Pura Vida. There – that's out of the way. Now we can get on with the first-ever Costa Rica article without uttering that ubiquitous phrase.
Seriously, though. What's going on in the popular Central American nation that prides itself on a slogan embodying what's supposed to be a safe haven for locals and tourists alike?
A new report from The Tico Times, Costa Rica's leading English newspaper, revealed a 360-degree view of the ins and outs of struggles the tourism industry is facing, as there have been notable safety warnings and sky-high prices pushing tourists away.
As many countries are experiencing record-breaking tourism numbers, a separate report from April shows Costa Rica's visitor numbers are dropping, and quite frankly it's easy to determine why when there were ‘6,300 tourist-related crimes in 2024‘ along with high costs triggering travelers to look elsewhere.
Costa Rica isn't all bad, though. It's still the same lush tropical paradise boasting an array of wildlife excursions, vibrant beach towns, and posh resorts, but with notable price spikes and a recent U.S. Embassy-backed security alert, it's only right to question if now is the right time to visit.
Are Tourists Safe In Costa Rica?
The latest report on crime reveals Jacó and San José as two destinations where tourists should keep their heads on a swivel.
That's nothing new for San José, a city that's mostly viewed as a gateway to other (and better) Costa Rican attractions, such as Jeep excursions through the jungle or the otherworldly Monteverde Cloud Forest, among other notable retreats.
Jacó, though? That's the most surprising. As one of the country's most sought-after beach towns, this is the biggest disappointment for travelers looking for a paradisal vacation, whether you're a surfer, digital nomad, or couple in need of a romantic getaway.
Crime has seen a significant spike speckled around the nation, but Jacó and San José are the most notable. Canada and the U.S. both issued travel alerts informing their citizens of the risks of traveling here.
Secondary to Jacó's unprecedented crime uptick, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica issued a security alert in February highlighting the immediate area surrounding San José's Juan Santamaría International Airport as a hotbed for violence where, yes, tourists were caught in the middle.
As such, Costa Rica has seen a nearly 14% dip in tourist arrivals over the last six months, but the lack of feeling safe is not the only factor deterring visitors—the prices certainly don't help either.
Costa Rica's Rising Costs
It seems nobody has stopped going to Los Cabos, Mexico's most luxurious destination. The difference is that people expect to pay premium prices for Cabo's lavish hotels.
For Costa Rica, yes, vacationers aren't exactly looking for bargain-bin pricing, but certainly not the current expensive rates either.
In fact, Costa Rica was recently featured in a Yahoo Finances report titled “5 Vacation Expenses the Middle Class Can’t Afford Anymore”, where Casey Halloran, co-founder and CEO of Costa Rican Vacations was quoted as saying, “What we are observing in our statistics is that the middle-class traveler to Costa Rica has all but vanished. For a family of four, including flights, it is difficult to vacation here for under $2,000.”
Costa Rica's currency (colón) recently saw highs of ₡499.80 per dollar, even making digital nomads question if they made the right move.
Ironically, a record number of visitors (including digital nomads' long-term stays) have pushed Costa Rica's housing prices through the roof too, resulting in a tangled web of pricing problems nobody seems to have an immediate solution to.
Tour operators are feeling the impact too with a 20% decrease in bookings. Even for me, a traveler who tends to be anti-tour, Costa Rica seems like the ultimate place to hire a guide with such diverse landscapes and abundant wildife.
Costa Rica's Bright Spots This Summer
Despite a dimming light, the allure of Costa Rica still remains. And let's be honest — who are we to judge when the U.S. has dozens of travel advisories against it from other countries?
One bright spot is Guanacaste, the ritzy side of Costa Rica laden with fab resorts lining postcard shores and backdropped by a sea of palm trees and the sounds of nature we just don't have back home.
While the Embassy never backed down from the security alert regarding San José's airport, those seeking less adventure or more park-your-butt-in-a-beach-chair vibes will likely fly into Liberia, Costa Rica's secondary airport, anyway.
The truth is there's really no bad time to visit Costa Rica. Every country goes through ups and downs. Of the 6,300 crimes affecting tourists, the Tico Times did mention that it's not all violence; petty crimes happen everywhere.
The best way to go about visiting Costa Rica right now is to simply plan ahead. Winging it might be where the real risks lie.
If you're not comfortable flying into San José, plan a trip to the Guanacaste side. Here, you'll find famous beach towns like Tamarindo, astounding national parks like Santa Rosa, and hidden gems like Potrero, a sleepy fishing village along the coast with spacious beaches and few crowds—all of which are still deemed safe.
And let's face it—Costa Rica still attracts millions of tourists each year, many of whom fly into San José and return home unscathed after a flawless vacation.
What's most important is to stay informed, but don't let the bad apples ruin your dream trip in truly one of the most accessible Edens of paradise in close reach to the U.S.
For what it's worth the U.S. State Department updated Costa Rica's advisory in December 2024, confirming a Level 2 designation aligning with other popular vacation hotspots, Cancun, Punta Cana, and Nassau.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.