San José Travel Safety Guide — Costa Rica

Safety Score: 6.8/10 · Value: 7.5/10 · Beauty: 6.4/10

San José is not Costa Rica's most beautiful city, that title belongs to Arenal or Manuel Antonio, but it is the beating heart of Latin America's most progressive nation. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and redirected military budgets into education and healthcare, creating one of the world's most developed and happiest populations. The city's Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (free entry) holds the largest collection of pre-Columbian goldwork in the Americas. The Mercado Central is a vibrant food market where locals eat breakfast and lunch. Barrio Escalante is a neighbourhood of street art, independent coffee shops (Costa Rica produces exceptional coffee), and the country's best restaurant scene.

Tripvey Score — estimated from travel advisories and publicly available data. Not official safety advice.