Safest cities in Costa Rica
2 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in Costa RicaAlthough there’s no history of terrorism in Costa Rica, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsMuggings and theft are significant problems, particularly on the Atlantic coast. You should:
- Violent crimeAvoid walking alone in poorly lit or remote areas at night. Gangs occasionally carry out muggings and armed robberies. Gang-related violence, including shootings, has become more frequent in urban areas, including some locations popular with visitors. A number of foreign nationals including one British national have gone missing in recent years,…
- Spiked drinks and sexual assaultRapes and sexual assaults have increased, some of which appear targeted toward tourists. Avoid leaving drinks unattended in bars as there have been reports of ‘spiked’ drinks resulting in assault and theft.
- Methanol poisoningThere have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Costa Rica.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDAs a foreigner, you must carry ID such as a passport. The police will usually accept a printed copy. Make sure you have the original available somewhere safe in case they ask to see it.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesDo not get involved with drugs of any kind. The Costa Rican authorities treat the possession of drugs and drug trafficking severely. The minimum sentence is 8 years imprisonment.
- LGBT+ travellersCosta Rica is generally welcoming of LGBT+ travellers. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming safetyWhile swimming on any beach in Costa Rica, bear in mind that rip currents are very common and there are often no lifeguards. Seek reliable local advice. Drownings are the second most common cause of accidental death and in recent years have averaged 50 to 60 per year, a third of whom were tourists.
- Water sportsSafety standards for adventure activities and on small boats are variable. There have been several incidents involving small boats in the Tortuguero area, including a fatality due to a falling tree. If you plan to take part any of these activities, use an established company with experienced staff.
- Rainforest tours and Adventure Tourism.If you are visiting jungle areas, go with an experienced local guide. There are fines for unauthorised entry into restricted conservation areas. Make sure you get appropriate insurance that covers you for all the activities you want to do. This includes activities such as quad biking, surfing, rock-climbing and zip-lining which can be hazardous…
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you’re planning to drive in Costa Rica, see information on driving abroad.
- TaxisAvoid using unofficial taxis (‘taxi piratas’). Official taxis are red (or orange at the airport) with a triangular sticker and plastic box on the roof with the name and number of the taxi company. It’s best to use radio-dispatched taxis. Make sure the driver’s ID is clearly visible on the dashboard and that the driver uses the meter.
- Airport disruptionsServices at the Liberia Airport (LIR – Daniel Oduber International) in Guanacaste have been subject to interruptions. You should monitor carefully information from your travel provider when travelling to and from this airport.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- HurricanesThe hurricane season usually runs from June to November – the same as the hurricane season in the Caribbean. Monitor the National Hurricane Center forecasts and the World Meteorological Organization warnings. Follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. Keep up to date with FCDO travel advice and social media. Plan any…
- FloodingThe June-November period is also the peak rainy season. Flooding and landslides may occur, resulting in road closures and driving hazards.
- EarthquakesThere is a risk of earthquakes: small tremors are frequent and movements greater than magnitude 6 occur periodically. Local infrastructure is well-prepared, and earthquakes seldom have widespread effects. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake or a tsunami.
- Volcanic eruptionsCosta Rica has 16 volcanoes, several of which are considered active. The risk of eruptions is always present. There has recently been an increasing and significant series of eruptions at Poas Volcano.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Costa Rica, updated 2026-05-19 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 17.12 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 45.52025
- Human development
- HDI 0.8332023
- Income
- $30,760/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 14.8 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 86/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 68/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 56/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.82GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 17.7 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 81%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 2.7 doctors /1k1.1 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 9.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 8.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 2.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 1.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Costa Rica (as of 2025).
How Costa Rica compares
| Measure | Costa Rica | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 17 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +15 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 45.5 | 35.2 | +10.3 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.833 | 0.763 | +0.070 — better for Costa Rica |
| Road deaths | 14.8 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −0.6 /100k — better for Costa Rica |
| Rule of law | 68/100 | 52/100 | +16/100 — better for Costa Rica |
| Corruption perceptions | 56/100 | 39/100 | +17/100 — better for Costa Rica |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 17.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −2.0 µg/m³ — better for Costa Rica |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.0/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.2/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Costa Rica | North America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 17 /100k | 15 /100k | +1.9 /100k — better for North America median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 45.5 | 41.1 | +4.4 — better for North America median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.833 | 0.776 | +0.057 — better for Costa Rica |
| Road deaths | 14.8 /100k | 13.9 /100k | +0.9 /100k — better for North America median |
| Rule of law | 68/100 | 52/100 | +17/100 — better for Costa Rica |
| Corruption perceptions | 56/100 | 37/100 | +19/100 — better for Costa Rica |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 17.7 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | +3.3 µg/m³ — better for North America median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.0/10 | 4.0/10 | ±0.0/10 |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.