Last Updated: July 25, 2025
Many people visiting Costa Rica are uneasy about safety. They have heard about violence in other areas of Central America and are unsure of what to expect. Rest assured that Costa Rica is generally a very safe and peaceful place to visit. As long as you exercise some precautions, you shouldn’t have any problems on your trip. We have been living in Costa Rica for more than a decade with our kids and feel very safe here. Below we share some general Costa Rica safety tips and also specific guidance for different situations based on our experience.
This post is part of our Practical Travel section, where we discuss basic Costa Rica travel information to get you ready for your trip.
General Precautions
The majority of crimes against tourists in Costa Rica involve petty theft. Most often, they are opportunistic in nature and non-aggressive. While Costa Rica does have more serious crimes like armed robberies and home invasions, these occur infrequently.
During all our years traveling in Costa Rica and during the 10+ years that we have lived here, we have been the victim of a crime only once.
On one of our first visits to the Manuel Antonio area, Matt was getting our bags from the luggage compartment of the public bus at the bus station in Quepos. As he was reaching under to retrieve our bag, a kid took his wallet from the outside pocket of his cargo shorts. Matt didn’t notice at first because of all the commotion of everyone trying to get their bags.
Later, his wallet turned up on the ground nearby. The $20 inside was gone, but his license and credit cards were still there.
This was one of those typical petty theft crimes that occur here. It easily could have been prevented if he had his wallet in a more secure location. Luckily, we had the rest of our money safely stored away in a bag that Jenn was carrying.
Here are some ways to prevent crime from happening to you.
Tips for Costa Rica Safety
Cash
Don’t carry a lot of money on you. This shouldn’t be much of a problem as ATMs are easy to find in all but the most remote areas of Costa Rica. Credit cards are also widely accepted so you shouldn’t need much cash.
If you are traveling to a destination where you’ll need cash due to a lack of banks (e.g., Drake Bay, Tortuguero), keep it in a money belt, neck wallet, or secure place in a bag with a zipper.
Also be careful when taking money out of your wallet not to flash it around. If you’re carrying a lot of cash, you don’t want people to know that. When we traveled as tourists and took the bus to get around, we hid money in a money belt.
Passport
When you don’t need your passport, keep it in a safe place like a hotel safe.
The current recommendation from the US Embassy and US State Department is to carry a copy of your passport at all times in case it is requested by law enforcement.
They also mention that local law enforcement may ask for your original passport and documents.
Many people traveling in Costa Rica still carry only a copy to prevent theft. They take a photo or photocopy the first page (with name, photo, etc.) and the page with the stamp allowing entry into Costa Rica.
Technically, a police officer could ask for your original passport (an example is if you get stopped at a roadside checkpoint). Usually a copy is fine, but we have heard of instances of the police giving people a hard time or even fining them for not having the original.
Credit Cards
Leave any cards, like credit cards, that you’re not planning to use at home so that if you have your wallet stolen, you don’t lose everything.
Also make sure to write down the account and support phone numbers for your cards and keep them separate from your wallet, in case something does happen.
Purses
Never hang a purse or bag on the back of your chair at a restaurant. We have seen a few security camera videos where people causing a little commotion on the other side of a restaurant distract everyone while another person comes from behind and snags the belongings.
Jewelry
Leave flashy jewelry at home to avoid looking like you have a lot of money.
Electronics
For electronics, tourists walk around all the time with their expensive SLR cameras hanging around their necks. This is fine for the most part. Costa Rica is a very touristy country and the locals are used to this.
A few places where it’s a good idea to keep your camera in a bag is the city of San Jose, in remote areas, and at bus stations and other public areas where people congregate.
One example we know of someone having their camera stolen in an unexpected place was on a beach path near Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. The person was walking by himself back from the beach on one of the small paths in the middle of the day. There weren’t any people around, and a guy came out of nowhere and grabbed his camera.
If you’re traveling with a laptop or tablet, keep it locked in the hotel safe when you’re not using it and you should be fine. As a precaution, we like to have tracking software activated on our devices. This would help us track and hopefully get our stuff back if it were ever stolen.
