I get asked this question all of the time—mostly by anxious parents sending their daughters to Costa Rica while silently shatting their pants.:)

Here's the good news: it's really safe in Costa Rica. Like, really really safe. It basically feels like a tropical Wisconsin. I've been to Jamaica and that felt WAY more scary to me than Costa Rica ever has, with one exception: Limón. Do not send your kids to Limón. 😂 Limón is city on the Caribbean side and that, yes, is scary AF. I'M SO SORRY TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF LIMÓN. But that's really the only place where I rolled up in the car and was instantly like, Oh holy smokes, go, go, go.

The only other place where I'd exercise real caution is in San José, of course. It's the capital, and like all capital cities, they've got their good neighborhoods and their less than desirable neighborhoods. We go to Escazú and Santa Ana all the time, and it's basically like a miniature United States, complete with Walmart and TGIFridays. So unless you're hanging out in downtown San José, I wouldn't worry.

As far as everywhere else? Picture a bunch of adorable humans walking around in safari-guide clothing–khaki shorts and white polos with sneakers and socks pulled up are the standard uniform of tourism!–greeting you with a cup of coffee and a smile. The country is 100% tourist friendly, but not in an annoying cruise ship kind of way. It's still authentic without a bunch of totally cheap and tacky tourist shops. (Though there are some. Ha.)

All of that said, no matter where you are, you're going to want to make sure you don't leave your valuables in your rental car, if you can help it. And for the love of vodka, if you have to leave it in there, please hide your laptop! This is probably the most common form of crime here in Costa Rica: petty thievery. And cars do get broken into occasionally.

If you've got suitcases in the car, my best recommendation is just that if you stop for lunch on your way, park in a place where you can see the car. Then get to the hotel, check your luggage in, and THEN go exploring. Fortunately in my decade living here full-time, and my fourteen years that I've been coming to the country, I've never had this happen to me, but I've also always been careful. I bring my computer into the restaurant with me. And I park in gated lots with security guards, when possible. And, of course, nobody wants to mess with these guns. 💪 MUAHAHA.

Protip: Parking garages here are actually more safe than less...even though you'd think they'd be dark and creepy! They aren't. And there are guards on bicycles. Yasssssssss.

The other thing you should know? Watch yo' stuff on the beach. Don't leave it up in the trees while you go alllllll the way down to the water. And don't bring your $2,000 camera there, either, if you're planning on leaving it in your bag to go hang out in the ocean. We like to rent chairs and then pull them close to the water, and then leave our very sparse belongings under a towel right in front of us where we're bathing. Or, if you're with friends, you can take turns. Or sometimes asking another tourist nearby to watch your things can be great. But DO keep an eye on 'em.

So the answer to this question is: yeah, girl. Costa Rica is super safe. But also don't be a silly ass who leaves her stuff around loosey-goosey and you will be JUST FINE. Which maybe should be the tagline for this entire website.