Costa Rica has a double-edged reputation that some may find confusing. A popular tourist destination with incredible biodiversity but that may leave you wondering about safety and security.
You can watch the video above to see if Costa Rica is safe and then read the follow up below.
San Jose
The largest city in Costa Rica and entry point for most travelers to the country, San Jose is misunderstood. Although it has a declining safety reputation San Jose, like most major big cities, has good and less attractive areas.
During the daylight hours it can be comfortably explored with ride shares or on foot, so long as you know where to go and keep a low profile. Keep your valuables out of sight and enjoy the great food and rich history. Walking tours are also another good option and you can see in the video here a recommended guide.
Beyond
The biggest threat to your trip will be the roads, terrain, and weather. Make sure you rent the appropriate car for where you’re headed, heed the local weather reports, and check that the route you intend to take is clear. Waze works much better in Costa Rica for navigation (and to avoid speed traps) than other tools and most locals will recommend you use it instead of Google or Apple Maps.
For those of you traveling in the region and beyond, you can see El Salvador’s safety transformation and find out if Saudi Arabia is safe for female travelers.