Don’t wear expensive accessories – seeming rich makes you a target for thieves.Using a money belt is an excellent way to hide cash. Carry a small amount of cash when you go out – if something happens it’s a small loss.Split up your cash strategically – don’t put one huge wad of bills in your luggage!.Avoid people that want to ‘help’ with your bags – this is a scam.– remember that licensed taxis are red (or orange). Take a taxi instead of walking at night.Don’t walk alone at night – avoid streets that look sketchy….Make friends – exploring urban areas with a group of travelers deters would-be robbers.Inquire with the staff at the hostel/hotel you’re staying at – they’ll know best about the area.So here are a few top tips for staying safe in Costa Rica. So whilst Costa Rica is generally a safe place to visit, there’s always more you can do to make sure you’re as safe as can be. The violent crimes rate is significantly higher here, and while it might only target locals, it might be better to stay away, especially if you’re travelling alone.ĭon’t be afraid to travel into the jungle. Matina: This is a small rural community along the Matina River in Limón.If possible try to stay away or just keep your eyes open. Quepos (gateway): Quite a few robberies have been happening in Quepos, a small town which acts as the gateway to the Manuel Antonio National Park.Also stay away from these neighborhoods: Los Guido, Desamparados, Pavas, La Carpio, Leon XIII, the El Carmen neighborhood in Cartago, and the “El Infiernillo,” sector of Alajuela. These include any sort of parks at night. Areas in San Jose: While San Jose is Costa Rica’s most popular tourist city, there are areas that you should avoid.While it’s always smart to keep your eyes open and stay aware of your surroundings, the following areas are better avoided than explored. However, this is mainly gang-related and rarely impacts visitors.Īs we’ve mentioned before, not everywhere on Costa Rica a paradise. With tourism contributing majorly to the country’s GDP, and those tourist dollars going some way to eliminate poverty (albeit slowly), the government is focused on making the country accessible and comfortable for tourists.Ĭrime might have been steadily on the rise, including violent crime. No army (abolished in 1949!) means funding goes to better things – like amazing healthcare. Now, you may be surprised to know that Costa Rica is actually one of the most stable Latin American countries.

This is a very new trend – and is quite converse to Costa Rica’s paradisaical reputation – but experts are starting to target the causes. Since 2015 the murder rate has risen above the World Health Organisation “epidemic threshold” of 10 per 100,000. Over the last several years, criminal offences have been on the rise. 🙂 Is Costa Rica Safe to Visit Right Now? Otherwise, thanks for your ear and stay safe! We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Costa Rica. It won’t be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Costa Rica. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism. The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. But this article is written for savvy travellers from the perspective of savvy travellers. The question of “Is Costa Rica Safe?” will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different.

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