Pura Vida. There – that is out of the way in which. Now we will get on with the first-ever Costa Rica article with out uttering that ubiquitous phrase.
Seriously, although. What’s happening within the well-liked Central American nation that prides itself on a slogan embodying what’s speculated to be a protected haven for locals and vacationers alike?
As many international locations are experiencing record-breaking tourism numbers, a separate report from April reveals Costa Rica’s customer numbers are dropping, and fairly frankly it is easy to find out why when there have been ‘6,300 tourist-related crimes in 2024‘ together with excessive prices triggering vacationers to look elsewhere.
Costa Rica is not all dangerous, although. It’s nonetheless the identical lush tropical paradise boasting an array of wildlife excursions, vibrant seashore cities, and posh resorts, however with notable value spikes and a current U.S. Embassy-backed safety alert, it is solely proper to query if now could be the proper time to go to.
Are Tourists Safe In Costa Rica?
The newest report on crime reveals Jacó and San José as two locations the place vacationers ought to hold their heads on a swivel.
That’s nothing new for San José, a metropolis that is principally seen as a gateway to different (and higher) Costa Rican sights, reminiscent of Jeep excursions by the jungle or the otherworldly Monteverde Cloud Forest, amongst different notable retreats.
Jacó, although? That’s probably the most shocking. As one of many nation’s most sought-after seashore cities, that is the largest disappointment for vacationers searching for a paradisal trip, whether or not you are a surfer, digital nomad, or couple in want of a romantic getaway.
Crime has seen a major spike speckled across the nation, however Jacó and San José are probably the most notable. Canada and the U.S. each issued journey alerts informing their residents of the dangers of touring right here.
Secondary to Jacó’s unprecedented crime uptick, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica issued a safety alert in February highlighting the rapid space surrounding San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport as a hotbed for violence the place, sure, vacationers have been caught within the center.
As such, Costa Rica has seen an almost 14% dip in vacationer arrivals over the past six months, however the lack of feeling protected will not be the one issue deterring guests—the costs actually do not assist both.
Costa Rica’s Rising Costs
It appears no person has stopped going to Los Cabos, Mexico’s most luxurious vacation spot. The distinction is that folks count on to pay premium costs for Cabo’s lavish resorts.
For Costa Rica, sure, vacationers aren’t precisely searching for bargain-bin pricing, however actually not the present costly charges both.
In truth, Costa Rica was just lately featured in a Yahoo Finances report titled “5 Vacation Expenses the Middle Class Can’t Afford Anymore”, the place 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 forex (colón) just lately noticed highs of ₡499.80 per greenback, even making digital nomads query in the event that they made the proper transfer.
Ironically, a file variety of guests (together with digital nomads’ long-term stays) have pushed Costa Rica’s housing costs by the roof too, leading to a tangled internet of pricing issues no person appears to have a direct answer to.
Tour operators are feeling the influence too with a 20% lower in bookings. Even for me, a traveler who tends to be anti-tour, Costa Rica looks like the last word place to rent a information with such numerous landscapes and considerable wildife.
Costa Rica’s Bright Spots This Summer
Despite a dimming mild, the attract of Costa Rica nonetheless stays. And let’s be sincere — who’re we to evaluate when the U.S. has dozens of journey advisories in opposition to it from different international locations?
One brilliant spot is Guanacaste, the ritzy facet of Costa Rica laden with fab resorts lining postcard shores and backdropped by a sea of palm timber and the sounds of nature we simply do not have again dwelling.
While the Embassy by no means backed down from the safety alert relating to San José’s airport, these in search of much less journey or extra park-your-butt-in-a-beach-chair vibes will doubtless fly into Liberia, Costa Rica’s secondary airport, anyway.
The reality is there’s actually no dangerous time to go to Costa Rica. Every nation goes by ups and downs. Of the 6,300 crimes affecting vacationers, the Tico Times did point out that it isn’t all violence; petty crimes occur in all places.
The finest approach to go about visiting Costa Rica proper now could be to easily plan forward. Winging it is likely to be the place the actual dangers lie.
If you are not snug flying into San José, plan a visit to the Guanacaste facet. Here, you will discover well-known seashore cities like Tamarindo, astounding nationwide parks like Santa Rosa, and hidden gems like Potrero, a sleepy fishing village alongside the coast with spacious seashores and few crowds—all of that are nonetheless deemed protected.
And let’s face it—Costa Rica nonetheless attracts tens of millions of vacationers annually, lots of whom fly into San José and return dwelling unscathed after a flawless trip.
What’s most vital is to remain knowledgeable, however do not let the dangerous apples break your dream journey in actually one of the vital accessible Edens of paradise in shut attain to the U.S.
For what it is well worth the U.S. State Department up to date Costa Rica’s advisory in December 2024, confirming a Level 2 designation aligning with different well-liked trip hotspots, Cancun, Punta Cana, and Nassau.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.