Is it safe to go to Costa Rica right now?

How safe is Costa Rica for American tourists?

Posted on: 18 May 2026.

Travelers from the United States have been increasingly targeted by international organized criminals, and while Costa Rica hasn't quite caught up to other destinations when it comes to safety, it does offer a measure of security. The nation recently launched its Plan de Seguridad or Safety Plan initiative, which offers a mix of both physical and technological means of protection for its citizens.

Here's some quick facts about Costa Rica that will go along with our comprehensive overview of what makes the Central American country such a comfortable travel destination. The Safety Plan is Not a Surveillance Program. Awareness campaigns and other measures can do little to protect anyone if you don't feel like they are protecting you or treating you with the utmost respect. The Safety Plan initiative is an open dialogue with the locals about the types of crime that could impact them. It offers no surveillance or spying, but does offer tips on how tourists can prepare themselves against the odds.

A Good Amount of Surveillance Already Exists. The police force in Costa Rica is not only able to keep an eye on local establishments (restaurants, bars, shops, etc.) and prevent crime before it happens, they also have many tools at their disposal. Crime prevention specialists have a special team dedicated to providing this service. The Escuintla police station has over 250 surveillance cameras, including those installed on the roof and in a number of areas throughout the department. You can check the stations location, and the footage captured, on the website of the National Police. They also offer tips to travelers in regards to how they can remain safe even when they go out and about to explore the city or area around San Jose. You can even request that your home address be added to their system at the nearest Police Station.

If You Do Get Into a Scuffle, You Will Be Supported. It may seem odd to be discussing safety in the U. While the nation fights the War on Terror, but there is more violence stemming from organized crime in Central America than from terrorism. As an example, Mexico suffers more drug-related killings than any other country, while Honduras and Guatemala come in second and third, respectively.

Is it safe to go to Costa Rica right now?

I have never been to Costa Rica before.

I am planning on visiting the country and also staying for a couple of weeks in La Fortuna in the department of Arenal.

Does it seem like a good time to visit? Should I wait until the end of the year to visit, or will it be safe to go now? I don't want to get in trouble when I travel there. What are the best places to visit in Costa Rica right now? I've heard a lot about Manuel Antonio, but what else is there? I would think that with all the rain you are not going to want to travel around the interior areas, but you should be fine in the Pacific side of the country. As you know, if it does rain you can always find a nice beach to be at.

As for places to visit, I would say in the north, you would be more exposed to the rain, so you could get caught in a downpour if you're not careful. Costa Rica's rainy season is usually during the first months of the year, so if you plan on going to the coast (either in Guanacaste or Cartago) you might want to wait until later in the year. The only other place I would say you would want to avoid is the Osa Peninsula (in southern Costa Rica) because it's one of the most popular spots for tourists. That said, if you go to the Osa Peninsula you can still go to Manuel Antonio National Park and the area known as "Buzones" in Manuel Antonio. If you want to visit the Caribbean side, then I would recommend heading for Tortuguero. There are many places to stay and explore, and I've seen that you can even rent boats from the many tour companies in town.

Another good area to visit is Monteverde, which is about a 2-3 hour drive south from San Jose. There are lots of opportunities to visit, including the Cloud Forest and the village of Santa Elena.

One of the most common questions we receive is "should I visit Costa Rica during the rainy season?". The short answer is, yes. The rainy season here lasts from mid-May through October. That said, there are plenty of places to visit regardless of the weather.

Is Costa Rica safer than Mexico for tourists?

Costa Rica has received more tourism from Mexicans than any other nationality, but the number of U.

S. Visitors has fallen after nine people were killed by a Mexican cartel last year. Why?

Costa Rica is a popular destination for visitors from Mexico, but it also attracts tourists from the United States. I would say the biggest threat to Costa Rica and its tourism is illegal immigration and drug trafficking, said Richard Chavarria, a Costa Rican native who runs a marketing company in San Jose and has spent time in the country teaching English. The Costa Rican government was caught off-guard in October 2026 when a group of U. Citizens was gunned down on a beach while vacationing with their family. The case has drawn attention to the safety and security of travelers in a country that has long been considered one of the safest in the region.

Since then, the number of U. Tourists visiting Costa Rica has declined, although they are still the largest national group.

The number of U. Visitors to Costa Rica plummeted after a series of grisly murders in 2026. (Photo by Ramin Talaie for Yahoo News)

U. Officials have not said whether the decline in the number of visitors from the U. Could be attributed to security issues. But interviews, hotel industry professionals and tour operators told Yahoo News that the recent shootings in Mexico - where nine people were killed in September - had scared off U.

The victims included American citizens and at least one Canadian, according to the U. State Department.

It is not clear how the U. Government will respond to the shootings or how much the issue is affecting U.

I know that we are working on it, but I can't confirm anything. We don't talk about security stuff, said Daniela Soria, a spokesperson for the Costa Rican Tourism Board.

Mexico has seen some of the most violent crime since the U. Invaded Iraq. But the U. Government did not rank it among its most dangerous countries, which are plagued by drug cartels.

More than 40,000 U. Citizens visited Mexico last year, according to the State Department.