According to the latest Global Peace Index update, Costa Rica is considered the safest country in Latin America. It’s also the most peaceful country in Central America with a low violent crime rate and high political stability.
Costa Rica is the only country in the world that has no army.
Thus, for those still wondering, yes, Costa Rica is very safe.
LATEST UPDATES / NEWS from COSTA RICA:
June 30 – Ecstasy Seizures in Costa Rica: Gangs Target Tourists and the Youth Market
According to data provided by the Drug Control Police (PCD), the top narcotics seized include ecstasy with 117,922 doses, followed by LSD with 31 doses and ketamine with 15 doses. The PCD further highlighted that ketamine is primarily imported since there are no existing laboratories for its production within the country.
“These drugs are consumed mainly in coastal areas, also in electronic music parties, where the young population mostly consumes it,” said The prosecutor of the Specialized Jurisdiction in Organized Crime, Esteban Chavarría Araya.
Prosecutors warned that users of these drugs should exercise extreme caution because they are highly addictive.
“The most addictive synthetic drug is fentanyl, considered 50 times more potent than heroin. However, other substances, such as the MDPV drug created in recent years, are 800 times more addictive than fentanyl or heroin. Those who consume it experience greater euphoria than with fentanyl, for example, and it has lethal consequences”, pointed out Chavarría.
May 26 – Costa Rica becomes popular for medical tourism
In recent years, Costa Rica has earned a reputation as a top destination for orthopedic procedures, including hip resurfacing.
Costa Rica is a desirable location for hip transplants for a number of reasons, including:
High-quality health care: Costa Rica is known for its excellent health care, equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and highly qualified medical personnel.
Low-cost health care: Compared to many other countries, Costa Rica offers patients a hip resurfacing operation at a much lower cost, making it a popular choice.
Excellent patient experience: Costa Rica is known for its top-notch patient care and the friendly, courteous attitude of its medical professionals.
April 29 – Costa Rica named the best Latin America travel destination by the National Geographic travel readers’ choice awards
On April 25, 2023, Madrid hosted the National Geographic Travel Readers’ Choice Awards ceremony. A group of professionals involved in the selection process narrowed the field down to 55 finalists, and votes could be cast in the various categories. The resorts and businesses selected by readers shared the same selection criteria, which included sustainability, excellence and authenticity.
According to National Geographic, a trip to Costa Rica offers the opportunity to explore forests with amazing biodiversity, walk on beaches with mangroves and sand where turtles lay their eggs, and dive in waters so pristine that they are home to a wide variety of marine life.
In addition to Costa Rica, other countries competed for the award. In the same category, it fought against Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Oaxaca (Mexico), and Ecuador. But because of its remarkable natural beauty and conservation efforts, it was able to prevail.
Safety measures to keep in mind:
- Do not engage in physical resistance to any robbery attempt.
- Keep an eye on your surroundings
- Do not show signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier for rescuers to find you.
- When visiting abroad, Americans should always be cautious.
- Follow the State Department on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- Review Costa Rica’s country safety report.
- Prepare a contingency plan in case an emergency occurs. Check out the checklist for travelers.
Why travel to Costa Rica
First and foremost, Costa Rica has virtually 0 entry restrictions for vaccinated visitors. No test, no quarantine, no extra expenses, no hassle.
If that is not enough, here you have 3 excellent reasons to pack your bags.
1. Puerto Viejo
This Caribbean coast is popular among young people and backpackers because of its great beaches, surfing, and party atmosphere. In the town, nearby visitors will find some fun activities going on every day.
When in town, you must pay a visit to the jaguar rescue center where local wildlife is rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
2. Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero is Spanish for “a lot of turtles.” With more than 77,000 acres, this Amazon rainforest-like is home to rivers, jungles, and “a lot of turtles” coming to nest along the shoreline.
3. Corcovado National Park
Costa Rica is known for its amazing national parks, where tourists can enjoy some thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and wildlife spotting.
This one in particular is the right fit for adventurous people. It features 13 major ecosystems including a rainforest, highland cloud forest, swamps, and beaches.
Requirements to enter Costa Rica
Travelers to Costa Rica are not required to show proof of vaccination status or proof of a medical insurance policy to cover COVID-19 related illness.
Update archives:
March 23 – U.S. Issues New Travel Advisory For Costa Rica
Nearly 1.3 million Americans visited Costa Rica in 2022 due to its close proximity to the US.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. requested that visitors to Costa Rica take extra precautions, when it issued a Level 2 alert for the Central American nation.
