Not all people who wish to travel to Costa Rica need a tourist visa; it depends on your nationality, purpose of visit, country of residence and duration of stay.

Consider the following Information:

1. North Americans do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica. However, they must have a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica. (Either to return to your country or to go to another country).
2. Citizens of other nationalities do not need a tourist visa to enter Costa Rica if they have a United States of America, Canada, Japon, South Korea, Schengen Visa.
3. Europeans do not need a Visa to go to Costa Rica just a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica. (Either to return to your country or to go to another country).

Note: Link to Visas by Nationaliy (do l Need one?)

Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America. Wealth is distributed more evenly than in North American or European countries. Simple living is common, but education, health and welfare systems are very good and freely available, making abject poverty rate, reducing crime.

Costa Rica does not have a military and has not suffered civil wars and violence in the history, which is so common among its neighbors.  Combined with the above Observation, that Ticos rarely live in severe poverty, it’s not surprising that political battles are fought in the media rather than by subversives and “terrorists” in the streets.

Petty theft, especially from tourists, is relatively common. The most likely places for things disappear from are cars (locked or not), beaches, bus luggage compartments, and hotel rooms. Violent crime is very rare.

• Earthquakes: Earthquakes occur commonly in Costa Rica causing minimum damages.
• Tsunamis: The shape of the seabed off the shores of Costa Rica is not particularly suited to the formation of tsunami waves.
• Volcanoes: The same geology that puts Costa Rica in an earthquake zone creates the volcanoes that are simultaneously a major attraction and low danger level.
• Hurricanes: Hurricanes are not a major concern in Costa Rica.  The shape of the Gulf of Mexico dictates that the storms turn north soon after entering and out of the pass. Only Hurricane Cesár has made landfall in Costa Rica in 1996.
• Tropical storms and long rainy periods are common in the rainy season (july to november).

Accidents happen, and not surprisingly they happen more often when you’re trying out new wild adventures for the first time.  Canopy zip-lines, waterfall rappels, scuba diving, parachuting, ATV trail riding, and bungee jumping are just a few of the inherently risky activities you might indulge in while on vacation in Costa Rica.

The tourism industry in Costa Rica is well aware that dropping travelers out of the treetops during a canopy tour is bad for business, and make serious efforts to ensure safe adventures.  Do your part by choosing operators with the appropriate certifications, good records, and professional guides.  Don’t exceed your physical limitations, pay attention during the precautionary lectures, and use common sense.

You may think we’re joking, but sunburn ruins more trips than any other danger you’re likely to face in Costa Rica. The location near the equator, and lofty elevations of many of the attractions add up to extremely intense UV radiation. Combine this with water everywhere, washing sunscreen off and the fact that many visitors are bleached white and sun starved by northern winters, it can add up to a sunburn that requires hospitalization. Be especially vigilant with your children.

Heat exhaustion and dehydration can catch you by surprise as well.  Many of the adventures offered on tours in Costa Rica are strenuous combined with the warm humid climate you can loose moisture from your body very quickly.

As in North America or Europe, driving or riding in a car is one of the most dangerous things you’ll do in Costa Rica. Car wrecks are the single most common cause of hospitalization for foreign travelers.
Don’t drive after dark.
Potholes (huecos) are ubiquitous—even in roads that appear to have been freshly paved—and some are large enough to snap an axle or cause you to lose control if you hit them going too fast.
Often there are no guardrails on sheer precipices.
Gutters so large they would qualify as canals frequently border mountain roads. They can swallow your entire vehicle and the warning about guardrails applies.

If you are reading this then riptides won’t be a problem for you, because they are really only dangerous to the unaware. Take a few minutes to look at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration excellent description of Rip Tides how they form, how to recognize them, and how to avoid them.

If a riptide is carrying you out to sea, do not attempt to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to the beach. Most of these currents are less than 100 feet wide and you will soon reach calm water, and waves that are actually pushing you shoreward.