Talamanca Region, Costa Rica – They are courteous, bilingual and usually wear stylish white polo shirts. You usually see them on foot or riding mountain bikes in tourist hotspots such as Playas del Coco in Guanacaste. They also carry regulation weapons and are trained in special tactics to combat crime. These are the members of the Tourism Police of Costa Rica, a special unit of Fuerza Publica (the national police force), who recently inaugurated a new Caribbean base of operations.

The new precinct is located in Playa Cocles, not far from Puerto Viejo, province of Limon. This Southern Caribbean region is a favorite among tourists who come to Costa Rica in search of the pura vida axiom. The communities of Puerto Viejo, Playa Cocles and Cahuita are working with the local Chamber of Tourism and Fuerza Publica to make the Southern Caribbean a better place for visitors and residents. To this end, the Tourism Police base of operations in Playa Cocles consists of a new three-level building with a communications center, two new 4×4 patrol cars, six motorcycles, and 10 new police officers.

Neighbors in the Southern Caribbean region of Costa Rica are also pleased to learn that the Tourism Police is also busy installing 11 surveillance cameras in strategic locations of Playa Cocles, Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo. These cameras will feature a special metal covering and are placed at a height and angle that prevents tampering and vandalism.

The Tourism Police detachment in the Southern Caribbean will also increase its patrol frequency and coverage of the region. The new patrol routes will alternate so that the criminals will not learn of their frequency and coverage. Tourism Police officers often coordinate security operations with other units such as Fuerza Publica and the new Border Police of Costa Rica.