In general, Costa Rica is an extremely safe place.  Crime statistics are much, much lower than in the United States (for example).

However, there are some caveats that I will share to increase your safety even more.

There are bars on the windows of houses here for a reason.  Theft is barely against the law here. 

I have heard (but not confirmed) that it is simply not against the law to steal something worth less than $500.  That is similar to laws in most states in the U.S. that make theft below a certain amount a misdemeanor instead of a felony.  However, here… it is apparently simply not against the law to steal something with a value less than about $500.

I have also heard (but not confirmed) that a caught thief is given the chance to repay the victim on the theft in lieu of going to jail.  That applies even if the amount is greater than $500!

With that kind of legal system, you can see why you could easily become the victim of theft.

We have!  Our first visit here, my wife left a $300 ring on a nightstand while we went to lunch.  This was inside a hotel room.  There was only one maid who had access to our room.  The ring was missing

The hotel responded by helping us look for the ring.  We offered a $300 reward (because it had sentimental value).  We didn’t get the ring back.

However, we have now spent over 3 months here with no other incidents.  Once we understood that theft was barely against the law here, we took simple precautions and have never had a problem.

Those precautions are:

When downtown in any crowd, carry your pack or purse in front of you.  Carry your passport and money in a front pocket, not a rear pocket.  Don’t wear expensive jewelry or watches.

Avoid downtown San Jose (the capital city).  This is the location of most violent crime in Costa Rica.  The perpetrators are usually foreigners (Columbians and Nicaraguans are blamed for most violent crime).  Don’t visit downtown San Jose after dark.

Lock your car.  Make sure there is a person with an orange vest in the area (they watch cars).  You should point out your car and promise them a large tip.  A large tip is 500 colognes or about $1.

Actually, I don’t recommend having a car here, but that is the subject of another post.  Taxis and buses as well as private drivers are plentiful and cheap here.  

But follow the above if you do have a car.  Don’t leave it without a local watching it.  Don’t worry about that local being in cahoots with a group.  That doesn’t really happen.  The orange vest is enough to let you know you can trust them.  A large tip promise keeps them vigilant.

Outside of San Jose, violent crime is almost unheard of.  Don’t let the above scare you.  This is an extremely safe country. 

-James D. Brausch