Americas

Costa Rica Travel Advisory

Q: Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica right now?

The U.S. Department of State currently rates Costa Rica at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution. Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. Petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?

Visa requirements for Costa Rica depend on your passport and length of stay. Use TravelSafe's free Visa Checker to see the latest entry rules, passport validity requirements, and any visa-on-arrival options.

Q: Is Costa Rica safe for solo travelers?

With the current advisory at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), Costa Rica is generally manageable for prepared solo travelers. Standard precautions apply: share your itinerary, keep digital copies of your passport, and register with STEP.

San José

Exercise Caution

By TravelSafe Research TeamLast updated 2026-04-02Source: U.S. State Department ↗

CapitalSan José

LanguageSpanish

CurrencyCRC · Costa Rican colón

TimezoneUTC-06:00

Emergency

Ambulance

911

Fire

911

Police

911

Tap any number to call from a mobile device

Essential Phrases

General

Disculpe

dees-KOOL-peh

Excuse me

Cuanto cuesta?

KWAN-toh KWEHS-tah

How much?

Quiero comprar

kee-EHR-oh kom-PRAHR

I want to buy...

NOH

Por favor

por fah-VOR

Please

Donde esta?

DON-deh ehs-TAH

Where is...?

SEE

Yes

Greetings

Hola

OH-lah

Hello

Gracias

GRAH-see-ahs

Thank you

Emergency

Ayuda!

ah-YOO-dah

Help!

US Embassy

Consulate

San Jose

Calle 30, between Avenidas 2 and 4

+506-2220-2000

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica right now?

The U.S. Department of State rates Costa Rica at Level 2 (Exercise Caution) as of the current advisory. Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. Petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica.

Do U.S. citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?

Visa requirements depend on your passport and length of stay. Use TravelSafe's free Visa Checker (linked in the Visa Requirements section above) to see the latest entry rules, passport validity requirements, and any visa-on-arrival options.

What are the emergency numbers in Costa Rica?

Emergency services in Costa Rica: Ambulance 911; Fire 911; Police 911. Tap any number in the Emergency section above to call directly from a mobile device.

Is Costa Rica safe for solo travelers?

With the current advisory at Level 2 (Exercise Caution), Costa Rica is generally manageable for prepared solo travelers. Standard precautions apply: share your itinerary, keep digital copies of your passport, and register with STEP (step.state.gov).

Always cross-check with official sources: travel.state.gov · cdc.gov

Newsletter

Get Costa Rica travel advisories by email

Weekly digest of new State Department alerts, scam warnings, and safety tips. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

Related Countries

AnguillaL1 Antigua and BarbudaL1 ArgentinaL1 ArubaL1 BahamasL2 BarbadosL1

Also in Americas · Browse all 250 countries →

Free Download

Get the Full Safety Brief

PDF with advisory, numbers, phrases, and embassy info — to your inbox.

📄 Send Me the PDF

← All Countries