|
  
|
||||
 You
Might
Also Like    
     |
Published on Thursday, April 16, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Costa
Rica ranks as the country where solo
female travelers feel most secure,
according to a report published by the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),
the UK national broadcaster.
While
no single global index specifically
measures safety for women traveling alone,
the BBC analysis drew on the latest Women,
Peace and Security Index from Georgetown
University, which evaluates countries
based on women’s inclusion, justice and
security, as well as the Global Peace
Index. The report also incorporated
interviews with women traveling solo about
where they felt most at ease.
Costa
Rica stood out as the top destination in
this year’s findings.
The
country, already recognized as one of the
world’s happiest, has also made one of the
largest gains in the Women, Peace and
Security Index, climbing from 60th to
34th. The improvement reflects broader
progress in women’s inclusion and safety,
as well as a growing influx of remote
workers attracted by its digital nomad
visa.
“Costa Rica is one of the easiest places in the world to meet people as a solo woman,” said Molly Gagnon to BBC, a travel agent specializing in solo travel at The Social Solivagant, who has returned annually since 2021.
Gagnon
highlighted the strong mix of
expatriates, surfers and entrepreneurs
in beaches such as Santa Teresa
and Nosara
on the Nicoya Peninsula’s Pacific
coast. “You
naturally meet people in surf lessons,
yoga classes, cafés and even just
walking on the beach,” she said. “The
culture fosters independence. It’s
very normal to see women doing things
solo.” For
first-time visitors, she recommends
booking structured activities early in
a trip, such as surf lessons or guided
hikes, to help meet people, and
choosing boutique hotels or social
guesthouses over more isolated
vacation rentals. The
Nicoya Peninsula also offers a
distinct atmosphere for travelers.
“The vibrancy and peacefulness along
the coastal beaches was something I
had never experienced before,” said
Ashley Hunter to BBC, a communications
manager at Signature Travel Network,
who recently traveled solo south of Puerto Viejo Beach
in Limon province. “I
would take photos during the day, and
when the rain rolled in, I’d find a
quiet place to tuck away, grab a snack
and sketch from those images,” she
said.
According
to the BBC, solo female travelers are
increasingly shaping global travel trends.
Tour operators report the segment as one
of their fastest-growing, particularly
among women over 50 who are choosing to
travel independently. Online searches for
“solo travel for women” have increased 30%
worldwide over the past five years.
Despite
growing interest, safety concerns remain.
In a February 2026 survey conducted by
Talker Research for Road Scholar, 59% of
respondents said walking at night was
their primary concern when traveling
alone. Women were also more likely than
men to cite safety as a reason for not yet
traveling solo.
Following
Costa Rica, the report ranked Estonia
second, Vietnam third, Uruguay fourth and
Norway fifth.
Costa
Rica’s tourism sector continues to show
strong growth. According to the
Costa Rican Tourism Institute, more
than 653,000 tourists arrived by air
as of February 2026.
In 2025, the country
welcomed more than 2.6 million air
arrivals.
--------
          |
|||
|