Yes, La Fortuna is one of the safest tourist destinations in Costa Rica. However, you will need to apply the usual precautionary safety and security measures of not displaying your valuables in public areas or walking alone on poorly lit roads. in order to avoid crimes like petty theft, robbery, ambush, or rape.
Even after reading all the positive online reviews about La Fortuna, I was still determined to take precautionary safety measures and be accountable for my safety by not letting my guard down.
Because in case of an emergency, I may not be able to escape fast or reach security personnel on time.
In this guide, I have written all you need to know about visiting La Fortuna and staying safe at the same time. This information will help you make an informed decision when planning your travel itinerary.
Key Takeaways
- La Fortuna is generally a safe place for tourists to visit in Costa Rica. However, always remember to stay alert and vigilant at all times.
- The weather is conducive for tourist visits, as there are fewer cases of airborne diseases, fever, and malaria.
- Learning a little bit of Spanish will help make your communication smooth when the need arises.
- Place hygiene and safety first when eating out or swallowing any liquid at all.
- Avoid traveling or moving around in isolated areas at night for your safety.
- Only participate in activities that match your physical strength to avoid fatigue or being rushed to the hospital.
Brief Overview and General Safety
La Fortuna is a popular and highly tourist destination in Costa Rica. The town attracts a lot of tourists because of the abundance of tourist attractions around it.
La Fortuna is located in the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica, and a three-hour drive from Liberia International Airport and San Jose International Airport on a well-paved road will get you to La Fortuna town.
Generally, La Fortuna is safe for tourist visits because crime is low compared to other tourist destinations in the country.
So visitors can walk freely during the day and late evening without fear of being mugged, kidnapped, robbed, or raped. In addition, the presence of the local police is heavy here, and they are quick to respond in case of an emergency or criminal activity.
Food and Water Safety
It is safe to consume food and water in La Fortuna. The foods are tasty, healthy, and fresh, with lots of proteins and vegetables that are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
In most of the restaurants I ate at in town, I noticed that they took time to properly cook and prepare their food, which is very hygienic because you don’t want to be eating a half cooked meal.
The water too is clean, and you can drink direct tap water in La Fortuna. However, if you feel you can not trust the water, you can use a reusable filter water bottle or buy bottled water.
As a way of taking precautionary safety measures, It is important to look up online reviews to know if a restaurant is safe to eat at or not before heading there.
Transportation Safety
La Fortuna is safe for tourists to travel. Most of the roads within the town are paved and well lit, thereby fostering good driving conditions.
However, some of the roads, just as with other tourist destinations in the country, are in terrible shape. You will notice a lot of potholes that will give you a bumpy ride if you are not careful when driving.
In addition to the bumpy ride you get because of the potholes, at night, most of these roads are poorly lit to walk and drive on.
Regardless of the bad road conditions, La Fortuna is one of the few tourist towns in Costa Rica that we felt safe the most when using public transportation because the taxis are registered and licensed before they hit the road
However, this is not to say you should let down your guard. Always apply caution and be safety conscious when hailing a taxi.
For me, I prefer using transportation services like Uber to move around town.
Health Safety
La Fortuna has a low health risk to travelers. The weather, water, food, and climate are conducive for tourists who wish to stay long or short term in this town.
All through my stay in La Fortuna I never fell ill to dengue fever, malaria, diarrhea, food poisoning, stomach upset or any sickness at all that one would think is predominant in La Fortuna and Costa Rica at large.
However, on my own part, I made sure I followed health guidelines like using insect repellents when visiting rainforest, and jungles in La Fortuna, applying sunscreen when I am out in the sun, doing research, and reading online reviews before eating at a restaurant, and wearing the appropriate clothings when stepping out.
In case of any sudden illness while touring La Fortuna, there are lots of basic health care facilities in town that will get you treated in no time.
Accommodation Safety
La Fortuna has a lot of accommodation options, ranging from rental apartments like Airbnb to luxury hotels.
As someone who travels a lot around Costa Rica, I have been opportuned to sleep in the luxury hotels in most tourist towns of the country, and I tell you for free that I felt safer sleeping in the ones at La Fortuna.
