In keeping with the newest World Peace Index replace, Costa Rica is taken into account the most secure nation in Latin America. It’s additionally probably the most peaceable nation in Central America with a low violent crime charge and excessive political stability.
Costa Rica is the one nation on this planet that has no military.
Thus, for these nonetheless questioning, sure, Costa Rica could be very secure.
LATEST UPDATES / NEWS from COSTA RICA:
Could 26 – Costa Rica turns into well-liked for medical tourism
Lately, Costa Rica has earned a status as a top destination for orthopedic procedures, together with hip resurfacing.
Costa Rica is a fascinating location for hip transplants for plenty of causes, together with:
Excessive-quality well being care: Costa Rica is thought for its glorious well being care, outfitted with state-of-the-art medical tools and extremely certified medical personnel.
Low-cost well being care: In comparison with many different international locations, Costa Rica provides sufferers a hip resurfacing operation at a a lot decrease value, making it a preferred selection.
Glorious affected person expertise: Costa Rica is thought for its top-notch affected person care and the pleasant, courteous angle of its medical professionals.
April 29 – Costa Rica named the very best Latin America journey vacation spot by the Nationwide Geographic journey readers’ selection awards
On April 25, 2023, Madrid hosted the Nationwide Geographic Journey Readers’ Selection Awards ceremony. A bunch of execs concerned within the choice course of narrowed the sector all the way down to 55 finalists, and votes may very well be solid within the numerous classes. The resorts and companies chosen by readers shared the identical choice standards, which included sustainability, excellence and authenticity.
In keeping with Nationwide Geographic, a visit to Costa Rica provides the chance to discover forests with superb biodiversity, stroll on seashores with mangroves and sand the place turtles lay their eggs, and dive in waters so pristine that they’re house to all kinds of marine life.
Along with Costa Rica, different international locations competed for the award. In the identical class, it fought in opposition to Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Oaxaca (Mexico), and Ecuador. However due to its outstanding pure magnificence and conservation efforts, it was capable of prevail.
March 23 – U.S. Points New Journey Advisory For Costa Rica
Almost 1.3 million Individuals visited Costa Rica in 2022 because of its shut proximity to the US.
Two weeks in the past, the U.S. requested that guests to Costa Rica take additional precautions, when it issued a Degree 2 alert for the Central American nation.
The U.S. authorities has a four-level system to tell guests in regards to the security state of affairs in every nation:
- Degree 1 – U.S. residents ought to train regular precautions
- Degree 2 – U.S. residents ought to train elevated warning
- Degree 3 – U.S. residents ought to rethink journey plans
- Degree 4 – U.S. residents mustn’t journey
On its website, the US Embassy in Costa Rica stated:
“The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica advises U.S. residents of accelerating ranges of crime, significantly violent crime, in Costa Rica and particularly San Jose. Because of this, the Embassy want to remind you of the significance of non-public security and situational consciousness.”
Security measures to maintain in mind:
- Don’t interact in bodily resistance to any theft try.
- Control your environment
- Don’t present indicators of wealth, reminiscent of carrying costly watches or jewellery.
- Enroll within the Good Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to obtain alerts and make it simpler for rescuers to seek out you.
- When visiting overseas, Individuals ought to at all times be cautious.
- Comply with the State Division on Fb, Twitter and Instagram.
- Evaluate Costa Rica’s nation security report.
- Put together a contingency plan in case an emergency happens. Take a look at the guidelines for vacationers.
Why journey to Costa Rica
At first, Costa Rica has just about 0 entry restrictions for vaccinated guests. No check, no quarantine, no additional bills, no problem.
If that isn’t sufficient, right here you will have 3 glorious causes to pack your luggage.
1. Puerto Viejo
This Caribbean coast is well-liked amongst younger folks and backpackers due to its nice seashores, browsing, and occasion ambiance. Within the city, close by guests will discover some enjoyable actions happening every single day.
When on the town, it’s essential to pay a go to to the jaguar rescue heart the place native wildlife is rehabilitated and launched again into the wild.
2. Tortuguero Nationwide Park
Tortuguero is Spanish for “a variety of turtles.” With greater than 77,000 acres, this Amazon rainforest-like is house to rivers, jungles, and “a variety of turtles” coming to nest alongside the shoreline.
3. Corcovado Nationwide Park
Costa Rica is thought for its superb nationwide parks, the place vacationers can get pleasure from some thrilling actions like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and wildlife recognizing.
This one particularly is the best match for adventurous folks. It options 13 main ecosystems together with a rainforest, highland cloud forest, swamps, and seashores.
Necessities to enter Costa Rica
Vacationers to Costa Rica aren’t required to point out proof of vaccination standing or proof of a medical insurance coverage coverage to cowl COVID-19 associated sickness.
