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I got pulled over several times. Got out of it each time. First time, guy was nice, saw the family unit and warned us that we'd see plenty of cops. 2nd time was coming down the long hill entering Chiriqui. After following the slow truck for miles and miles, finally passed. Cop said I illegally crossed the yellow lines. I got out of my car and in my broken spanglish, looked down and said give me a break, there's no yellow line here. He let us go too. Interestingly on the way back to the City, the road was newly striped. Third time, we were in a known speed trap just east of David. The guy already had a motorcycle pulled over before me. My friend who lives in CR challenged the cop, asked to see calibration records, cop was pissed, we got let go there too. Motorcycle duu just paid the 20$ and split.They see you with surfboards and assume you are a foreigner.
These is kinda gives you a good position.
tl/dr ?Wow THAT was a travelogue.. sorry
That’s what led me a ramblin in the first placetl/dr ?
Time for a bong rip comrade.
$20 seems reasonable to me, for gringos anyway. Sliding scale perhaps for locals and expats on a fixed income?$20?? Fck see. You guys drive these prices up!! We gotta get tigether and agreeon these hehe.
Las Lajas sux. And yes Silvas Islands (m Negrito) you can see is right in front. I wonder Did any of you guys actually got to surf silva afuera? I have been to some spots in other countries, and I’d say those waves are pretty good guys.
Anyway any of you wanna come by I l’d help you out. Of course for free.
i don’t usually posts any pics of silvas. All i post is usually barqueta and the beachbreaks around puerto armuelles area (close to the costa rican border).
Surf is NOT world class but is really uncrowded. I get bored surfing by myself guys.
ive been to CR like 15 times and never once had a run in with the popo. i always rent a car - drive like a normal human being and do my best to blend in. you should be fine.I'll be in CR (Playa Grande/Tamarindo) with my family for a month over the summer. Will have a rented full sized 4x4...curious what I should expect as far as police and tickets/bribes in that zone. Should I argue and ask for the ticket? Or just try and slide them $20? I sure aint paying $100 bribes...
I've been to CR over 30 times. Been going every year since '91 and really haven't seen any popo but the place where I go has had a new police presence since they opened the new marina but still haven't had any issues and still have never been pulled over while driving. "Be good and you're good" ?ive been to CR like 15 times and never once had a run in with the popo. i always rent a car - drive like a normal human being and do my best to blend in. you should be fine.
Ya I've had about a half dozen of those kinds of trips to Costa and all over Mex 15-20 years ago...haven't been down that way in a while and will have the whole family unit this time, not too worried about it. Thanks for the input!Yeah my first half dozen times were drunk and highly irresponsible and I got away with it. Bribes booze cocaine and all. Cannot recommend such behavior but, this was 10-20 years ago (the drunk trips), so now as a sober Spanish speaking gringo with nothing to hide? (other than a few vapes but it’s not like it’s Russia) it’s a piece of cake driving around down there. Way easier overall than most of Mexico, I think it’s safe to say. you really don’t even see many cops except on the pan am highway and the occasional check point.
Of course there are sketchy parts of certain cities you wouldn’t want to get lost in, but otherwise, cruising around the countryside is a pleasure. Especially in NW Guanacaste. And with Waze being so accurate there now? You don’t even need to make sense of a poorly made inaccurate map of the dirt roads criss crossing the Nicoya peninsula. Waze will guide you right to your eco spa near Playa Grande
I’ve said it here before, years ago, and it holds true today: As annoying as certain towns and aspects have become, You gotta try REAL hard to fu*k up a trip to Costa Rica. It’s still a surfers and nature lovers paradise.
i hear local real estate sales have gone dead again after the buying frenzy of the late pandemic era…might be some more buying ops coming up soon for tropical dirt in epic places
Im personally over Santa Teresa but there are plenty of other cool towns that haven’t lost their charm and have consistent to sometimes great surf on tap
Think seriously about long term rental or lease unless you’re planning to spend the majority of your time (10 months/year) there and are a diy Spanish speaker.Ya I've had about a half dozen of those kinds of trips to Costa and all over Mex 15-20 years ago...haven't been down that way in a while and will have the whole family unit this time, not too worried about it. Thanks for the input!
Follow up question, I am finally in a place in my life financially that purchasing some dirt in Centro is actually possible...best places to look these days?