Is Costa Rica a Safe Place?

For those wondering if Costa Rica is a safe place to travel, the answer is a resounding YES, especially in Guanacaste. The friendliness of the local people makes it a happy, cheerful place to be. As long as you have common sense and don’t get too close to the wildest of the wildlife, you are more than safe in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica doesn’t have an army, a major reason why Ticos don´t have much aggression in their blood. Compared to the USA, Canada, and other big countries, Costa Rica has very little serious crime. You will find that most of the Costa Rican people are honest, hardworking people and they would never steal anything. But, like everywhere else in the world, there will always be a small percentage of people that dedicate their lives to stealing from others.

Violent or organize crime overall is almost nonexistent in our region. The crime that does occur is usually when someone leaves something of value out in the open for someone to steal. Petty crimes of opportunity. It is very rare in Costa Rica that thieves break into a house or break a car window to steal valuables. However, if you leave something exposed in your car your risk of theft is greater.

For many years the Police Force in Costa Rica did not have a good reputation. Their budget was low, administration poor and officers had very little training. It was not unusual for police to show up hours after a 911 call. Due to this poor reputation, people began putting bars on their windows and doors to protect their valuables from being stolen when they are not home. Although these protective bars are not as necessary now, it became a tradition to include them on residences so you will still see many local "Tico" homes that include such features.

The OIJ (national bureau of investigation) and the National Police (Fuerza Pública) are Costa Rica’s two principal law enforcement bodies. The OIJ is an operational unit, whose officers can exercise police power across the country, including the power of arrest. In 1996, the Ministry of Public Security established the Fuerza Pública or Public Force, a gendarmerie that reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities. They are now under the Ministry of Public Security and operate on a geographic basis, performing ground security, law enforcement, counter-narcotics, border patrol, and tourism security functions.

Before the year 2000 security was not a top priority for the government but things have changed since then and a need to re-enforce the security was necessary. We now have much better service from the police. They are well-funded with better training and new vehicles and equipment.

Last January 2020 the U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) donated a K-9 building to Costa Rica’s investigative police, as well as four armored vehicles to the Ministry of Public Security and the Judicial Police. The building will provide a space for judicial officers to receive canine training and learn special investigative techniques. U.S. Ambassador Sharon Day stated:

“The Embassy’s commitment to supporting Costa Rica is serious. Costa Rica is our friend and partner, a bastion of peace and stability in a region increasingly beset by organized crime and violence. Costa Rican police forces are the most capable in the region and, therefore, our goal is to give them the tools needed to be successful in improving security in their communities for the benefit of Costa Rica and the United States."

Another factor that proves that Costa Rica is a safe place, is their exceptional reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak. The province of Guanacaste has had extremely low cases. As of this writing, only 6 persons have died of Covid-19 in the entire country. The Costa Rican government took very serious measures that were religiously respected by the population resulting in one of the best outcomes for any country. It is also a testament to the high-quality health care available here.

So yes, Costa Rica is safe from a crime perspective, but it is also a very safe place to live from a medical and health perspective.

If concern for personal safety has been holding you back from making a move to Costa Rica, don't let it. Moving to Costa Rica may be one of the best decisions you can make. If you have any further concerns feel free to contact us and we'll be glad to answer and questions you have.