Safe Luxury

How safe is Costa Rica? We noticed that many of the rental properties emphasize they have safes.?

Are tourists major targets for theifts

Public Comments

1. According to the American Consulate, yes. There are areas where foreigners are targeted and crime in general is on the rise. Apparently criminals are acting in groups there.
2. we went to costa rica in october and i can honestly say we never felt threatened in anyway, it does all depend on the area you are going to but we went all over the country and never had any trouble, as long as your a bit street wise and know which areas to avoid in the large towns and cities you should be fine, i think the reason everywhere advertises having safes is because generally travelers like to have somewhere they can stash their passports and extra cash. hope this helps check the US and UK foreign travels sites for extra help not sure what the US one is but the UK is www.foreignoffice.gov
3. Its safer than any central american country. Safes are what tourist ask for so of course they use it to market. Theft occurs everywhere...so just do as you would visiting any country.
4. The majority of crime in Costa Rica is theft. Unlike the US, the violent crime rate is really really low. But they are a poor country, and Americans are viewed as being rich - at least the ones that travel out of the country to stay in the nice hotels. I have never felt threatened in Costa Rica. I find the people there as nice as can be. But you have to use your smarts just as you would anywhere else. Don't flaunt wads of cash. Don't wear a rolex watch. Don't leave your laptop computer in an empty chair in a public place and go to the bathroom. That type of thing. Oh, and don't wander around bad parts of San Jose, especially after dark. If you have any experience in traveling, Costa Rica will be a breeze for you, just use your common sense. I always lock up my passport, extra credit cards, and cash that I'm not going to need for the day. I've never had a problem with any of the hotel maids, but it only takes one bad apple....
5. Costa Rica is very safe as long as you don´t do foolish things like count wads of money in a busy street corner, or walk alone in some bad areas of san jose, such as the red zone, you most likely will not go to bad neighborshoods so just use common sense. The safes are just an extra service that some hotels offer to keep cash or expensive stuff. There have been petty thefts like purse and chain snatching around downtown in the past 10 or 15 years but that is due to carelessness, don´t use a cell phone when walking along crowded streets and hold on to your camera when talking pictures downtown, other than that you´ll be ok. Lic.Gregory Kearney Lawson.
6. I went to Tamarindo and I felt very safe..The major concern was petty theft..I am not sure about the other parts of C.R. though...
7. I use a safe in the US and everywhere else they offer one. CR is basically okay, but there have been lately instances of petty theft, thievery on the beaches and on hikes. the cops are, when you find one, of little help - you rarely get them to do anything for you. beware of cops who try to rip you off - speed traps and then they ask for cash. they cannot legally collect - all they can do is give you a ticket. so drive according to the posted rules! sometimes they stop you anyways - play dumb and "no espanol" - few, if any speak English. they'll give eventually up. never give your pass port to anyone (including the police) - have a copy of page one and two plus the one with the visa stamp, on you and the pass in the safe! with the increase in tourism there are unsavory elements coming into CR, notably from other Latin countries. tourists over-tipping, flashing money and jewelry/watches etc. are targeted. never have anything visible in your car, even when you stop for food and have your car in sight! watch out for someone trying to show you an oil leak (which is oil they sprayed on while you are filling up), or the "flat tire" scenario. not that it will necessarily happen to you, but it's good to know. also, dress simple, no jewelry and use a 25.00 watch. when traveling (anywhere !), I always have two wallets on me: one real one and another with expired credit cards, some sales slips, a picture or two and a few bills in local currency: that's the one you hand over. for more info, check out the link below and do a search.
8. i'll be honest, costa rica is the most peaceful country in central america, but petty thievery (or pickpocketing etc) does occure there. they are nearly always crimes of opportunity. so if you don't give anybody an opportunity, you are safe. safes are what people ask for. when people who have never been to central america think of that area, they don't always think "super safe", people still have that perception about latin america. also, the safe is there so the "crimes of opportunity" go away. heck, even on cruise ships they have safes in each room. they just don't advertise that too loudly.