{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/nicaragua/san-juan-del-sur","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:20:37.620Z","place":{"city":"San Juan del Sur","country":"Nicaragua","countryCode":"NI","lat":11.25292,"lon":-85.87049},"safety":{"score":49,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":39,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":47,"travellerSentiment":{"score":59,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While some travel publications highlight Nicaragua as a desirable destination, older reports from 2018 and 2015 mention a negative impact on tourism due to the country's crisis and crime, suggesting a cautious sentiment among some travelers.","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":49,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":57,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":70,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-01-15T15:01:36Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nicaragua"},{"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/nicaragua"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":11.3473196321723,"display":"11.3 / 100k","year":"2021","score":42,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":6.8,"display":"6.8%","year":"2016","score":81,"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":13.6,"display":"13.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":56,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":64.7084946,"display":"65/100","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":29.0885119,"display":"29/100","year":"2024","score":29,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":18.8549307,"display":"19/100","year":"2024","score":19,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":30.8663765,"display":"31/100","year":"2024","score":31,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":39.2327668,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":26.8188713,"display":"27/100","year":"2024","score":27,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":7790,"display":"8k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":30,"display":"30.0%","year":"2016","score":41,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":25,"display":"US AQI 25 · Good","year":null,"score":94,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":9.672165587,"display":"10 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2022","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":33,"display":"July: highs ~33°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"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)","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"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":191}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"San Juan del Sur requires a high degree of caution due to elevated crime rates and rule of law concerns.","summary":"While Nicaragua is promoted as a travel destination, official advisories and crime data indicate a need for heightened vigilance. Visitors should be aware of risks related to petty crime and potential for more serious offenses, particularly in tourist areas.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While specific data for San Juan del Sur is limited, Nicaragua's homicide rate is higher than the world average, suggesting a moderate risk of violent crime."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Tourist areas, beaches, and bus stations are common spots for pickpocketing and bag-snatching."},"safeAreas":["Playa Maderas","Playa Hermosa"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Overpriced taxis or transportation services","Distraction theft, often in crowded areas"],"zones":[{"name":"Playa Maderas","level":"safe","note":"Popular surf beach with a generally relaxed atmosphere."},{"name":"Playa Hermosa","level":"safe","note":"Known for its long, scenic beach and family-friendly environment."},{"name":"San Juan del Sur town center","level":"caution","note":"Busy tourist hub; be aware of petty theft and scams, especially at night."},{"name":"El Cristo de la Misericordia area","level":"caution","note":"While offering great views, be mindful of your surroundings and belongings, especially after dark."},{"name":"Outlying roads and remote beaches","level":"caution","note":"Less populated areas may have higher risks; travel in groups and be aware of your surroundings."}]}}