Picture this. You’ve just landed in paradise, stepping off the plane into warm tropical air that smells faintly of rain and flowers. You’re ready to soak up every second of your Costa Rican adventure. Yet within hours of arrival, you might unknowingly commit a blunder that makes locals quietly roll their eyes. It’s not about rudeness or ignorance, really. It’s about something far more insidious that chips away at the very soul of what makes Costa Rica special.
What’s this massive misstep? Honestly, it might surprise you.
Leaving Your Valuables Unattended at the Beach or in Your Car
All beaches in Costa Rica are open to the public, and visitors should not leave valuables unattended while swimming, as theft is a particularly common crime. Tourists have returned from the beach to find car windows shattered and iPads gone, while others at popular swimming holes like the free hot springs in La Fortuna have had belongings stolen while they were in the water. Parking in tourist destinations and designated parking areas for popular attractions makes vehicles especially vulnerable, and this happens so frequently that locals comment on social media that warnings should be posted. The frustration among Costa Ricans is palpable because this same mistake repeats itself daily.
It’s hard to say for sure, but the reality is that roughly half of the complaints locals have about tourists boil down to this one preventable error. Leaving bags unattended at the beach is described as a rookie-level mistake. Think about it. You wouldn’t leave your phone on a park bench in Miami, would you? The tropical setting doesn’t magically protect your stuff.
Thieves can block key fob signals with electronic jammers, so always physically check that car doors are locked. Never leave things in plain sight in a parked car; if heading to the beach, park in a lot or next to other cars. Still, many tourists believe the “pura vida” atmosphere means everything will be fine. Unfortunately, petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica, and violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault.
Misusing or Overusing “Pura Vida” Like a Marketing Slogan
The phrase translates literally to “pure life” and serves as a catch-all expression meaning hello, how are you, all good, and a symbol of Tico positivity, yet some tourists misuse it as a marketing slogan, plastering it on T-shirts or shouting it incessantly at bartenders or random passersby. Here’s the thing. Locals genuinely value this phrase. It’s woven into the fabric of their identity. The meaning of pura vida is “pure life,” symbolizing the simple, cheerful outlook and lifestyle of what is often called the happiest country in the world, and can mean “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” “that’s great,” or “life is good.
When tourists treat it like a novelty catchphrase, locals sense the disconnect. While some phrases like “Pura Vida” are universally accepted, others might be better reserved for closer relationships. Let’s be real. It feels performative when visitors yell “pura vida” every five seconds without understanding its cultural weight. Most English-speaking writers misrepresent the term by capitalizing it as a proper noun, though exceptions can be made for millions of Costa Rican T-shirts, baseball caps, and souvenirs sold to tourists.
The lesson? Use pura vida respectfully and sparingly. Don’t turn it into your personal catchphrase for Instagram. Costa Ricans appreciate it when visitors make a genuine effort rather than turning their culture into a caricature.
Trying to Cram Too Many Destinations Into One Trip
Zipping from volcanic hot springs to cloud forests in a single day robs visitors of time to relish the wildlife, fresh air, and subtle wonders of each microclimate, plus Costa Rica’s mountainous terrain can turn a 50-mile journey into several hours of winding roads. Google Maps might say two hours from San José to Monteverde, but reality check: that drive takes 3.5 to 4 hours on winding mountain roads with no lighting and frequent fog, as Costa Rica’s mountainous terrain means distances that look short on paper become epic journeys. This overpacking of itineraries drives locals crazy because they witness exhausted tourists racing through their country without actually experiencing it.
Experts recommend picking two to three main areas maximum, such as Arenal for the volcano and hot springs, Monteverde for the cloud forest, and Tamarindo for the beach, allowing two to three nights each to soak up local tours like canopy zip lines or night walks instead of drive-by visits. I know it sounds crazy, but slowing down actually lets you see more. Google Maps only says an hour and a half, but in reality, it could be at least half an hour more minimum depending on where you’re driving, often much longer, and extra driving time is essential during Semana Santa, high tourist season, and holidays.
