Be careful with your beach picnic, as the monkeys are notorious thieves. More than a half-dozen companies offer guided trips, with most departing from San Jose. For those interested in a more relaxing time, several companies offer daylong sailing cruises on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. Most stop on nearby islands, and some offer gourmet picnic lunches so that visitors can delight their palates as well as soak up sun and sand. While Costa Rica has been in the news lately for a few high-profile crimes against tourists, most veteran travelers will recognize that it is still much safer than other Latin American countries.
Petty theft is a problem, but robberies and more serious crimes are still rare.
Visitors who take reasonable precautions should have few problems. It's such a beautiful place. There are more people now than before, but there's still so much to do and see. The dry season, which lasts from January to May, is the most popular time to visit. However, prices are higher during the dry season and it doesn't rain all the time during the wet season, so you might consider a summer visit.