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Is it safe to travel in Costa Rica? And is the country safe for women and solo travelers?
These are questions we occasionally get at Edventure Travel. Makes sense, because you want to be able to enjoy a carefree holiday!
Our short answer is that Costa Rica is a beautiful and safe country to travel to.
Also for women and travelers who travel by themselves.
In this blog we will elaborate on safety in Costa Rica.
Edventure Travel is run by a small team of adventurous Dutchies. We all ended up in Costa Rica in our own way and never left. It is a fantastic country to travel and live in.
What we have in common is our love for travelling, adventure and nature. That is why we like to travel a lot in Costa Rica. Sometimes together, sometimes alone. Our experience is that traveling in Costa Rica is safe and a lot of fun. Also for women and travelers who travel alone. After all, we do that a lot ourselves. What you need is good preparation and common sense.
When it comes to traveling safely in Costa Rica, you have to take a few things into account. In this blog we give you the most important tips:
The Costa Ricans are affectionately called Ticos. In general they are cheerful, friendly and helpful. They are accessible and you can have a nice chat with them or ask for directions.
Not everyone speaks English, but many young people and people who work in tourism have a good command of it. Make use of this and make sure to be informed about local safety. Ask at the reception of your accommodation what is and isn´t possible when it comes to safety. For example, it is not convenient to walk (alone) through quiet streets in San José at night. It is also advisable to be more vigilant on the Caribbean coast, since (small) crime is more common there.
Trust your common sense and intuition. Don’t walk around with flashy jewelry or a full wallet. And don’t leave valuables unattended in your car or on the beach, for example. If your feeling says that someone is a dodgy type, then distance yourself and look for other people if necessary.
What makes Costa Rica so attractive is its versatile, wild nature. And of course you want to explore it to the fullest. Just make sure to be sensible. For instance, always wear closed shoes when you go hiking through the rainforest. Don’t just look up for howler monkeys or sloths, but also pay close attention to where you walk. Poisonous snakes, ants that can bite painfully and plants with nasty spines also occur.
Just taking a refreshing dip in a random creek or river is also not recommended. Keep in mind that there are also crocodiles and other wild animals that you would rather not see from too close. Strong currents also occur in many places on the coast. Ask about it before you go into the water.
You can explore on your own in many places. But, especially at the start of your holiday, it is also very nice to go out with a local guide. You will undoubtedly see much more than if you go alone and you will learn a lot about nature and wildlife. Very handy, because you immediately learn how to safely explore the nature of Costa Rica.
The weather in Costa Rica is difficult to predict, especially in the rainy season. It is common that to experience a tropical rain shower and sometimes, fallen trees or landslides are the result. If you are going to drive yourself, it is adviseable to be aware of the current situation on the road. The Costa Ricans therefore frequently use the navigation app Waze. This app is live and informs you about unsafe situations, delays and closed roads.
Keep this in mind in advance and take plenty of time to travel from A to B. Always travel in daylight anyway (it always gets dark around 6pm). Not all roads are very good and actually very few are lit at night.
Do you still have questions about safety in Costa Rica after reading this blog? We are happy to answer them. We are also happy to help you plan your dream trip. Because we are a local tour company, based in San José, we are never far away during your trip. We know the country and the language and we are available 24/7 for our travelers. That also gives a safe feeling.
Send us a Whatsapp message 
or fill out our contact form to ask your questions.
