Warning - Limon

[leanrunnerboy]

A warning to those visiting Puerto Limon in Costa Rica. I got robbed at gunpoint by two young men near Playa Bonita not far from town. Luckily I wasn't carrying any valuables/jewelry - just took a small pack..inexpensive watch & few $$$. Told by local officials that 'grab & dash' hold-ups at gunpoint sadly on the rise in the area.

I should point out that despite this sobering incident..I enjoyed my visit to Limon - charming rustic little town..not touristy at all. Playa Bonita - a great beach to hang out at..two fine restaurants & some decent body-surfing.

Take a taxi to the beach & don't stray off too far..!!

 

Much the wiser..

[arlodog]

Sorry this happened to you. Thanks for letting us know.

[robinlbe]

When did this happen?

Where you there on a shore excursion???

[leanrunnerboy]

When did this happen?

Where you there on a shore excursion???

 

..happened earlier this month. On my own at the time..not on a shore excursion.

[Grego]

Well, it is a third world country after all. Never travel alone and keep your valuables on the ship.

[pilotdane]

leanrunnerboy: I am glad you were not hurt. On the bright side... you have an exciting story to tell. You seem to have a proper "traveler" attitude. I am glad you did not let one incident ruin your trip.

[Jesterscourt]

Grego, I will repectfully react to your comment "it is afterall a third world country" as if putting leanrunnerboy to blame for what happened to him. There are lots of "third world countries" and he also could have gotten mugged in Orlando or Minneapolis as well. On the other hand, I wish the Cruise Lines would exert more influence working with local governments to improve the port areas (Colon, Panama and Ocho Rios, Jamaica come to mind) where they disembark millions of passengers per year.

[cranier2000]

I have to agree about getting mugged in Orlando since I got held up by two gunmen in my front yard at 6:00 a.m. coming back from the gym. I live in a nice neighborhood and would have never expected this. On the other hand, I've never been held up on a cruise.

[DMorris]

A warning to those visiting Puerto Limon in Costa Rica. I got robbed at gunpoint by two young men near Playa Bonita not far from town. Luckily I wasn't carrying any valuables/jewelry - just took a small pack..inexpensive watch & few $$$. Told by local officials that 'grab & dash' hold-ups at gunpoint sadly on the rise in the area.

I should point out that despite this sobering incident..I enjoyed my visit to Limon - charming rustic little town..not touristy at all. Playa Bonita - a great beach to hang out at..two fine restaurants & some decent body-surfing.

Take a taxi to the beach & don't stray off too far..!!

 

Much the wiser..

 

OMG... I am glad you are ok... sorry to hear what happened. I will be there in a few weeks. Thank you for the warning.

[jasminesmom]

I just returned last night from a 10 day cruise with a stop in Puerto Limon. One of the zip line excursions got robbed at gunpoint by a man wearing a ski mask. Our tour (Costa Rica Favorites) was OK. Also heard back on the boat that another woman walking around Puerto Limon had a biker ride by and grabbed her necklace. Fortunately, it broke and fell into her shirt. If you go on any excursions leave cash and jewelry on the ship!

[49holding]

I read on RCCL's board's "Live from the Jewel" post by trainman2 of a armed stickup on a RCCl tour bus in Limon costa rica......I posted it here last week but the post was removed within hours of my posting it.... I don't know why it was pulled. I will be going to costa rica in 2 months on a cruise ship and I will definitely be very careful. If more of these crimes occur with little safeguarding of the tourists by the local government I just might opt to stay on the ship....

[tango223]

I read on RCCL's board's "Live from the Jewel" post by trainman2 of a armed stickup on a RCCl tour bus in Limon costa rica......I posted it here last week but the post was removed within hours of my posting it.... I don't know why it was pulled. I will be going to costa rica in 2 months on a cruise ship and I will definitely be very careful. If more of these crimes occur with little safeguarding of the tourists by the local government I just might opt to stay on the ship....

 

 

Oh my.....was anyone hurt on any of these incidences? I'm very nervous about the latest comments and the safety of Costa Rica...especially the ones on RCCI's sponsored shore excursions.

