How Bad Are the Bugs in Costa Rica?
How bad the bugs are anywhere is a question that is hard to answer because everyone’s tolerance level is different as well as their previous experience. Costa Rica is a rainforest area. It is humid. Many of the adventures and lodgings are smack dab in the middle of some bug’s home.
I went to Costa Rica expecting to be miserable and bugged out. I was paranoid. Our first night, we yelled at our kids to not turn on the light until the door was closed so they didn’t let bugs in. Then in the morning we woke up to see the sun streaming in from the 1 1/2 inch gap at the bottom of our door. I’m told the doors don’t reach to the floor because of the humidity. So much for keeping the bugs out.
Thus started my trip and my relationship with bugs in Costa Rica. We had tried to prepare our kids. I had a friend who wouldn’t stay in a hotel because of the bugs – and I knew we were going to the same hotel. We prepared them so well, that my daughter cheered when she found a lizard in her room – because it would eat the bugs!
We for sure saw bugs and had bugs. But, we never felt swarmed by bugs, we weren’t constantly swatting them away, or keeping them out of our food – which are my top irritants. They were just there. In a room we would maybe see one bug on the wall. Or two. But they just sat there lazily on the wall, or hung out in the top corner. They minded their own business and I minded my own. In fact, I’m sure they were there, but I don’t remember a single flying bug.
That hotel I was worried about? I did see one tiny spider there like I do sometimes in my own home. But the place was clean and comfortable. No carpets – rainforest here, and different layout – the shower, toilet and sink were all in the same open area – but clean, comfortable, and the owners were incredible. It became one of my favorite places.
I hate bugs, but for some reason, they didn’t bother me at all in Costa Rica. I have to say, camping in my home state I was more bothered by bugs than in Costa Rica. Maybe the bugs adopt the Pura Vida lifestyle as well as the people – or I did and I was just more relaxed about it.
If you hate hate hate bugs, take bug spray and wear long sleeves and pants in the evenings. Maybe spray your walls and doors, and then designate someone in your group to be the bug man for you. Like anywhere Tropical, bugs can carry diseases, so please wear bug spray while you are in Costa Rica even if you don’t see or feel them.
However, the only time I felt like I ‘needed’ bug spray was our last night of the trip. We entered a comfortable, cozy, and clean room. As I went to bed, I saw some ants hanging out on the night table. I whipped out my bug spray and gave them a squirt. They looked covered and so I promptly went to bed. I came home without one bite or nightmare. Always wear bug spray even if you don’t notice the bugs or feel you need it.
I can guarantee two things about Costa Rica no matter when you go: It will rain on you and you will see a bug in your room. I just think it’s impossible to avoid, but in no way do I think it will put a damper on your trip!
So, bugs were a lot less of an issue than I thought they would be. What I remember more is walking down the path at the Jungle Camp and having butterflies flit across my path so much I stopped and stared or finding a tiny frog nestled inside the heart of a plant. I remember the big crab that walked across our path when we weren’t near the beach and the plant that would curl up when we touched it. But bugs? Pura Vida, they didn’t bother me!
If you do come home with a bug bite that doesn’t heal or becomes infected, please seek medical care and mention that you have recently been to Costa Rica so they can test for tropical disease that bugs can carry. Most doctors in the US don’t think to test for them as they are so rare.
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