The U.S. government has a four-level system to inform visitors about the safety situation in each nation:
- Level 1 – U.S. citizens should exercise normal precautions
- Level 2 – U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution
- Level 3 – U.S. citizens should reconsider travel plans
- Level 4 – U.S. citizens should not travel
On its website, the US Embassy in Costa Rica said:
“The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica advises U.S. citizens of increasing levels of crime, particularly violent crime, in Costa Rica and specifically San Jose. For this reason, the Embassy would like to remind you of the importance of personal safety and situational awareness.”
February 23 – U.S. donates $14M in security equipment to fight Costa Rican crime
According to Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, the United States has provided Costa Rica with more than $14 million worth of security equipment to help reduce violence in the Central American country, which has an “extremely high” murder rate.
For border control and “especially in the fight against international criminal gangs,” Chaves added, the donation includes telecommunications equipment, drones and maintenance gear for police aircraft.
According to the Judicial Investigative Agency, Costa Rica had 12.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, a record high. According to police, gang warfare was a determining factor in 63% of the 656 deaths.
February 3 – Costa Rica developed a Certification of Sustainable Tourism
An accreditation created by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) can help travelers recognize establishments that truly practice sustainability.
The main objective of this certification is to confirm that businesses have adopted measures that have a good impact on the environment and the community. It is also a technical tool that aims to support sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.
With this award, companies are honored for their good management and efforts to reduce the negative impact of their operations. The certification strengthens the work done in the destinations in terms of social, cultural, environmental, economic and development initiatives.
December 13 – Costa Rica reports an increase in crimes committed by Venezuelan migrants
The country has seen an upsurge in crimes, brawls, and other criminal actions by groups of Venezuelan migrants, according to the Municipal Police of San José (PMSJ).
Due to the United States’ decision to restrict the entry of Venezuelan migrants in October, authorities claim that crimes are being committed more frequently by Venezuelans who have chosen to live permanently in the country.
“We have seen an increase in violent acts and crimes committed by people of Venezuelan nationality. In the specific case of San José, we have also noticed an increase in Venezuelan informal workers, who have already gathered in some streets in the city center”, explained Marcelo Solano, director of the municipal police.
October 27 – 65.5% of Costa Ricans consider that Costa Rica is not very safe or not at all safe
Despite its high worldwide reputation, 65.5% of Costa Ricans believe the country is not very safe or at all safe. At the same time, women are more likely than males to be victims of crime, including sexual assault, according to a study released Thursday by the Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) and the School of Statistics (EEs) of the University of Costa Rica (UCR).
According to the experts, the building of a successful, free, and equal society would be impossible under this perception.
The main problems mentioned in the country are the high cost of living (23.9%), a poor economic situation (22%), unemployment (19.2%) and the insecurity of citizens (13.3%).
In fact, the high crime perception in the country could also be explained by the economic difficulties.
“It is not possible to build a prosperous, free and egalitarian society under the threat of violence and dispossession. Feeling free from fear supposes guarantees for the protection of our integrity and properties, within the framework of social coexistence,” said José Vicente Troya Rodríguez, UNDP Resident Representative.
September: Costa Rica, the safest country in Latin America
This year, the Global Peace Index (GPI) rated 163 autonomous nations and territories on their “level of peacefulness.” To measure peace, the study uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from “well-regarded sources” and considers three major “domains.”
- The level of ‘Societal Safety and Security’
- The extent of any ‘Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict’
- The degree of Militarization
Only four of the 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean – Chile, Uruguay, Panama and Costa Rica – scored at least “light green.” With an overall safety index of 1.732, up 0.017 points from last year’s index, Costa Rica is now considered the safest travel destination in the group. (Source.)
Costa Rica, gearing up to attract adventurous American and Canadian travelers to this safe destination
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is working to promote Costa Rica as an adventure tourism destination for American and Canadian tourists.
The ICT estimates that Canada is the second most significant North American market for Costa Rica, while adventure tourism is the third most popular reason to visit the country. For this reason, the promotion and attraction of this tourist profile is of great importance to the institution.
“Canada is the second country that generates more tourists to Costa Rica after the United States. In 2019, it contributed to the arrival of 234,621 tourists and in the first three months of this year the arrival of 61,349 Canadians by air was reported,” said Ireth Rodríguez, head of ICT promotion.
August – The beaches of Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica are not a safe space for local gay tourists
The beaches of Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica are a gay paradise. It is a major LGBTQ destination on the Pacific coast in the province of Puntarenas, known worldwide for its national park, unique flora and fauna, magnificent beaches, and hotels with the best ratings in the world. It is a place where LGBTQ tourists can find freedom, acceptance and joy, which is not always offered to the queer residents of Costa Rica.
