Showers in Costa Rica
During your stay in Costa Rica, you may encounter the country's famous showers, powered by electric shower heads that may be bristling with multi-colored wires held together with black electrical tape. While the combination of electricity and water pouring over your body may seem alarming, don't be concerned – these showers are generally safe and easy to operate, once you know how they work.
FAQs
Are many homes without central hot water?
Yes, many traditional houses don’t have central hot water and instead use showers with on-demand heaters (sometimes called suicide showers), and dish soap and laundry detergents formulated for use in cool water. However, there are plenty of modern, American-style homes equipped with hot water tanks.
Suicide showers, also known as “termoduchas,” are showerheads built with on-demand heating coils inside. Suicide showers got their name from their appearance – electric wires inside the shower stall – which may seem suicidal to use, but are very safe when installed correctly.
Last updated: Oct 27, 2023