As Costa Rica continues to battle rising crime rates, a recent robbery involving two American tourists has captured widespread attention, thanks to a series of viral TikTok videos. Anna Manocha and her friend Carolina López traveled to Costa Rica in early March in search of adventure and the famed “Pura Vida” lifestyle. But their vacation took a troubling turn when their rental car was broken into during a stop between San José and Quepos. The women were robbed of passports, bank cards, jewelry, and other belongings.

In a TikTok video shared by Anna Manocha (@anna.manocha), one of the victims explains how the theft occurred during a bathroom break at a gas station.

The TikTok, which quickly went viral, also highlights the logistical nightmare that followed. The pair documented the steps they took to report the crime to Costa Rican police and to work with U.S. authorities to arrange new travel documents. Their firsthand account not only resonated with viewers but also shed light on how crimes targeting tourists are increasingly becoming part of the national conversation.

Manocha also posted a follow-up video, walking viewers through their interactions with law enforcement and the embassy.

The video comment sections are flooded with similar experiences from other tourists, suggesting that crimes like this are far from rare. TikTok users from around the world chimed in with their own cautionary stories of thefts from rental cars, lost passports, and run-ins with petty crime while vacationing in Costa Rica.

Despite the traumatic experience, both women emphasized that they still appreciated Costa Rica’s natural beauty and friendly locals. “We’re still trying to focus on the positive,” Manocha noted in her video. The pair continued their trip, determined not to let the incident define their overall experience.

The incident has reignited concerns among tourism stakeholders. The National Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) and related associations have warned that unchecked crime could seriously damage Costa Rica’s global image and its critical tourism economy. “The safety of both locals and international visitors must be a national priority,” CANATUR stated in a recent press release.

As Costa Rica faces a dip in visitation numbers, stories like this one are becoming cautionary tales for would-be travelers. The tourism sector, already challenged by global travel uncertainties, cannot afford a reputation for insecurity. While the country suffers a dip in international visitation, the National Chamber of Tourism and other associations have repeatedly emphasized the importance of addressing the national crime crisis, as it affects everyone.

At the same time, this tarnishes our country’s image and discourages other travelers from visiting, reinforcing Costa Rica’s growing reputation as an unsafe destination.

Travel Safety Tips for Visitors:

• Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, even for a short time.
• Keep digital and physical backups of your passport and important documents.
• Choose lodging with safes or secure storage options.
• Be cautious during roadside stops and use rest areas with security.
• Report incidents to local police and your embassy without delay.

Of the many strange and interesting species that many hope to encounter during their time in Costa Rica, arthropods are generally lower on the list. Of the 365,000 or so arthropods found in Costa Rica, the ones that may evoke the most feelings of fear and disgust are ticks. Ticks are ectoparasitic arachnids that practice obligate hematophagy. To you and me that means they have eight appendages like spiders and mites, they are a parasite that is attached to the outside of the host, and the only thing that they eat is blood. Now that we nailed down what they are, let’s sift through the information we have about ticks in Costa Rica.

The first thing to know is that there are many species of ticks in Costa Rica. A study that reviewed available information about ticks and public health in Central America found that there are twelve species of ticks that parasitize humans in Costa Rica. So, for those of us running around in the forest, there’s not just one species out there sizing us up for their next meal.

I could not find any information on the total number of tick species in the country. The twelve that article listed were only the ones that feed on humans. There are many more species that feed on other organisms including a whole host of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. I’ve seen many examples of this both in person and on my camera traps. Many people don’t think about ticks parasitizing reptiles, but they can be some of the easiest species to find ticks on in the wild because they stand out on their scaly skin.

I’ve seen many iguanas, snakes, and turtles making their way through the forest with at least one tick hitchhiker. I’ve even found ticks on ornate wood turtles, not just on their neck and legs, by on their actual shells. It’s harder to get a close enough look at mammals to detect ticks in the field, but I have many camera trap videos of a variety of mammals include Baird’s tapirs, white-tailed deer, and pumas with a heavy load of ticks on them.

