Is Costa Rica Safe?

March 22, 2019

Let's talk about an important question about Costa Rica that popped into my inbox on Instagram this week...

Is Costa Rica safe???

The short answer?
Yes! Costa Rica is a very tourist friendly country and the locals are very friendly. The country is safe for families and solo female travelers -- and super fun!

The long answer?
It's always best to exercise caution when traveling to new places. I've never felt unsafe in Costa Rica -- I travel quite frequently in the region of Guanacaste, BUT I also always let my friends know where I'm going just in case. A lot of roads here are dirt and there's a lot of farmland + wildlife, so there's always a risk of a flat tire or a cow wandering into the road. Accidents do happen.

I also NEVER leave any of my belonging unattended. Unfortunately, petty theft is very common here in Costa Rica -- if you leave your backpack on a beach to go for a swim in the water + turn your back, don't be surprised if it get's snatched. Car and home break-ins also do happen -- my rule of thumb is don't bring anything to Costa Rica that is super valuable, can't be replaced easily and/or is not insured.

Cat calling from men is also common...unfortunately that's Latin culture. I usually ignore it and keep on walking...sometimes I politely smile at them, give them a taste of their own medicine, and cat call right back at them. 🤷‍♀️

Finally, there are certain neighborhoods, mostly in the capital of San Jose, I'd never go to, but that's like any other city. Like I never used to ride the subway in NYC past a certain hour at night and I'd avoid streets that were not well lit at night. Just practice common sense!

--> SHOP "Hola Ola!" <--