There was no robbery, burglary, or wildlife invasion attempt at all; it was safe and peaceful. However, I took some precautionary measures before paying for accommodation in La Fortuna like I would in other tourist destinations in the country.
Before making payments, be sure that the accommodation lock is functioning and that there are surveillance cameras and a security guard on ground.
And also read online reviews on platforms like Tripadvisor and Booking.com about an accommodation so you know if the accommodation is really safe for you to lodge in.
Doing all of this will increase your chances of being safe throughout your stay.
Environmental Safety
Costa Rica is known for diverse kinds of environmental impact and natural hazards. From my experience and information I have gathered about environmental issues in Costa Rica, every region and tourist destination in the country has its own environmental issues, and La Fortuna is not an exception.
La Fortuna is home to the Arenal Volcano, which serves as a tourist attraction and is the most active volcano in the country.
Looking at the 1968 Volcanic eruptions that killed over eighty people in Arenal, it is important to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines when visiting the Arenal Volcano.
Another common natural hazard that happens in La Fortuna is flash floods, which occur mostly during the rainy season. So it is advisable to take note of weather conditions in La Fortuna and avoid hiking close to rivers and waterfalls during the rainy season (May through November).
Although none of the natural disasters mentioned above have killed tourists, both recently and in the past, it is still very important to follow safety precautions and guidelines when visiting La Fortuna.
Common Crimes
La Fortuna has low crime rates and is safe for tourists to visit. No violent crimes have been recorded yet in the area.
However, it is important to be cautious because, as with every other tourist destination in the country and around the world, you will experience crimes like pickpocketing, purse snatching, and petty theft in La Fortuna.
Which mostly occur as a result of flashing your valuables in public places, leaving your car unlocked, or walking alone in the dark.
So the best thing is to keep your valuables safe, or better yet, do not travel with your valuable items at all. And stay out of poorly lit and isolated streets or roads at night so you do not become a victim of certain crimes.
Safety Tips for Tourists
- Keep your valuables at home or in your hotel room when going out to avoid petty thefts and pickpockets.
- Only hail registered and licensed taxi services and companies for your safety.
- Ensure whatever accommodation option you choose, the lock is functional to avoid burglary and wildlife invasion.
- Do not drink excessively when you are in any tourist town; otherwise, you will make yourself an easy target for criminals.
- Before hiking the Arenal Volcano, it is important to pay attention to volcano alerts from the officials in the country.
- Do not easily trust strangers and follow them around all in the name of visiting tourist attractions. You will easily get mugged, raped, or robbed. I advise you to map your locations before stepping out.
- Stay away from wildlife when you visit tourist sites. Do not pet or touch them, because if you do and they feel stressed or threatened, they may attack you.
- Show respect to the local culture by sticking to community rules and regulations.
- Learn a bit of Spanish or use Google Translate in order to flow in communication.
- Avoid walking alone at night. I advise you to get back to your apartment before dark. And if you must walk at night, ensure you are in a group of friends that are heading in the same direction.
- Stay alert in crowded places and tourist spots to avoid being pickpocketed.
- Stay hydrated at all times and carry an insect repellent when visiting jungles and national parks.
- Ensure you have emergency numbers of your country’s embassy, local authorities, and accommodation available.
- Avoid flashing cash or valuables like your phone or jewelry. You will only attract petty thieves and criminals if you do so.
- Ask questions before moving to certain areas. It will help you know what is ahead of you and if you should make that movement or not.
Once you are assured of your safety, you should check out our list of 10 Free and Cheap Things to Do in La Fortuna to make the most of your visit.
Conclusion
La Fortuna is considered one of the safest tourist destinations to visit in Costa Rica. However, this does not mean you should not take safety measures to avoid falling prey to the common crimes in town.
Some important safety measures include locking your car every time you step out, keeping your valuables in a safe lock in your accommodation room rather than displaying them publicly, and avoiding walking alone at night.
In addition, it is also important to be mindful of the activities you participate in when you are outdoors. Things like eating at a more hygiene-conscious restaurant, staying hydrated, wearing appropriate clothes, and only getting involved in activities that suit your physical strength will help you a lot.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