What are the consequences of these many species of ticks feeding on these many species of hosts? The best-case scenario is the tick gets its fill and falls off the host to move onto the next stage of its lifecycle. As long as there aren’t too many ticks feeding on too much blood, the host should be fine. The real problem arises from tick borne illnesses. For the humans of Costa Rica, there are a variety of illnesses spread by ticks including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus.

The most well-known tick-borne illness, Lyme disease, is either not spread in Costa Rica or is extremely rare. In 2012 there was a case of a man testing positive for Lyme disease in Santa Teresa. Up until this point, every other case of Lyme in Costa Rica was contracted by people who had been traveling. Apparently, this guy hadn’t left the country for the previous 14 months. Still, there’s at least one article out there questioning the testing methods in this case, so who knows.

What’s the take home information for someone enjoying the wilds of Costa Rica? While Lyme disease probably isn’t your biggest concern, there are tick borne diseases in the country so you should take precautions when spending time in the natural environment. My routine is to always wear tall socks, long pants, and apply some bug spray, especially around my ankles.

When I get home, I do an intensive full body tick search. If you do the same and happen to find a tick, it’s most likely not the end of the world. I’ve found probably 50 of these unpleasant ectoparasites during my searches and each one resulted in a slightly itchy bump that just goes away. That being said, you probably shouldn’t be taking medical advice from a guy who writes wildlife articles, so if it looks concerning go to the doctor.

About the Author

Vincent Losasso, founder of Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring, is a biologist who works with camera traps throughout Costa Rica.

The ongoing eruptions of Poás Volcano have triggered health concerns for the community of Grecia and nearby areas like Sarchí, Alajuela, and San José, where a Green Alert remains in place for seven areas. The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry at the National University (UNA) reported that early Wednesday morning, Grecia experienced its longest period of toxic air to date, lasting from midnight to 2 a.m., surpassing a prior one-hour episode. Using advanced sensors, UNA and the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSICORI) continuously monitor air quality and seismic activity to inform public alerts.

Authorities warn that the air in Grecia is often unsafe to breathe due to high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and volcanic ash, which can cause allergies, eye irritation, and respiratory issues, particularly in children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart conditions, with prolonged exposure risking chronic health problems. The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has issued a Red Alert for Poás Volcano National Park, urging residents to wear N95 masks, stay indoors, and close windows to minimize exposure.

“The Poás Volcano maintains a constant emanation of gases and ash, with air quality levels ranging from moderate to severe,” said José Pablo Sibaja, an expert from UNA’s laboratory. The “severe” classification, recorded in San Luis de Grecia, indicates highly hazardous conditions. Beyond health risks, ashfall has damaged coffee crops and pastures in Grecia and Sarchí, while park closures have caused over 60% revenue losses for local businesses, particularly tour operators.

Sibaja explained that the toxic air resulted from a synergistic effect, with ash and sulfur dioxide accumulating in the atmosphere. “This was reflected in the air people were breathing, and it led to irritation, discomfort, and even difficulty breathing,” he noted. Residents in Grecia are coping by closing windows, dampening ash to reduce dust, and wearing masks, though many report disrupted routines and respiratory irritation, according to local accounts.

Authorities have alerted rescue and emergency teams to respond to the crisis. Poás, active with 40 eruptions since 1828, has seen intensified activity since March, driven by seismic swarms and a shrinking crater lake, escalating gas and ash emissions.

Volcanologist Geoffroy Avard of OVSICORI reported that Poás continues to emit gases and ash, with recent measurements showing high outgassing: between 600 and 5,000 tons per day of sulfur dioxide, reinforcing air quality alerts in Grecia and surrounding areas. “We are still seeing a continuous emission of ash that rises only about 100 meters, with frequent pulses recorded on seismographs,” Avard explained.