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Is Costa Rica safe?

The thing to plan for is petty theft, and a few simple habits prevent most of it. Our practical advice, with the US State Department's.

The thing to plan for is petty theft. The US State Department names it as the most common crime against American travelers here: a bag left on the sand, a phone on a restaurant table, luggage in a parked car.

A few habits take care of most of it:

  • Never leave anything in a parked car, not in the trunk and not for five minutes at a viewpoint. Thieves can block a key fob's signal, so check the doors really are locked.
  • Take only what you need to the beach, and keep an eye on it while you swim.
  • Use the safe in your room for passports, cash and anything you would hate to lose, and carry a copy of your passport instead.
  • Leave the expensive watch and jewelry at home.
  • After dark, skip the walk along quiet streets or an empty beach. Your hotel will happily call you a taxi.

If anyone ever demands your bag or your phone, hand it over. Nothing in it is worth more than you are, and we will help you with everything after that.

The State Department keeps its current advice for Costa Rica here: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/costa-rica.html