Is Costa Rica Safe to Visit in 2026?

Here’s the short answer: Costa Rica is safe to visit. The Global Peace Index has even ranked it as the safest country in Central America. Let's dive into the details and explore tips for maximizing safety so you can enjoy a safe and relaxing trip.

Anxiety Brewing for Central American Travelers: Is Costa Rica Affected?

Costa Rica has long been a popular destination for travel, especially to those looking for the perfect spiritual retreat venue. However, popularity does not always guarantee safety, and international travelers especially should maintain an awareness of how current events could affect the safety of their trip. After the death of notorious drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes—also known as “El Mencho”—in February of this year, concerns of ongoing tension and possible violence in Mexico. As a result, some travelers may feel anxious about traveling to any Central American destination right now.

So how does this impact other Central American nations? Is it really safe to travel to Costa Rica right now, in the wake of these events?

The situation in Mexico is still unfolding, but as of now there does not appear to be any cause for alarm. Notably, Costa Rica officials have enacted security measures to screen travel from Mexico, which should help to prevent any unrest from directly spilling over into Costa Rica.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica in the near future, you may want to keep an eye on the situation, but there is not likely to be a direct impact on your overall safety.

Costa Rica's Safety Ratings

As it happens, Costa Rica has maintained a reputation as one of the safest countries in Central America—this is backed up by the Global Peace Index, an annual report by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) on the peacefulness and societal safety of our world and its many nations.

The Global Peace Index scores individual nations based on a few factors, including:

Local crime

Terrorist activity

Military activity

International relations

A lower score indicates a higher degree of safety—with roughly half of the nations in the 2025 report scoring a 2 or higher.

In the 2025 Global Peace Index, Costa Rica was given a score of 1.843, earning it a “High” peace rating. With this score, Costa Rica also ranked 54th out of 163 countries for the safest on the planet. This also makes it the safest nation in Central America, and fourth in the Americas as a whole (behind Canada, Argentina, and Uruguay).

That means that, at least according to the IEP’s standards, Costa Rica is a safe place to visit—moreso than Mexico (135th) or the United States (128th).

What Makes Costa Rica a Safe Place to Travel?

We’ve established that Costa Rica is typically estimated as a safer travel destination—but why? Let’s take a look at some of the factors contributing to Costa Rica’s relative safety.

No Military

One of the most commonly cited factors in Costa Rica’s safety compared to surrounding nations is its deliberate choice not to maintain a military force. This helps to uphold the nation’s identity as a peaceful place and lessen political conflict, which can have a serious impact on the safety and security of its citizens. This has also allowed Costa Rica’s government to focus more of its attention inward on upholding the standard of safety that it has long enjoyed.

Social Stability

Another factor that helps explain Costa Rica’s reputation is a general sense of social stability. This is largely upheld by the nation’s investment into public benefits like education and healthcare—made possible in part by the lack of military spending—both of which have been suggested by researchers to lower crime rates. Investing in a happier, healthier community also helps reduce the likelihood of violence driven by social discontent.

Thriving Tourism

Safety in Costa Rica doesn’t just extend to citizens—in fact, visitors may feel even more safe, thanks to the nation’s famous hospitality and friendliness. Costa Rica attracts over a million tourists a year, which has created a thriving tourism industry. This helps fuel the nation’s economy, creating jobs and increasing business in the most frequented areas. The popularity of Costa Rica as a destination also incentivizes tourist attractions to provide a better experience for guests in order to stand out from competitors.

Safety Tips for Costa Rica Visitors

Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica right now? All in all, yes—it is a wonderful destination with the potential to make you feel right at home. However, risks exist everywhere, especially when traveling, so it’s important not to be careless. One side effect of high tourism is the opportunity for scams and petty theft, and though violent crime is not especially common, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Here are a few ways to keep yourself safe during your stay in Costa Rica:

Mind your belongings. If you have valuables that you don't need to keep on your person, consider finding a secure location to leave them—or don't bring them at all. When out and about, travel light and keep important items like phones and wallets somewhere difficult to reach (such as a neck pouch under your clothes, instead of in a pocket or purse). If you have a personal vehicle in Costa Rica, always keep it locked and don't leave it unattended in public areas for long periods of time.

Travel in groups when possible. There's safety in numbers. If you're traveling with others, stay close together, ideally in groups of 3 or more. In the event that you're a solo traveler, try to stay in occupied, well-lit areas.

Watch out for scams. In any place where tourism is common, there will be those who try to take advantage of them. Do your research before signing up for anything—online reviews are a good place to start—and don't accept any offerings from strangers.

Get advice from a trusted local. Check if the place where you are staying has any kind of concierge or local expert who can give you specific advice on how to stay safe. More specialized information can include safe areas to hang out in and known local scammers to avoid.

The Verdict: Is It Safe to Travel to Costa Rica Right Now?

Like we said at the beginning, there is no surefire guarantee of absolute safety. But as travel destinations go, especially in the Central American region, Costa Rica is a safe place to visit as long as you keep basic travel safety in mind. Keep your wits about you and stay informed so you can fully enjoy your time in this beautiful nation.

Sources

Verza, María. “What to Know about the Mexican Army’s Killing of the Powerful Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho.’” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 23 Feb. 2026, www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-to-know-about-the-mexican-armys-killing-of-the-powerful-cartel-leader-el-mencho.

“Costa Rica Tightens Mexico Flight Checks after El Mencho Death : The Tico Times: Costa Rica News: Travel: Real Estate.” The Tico Times, 23 Feb. 2026, ticotimes.net/2026/02/23/costa-rica-tightens-mexico-flight-checks-after-el-mencho-death.

“Global Peace Index 2025.” Institute for Economics & Peace, 2025, www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GPI-2025-web.pdf.

Baron, E. Jason, et al. “Public School Funding, School Quality, and Adult Crime.” NBER, National Bureau of Economic Research, 21 Mar. 2022, www.nber.org/papers/w29855.

Vogler, Jacob. “Access to health care and criminal behavior: Short-run evidence from the ACA Medicaid expansions.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 26 Sept. 2017, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3042267.

“Costa Rica’s Constitutional Abolition of the Army.” Futurepolicy.Org, World Future Council, 15 Apr. 2020, www.futurepolicy.org/peace-and-security/military-spending/costa-ricas-abolition-of-the-army/.

“Costa Rica Country Profile.” Costa Rica Guide, www.costaricaguide.co.cr/country-profile/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.