The increase of gentrification has displaced natives, caused social-environmental change, and exacerbated inequality, affecting Costa Rica’s most vulnerable communities, such as Black, Indigenous, and gay people.
Even if there is no solution in sight yet, it is important that communities and local governments start to become aware of the problem and look for common solutions.
Costa Rica is on its way to becoming safer for the LGBTIQ+ Community
Members of the LGTBIQ+ Community are about to travel more safely when visiting Costa Rica as the country will punish “hate crimes” with prison sentences ranging from 20 to 35 years. This is according to a law passed Monday and welcomed by civil rights groups.
The law will put on trial anyone who “injures, attacks or kills on the grounds of race, age, religion, nationality, political opinion, disability or sexual orientation.”
“This was a necessity in this country. The law assures those of us who are different are also equal before the law,” said Enrique Joseph, commissioner of the Afro-descendant population.
April 6 – Costa Rica has further relaxed its entry restrictions
Travelers entering Costa Rica no longer need to fill out an online health passport or show proof of vaccination as of April 1.
Travelers also don’t have to provide proof of health insurance to cover Covid-19-related expenses like hospitalization and quarantine.
Travelers who wish to extend their stay beyond the date specified by immigration authorities must contact the Directorate General of Migration. For more information click here.
January 13 – Costa Rica reporting record numbers of new COVID-19 infections
On Wednesday, January 13, Costa Rica reported 4,170 cases of COVID-19, which is now the highest number of new daily infections there of the entire pandemic.
The second-highest number was recorded on Tuesday with 4,050 positive cases, and last Saturday, January 8, which brought 3,374 new infections. Before that, the highest number was reported on May 12, 2021, with 3,173.
COVID-19 hospitalizations also rose in Costa Rica. On Wednesday, 242 patients were hospitalized because of the virus, of which 55 were in Intensive Care Units.
Source: Tico Times
December 30 – Slight increase in cases; hospitalizations and fatalities dropping in Costa Rica
Last week, the Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported a slight increase (1.8%) in COVID-19 cases compared to the previous week.
On the other hand, during the same period of time, the number of hospitalizations decreased by 15.2%, while fatalities dropped by 61%.
Another good news is that by December 25, there have been only four cases of the new Omicron variant reported. None of them are related and have not required hospitalization.
Source: Outbreak News Today
November 23 – Costa Rica’s establishments to soon require proof of vaccination
While Costa Rica allows unvaccinated visitors, they will not be able to enter most local establishments from the beginning of next year. The mandate will affect most tourist attractions, including hotels, restaurants, museums, or bars, and should come into effect on January 8, 2022.
Children under 12 will not have to present proof of vaccination. Travelers who can prove they have a medical condition that doesn’t allow them to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will also be exempt from the rule.
Costa Rica still plans to welcome unvaccinated visitors next year. However, they might have to think twice before they go as hotels will not be able to host them.
Source: Lonely Planet
October 12 – Costa Rica removed from the U.K. COVID-19 travel ‘red list’
Yesterday, on October 11, Costa Rica was removed from the U.K. travel red list, along with 46 other countries.
Eligible vaccinated travelers arriving in the U.K. from Costa Rica are not required to quarantine anymore at their own expense. They only need to test after arrival.
However, as the Costa Rican vaccination program lacks proof of vaccination for travel to the U.K., those who have received their shots in Costa Rica must test before departure, on days 2 and 8, and complete a 10-day home quarantine.
The decision should help restore tourism between the two countries, as well as an early return of British Airways and Tui airlines before the start of the high season, added Gustavo Segura, Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister. The whole process should also help Costa Rica get back on the European market.
Source: The Tico Times
September 8 – Costa Rica reports near-record number of COVID-19 infections
Costa Rica suffered its second-highest total of COVID-19 cases in a single week between August 29 and September 4, announced the Health Ministry.
During that period, the country registered 16,601 new coronavirus cases. That is, on average, 2,371 new infections daily. At its highest point in early May 2021, there were 18,021 cases reported in a week.
In the last four weeks, Costa Rica also saw an increase in deaths and hospital admissions. Between August 29 and September 4, 136 patients died of COVID-19 in Costa Rica. Before, there were 89, 105, and 127 fatalities reported each week, respectively. Hospital admissions continue to increase by 15% week by week.
Based on the estimates of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, the situation will most likely not improve any time soon. We can expect to see up to 3,500 new cases a day by the end of September.
Source: The Tico Times
