There are hotels , bars, sports clubs, night clubs, and massage parlors that are well-known for their prostitutes. The arrangement of services and payment must be between the client and the sex worker. The repercussions for doing it any other way are very severe. Costa Rica maintains a zero-tolerance approach to engaging in sexual activities with minors.
It is absolutely imperative that you have valid proof of the age of the individuals with whom you are engaging with and not to just trust their word or your personal judgement.
It is not uncommon for undercover sting operations to take place to bust people who are trying to engage sexually with children. If you are caught, you will likely spend the rest of your days in a Costa Rican jail. Since prostitution is a legal enterprise, Costa Rican sex workers are supposed to register with Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. The government issues legal sex workers an identification card and offers a free medical exam every 15 days.
A study found that 1 out of every female sex workers in Costa Rica has tested positive for HIV and 7 out of every male sex workers possess the highly contagious virus. Sportsmen Lodge, Hotel Del Rey , and New Fantasy massage parlor are the most talked about and visited establishments in the city where nearly foreigners visit every day in search of some stranger love.
In Tamarindo, you are likely to see prostitutes out and about at night and at the main party hubs like Monkey Bar and Pacifico. There are also places that you would never assume were condoning this type of activity or that are so hidden you would never find them unless someone told you to go there. The sex industry is thriving in Costa Rica even while many are trying to shut it down.