[jasminesmom]

No one was hurt on the excursion hold up. Just lost money and/or jewelry. The lady who's necklace almost got yanked away by someone on a bike had her neck scratched up. I don't think it had anything to do with RCCL though - I'm sure all the cruise lines use the same tours. I did hear that on other tours that day they had police escorts - so that's nice to hear.

[LovesToCruise13]

I was on the tour that got robbed at gun point in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. This was a tour sponsored by Royal Caribbean. The area that we had to drive through to get to the start of the tour was awful. Fenced in homes with barbed wire on top of the fences. Bars on all of the windows.

No one was hurt and he only wanted money. He did not ask for jewelry or wallets or anything else. It was the scariest thing that I have ever been through in my lifetime. After the robbery it took us fifteen minutes to get out of the rainforest and back to where the tour started. It was an hour before the police showed up. They told us that the ship had been informed of the robbery but when we got back to the ship, they didn't know anything about it. We will definitely be more careful when taking tours with the ship from now on. Obviously, they do not know anything about these tours that they sponsor. They sign contracts with tour companies but no one from the cruise line ever goes on these tours to make sure that they are safe.

[tango223]

I was on the tour that got robbed at gun point in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. This was a tour sponsored by Royal Caribbean. The area that we had to drive through to get to the start of the tour was awful. Fenced in homes with barbed wire on top of the fences. Bars on all of the windows.

No one was hurt and he only wanted money. He did not ask for jewelry or wallets or anything else. It was the scariest thing that I have ever been through in my lifetime. After the robbery it took us fifteen minutes to get out of the rainforest and back to where the tour started. It was an hour before the police showed up. They told us that the ship had been informed of the robbery but when we got back to the ship, they didn't know anything about it. We will definitely be more careful when taking tours with the ship from now on. Obviously, they do not know anything about these tours that they sponsor. They sign contracts with tour companies but no one from the cruise line ever goes on these tours to make sure that they are safe.

 

LoveToCruise13 OMG. I'm glad you are OK...and can understand how frightening it was. What tour were you on that you went through a obviously dangerous area?

[Williebill]

My wife and I have not decided what we will do in Limon; may stay on ship if all of this is going on.

[LHP]

My wife and I have not decided what we will do in Limon; may stay on ship if all of this is going on.

 

We just went to Limon on the Carnival Freedom. We left all our jewelry in the safe on the ship and only took $20 cash with us.

 

You do have to look out for pick pockets ... but we walked around town by ourselves and had a great time. We even found a karaoke bar. There is a straw market with lots of stuff right there at the pier without crossing the street into "town".

 

You simply walk off the ship...past all the tour buses...and through the check point building. The straw market was very safe as far as I could tell.

 

Then we crossed the street and walked all over town. We went several blocks north and about 6 blocks inland. When we saw tourist thinning out...we turned around.

 

We did not have any problems.....

[Williebill]

We just went to Limon on the Carnival Freedom. We left all our jewelry in the safe on the ship and only took $20 cash with us.

 

You do have to look out for pick pockets ... but we walked around town by ourselves and had a great time. We even found a karaoke bar. There is a straw market with lots of stuff right there at the pier without crossing the street into "town".

 

You simply walk off the ship...past all the tour buses...and through the check point building. The straw market was very safe as far as I could tell.

 

Then we crossed the street and walked all over town. We went several blocks north and about 6 blocks inland. When we saw tourist thinning out...we turned around.

 

We did not have any problems.....

 

Thanks for the information. We will fly out of Memphis International on Monday, December 8th, for FLL. Our cruise begns on Tuesday.

Bill

[LHP]

Thanks for the information. We will fly out of Memphis International on Monday, December 8th, for FLL. Our cruise begns on Tuesday.

Bill

 

Here are some pictures of the Limon, Costa Rica port and the Colon, Panama port.

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/568092721MqqOgO?start=24

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise!!!

 

We live in Collierville...howdy neighbor!!!

[AJI2596]

Thanks for the warning!! I think we will book with the cruise ship for this port.