What is the safest part of Costa Rica?

Is Costa Rica safe for US citizens?

It has been the most requested question I get for my US readers who travel to Costa Rica.

Here is my answer to your question.

I am a former FBI agent who has traveled to many countries. I know all the risks. But as a former US law enforcement officer I know the dangers that can arise in any foreign country. I would never tell you that a country is totally safe. I always say it is best to assume that you are being followed and to take precautions accordingly.

I will say this, Costa Rica is one of the safest countries that I have visited. I have been in many countries, including some with far more crime than Costa Rica. I think Costa Rica is safe enough to travel to if you follow these simple guidelines.

Avoid walking alone at night. Avoid isolated areas that may not be well-lit. Watch for signs of suspicious characters. Don't carry too much cash. Travel with only what you need and pack it in your carry-on luggage. Only use public transportation when necessary. Have a cell phone or an international phone card.

If you follow these guidelines, you will be fine. And if you live near a major American airport and have a car, you will even be safer. If you want to read some more information on safety in Costa Rica, check out my article here.

What is your advice? ? Please feel free to leave a comment below. Post navigation. 31 comments. Interesting, I was just thinking about this. I have a friend who lives in Central America and the only time he sees people getting robbed is on the bus. Also, my husband has been robbed by muggers several times in Nicaragua. Not fun. On the other hand, I have also been robbed twice and had a bag stolen from my back while walking in another city in Nicaragua. No fun. The way to stay safe is to be aware of the risks. A lot of people here in Costa Rica don't know how to be safe and their families are paying the price.

You're right-most of us don't know how to protect ourselves-we just assume that because we have our passports, we can go anywhere. I was robbed in Costa Rica in the last month and luckily it was just an arm swiped. What can you do?

Is English widely spoken in Costa Rica?

One of my hobbies is studying languages.

I like to learn different languages and I know that learning a language that is not your first language requires a lot of extra effort. Even if you learn English at a beginner level, you will find that there are difficulties in understanding and using a language that has an unknown spelling system (one that uses only the 26 letters of the Roman alphabet and nothing else) and a foreign language like English has. I think that Costa Rica should teach English in the schools at a basic level. I don't think that teaching Spanish only would be fair.

That is not a question. Costa Rica has English as a second language. Although it is a lot like Spanish because most Costa Ricans understand it.

Yes, and a basic knowledge of English will help you a lot, specially to make communication with English speakers easier. There are many English schools here (at least 5), but it's difficult to find good quality classes.

English is the only foreign language I can say I speak really well, although I don't have much need for it (I don't travel much). I would advise learning a second language, because you'll be more likely to learn a useful second language. You can find any number of English courses online, and if you're into a language challenge you can try some Chinese classes or Spanish courses online, that can be quite fun.

I guess the more important question here is whether it is useful to learn a second language? I don't think so. When I was younger, my mom was thinking about going to the USA for a visit. She was asking whether she should take a language course for the trip. I had no idea what the purpose of taking a language course was but I suggested to try to just speak English so that there would be more chances for her to improve her English. After the visit we talked about how she wanted to go back to her native country in the future and I asked her how many people spoke English at home, she replied "not one", so I asked if she wanted to go home or stay. And she said "I want to stay here" . It's not like she knew very much English at that time so that made me think that learning English is better than trying to learn a different language. So maybe it would better for you to do the same.

Is Costa Rica or Mexico safer?

Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America, according to the latest Global Peace Index.

But Mexico is the region's No. 1 country for violent death per 100,000 residents. (Photo by Brian Lathrop/Flickr)

By Jennifer Kelly and Eric Feferberg. Costa Rica's government proudly boasts that the country offers the safest place on Earth to live. But in addition to offering a safe and peaceful life for its estimated 4 million people, Costa Rica has also been ranked the safest place in Latin America in the Global Peace Index 2025.

Mexico is the leading violent death per 100,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean, ranking higher than its violent neighbor, El Salvador. Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua all have high levels of violent crime, with some areas as dangerous or even more dangerous than war zones. The other six countries in Latin America rank last in the Global Peace Index - Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru.

The Global Peace Index is compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent, non-profit organization, that focuses on the impact of peace and conflict on sustainable development. Mexico is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the region, and there are many reasons for that, says IEP co-founder Dr. Richard Haass. It's a mixture of factors, including weak institutions, an extremely violent gang culture, economic inequality, a deep drug problem, and weak government that doesn't really want to confront the problems.

Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto has declared war on the country's most violent cartel, the powerful Juarez Cartel. After a spike in killings and kidnappings in June, Pea Nieto vowed to use any means necessary to take on the drug cartels. But analysts say so far the government's efforts have only added to the violence, not ended it. Mexico's homicide rate is now the highest in the world - and in June, up a whopping 20 percent from the previous year. The U. Human Rights Council condemned the government's crackdown in June and called on the president to lift the state of siege.

Despite high levels of violent crime, Costa Rica ranks second, behind only Iceland.

What is the safest part of Costa Rica?

It's true; in Costa Rica, safety is a concern for tourists.

But that shouldn't stop you from exploring Costa Rica. When you come to Costa Rica, you are entering a country that is committed to the protection of its citizens and the preservation of its natural resources. When you visit Costa Rica, you are doing so for many reasons, but one of them is to experience nature at its best, and your safety should not be a deterrent to experiencing Costa Rica's beauty.

The following pages are just a few of the many factors that make Costa Rica safe. Crime. One of the most common questions we are asked when talking tourists is about safety in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has many advantages that make it the ideal country to visit. But when we talk about safety, there is no question that the country has its fair share of safety issues that should be considered before planning a trip to Costa Rica.

We are often asked, Is it safe? or, What is the crime rate in Costa Rica? Unfortunately, these are questions that are often asked in a very generalized way. The reality is that crime in Costa Rica varies greatly depending on the region and time of the year that one visits. Additionally, Costa Rica is a very safe country. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the Americas. In fact, the U.S. State Department reports that Costa Rica has one of the safest countries in the world.

So while you may hear stories about crime or see television reports on the danger of visiting Costa Rica, the reality is that you can plan a trip to Costa Rica without much concern for your safety. That being said, if you choose to visit Costa Rica during the month of April and May, you may want to leave your valuables at home. These two months are referred to as the Mayas, because the majority of violent crimes take place then.

One of the most common issues is pickpocketing and purse snatching. While this doesn't seem like a big deal, it is. Not only are you at risk of losing your personal belongings, but you are also at risk of having your credit cards, identification, and money stolen. The best way to prevent this is to leave your personal belongings at home or in your hotel room.