Are the bugs bad in Costa Rica?

In most cases, as long as you're taking precautions, you will not have any serious problems from bugs in Costa Rica. There are hundreds of thousands of species of bugs though, and being a tropical country near the equator, there are undeniably bugs year around.



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The CDC recommends an insect repellent that contains at least 20% DEET. You can buy repellent at most grocery and convenience stores in Costa Rica, but unfortunately they mostly carry ones that have 15% DEET. This may work for a short amount of time but a higher concentration will last longer.

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“Results show that C. lectularius is present in Costa Rica,” the researchers write, marking the first confirmed report of a bed bug in Costa Rica in more than 20 years, and the first report of the temperature-zone bed bug ever.

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Central America is a paradise for humans and animals, including snakes. There are 137 snake species in Costa Rica, and 22 are venomous. Most are harmless and will bite only when provoked, but Costa Rica still records almost 500 snake bites per year.

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Many people are afraid of snakes and because of that they don't travel to Costa Rica. We have found that in most cases snakes are good at hiding so you rarely see these animals unless you are specifically looking them.

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A good way to go is the use of essential oils. One of the most effective after DEET and picaridin, is Lemon Eurcalyptus Essential Oil. Although effective, it is only half as much so as DEET but with a higher concertation of PMD, it can increase in effectiveness.

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CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Costa Rica take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip.

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Although there are different species of scorpions in Costa Rica and genera of the most poisonous species of the southern and northern hemispheres of our continent converge in our territory, their sting does not cause public health issues or deaths from poisoning in Costa Rica.

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Sloths are plentiful throughout Costa Rica but may be difficult to spot to the untrained eye. A professional naturalist guide can help point them out. As a general rule, the further south you go along the Pacific coast, the more likely you are to see wildlife as the concentrations are higher.

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Be very cautious when you go into any body of water in the country as tides and rip currents can be strong. Also, as much of the country is considered the rainforest, the weather can change dramatically on very short notice.

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