RICO’s Q — In Costa Rica, the guachimanes (watchmen) are informal security guards who hang out on public streets keeping an eye on parked cars, offering unofficial security in exchange for cash.
While some, through bad experiences—dishonesty, aggression, or tipping off criminals—avoid the guachimanes, their role is vital in areas where leaving the vehicle in the street is the quicker option or there are no formal parking lots or are at a distance. This happens, especially in larger cities where accountability is lower.
In small Costa Rican towns, the dynamic is different. Communities are smaller, and anonymity disappears. Parking is limited, so locals organize informal but agreed-upon areas.
The guachimanes are usually known and quietly approved by nearby businesses that depend on safe, orderly parking.
Often, the guachimanes aren’t just “watching.” They help cars reverse into traffic, manage congestion, and prevent chaos. If someone is aggressive or dishonest, they don’t last long. Small towns self-correct fast.
Quick checklist: respected community guard vs red flag
Community-approved guachimen if they:
- Are known by nearby shop/restaurant owners
- Stay in one consistent, defined area
- Help with parking and traffic flow
- Are calm, respectful, and not demanding
- Are acknowledged by locals
Red flags:
- Roaming or claiming random street space as theirs
- Aggressive demands for payment
- No relationship with nearby businesses
- Creating pressure or discomfort, giving you the feeling to better to pay them to prevent them from doing anything to your car.
- Only appearing when tourists arrive
Poverty does not equal dishonesty, but opportunity does.
I’ve had my fair share of encounters with guachimanes over the years. While many people throw around harsh labels like “scum,” “extortionists,” or “criminals in disguise,” I don’t fully agree with those sweeping judgments.
From what I’ve seen, guachimanes do provide a service, even if it’s not always up to everyone’s standards.
Just the other day at the Sixaola border with Panama, I chose to park on the street. When I returned to my car and asked the guachiman how much for less than an hour, he cheekily asked for $20 or $30.
I’d already decided ahead to pay him ¢5,000 colones since he helped me and my non Costa Rican* friend heading to Panama with the immigration process. But when he named that high price, I quickly dropped it to $5 (about 2,300 colones). He smiled and thanked me.
You’ll find plenty of mostly negative comments about guachimanes on social media, but honestly, I think a lot of that comes down to bad judgment or just unmet expectations from the car owners.
I want to credit Costa Rica 4×4 Rentals Facebook page for the inspiration and art for this article.