Costa Rica Costa Rica is generally considered to be the safest countries in Central America. As if that weren't enough, Costa Rica is an absolutely stunning country with friendly people, unforgettable cloud forests and beautiful beaches. Of course, COVID-19 will have had an impact as long as these data were collected. The problem with trying to measure health safety in developing countries during a global pandemic is that testing is not universally affordable, neither for the government nor for the general population, and the lack of power and money of these countries on the global stage means that they often have a low hierarchical order to receive solutions once they are discovered.
Once again, protests can occur, and filing for bankruptcy every 5 years or so is a trick that the Argentine government likes and that can make money difficult to value and obtain. COVID-19 may have accelerated this pattern, so be aware of the economic situation before you travel. However, a key reason for Panama to be close to the center of the 10 safest countries in Latin America is that it suffered unrest in recent years because of the reforms that the government tried to promote and that were going to have a significant effect on marginalized groups. Costa Rica, long a safe haven for tourists who want to immerse themselves in Latin American travel without being too exposed to many of the dangers associated with this region, remains at the top of the safest countries in Latin America to travel.
See my destination guides for Costa Rica here. I lived in Mexico in the 90s. It's a little different, but she only felt really nervous once. I didn't get much due to work, but again, I felt super safe, thanks for the article.
Costa Rica is the safest country in Latin America according to the Latin Security Index for entrepreneurs and multinational firms. Costa Rica, Chile and Uruguay were the top three countries on the list, according to Mr. Frank Holder, Senior General Manager, FIT Consulting Ibero America. As in most tourist destinations, travelers are the target of pickpockets.
Be careful if you travel on public transport or visit busy areas such as monuments, but this should be the biggest risk when it comes to getting around the city. Costa Rica is generally safe for women who travel as well. Don't show expensive electronics and pay attention to your clothes. You don't want to stand out and, unfortunately, macho culture still dominates much of Central America, so don't get caught up in unwanted male attention.
In addition, for the most part, foreigners get a “pass” when it comes to this type of instability and violence. His experience as a tourist in El Salvador is very different from the experience of those who live in poverty on the fringes of society and who are most affected by insecurity, drug violence, gangs, etc. That said, I have traveled to a variety of places that are often perceived as dangerous (such as Yemen, Colombia, Mexico), which influences my own perception of risk and danger. Before my life as a nomadic traveler, I also lived in big cities like Seattle or Washington DC, which have their own safety concerns.
That's all to say that if you've never left your small hometown, you might feel more worried, worried or cautious in ANY of these destinations, than another more experienced traveler. I include Mexico in this list because geographically it is partially within Central America, and the United Nations considers it part of the Central American geoscheme. Not only that, but it also provides a good framework or reference point for evaluating the other Central American countries, since there are more travelers familiar with Mexico than with its neighbors to the south. Mexico is incredible, without a doubt.
Of all our time in Mexico and Central America, Mexico easily stands out as the “best place to travel”, simply because of the wide variety of things it has to offer. From beaches, mountains, cities, food, culture, low costs, etc. The perception of travel insecurity in Mexico extends across much of the country, from problems near the border related to drug trafficking to inland areas that are not as easily affected by drug trafficking. It was also here that two people who were traveling by bicycle in Mexico were killed and thrown into a ravine.
Of course, inept or corrupt police initially said that both passengers plummeted to death off a cliff, but it was quickly discovered that was a lie. Mexico is undoubtedly the only country where most travelers have been killed in the region, whether in attempted robbery or other strange circumstances. Mexico was incredible, no doubt, but I would also consider it the most dangerous country in the region for travelers. Mexico is also the only country (in all of Latin America, in fact) where we had the most problems with corrupt police, having to fight with them on numerous occasions to avoid giving them money.
