Hi M.R.,
There are certainly are spiders and snakes in Costa Rica, just as there are in every tropical country – not to mention probably every country in the world. In Costa Rica we have snakes, tarantulas, other types of spiders, scorpions, and more.
I can certainly understand phobias about creepy crawlies of all types.
But it’s not a huge issue for most expats in Costa Rica. You get used to the small and big bugs and critters alike. And it’s not like snakes and such are everywhere all the time. It’s just something you stay aware of.