It is the only Central American country without an army, for example, and its most recent claim to political fame was the Nobel Peace Prize received by President Oscar Arias in 1987. Avoiding conflict runs deep in the culture of Costa Rica. The highest compliment you can pay to a Costa Rican is to call them humilde , or humble. Any overt display of anger is considered extremely unseemly . This extends to issues of safety.
Violent crime is very uncommon, so much so that when a crime occurs it is major news.
Petty crime exists in some parts of the capitol, but rarely outside. Because the Monteverde program is based in wilderness and rural settings, safety issues center on wilderness-related injuries and distance to health facilities, like clinics and hospitals. Little time is spent in San Jose, the capitol of Costa Rica, where violent crime and petty crime are most likely to occur. Students are met at the airport and escorted to the hotel by Council staff, unless the student travels before the program. The hotel is a large one in the center of the shopping district in San Jose.