Staying Safe in Costa Rica

Safety while on vacation is a considerable concern in Costa Rica, and that dream vacation can be ruined if something silly happens. It isn’t just theft we are talking about either. It is also just as important to keep your health safe and make sure you are practicing safety while on tours.

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Keeping safe against crime

This is largely one of the biggest concerns for families and solo travelers. Tourists are walking targets it seems. One of the biggest tips we can give you is to make sure you do your research about what areas you are going to visit. Costa Rica, in general, is a very safe country but just like any place, there are areas that have a much larger crime rate than others. Also, use common sense, walking around San Jose at 1 am in the morning as a foreigner is just asking to get mugged.  Things, like carrying your valuables out in the open, or traveling alone late at night, are not recommended.

Safety while site-seeing

Costa Rica is full of amazing places to see, especially ecological areas. In these areas, you will find all kinds of beautiful creatures, but also in these areas, you can find some very dangerous animals. Including venomous snakes, spiders, large wild cats, and more. So if you are going to be in areas off the beaten path, it is advised to use a guide that knows the area. Or stick to the sites that are well traveled and frequented, areas known to be safe.

It is also well to keep in mind that you will want to use reputable tour operators. Use ones that have good reviews and are well kept up with government regulations. Check out some of the more popular areas and Activities in Costa Rica.

Health safety

Health safety is another large concern. First things first make sure you have travelers insurance. Traveling without this is just silly, there are so many companies that offer it. Costa Rica is not like other countries where you have to get a bunch of shots before traveling, but make sure you do your research. The water here is generally safe to drink, tap water is filtered and you can be sure to drink it in larger hotels, restaurants, and any of our Villas. For peace of mind, there is bottled water at almost any convenience store here.

One thing about Costa Rica is it is rather famous for people traveling for medical and dental reasons. This is because Costa Rica has such a good health care system with many doctors being trained in North America, and the cost of healthcare here is much cheaper.

Driving Safety

One of the biggest concerns here is driving. If you do choose to travel in a rented vehicle study up on the locations and geography of the country before coming. Majority of driving rules are the same as the United States and Canada. Although people actually following them here can be a different story. If you are a hesitant driver, it might be best to be shuttled, take public transportation or even a Domestic flight. Keep in mind not all roads here are paved, and some of the roads that are can be just as bad or worse than the gravel ones. Always use GPS and stick to the main routes, no matter the traffic, that shortcut that google maps offers is not always the best way.

Truly no matter where you travel, it is good to keep these reminders. Costa Rica is actually a very safe country to travel in, much more so than others in Central America. The best tip we can offer is to practice common sense while you travel.