When you are planning a visit to another country, it is important to learn about the laws and customs of this country before leaving. Tourists have often been surprised and even shocked to learn what is and what is not allowed! Prevent this from happening to you-if you are traveling to Costa Rica on vacation, learn about some of their laws and how they differ from laws in the United States.

One of the most important things to realize about Costa Rica is that prostitution is not illegal as it is in the United States. If you go to bars or nightclubs, you may see prostitutes, depending on where you are at in the country. Prostitutes specifically target tourists much of the time, since someone on vacation is more likely to cheat on a spouse or significant other, spend more money, or splurge for these kinds of acts when they normally would not. A tourist also has less sense of the amount of money certain things are worth and are therefor easy to scam. Promotion of prostitution is illegal, so you won't see advertisements like you would in Amsterdam, but you will notice questionable girls frequenting the bar scene. Owners usually tolerate them if the business is kept fairly quiet. However, if you choose to speak to these girls about their services, always ask for age identification. It is illegal for girls (and boys for that matter) to be prostitutes if they are under the age of 18, and you will get in trouble if caught with one of them.

Another questionable sort of law in Costa Rica is in regards to appropriate beachwear. In most cases, specific rules and regulations will be posted on the beach, as they are owned by certain hotels or resorts. However, occasionally you will see beaches with no rules posted. In this case, there are no real national regulations about what can and cannot be worn, but nudity is technically illegal. In some secluded parts of the country, you can find nude beaches where it is tolerated, but make sure you are certain about the rules before you proceed.

Lastly, it is important to note the drinking age in Costa Rica as well as drug policy. All narcotics are illegal in the country, and this includes marijuana, which is a popular substance among young adults. If a dealer propositions you, it is best to simply turn away, since this activity is illegal, as is bringing these drugs into or out of the country, no matter where you are from or where you are going. By sticking to the law when it comes to questionable behavior, you can be sure to enjoy your time in Costa Rica.