Destinations › Costa Rica › San José › Scams
San José, Costa Rica
8 reported scam patterns travellers run into in San José, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Rental-car damage claims for pre-existing marks, and insurance excesses that exclude gravel-road damage without this being stated at the counter.
Slashed bags and coordinated theft in the Mercado Central, on the Coca-Cola bus terminal streets and in Parque La Sabana.
Unmarked cars at Juan Santamaría arrivals presenting as taxis; only the orange fleet is licensed at the airport.
'La maría está dañada' — the meter declared broken — with a fixed fare quoted at several times the metered rate, particularly from the airport.
Fake police stops asking to inspect wallets for counterfeit notes.
Service charge and tax added to a menu price that already included them, effectively charging twice.
Change given in colones against a dollar price at a rate well below the bank rate.
Volcano and rafting tours sold the night before that are not refunded when the park closes on volcanic activity.
