Is It Safe to Travel to Costa Rica in 2026?
Costa Rica - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, sharing a maritime border with Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island.
Is It Safe to Travel to Costa Rica in 2026?
Costa Rica is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. Petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica, and violent crime also affects tourists.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a heightened risk of petty theft and violent crime, particularly in urban areas like San José, where tourists are often targeted in public spaces.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime, but major cities have decent infrastructure and reliable accommodations, albeit with caution advised in certain areas.
Families with children should be aware of health risks such as dengue and limited healthcare access in rural areas, alongside the general crime risks affecting all travelers.
Remote workers can find good connectivity in urban centers like San José, though they should remain vigilant about personal safety and avoid less secure neighborhoods.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Costa Rica.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Costa Rica has an overall threat severity of 3.3 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 91/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Language
Spanish
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Costa Rica
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Costa Rica?
▶Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Costa Rica?
▶What vaccines do I need for Costa Rica?
▶Is Costa Rica safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Costa Rica?
More Costa Rica Data
Free — 91/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.