Well, there are certain well-known cruising areas it is best to avoid for this reason. Was Costa Rica one of those areas?

The fact is, though, that you can avoid the hot spots and still be unlucky: bad things can happen anywhere. But, yes,
it's probably best not to temp fate by going to the most dangerous locations.

What Steve wrote should be a concern for tropical sailors: do you really want to travel to the tropics and once there
close all of the hatches and ports? Not everyone can afford or want AC. Even in the Southeast US closing up the
boat tight can make for uncomfortable sleeping (as I found out in 2009) - even though it was done because of
bugs not pirates.

Jerry