Costa Rica

[HOMERFROMLAWTON]

I am planning a trip to Costa Rica and have some unanswered questions:

1. Anything I need to watch out for going down the international highway, crime, chronic road conditions. I googled it is safe to drive and the only thing i found was occasional road closed for political protest. Another is try to stay on the toll roads, cartels carjack motor homes to run drugs in. And one part is not paved. Somewhere south of Panama not passable during the rainy season.

2. I can not find anything on RV Parks i can spend the night in.

3. i have a generator and batteries. I have a 100 ft hose and i have no problem with asking a stranger if i can buy water from his house. However sewer is a different problem. Where can i dump legally. maybe pay to dump in someone's sewer. Of course i could pull of the road and dump in the bar ditch, but i do not like to pay a fine so that is not a solution.

i will be buy a new motor home and have no on the road knowledge, but i used to drive a school bus so size does not bother me, and i do have a state issued license. But nothing like experience gained from where the rubber hits the road (pun).

I thank anyone who takes time to help educate me.

 

[Swipular]

This has to be a joke right?

 

[John&Andrea]

It is possible to drive it. 2 day 15 hour drive for me. I never thought about it.

 

[SGilbert]

I would not even attempt that in a million years! Do you value your life, property, and relatives?
If Costa Rica is a desired destination for you, fly there & back.

Just my opinion--your mileage may vary.

 

[Neemer]

More people do this than most realize. Go look up some youtube videos of similar ventures.

 

[HOMERFROMLAWTON]

This has to be a joke right?

This has to be a joke right?

very dead serious i am doing my planning now. that is why i asked questions. i did not live to 79 doing stupid things. this is risky i know that. but i would not have made it for 79 years if i were not smart enough to do all my research. i is kind of like you can eat snow, just don't eat the yellow snow.

 

[JBright11]

Facebook has a group for this. PanAmerican Travelers or something like that.

 

[SGilbert]

very dead serious i am doing my planning now. that is why i asked questions. i did not live to 79 doing stupid things. this is risky i know that. but i would not have made it for 79 years if i were not smart enough to do all my research. i is kind of like you can eat snow, just don't eat the yellow snow.

Your decision. Please keep us updated as you plan and travel. Pics would be great too!

 

[team bradfield]

sounds exciting, Keep us posted on your adventure when possible, safe travels. agree with @SGilbert, pictures please

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Firsty... Wow!! If you do go keep us in the loop.

Secondly, Costa Rica is ABOVE Panama. You don't need to go there. The road that is unpaved. Are you thinking of the Derien Gap? It is not passable with any NORMAL vehicle let alone a motorhome.
There are campgrounds along your way. I did a quick Google Earth search. See pics of what I found. There are probably lots more.

Buying water may not be your biggest problem. I would worry more about finding water SAFE TO DRINK! What comes out of taps in third world countries (inc Mexico) may not be good for you. I know there are some pretty amazing filtration systems out there for sale. I would strongly look into one. As far as dumping your sewer.......I don't want to go there.

Safe travels

 

[John&Andrea]

I have never used this, there are several products out there.

https://www.rei.com/product/247831/sawyer-squeeze-water-filtration-system-with-cnoc-premium-1-liter-bottle

 

[Wemustrv]

Good Luck and keep us posted. As a person 70 plus myself I understand how you feel. Go for it and share your journey's experiences with us as you go.

 

[Holdmybeer]

I am planning a trip to Costa Rica and have some unanswered questions:

1. Anything I need to watch out for going down the international highway, crime, chronic road conditions. I googled it is safe to drive and the only thing i found was occasional road closed for political protest. Another is try to stay on the toll roads, cartels carjack motor homes to run drugs in. And one part is not paved. Somewhere south of Panama not passable during the rainy season.

2. I can not find anything on RV Parks i can spend the night in.

3. i have a generator and batteries. I have a 100 ft hose and i have no problem with asking a stranger if i can buy water from his house. However sewer is a different problem. Where can i dump legally. maybe pay to dump in someone's sewer. Of course i could pull of the road and dump in the bar ditch, but i do not like to pay a fine so that is not a solution.

i will be buy a new motor home and have no on the road knowledge, but i used to drive a school bus so size does not bother me, and i do have a state issued license. But nothing like experience gained from where the rubber hits the road (pun).

I thank anyone who takes time to help educate me.

Let me suggest that if the possibility of incurring a fine is all that's stopping you from dumping your raw sewage in a ditch in Mexico you might want to check the arrogance before you cross over. Would it be okay for someone to do that where you live?

 

[Sunnyfalls]

We have been taking our 2023 Casita trailer to Costa Rica every year for a couple years now and we have driven to Guatemala most years for a couple decades. Frankly, the people are higher quality and more friendly than in the US. Way nicer and far lower cost places to spend the winter months than in US too. Just don't do anything stupid. You can Google our trailer name for more details if interested.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

 

[Holdmybeer]

Frankly, the people are higher quality and more friendly than in the US.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

I'm no social savant, but let me suggest not calling other people "low quality" may produce better overall outcomes for you. Not the least of which would apparently be friendliness.

 

[Boat Bum]

Yeah, definitely a douche remark. The fact he said that puts him in the, never mind...

 

[Kevin D Pem]

To set the record straight, he called Noone low quality. He said higher quality. Please don't interject negative where it is not alluded to.
I see myself as living to a higher standard, however I am not saying everyone else is lower quality. See the difference?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I am planning a trip to Costa Rica and have some unanswered questions:

1. Anything I need to watch out for going down the international highway, crime, chronic road conditions. I googled it is safe to drive and the only thing i found was occasional road closed for political protest. Another is try to stay on the toll roads, cartels carjack motor homes to run drugs in. And one part is not paved. Somewhere south of Panama not passable during the rainy season.

2. I can not find anything on RV Parks i can spend the night in.

3. i have a generator and batteries. I have a 100 ft hose and i have no problem with asking a stranger if i can buy water from his house. However sewer is a different problem. Where can i dump legally. maybe pay to dump in someone's sewer. Of course i could pull of the road and dump in the bar ditch, but i do not like to pay a fine so that is not a solution.

i will be buy a new motor home and have no on the road knowledge, but i used to drive a school bus so size does not bother me, and i do have a state issued license. But nothing like experience gained from where the rubber hits the road (pun).

I thank anyone who takes time to help educate me.

As stated by others, water is not always safe In all countries. Proof can be found in places of the USA. Good to see you doing your research!

On trips where water quality is an issue purchase an Ozone generator an carbon filters.

As for dealing with human waist consider reading a pdf book called the humanure handbook. That book is for people that feel strongly about not cr*****g in their drinking water.

If living safely is your concern lock yourself in your bunker and hope for the best.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

To set the record straight, he called Noone low quality. He said higher quality. Please don't interject negative where it is not alluded to.
I see myself as living to a higher standard, however I am not saying everyone else is lower quality. See the difference?

Nope. In my eyes, and even though I am a Canadian, I still see it as an insult. We travel all over and have never been able to meet an entire nation, state, province or city that I would consider a lesser quality of people. I can say that we have found Texans to be the most polite. We think that folks in Mississippi seemed to be the friendliest. Even the folks we ran into in New York City were good people. We have been treated very well by Mexicans too. I'm sure every country does have some low class folks but to judge a whole country as lower quality people just insulting in my opinion.

 

[Boat Bum]

To set the record straight, he called Noone low quality. He said higher quality. Please don't interject negative where it is not alluded to.
I see myself as living to a higher standard, however I am not saying everyone else is lower quality. See the difference?

Yes, in one instance you use the word "standard" and in presenting a corollary you used the word quality, two totally different meanings.