Ignoring Wildlife Regulations and Feeding Animals
Costa Rica is serious about protecting its environment, and it’s illegal to touch, feed, or disturb wildlife, with fines as high as three thousand dollars. Tourists often ignore park rules, chase sloths for selfies, or leave trash on trails, all actions that directly undermine Costa Rica’s conservation efforts. This behavior infuriates locals because Costa Rica makes up only 0.03 percent of the earth’s surface but holds five percent of its biodiversity. That’s wild, right?
Visitors should not encourage monkeys to come closer when eating, try to keep food away from them, be aware of where they are at cafés, and keep a respectful distance from wildlife at all times. Costa Rica was the first country to launch a hashtag StopAnimalSelfies campaign, and national parks have banned single-use plastics. Yet tourists continue to seek close encounters with wildlife. Even wildlife tourism has come under scrutiny, as tourists may think they’re being animal lovers by seeking close-up encounters with sloths or monkeys, but many of these interactions are staged, unethical, and harmful.
Disrespecting Local Customs and Expecting Everything on Your Schedule
Travelers expecting lightning-fast service, perfect infrastructure, or luxury amenities in every corner may feel frustrated, but the issue is often a mismatch of expectations rather than a shortcoming of the country. Visitors should respect local customs and not expect things to run on their schedule, as Tico time is real. Costa Ricans have a more relaxed approach to punctuality and service. Complaining loudly or acting entitled just makes you look like the stereotypical demanding tourist.
Many visitors arrive with assumptions shaped by resort brochures or Instagram posts, but Costa Rica has a strong sense of environmental pride, deep-rooted traditions, and everyday customs that should be respected, and making small cultural or behavioral mistakes can leave a bad impression. Taking pictures of locals, especially children or even religious ceremonies, without explicit permission, is particularly offensive. The Costa Rican concept of time and service differs from North American or European standards.
I think what frustrates locals most is when tourists fail to acknowledge they’re guests in someone else’s home. Some tourists treat Costa Rica like a cheap playground, disregarding the environment or behaving in ways they’d never dare back home, with over-tourism, illegal Airbnb rentals, and careless waste straining local communities and ecosystems, creating growing resentment among locals toward visitors who consume more than they contribute.
Not Understanding the Economic and Social Impact of Tourism
Costa Rica received 2,661,488 tourists by air in 2024, the highest number of visitors in 16 years. American visitors make up sixty percent of Costa Rica’s 2.6 million tourists in 2024, with 1.5 million U.S. nationals arriving by air representing a 10.9 percent increase compared to 2023. This massive influx has consequences. Gentrification by tourism has created a housing crisis in hotspots like Nosara and Monteverde, with landlords favoring short-term vacation rentals over long-term leases, causing rents to triple and pushing out teachers, tour guides, and service workers.
The appreciation of the Costa Rican colón, often dubbed the “Super Colón,” has made the country one of the most expensive destinations in the Americas, with a simple lunch in a tourist town rivaling prices in Miami or Los Angeles, and national park fees and tour prices surging to cover rising operational costs. The most damning statistic of 2025 is the loss of 22,000 tourism jobs, exposing the fragility of an economy overly reliant on foreign visitors, as local workers are cut loose when the green season hits or global economic winds shift.
What would you have guessed? That the biggest mistake first-time visitors make isn’t about a single thoughtless action, but rather a pattern of behavior that reveals a lack of awareness about the real Costa Rica beyond the postcard images. The locals don’t expect perfection. They just wish tourists would show up with a bit more respect, preparation, and understanding that their presence has consequences. Pura vida isn’t just a phrase to put on a t-shirt. It’s a philosophy about living in harmony with nature and community, something worth protecting from the very tourism that celebrates it.
<p>The post The One Mistake First-Time Visitors Make in Costa Rica That Locals Can’t Stand first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>