Is Costa Rica safe for solo female travelers?
Safety rating
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How safe is Costa Rica for female travelers?
Travel safety index
based on 85 experiences from female travelers
Costa Rica, Solo travel
Costa Rica was my first solo trip so I did feel nervous about it. I spent a weekend in San Jose 2 weeks in Samara and another Weekend in Monteverde. I felt safe during my trip but I would advise you to skip San Jose as it is a very hectic city and I experienced a lot of catcalling. I felt less safe than in the other places mentioned. In terms of prices Costa Rica is way more expensive than i expected.
Posted: July 29, 2025
pollyanna
Spain
Costa Rica, Solo travel
Costa Rica was the perfect place to reset and connect to my intuition. Such a lush and beautiful place. I stayed in Nosara most of the time and noted how expensive the food was, but they had lots of vegan options which was important for me. I was lucky to have a friendly host who offered to drive me late at night, which is a point of caution for solo women. Otherwise I had a lovely time at the beach and did lots of yoga :)
Posted: July 24, 2025Costa Rica, Group travel
Did a planned group tour with GA Adventures. Travelled to different districts within Costa Rica. One of my favourite countries by far, I loved the rain forest and got to zip line through it. Also went to Jaguar animal rescue and saw the wonderful work they do there, a dream is to one day volunteer with them. Gallo Pinto is delicious and the fresh fruit available. Lots of adventurous activities available, such as rapids and ziplines. As well as more chill ones of walking up volcanoes and cycling along the beach.
Posted: June 18, 2025Experienced: June, 2018
Laura
United States
Puerto Viejo, Group travel
It was beautiful a few years ago but now it became super gentrified and overrun with drugs and kinda dirty. Lots and lots of stores but the local vendors can’t compete with these comercial touristy markets anymore. On the good side, you do get to experience the slow moving Caribbean culture and authentic Caribbean food and you are close to a variety of cool beaches. Only spend 2/3 nights here.
Posted: June 7, 2025Costa Rica, Solo travel
Costa Rica is sheer natural beauty. The diverse colors of nature are all over this stunning spot on this earth. For anyone selling to truly connect with nature, then this is the place to come and take it all in.
Posted: June 2, 2025Experienced: November, 2023How safe is Costa Rica for women?
Local safety index
Based on 27 local experiences
Local crime index
Based on 27 local experiences
Shaony
Guácima
Very safe, is a nice place and people is respectful. Also have a very good transport system and very close to the airport . Police are always around making sure all is in order and safe. Welcome 🙏🏾
Posted: September 22, 2025
Priscila
San Ramon
My hometown is safe, but like anywhere else, it’s important to be cautious after a certain hour. It’s better not to walk alone late at night and to use a car if you’re out after 11 p.m. Just like when you’re traveling to another country, it’s always good to take basic safety precautions.
Posted: May 26, 2025Costa Rica
Costa Rica used to be a relatively safe country. In recent years, however, violence has increased significantly, including femicides. It is still a country where you can go out, but certain precautions need to be taken. Avoid walking alone at night, even in tourist areas; share your location with someone if you're taking an Uber or taxi, especially at night. Going out in groups is safer, and it's important to always enjoy yourself, but stay alert. During the day it’s relatively safe—you just need to be more cautious at night.
Posted: May 25, 2025
Daliana
San Jose Province
Depends on the area! The San Jose center is very safe , other areas depend. My home in general is ok. Still is latam so it is important to be careful, it doesn't matter the area. We were the safest country in LATAM, however, this reality changed over the time
Posted: May 13, 2025
Alexandra
Jaco
It’s safe as long as you also take reasonable precautions. I don’t walk alone at night. I mostly work at home during the day and typically explore the city later afternoon or week ends. I haven’t felt unsafe so far and I’ve been here about a week.
Posted: April 11, 2025Safety in Costa Rica