Renting a Car
Rental cars are targets in Costa Rica. The main car companies all use the same handful of models so thieves know which cars on the road are rentals. Don’t let that stop you from renting, though. Most of these crimes are easily preventable.
The most important security measure is to never leave anything inside the car, even a pair of cheap sunglasses.
This goes for things in sight and out of sight. If you are traveling between destinations and need to make a stop, bring your bags with you if possible, leave one person to watch the car, or find a lot that is guarded. Many restaurants in Costa Rica have attendants who will watch your car in exchange for tips. You’ll also see them along the street in cities and at some attractions.
Also be aware of scams. One we’ve heard of involves giving you a flat tire by putting nails, etc. on the road or under your tire in a parking lot. After you get a flat and pull over, someone comes to the “rescue” to help while another person steals your belongings.
This isn’t common but is good to be aware of. If you do get a flat, try to make it to the nearest gas station or pull over at a local business if that’s not possible and call the rental car company for help.
For more information about driving in Costa Rica, including road conditions and traffic rules, check out our driving in Costa Rica guide.
Taking the Bus
We traveled by bus almost exclusively when visiting the country as tourists. We loved taking the bus because it was a great chance to interact with the locals, and we seldom ran into problems.
A couple of tips are to keep any valuables you have on you or in a small bag at your seat. Buses have an overhead compartment that is fine to use for most things, but you wouldn’t want to keep anything valuable up there as someone could easily grab the bag and then exit the bus.
The same goes for the luggage compartment under the bus. The bus driver or someone helping usually takes the bags from under the bus when it stops, but this isn’t always the case.
Avoid people trying to “help” you at the bus station. We’ve been harassed by these types of people before.
Once we were traveling from San Jose to the Caribbean coast and had to switch buses in Limon before heading on to Cahuita. As we were waiting for the bus continuing south, a friendly guy approached us, insisting on helping us get our tickets. Even though we told him that we didn’t need any help, he kept following us around.
Later, he asked for a tip for his help and wouldn’t go away so eventually we gave him some money just to get rid of him. Try to avoid these situations by taking direct buses or looking busy at the bus station while you wait for a connection.
Taking a Taxi
Costa Rica has pirate taxis, which are cars manned by unlicensed taxi drivers. For safety reasons, it is best to avoid these and use only official taxis.
Taxis that are licensed by the Costa Rican government are uniformly red or orange (for airport taxis) and have either a yellow triangular medallion or airport taxi symbol on the door.
For more information about taking taxis, buses, or shuttles in Costa Rica, see our Transportation Options post.
Staying at a Hotel or Vacation Rental
Hotels
For the most part, you don’t have to worry about crime at hotels. If you’re staying in an area that has problems with theft, the hotel will most likely have a guard on duty 24/7 as a precaution.
Many hotels, especially in San Jose, also have security gates that close at night and require that you buzz to be let in.
Even with security measures, it is always good to be vigilant and keep your belongings locked in the hotel safe.
Vacation Rentals
Vacation rentals present a unique problem. They usually don’t have the same level of security since typically there’s no one else on the property.
Thieves often know which houses are vacation rentals. They also know that tourists don’t always take the necessary precautions.
If you are concerned about crime in the area you’ll be visiting, pick a vacation rental that has security measures in place. A guard, security system, gate, deadbolt, safe, etc. all go a long way towards keeping a property secure.
Even when you are home, don’t leave valuables visible from windows. This is especially important for screened windows, as they can be easily torn or cut by thieves reaching through.
For lots more information, read our post, Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica: Safety and What to Look for.
Going to the Beach
Theft
One of the most common crimes that occurs in Costa Rica is bags being stolen from the beach.
We are always amazed at the number of tourists who leave their bag on the beach while they go swimming. Never do this, as thieves could grab your bag then run off on a nearby beach trail.
If you’re traveling with more than one person, take turns swimming and be sure that someone stays up on the sand with the bags.
One way to avoid this problem altogether is not to bring anything valuable with you. If you only have a towel, sunscreen, and flip-flops, there is nothing of value for anyone to take.
Rip Currents
Beyond theft, ocean safety is also important to consider at Costa Rica’s beaches. Many beaches have strong rip currents and drownings do occur. At some beaches, you will find warning signs to make you aware, but not always.
