U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica Issues Security Alert Over Crime

There’s a new travel warning advisors should be aware of.

The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica recently issued a new security alert for Costa Rica due to “increasing levels of crime, particularly violent crime, in Costa Rica and specifically San Jose.”

“For this reason, the Embassy would like to remind you of the importance of personal safety and situational awareness,” the advisory reads.

The destination, one of travel advisors’ most trending destinations for 2023, recently received more than $14 million of security equipment in donations from the U.S. to help stamp out crime and reverse a rising murder rate.

The Embassy is alerting travelers to generally “remain alert and vigilant” when in public spaces in Costa Rica.

“Stay alert to your surroundings.? Leave the area if you do not feel safe. Maintain a low profile in public and avoid going out alone, especially after dark. Avoid excessive jewelry, electronics, and carrying and flashing large sums of cash,” the warning reads.

While the U.S. Embassy has raised its advisory for Costa Rica, as of Monday, March 6, the U.S. State dept. still categorizes Costa Rica in its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution category, the same level it has used since Oct. 2, 2022.

“Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime,” the State Dept. writes in its advisory for Costa Rica. “While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica.”