The United States Embassy in Costa Rica has issued a country-wide alert to make travelers aware of recent increases in criminal activity. The alert, issued on Nov. 25 advises American travelers to beware of “recent property crimes, financial crimes and robberies that impacted foreigners in Costa Rica, including U.S. citizens,” according to Travel + Leisure.
Currently the State Department’s travel advisory for Costa Rica sits at a Level 2: Exercise increased caution. This is reportedly due to consistent levels of crime throughout the country which could pose a threat to visiting tourists.
“Tourists have reported break-ins and armed robberies at Airbnbs and other rental properties,” the embassy writes. “Criminal gangs have targeted foreign-owned businesses and residences for crimes that included robberies, break-ins and extortion.”
The advisory continues to recommend that travelers research their hotel, Airbnb or rental property ahead of their stay and look out for reviews that mention security issues or dangerous encounters. Also recommended is vigilance when visiting banks or ATMs and avoiding carrying large amounts of cash.
According to the State Department’s advisory, tourists are encouraged not to be subjected to robbery, and to not display signs of wealth via expensive jewelry, watches, and clothing.
Costa Rica is still a bustling tourist destination, seeing nearly three million visitors in 2024 alone. The country is also a hotspot for expats, with beachy remote work communities full of surfers, creatives, and nature-oriented folks, who appreciate the green rainforests for hiking and wild animal sightings.
For LGBTQ+ people, Costa Rica is still safer than its neighboring Central America nations. Costa Rica is currently the only country in this region to have legalized same-sex marriage, with a bill that passed in 2020. Homosexuality was legalized in the nation in 1971.
According to Equaldex, Costa Rica offers some benefits for LGBTQ+ residents including access to gender-affirming care, adoption, and protections against hate crimes.
