{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/costa-rica/tamarindo","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:04:43.405Z","place":{"city":"Tamarindo","country":"Costa Rica","countryCode":"CR","lat":10.29913,"lon":-85.84107},"safety":{"score":66,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":66,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[],"databaseScore":67,"travellerSentiment":{"score":59,"label":"Mixed to Negative","summary":"Recent reports and travel advisories indicate growing traveler concerns about safety in Costa Rica, with specific mentions of increased crime impacting the tourist experience.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":45,"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":57,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":80,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":63,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"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":6375,"display":"6k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"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":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.23,"display":"0.23 / 100k","year":"2024","score":89,"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":39,"display":"US AQI 39 · Good","year":null,"score":92,"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":37,"display":"July: highs ~37°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Drought (green)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of 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":45,"display":"45 / 100 (Mixed to Negative)","year":null,"score":45,"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":[{"kind":"Drought","severity":"green","title":"Drought is on going in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador","distanceKm":297}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Tamarindo is moderately safe for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution due to recent crime concerns.","summary":"While Costa Rica generally maintains a positive image, Tamarindo, like other tourist areas, faces challenges with petty crime and, more concerningly, a rise in violent incidents. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and take precautions, especially after dark.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While not rampant, there have been concerning incidents of home invasions and violent crime affecting tourists, particularly in tourist-frequented areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur in crowded areas, markets, and on beaches."},"safeAreas":["Generally, well-trafficked tourist areas during daylight hours can be considered relatively safe with standard precautions."],"avoidAreas":["Areas with poor lighting or that are deserted, especially after dark, as these can present increased risks of mugging and theft."],"scams":["Overpriced tours or services","Distraction theft (e.g., fake police stops, spilled drinks)"],"zones":[{"name":"Playa Tamarindo","level":"caution","note":"Main tourist beach; moderate risk of pickpocketing and petty theft, especially in crowded areas."},{"name":"Playa Langosta","level":"caution","note":"Quieter beach area; still exercise caution, particularly after dark, due to potential for opportunistic crime."},{"name":"Center Tamarindo","level":"caution","note":"Commercial and nightlife hub; higher risk of petty theft and scams, be aware of surroundings, especially at night."},{"name":"Residential areas (outskirts)","level":"caution","note":"Away from the main tourist drag; risk of property crime can increase, especially in less populated areas."},{"name":"Roads leading to Tamarindo","level":"caution","note":"Moderate risk of road traffic incidents; drive defensively and be aware of local driving habits."}]}}