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February 23 – U.S. donates $14M in safety tools to combat Costa Rican crime
In keeping with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, the US has provided Costa Rica with greater than $14 million value of safety tools to assist scale back violence within the Central American nation, which has an “extraordinarily excessive” homicide charge.
For border management and “particularly within the combat in opposition to worldwide legal gangs,” Chaves added, the donation consists of telecommunications tools, drones and upkeep gear for police plane.
In keeping with the Judicial Investigative Company, Costa Rica had 12.6 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, a file excessive. In keeping with police, gang warfare was a figuring out consider 63% of the 656 deaths.
February 3 – Costa Rica developed a Certification of Sustainable Tourism
An accreditation created by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) may also help vacationers acknowledge institutions that really apply sustainability.
The primary goal of this certification is to substantiate that companies have adopted measures which have an excellent affect on the atmosphere and the group. It is usually a technical device that goals to assist sustainable tourism in Costa Rica.
With this award, corporations are honored for his or her good administration and efforts to scale back the destructive affect of their operations. The certification strengthens the work executed within the locations by way of social, cultural, environmental, financial and growth initiatives.
December 13 – Costa Rica reviews a rise in crimes dedicated by Venezuelan migrants
The nation has seen an upsurge in crimes, brawls, and different legal actions by teams of Venezuelan migrants, in keeping with the Municipal Police of San José (PMSJ).
Because of the United States’ choice to limit the entry of Venezuelan migrants in October, authorities declare that crimes are being dedicated extra continuously by Venezuelans who’ve chosen to dwell completely within the nation.
“We’ve got seen a rise in violent acts and crimes dedicated by folks of Venezuelan nationality. Within the particular case of San José, we’ve additionally seen a rise in Venezuelan casual employees, who’ve already gathered in some streets within the metropolis heart”, defined Marcelo Solano, director of the municipal police.
October 27 – 65.5% of Costa Ricans think about that Costa Rica will not be very secure or under no circumstances secure
Regardless of its excessive worldwide status, 65.5% of Costa Ricans imagine the country is not very safe or at all safe. On the similar time, girls are extra seemingly than males to be victims of crime, together with sexual assault, in keeping with a research launched Thursday by the Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) and the College of Statistics (EEs) of the College of Costa Rica (UCR).
In keeping with the specialists, the constructing of a profitable, free, and equal society can be not possible underneath this notion.
The primary issues talked about within the nation are the excessive value of dwelling (23.9%), a poor financial state of affairs (22%), unemployment (19.2%) and the insecurity of residents (13.3%).
The truth is, the excessive crime notion within the nation may be defined by the financial difficulties.
“It isn’t doable to construct a affluent, free and egalitarian society underneath the specter of violence and dispossession. Feeling free from worry supposes ensures for the safety of our integrity and properties, inside the framework of social coexistence,” stated José Vicente Troya Rodríguez, UNDP Resident Consultant.
September: Costa Rica, the most secure nation in Latin America
This 12 months, the Global Peace Index (GPI) rated 163 autonomous nations and territories on their “stage of peacefulness.” To measure peace, the research makes use of 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from “well-regarded sources” and considers three main “domains.”
- The extent of ‘Societal Security and Safety’
- The extent of any ‘Ongoing Home and Worldwide Battle’
- The diploma of Militarization
Solely 4 of the 33 international locations in Latin America and the Caribbean – Chile, Uruguay, Panama and Costa Rica – scored a minimum of “gentle inexperienced.” With an general security index of 1.732, up 0.017 factors from final 12 months’s index, Costa Rica is now thought-about the most secure journey vacation spot within the group. (Source.)
Costa Rica, gearing as much as appeal to adventurous American and Canadian vacationers to this secure vacation spot
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is working to advertise Costa Rica as an journey tourism vacation spot for American and Canadian vacationers.
The ICT estimates that Canada is the second most important North American marketplace for Costa Rica, whereas journey tourism is the third hottest cause to go to the nation. Because of this, the promotion and attraction of this vacationer profile is of nice significance to the establishment.
“Canada is the second nation that generates extra vacationers to Costa Rica after the US. In 2019, it contributed to the arrival of 234,621 vacationers and within the first three months of this 12 months the arrival of 61,349 Canadians by air was reported,” stated Ireth Rodríguez, head of ICT promotion.
August – The seashores of Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica aren’t a secure area for native homosexual vacationers
The seashores of Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica are a homosexual paradise. It’s a main LGBTQ vacation spot on the Pacific coast within the province of Puntarenas, recognized worldwide for its nationwide park, distinctive natural world, magnificent seashores, and lodges with the very best scores on this planet. It’s a place the place LGBTQ vacationers can discover freedom, acceptance and pleasure, which isn’t at all times offered to the queer residents of Costa Rica.
The rise of gentrification has displaced natives, brought about social-environmental change, and exacerbated inequality, affecting Costa Rica’s most weak communities, reminiscent of Black, Indigenous, and homosexual folks.