Some beaches do have lifeguards on duty, but many do not. Even the ones that have lifeguards, there’s usually only one so it can be hard for them to watch the whole beach.
For detailed information on recognizing rip currents and what to do if caught in one, read our Beach Safety in Costa Rica guide.
Going Out at Night
If you’re planning to go to the bars and clubs at night, follow the usual precautions like staying in a group and not taking drinks from strangers.
Take a cab home or drive yourself, don’t walk, especially at night. We have heard of assaults on women happening late at night as they walk back to their hotel from a bar in some beach towns.
Traveling with Children
If you’re traveling to Costa Rica with kids, there are a few additional safety considerations to keep in mind.
Beach Safety with Kids
As we mentioned above, some of Costa Rica’s beaches have rip currents. Always keep an eye on your kids at the beach, even in shallow water. Our Best Beaches in Costa Rica with Kids post has some family-friendly beach destinations. Also check out our Beach Safety guide for a list of safer beach options.
Health Precautions
We always have a basic first aid kit handy with essentials like Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, and sting relief. Pharmacies are easy to find throughout Costa Rica, but it’s much easier to be prepared for basic cuts and minor injuries.
Food safety in Costa Rica is very good. You can drink the water in most places but see our drinking water safety post for specific towns where filtered is recommended.
Hotel and Accommodation Safety
Safety measures at hotels and vacation rentals are often not as strict as what you might be used to at home.
Some properties have open balconies, wide gaps between railings, or pools without fencing. Nicer hotels usually have good safety measures in place, but it’s important to check when you arrive, or even better, before booking your stay.
For more family tips, including information on sun protection and mosquitoes, see our post, 21 Local Tips for Traveling to Costa Rica with Kids.
What to Do if You Are the Victim of a Crime
Call 911
If you’ve had something stolen or been the victim of a crime, it’s important to report the details to the police immediately. Sometimes quick action can get you your stuff back and catch the perpetrators. Costa Rica has several different branches of police, which can be confusing.
If there is an emergency or a crime has just happened, you should call 911 as they will help dispatch the correct officers.
Costa Rica Law Enforcement Branches
Most likely the Fuerza Publica (National Police) will arrive. This is the branch of police that is in charge of crime prevention and general public safety. Hopefully, they will arrive soon after your call, but sometimes it can take a while.
If the incident was related to a traffic accident or violation, Transito (the Transit Police) will likely arrive. Transit Police have jurisdiction only over Costa Rica’s roads and vehicles.
The Policia Turistica (Tourist Police) could also respond. They are on patrol at many popular tourist destinations and usually speak English. Their job is to reduce crimes against tourists and provide outreach to travelers to help them stay safe.
Tourist Police are currently located in:
- San Jose
- San Jose Airport and Liberia Airport
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Cahuita
- Tamarindo
- Brasilito
- Flamingo
- Nosara
- Santa Teresa
- Dominical
- Playas del Coco
OIJ Report
Whichever type of officer responds, a report of the crime must be made at an entirely different branch of the police called OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial, the Judicial Investigation Agency).
OIJ investigates crimes and brings charges against suspects. Sometimes the closest OIJ office is a good distance away, but it is important to go there to report the crime or else nothing will ever happen.
Conclusion
Those are our tips for staying safe on your next trip to Costa Rica. They are intended to be preventative and not to scare you. Keep in mind that most Costa Ricans really are honest and kind, but just like anywhere in the world, the people are not all good. It is always prudent to be aware of the most common scenarios for crimes so that they don’t ruin your vacation or worse.
More Resources About Crime and Safety in Costa Rica:
- US Department of State’s Costa Rica Crime and Safety Report
- Safety Tips from US Embassy
- Safety Tips from UK government
- US Embassy’s Current Safety Alerts for Costa Rica
Looking for more information to help plan your trip? Here are some other useful posts:
Health & Safety: This section of our site has helpful articles on drinking water safety, preventing bug bites, travel insurance, and more.
Traveling to Costa Rica: The Basics – Get more basic information about visiting Costa Rica, like entry requirements and the best ways to get around.
Best Hotels Near SJO Airport: Seven awesome hotels that will make your first or last night in Costa Rica memorable.
