Costa Rican business executives place great importance on personal contacts with foreign suppliers. Appointments should take place in the hosts' facilities instead of a hotel room, unless a special room has been arranged for the meeting. Unlike the protocol in some neighboring countries, a business suit is appropiate for most business meetings. Petty crime is frequent. Thefts, especially in urban areas, and car break-ins are common.
Thefts take place on the street and from cars.
U.S. passports are a particular target. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy. Some remote trails in national parks have been closed because of the low number of visitors and reported robberies of hikers in the area. Tourists should check with forest rangers for current park conditions. At the discretion of Costa Rican authorities, travelers are sometimes admitted with the original copy of a certified U.S. birth certificate and photo I.D. for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days.