Safety

For the most part, visitors to towns on the northern coast and cordillera will find that the biggest hazards are traffic and rough patches of road. Still, the same common sense you use anywhere else should be applied here, too. Don't leave valuables exposed in your rental car or left out in your hotel room. Be aware of your surroundings, especially if walking alone at night or using an ATM. And keep your receipts if you're using a credit or debit card, as fraud is an occasional (but not widespread) problem.