Is Costa Rica safe? A practical guide for travelers

Costa Rica sits at Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution," on the US State Department's four-level travel advisory scale, the same tier as France, Italy, and the UK. That is a useful baseline: it is not a warning to stay away, but it is a reminder that crime happens and most of it is preventable with basic habits.

What actually happens to tourists

The dominant pattern is property crime, not violence. National crime data shows roughly three-quarters of reported crime in Costa Rica is property-related, and vehicle break-ins alone make up a meaningful share of it, concentrated at trailhead parking lots, beach lots, and tourist areas. In 2023, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) logged over 1,400 property crimes against tourists specifically, with Jacó and Cahuita the two hardest-hit spots, and rising numbers also reported around Quepos, La Fortuna, Nosara, Tamarindo, and the Costa Ballena area.

Violent crime against tourists is rarer but not zero. The US Embassy issued a security alert in late 2025 flagging a rise in armed robberies and break-ins at short-term rentals, along with cases of criminals forcing foreign visitors to withdraw cash from ATMs or make bank transfers under duress. This is still an outlier compared to the volume of property theft, but it is why "generally safe" does not mean "let your guard down."

The scams worth knowing before you land

A few specific setups come up again and again. The flat tire scam, sometimes called "pinchazo," involves someone puncturing a tire at a gas station or restaurant, then a "helpful" stranger flagging it down while an accomplice takes bags from the front seat while you are distracted. ATM skimming is reported at both bank and standalone machines, sometimes followed by a thief tailing the victim after a withdrawal. The taxi meter scam, where a driver claims the meter ("la maría") is broken to justify a higher price, is common enough that the standard advice is to insist on the meter or find another cab. Fake or overly aggressive "police" asking for a roadside donation have also been reported, particularly in Guanacaste; a real officer will show ID without hesitation.

How to lower the odds

Never leave anything visible in a parked car, even locked, and especially not at trailheads or beach lots, since rental cars are an easy target and thieves know the routine. The same goes for the beach itself: do not leave a bag unattended while you swim. Avoid walking alone on dark beaches or streets at night, and if you are on a trail, tell someone your route. If you are ever confronted by an armed robber, official guidance is consistent: do not resist.

Where to be more careful

Within San José, several neighborhoods (León XIII, Los Guido, Desamparados, La Carpio, Pavas, and the area around the Barrio Cuba and Coca-Cola bus terminal) see more crime and are best avoided after dark, though downtown San José is fine to walk during the day. Limón's port area has a documented drug-trafficking problem and the city itself has higher unemployment and crime than the tourist coast; day visitors sticking to organized tours (Tortuguero, Cahuita) are generally fine, but wandering the city alone at night is not recommended. The mainstream tourist zones, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Arenal, and the Guanacaste beach towns, are all characterized as generally safe, with the caveat that Jacó and Tamarindo specifically show higher property-crime numbers within that broader picture.

For official emergency numbers if something does go wrong, see the Emergency page. Browse the verified listings on the San José area guide.