Sometimes, they seem to focus more on extorting money from people than protecting them. It is important to remember that Mexico is the third most populous country in the Western Hemisphere (behind the United States and Brazil), and is the sixth most popular tourist destination in the world, with millions of visitors each month, and yet there are few serious incidents among tourists. All of this only shows that we can objectively observe that it is actually quite safe, although perhaps subjectively it seems to be the least secure of all these countries. El Salvador has an enormous sense of insecurity that makes it difficult to know if it is a remnant of bad days of the past or a reality of the bad days of the present.
I loved El Salvador, but it definitely has a strange sense of insecurity almost everywhere. When we think of Panama, we think of the canal and the shimmering towers of Panama City, but there is also an entire country beyond that. Panama, in general, feels quite safe, but there is also an occasional environment of insecurity, even beyond the obvious things, such as the slums of Panama City. Like everywhere else here, Panama felt safe for the most part, but there were moments that just felt a little “out of place” and made you question or doubt things, at least more than elsewhere in the region.
Honduras is very similar to the rest of Central America, friendly and welcoming, and with a little street intelligence, it should be absolutely fine. Is Honduras safe? For many locals, the answer may be a resounding no, but for tourists I think it's a destination that is just as safe or safer than some neighboring countries. Belize itself felt quite safe, with the exception of Belize City, and the people along the coast or on the islands are quite friendly and welcoming (those in the interior, not so much). Belize City is quite incomplete and it's perfectly OK to avoid it, unless you need to visit it for a trip to the islands or to the airport.
But having said that, we felt safe practically everywhere we went and had no major worries while traveling in Nicaragua. For those reasons (safe, interesting, affordable), I would choose Guatemala as one of the best destinations for a budget traveler heading to Central America for the first time. While there may be Bandits in some more remote parts of Guatemala, particularly in border areas, it is more likely that the problems most tourists face here in Guatemala are things like being overcharged, taking tourist prices out of them, or perhaps some gastrointestinal problems (but that happens at all times). the region).
Costa Rica was where we felt the safest to truly venture down unknown and remote paths, to camp freely in public spaces rather than in paid and secure campsites, etc. It's simply a matter of knowing where to go and where not to go. Travelers love going to Latin America because of its vibrant culture, fascinating history, natural wonders and delicious food. In no particular order, here are the ten safest places to visit in Latin America (updated 202).
Take a look at these tours in Costa Rica. The countries of South America are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. I was traveling in Central America with my boyfriend, but I met tons of women who were traveling alone on the road. Costa Rica, home to dozens of pristine beaches, tropical temperatures, hiking trails to volcanoes and swimming pools covered by waterfalls, is truly a piece of heaven on earth.
Listed below are the safest countries in South America that are generally considered safe for adventure lovers. As one of the smallest and relatively unknown countries in Latin America, Uruguay is the perfect destination for those looking for a vacation free of crowds and lots of tourists. It even ranks 32nd out of 163 countries in terms of overall peace, surpassing France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Argentina. This city occupies an important place in the history of Costa Rica, since it was an active defender of the independence of Spain.
The Colon area of Panama doesn't like Americans, the rocks thrown at me places wouldn't serve me to eat just like in Panama City. So again, this is based on my perception of safety and insecurity, although ALL of these countries are perfectly safe for tourists, as long as I exercise a little street sense and, most importantly, the vast majority of places where most tourists will travel (not like us, driving all over the regions and countries, far off the beaten path) are even safer. I have always been warned against traveling to Guyana for safety reasons, so I am surprised to see that it ranks so well on the list of the safest countries. If, at the end of the day, you're still worried about being robbed in Central America, there's a safe way to hide your cash.
After 3 wonderful months in Central America, I admit that I started traveling with a backpack to Costa Rica with my guard off, hoping that it would be the safest country in Central America. Spreading across Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and a handful of other countries, the Amazon requires a lot of effort to get there and often involves experienced guides or tour operators. My goal is to show that, while it can be hectic, Central America remains a safe place to visit, as long as the right decisions are made. Central and South America have a reputation for violence and unrest, so my advice is to learn about the countries you are considering long before you book those flights.
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