear pick-up lines just pretend you didn't hear a thing! and don't carry that 30-ton backpack like if you were coming a lost city in the middle of the jungle. This ain't no Temple of Doom!
other than that, have a good trip and a good time here
Al
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Tom
Nov 4th 2009
Costa Rica sounds a lot like Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, culturally. As a visitor, treat the people who live there with respect and that is how THEY will treat you. I went there with two beautiful daughters (one 24 and one 18) and they got some smiles and whistles, but it was on the beach and they were wearing bikinis! No one was threatened!

Use common sense, and you will be fine. That advice applies when you are home too, right?

Last time we were in Mexico, some friends said they could not believe we were going. They said we were crazy and it was dangerous. We had a wonderful time, while in our "safe" frigid small U.S. city there were four murders while we were away..
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Jkat
Nov 5th 2009
Hi loki866,

My daughter and I are traveling to Costa Rica during the week of Thanksgiving. She has spent hours on the web checking out places and different post on where to go what to do and is it safe. She has not found anything that makes her feel Costa Rica is a bad choice.

You should always common sense and caution where ever you are, even in the US. Don't wonder off alone, always travel in groups. All cities have areas that are not good places to be if you are alone and especially if you are female. Just use good judgement.

As far you teacher - he or she has a great responsibility on their shoulders. They what you to go and have a good time but you know kids have that mentality of - it won't happen to me - I know what I'm doing - etc. etc. etc. I'm sure your teacher is just trying to make you think and stay safe. Go and enjoy yourself - Don't be scared to enjoy the adventure, but don't be stupid either.

I'll try to find this post after my trip and give you and update.
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