Even when there is no such thing as a resolution in sight but, it is necessary that communities and native governments begin to develop into conscious of the issue and search for widespread options.
Costa Rica is on its method to turning into safer for the LGBTIQ+ Group
Members of the LGTBIQ+ Group are about to journey extra safely when visiting Costa Rica because the nation will punish “hate crimes” with jail sentences starting from 20 to 35 years. That is in keeping with a regulation handed Monday and welcomed by civil rights teams.
The regulation will placed on trial anybody who “injures, assaults or kills on the grounds of race, age, faith, nationality, political opinion, incapacity or sexual orientation.”
“This was a necessity on this nation. The regulation assures these of us who’re totally different are additionally equal earlier than the regulation,” stated Enrique Joseph, commissioner of the Afro-descendant inhabitants.
April 6 – Costa Rica has additional relaxed its entry restrictions
Vacationers getting into Costa Rica not must fill out a web based well being passport or present proof of vaccination as of April 1.
Vacationers additionally don’t have to supply proof of medical health insurance to cowl Covid-19-related bills like hospitalization and quarantine.
Vacationers who want to prolong their keep past the date specified by immigration authorities should contact the Directorate Common of Migration. For extra data click on here.
January 13 – Costa Rica reporting file numbers of recent COVID-19 infections
On Wednesday, January 13, Costa Rica reported 4,170 instances of COVID-19, which is now the very best variety of new each day infections there of all the pandemic.
The second-highest quantity was recorded on Tuesday with 4,050 optimistic instances, and final Saturday, January 8, which introduced 3,374 new infections. Earlier than that, the very best quantity was reported on Could 12, 2021, with 3,173.
COVID-19 hospitalizations additionally rose in Costa Rica. On Wednesday, 242 sufferers have been hospitalized due to the virus, of which 55 have been in Intensive Care Models.
Supply: Tico Times
December 30 – Slight improve in instances; hospitalizations and fatalities dropping in Costa Rica
Final week, the Costa Rica Ministry of Well being reported a slight improve (1.8%) in COVID-19 instances in comparison with the earlier week.
However, throughout the identical time period, the variety of hospitalizations decreased by 15.2%, whereas fatalities dropped by 61%.
One other excellent news is that by December 25, there have been solely 4 instances of the brand new Omicron variant reported. None of them are associated and haven’t required hospitalization.
Supply: Outbreak News Today
November 23 – Costa Rica’s institutions to quickly require proof of vaccination
Whereas Costa Rica permits unvaccinated guests, they will be unable to enter most native institutions from the start of subsequent 12 months. The mandate will have an effect on most vacationer sights, together with lodges, eating places, museums, or bars, and will come into impact on January 8, 2022.
Youngsters underneath 12 is not going to need to current proof of vaccination. Vacationers who can show they’ve a medical situation that doesn’t enable them to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 will even be exempt from the rule.
Costa Rica nonetheless plans to welcome unvaccinated guests subsequent 12 months. Nevertheless, they may need to suppose twice earlier than they go as lodges will be unable to host them.
Supply: Lonely Planet
October 12 – Costa Rica faraway from the U.Ok. COVID-19 journey ‘pink listing’
Yesterday, on October 11, Costa Rica was faraway from the U.Ok. journey pink listing, together with 46 different international locations.
Eligible vaccinated vacationers arriving within the U.Ok. from Costa Rica aren’t required to quarantine anymore at their very own expense. They solely want to check after arrival.
Nevertheless, because the Costa Rican vaccination program lacks proof of vaccination for journey to the U.Ok., those that have obtained their pictures in Costa Rica should check earlier than departure, on days 2 and eight, and full a 10-day house quarantine.
The choice ought to assist restore tourism between the 2 international locations, in addition to an early return of British Airways and Tui airways earlier than the beginning of the excessive season, added Gustavo Segura, Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister. The entire course of must also assist Costa Rica get again on the European market.
Supply: The Tico Times
September 8 – Costa Rica reviews near-record variety of COVID-19 infections
Costa Rica suffered its second-highest complete of COVID-19 instances in a single week between August 29 and September 4, introduced the Well being Ministry.
Throughout that interval, the nation registered 16,601 new coronavirus instances. That’s, on common, 2,371 new infections each day. At its highest level in early Could 2021, there have been 18,021 instances reported in every week.
Within the final 4 weeks, Costa Rica additionally noticed a rise in deaths and hospital admissions. Between August 29 and September 4, 136 sufferers died of COVID-19 in Costa Rica. Earlier than, there have been 89, 105, and 127 fatalities reported every week, respectively. Hospital admissions proceed to extend by 15% week by week.
Based mostly on the estimates of the Costa Rican Social Safety Fund, the state of affairs will probably not enhance any time quickly. We are able to count on to see as much as 3,500 new instances a day by the top of September.
Supply: The Tico Times
