I have heard Jaco is “not a family place” but fwiw we just went to Arenal and Manuel Antonio over spring break and it was an amazing family vacation and I saw nothing seedy at all, at all. Sex tourism is an odd association with Costa Rica. While I Zamora sure you can find it, it definitely is not difficult to avoid.

US State Dept ranks Costa Rica as Tier 2 for human trafficking, predominantly for sex trafficking. It means they still have a lot of work to do:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-trafficking-in-persons-report/costa-rica/

Anonymous wrote:Just got back and didn't experience any of what OP described. I'm sure it exists, just as it does ANYWHERE in the world, but it wasn't in my face. Costa Rica was beautiful, felt very safe, people were friendly, food was great...loved it.

I've traveled to 50+ countries. The only country I found it more obvious was Thailand. I will say I haven't been to DR and I heard it's quite prevalent there.

But... it's not like the streets are lined with working ladies. It's in bars and a bit in hotels. You won't see it on typical family outings. A whole different scene from visiting a night market in Bangkok for example.

Sounds like you went to Jaco OP? I saw a little of it when I was out in various touristy areas, going to bars at night. But it was only noticeable if you knew sex tourism was a thing, like you would see a white guy with a younger local and you knew it was sex tourism but only if you are aware it exists. And it was like 1 white guy per bar, not like in your face.

Just got back and didn't experience any of what OP described. I'm sure it exists, just as it does ANYWHERE in the world, but it wasn't in my face. Costa Rica was beautiful, felt very safe, people were friendly, food was great...loved it. Can't wait to go back and see even more of it.

It's ranked highly as one of the happiest countries in the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTAF? I went about 15 years ago and saw nothing like what you describe.

Because you're nestled in bed in your hotel room at 8pm at your all-inclusive resort.

DP here. Ridiculous response.

Anonymous wrote:WTAF? I went about 15 years ago and saw nothing like what you describe.

Because you're nestled in bed in your hotel room at 8pm at your all-inclusive resort.

WTAF? I went about 15 years ago and saw nothing like what you describe.

I don’t love San José, but the rest of the country is awesome. I think OP just made bad choices.

Yes, there more certainly is, but most DCUMers on family trips won't see it. Go to the nightclubs, or stay in certain hotels in San Jose, and you'll see plenty of it. One of my friends who goes there a lot for business jokes that it's so "grey area" that most woman available for the right price, and it's not seen as something embarrassing or socially unacceptable.

At the hotel I stayed in, part of the Hilton chain, I came home late one night and they even had a formal registration process for "ladies" brought back, I think to protect both sides.

I went about 20 years ago to San Jose, Arenal, and Monteverde. Never saw anything like OP described.

I was quite taken back by the OP!

Never heard of this. Went to Liberia, Costa Rica. What part of Costa Rica did you go?

I have been twice with my kids, stayed in local places with a friend who lives there and NEVER saw anything like you describe.

We did Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and Arenal on our various trips.

I studied abroad in Costa Rica in college and it never occurred to me to think of the country like you described. I don't think I saw any prostitution at all. I mean, I'm sure it was there. I never noted it. I have also been back there several times as an adult and never saw it as a sex tourism destination with prostitution everywhere.

This is more a question on how you personally experienced Costa Rica than anything else.

I see a lot of recommendations to visit Costa Rica as a family vacation destination on this board. Is it really that great?
I went once back in college with friends and it seemed more like a sex tourism destination with prostitution everywhere. This was quite a while ago and I have not been back since so I'm guessing things changed? Tell me where you go and what you do with kids there.