{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/costa-rica/cartago","updatedAt":"2026-08-23T14:16:36.572Z","place":{"city":"Cartago","country":"Costa Rica","countryCode":"CR","lat":9.86371,"lon":-83.9195},"safety":{"score":68,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":69,"confidence":0.92,"caps":[],"databaseScore":69,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While many travelers report positive experiences, recent news and advisories highlight growing crime concerns that impact the perception of safety for visitors.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":55,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":80,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":65,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 02 Apr 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-05-19T10:42:25Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":17.7454798727379,"display":"17.7 / 100k","year":"2023","score":30,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.7,"display":"1.7%","year":"2010","score":96,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":15.5,"display":"15.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":52,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":85.9764519,"display":"86/100","year":"2024","score":86,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":67.5792602,"display":"68/100","year":"2024","score":68,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":61.6036307,"display":"62/100","year":"2024","score":62,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":56.9189193,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":64.0390444,"display":"64/100","year":"2024","score":64,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":74.5525589,"display":"75/100","year":"2024","score":75,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":26594,"display":"27k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":54.2,"display":"54.2 / 100","year":null,"score":49,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":44.44,"display":"44.4%","year":"2018","score":41,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":5.6,"display":"5.6%","year":"2018","score":74,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":7,"display":"7.0%","year":"2019","score":83,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":17,"display":"US AQI 17 · Good","year":null,"score":95,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":2,"display":"1 notice · max Alert","year":null,"score":60,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":11.370063084,"display":"11 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2022","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":24,"display":"August: highs ~24°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 32 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":76,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":72,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":55,"display":"55 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":55,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Chikungunya in Costa Rica","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/chikungunya-costa-rica"},{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Cartago is moderately safe for travelers, requiring increased caution due to petty crime and localized safety concerns.","summary":"While Costa Rica is generally considered one of the safer countries in Central America, Cartago, like other urban areas, experiences crime that affects visitors. Official advisories recommend exercising increased caution, particularly regarding petty theft.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While violent crime is rare and often tied to local issues, robbery at knifepoint can occur in cities, especially if venturing out at night."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common, particularly in tourist hubs and crowded public spaces."},"safeAreas":["Orosi Valley (nearby)","Tierra Blanca"],"avoidAreas":["El Carmen (Cartago)","Areas with high financial inequity and drug-related activity"],"scams":["Tourist scams involving common fraud patterns","Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in public spaces"],"zones":[{"name":"Central Cartago","level":"caution","note":"While historically significant, petty crime and some reports of increased criminal activity affecting merchants warrant caution, especially after dark."},{"name":"El Carmen","level":"avoid","note":"Explicitly mentioned as a neighborhood to avoid due to crime, often linked to financial inequities and drugs."},{"name":"Orosi Valley (nearby)","level":"safe","note":"Generally considered a safer, more rural area outside the immediate city, popular for its natural beauty."},{"name":"San Blas","level":"caution","note":"Reports of crime impacting local businesses suggest a need for heightened awareness in this district."},{"name":"Tierra Blanca","level":"safe","note":"Appears to be a more residential and less crime-affected area based on available information."}]}}