Slightly off topic - but anyone have suggestions for must see trips and tours in Costa Rica? - hoping to go in March. Will fly into either San Jose or Liberia and stay for 2 weeks. We are happy with the usual tourist trail, but some ideas for alternative spots would be great.

I was in Costa Rica in 2016 and visited Arenal and Potrero (west side). Only opportunity to Thong in Arenal was at Tabacon Hot Springs. Went in the morning through Lunch and my wife and I had no issues and there was little crowd to bother anyone. Sugar Beach in Potero north of Playa Prieta has a smaller hotel basically oceanfront. Wife and I wore thongs nearly everyday on the west side at the pool, beach and the patio each unit has. None of the guest or locals cared at all and didn't even give a 2nd look. I was the only man in a thong and only saw a few other women wearing thongs during the trip.

I am from Costa Rica. Long story short: I would not wear a thong at the beach in my own country. I have done it elsewhere and it was great. I doubt it´s illegal, but chances are, you will be mocked. You will be lucky if you ever see a guy wearing something else than horrendous surf shorts. Women wear regular shy mom bikini´s only. I am in my early thirties and once wore a regular big square cut brief and my friend hated it and his father and brother made fun of it, you would have thought it was a g-string or something. If you are lucky, people will laugh about you with their friends or take photos without making a big deal, but it only takes one person to whistle or say a snarky comment and the rest will join like a pack. You see, we are a very closed minded country, and our people likes to make fun of others, especially in group. Sad but true. I have two GREAT looking mexican friends who thonged in Manuel Antonio (regular thongs, nothing obscene) and people laughed, pointed, whistled, screamed things to them and even covered the children´s eyes. That was in the main section of MA, which is no excuse, it wasn´t even crowded, but maybe they could have been more lucky in other parts, like Playita. They didn´t cared and went on with it and it didn´t stoped them from enjoying the beach all day, but still, it´s wrong. Still, as much as it hurts me to speak like this of my country, if thonging at the beach is an important part of your trip, better go somewhere else (I recommend Cancún, you can thong all you want there, anywhere and nobody cares). I don´t have the patience to search for secluded (sometimes dangerous) beaches and act like I am doing something illegal. Now, I don´t have a big beach experience, I only speak about our mentality as a country and my friends experience. Maybe they had bad luck and others have more fortunate memories. But, if you don´t mind other people being jerks, go ahead and enjoy your butt tanning like they did.

UPDATE: I was brave and decided to try it myself just to see how right or wrong I was. Turns out nobody cares. I used a thong at Jacó and Tamarindo, which are some of the popular beaches (public/crowded) and it was all right. Nobody paid any attention. I wore a regular black thong and was completely casual about it, also I was with friends and tried to be at a quiet spot. Catch too much attention and probably would be another story. But yeah, it was nothing as I thought. Here are some photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/55972718@N05/albums/72157714501253391 Still, there is no need to go to crowded beaches if you are shy and don't want to take chances. Costa Rica is all surrounded by Caribbean and Pacific beaches of all kinds. Some are very quiet. Some time ago, there was an unofficial nude beach at Manuel Antonio before a resort was built in front. Recently Playa La Macha has become the new alternative, if you are interested.

I was at a resort that offered some snorkling tours on a boat around the island. I wore my thong on the boat with about 20 other people. No one cared. Many of the women were in some very cheeky bottoms as well.

@HellboySoto - thanks for the update - that's great news.

@Steveh, what resort? I'd like to try something like that some day.

sent you a PM

I was in Costa Rica recently and went to several beaches. Wore a thong when it wasn't crowded and a very small bikini-type suit when it was. No problem any of the times. So hopefully attitudes are now better than reported 5 or 10 years back.

Yep, Mterces, its always the Americans that complain. You would sure think in this day and age people would have more important things to worry about (but I guess not).