The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica issued an updated security alert Tuesday, citing a rise in property crimes, financial crimes and robberies affecting foreigners, including U.S. citizens.

According to U.S. authorities, recent cases involve organized groups targeting foreign-owned businesses and homes for break-ins, robberies and extortion.

Officials also noted incidents in which foreign residents and travelers were pressured into withdrawing large amounts of cash from ATMs or making bank transfers.

Visitors have additionally reported break-ins and armed robberies at Airbnbs and other vacation rentals, the alert noted.

The diplomatic mission urged U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica to report any incidents to the Judicial Investigation Organization (Organismo de Investigación Judicial -OIJ). Contact information and office locations are available on the OIJ website.

The OIJ also enables the 10-digit line 800-8000-645 or the short line 1176. Bilingual agents are available in English and Spanish.

The Embassy also advised verifying the identity of anyone presenting themselves as law enforcement by requesting official identification and, if in doubt, visiting the nearest OIJ office.

Individuals in the United States who wish to report an incident may contact the State Department’s Consular Affairs line at +1 (888) 407-4747 or +1 (202) 501-4444.

In August, Costa Rica’s Public Security Minister Mario Zamora-Cordero said San José is safer than Washington, D.C., responding to comments by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding security conditions in the country.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica in 1851, following the country’s independence and the dissolution of the Central American federation.

“Costa Rica has an attractive trade and investment climate and remains one of the strongest and most reliable voices in Latin America on human rights and the rule of law,” the Embassy states on its website. “The country has been a key partner in the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking.”

U.S. officials note that since 2020, Costa Rica has been the primary transshipment point for cocaine moving from South America to North America and Europe, contributing to increased crime and corruption. Costa Rica has also welcomed migrants and refugees (mostly from Nicaragua) and serves as a transit route for regional and extracontinental migration.

The Embassy figures show Costa Rica remains a major destination for U.S. retirees and tourists, with about 120,000 U.S. citizens residing in the country.

According to the Tourism Institute (ICT), more than 1.2 million U.S. travelers arrived by air as of September, representing 54 percent of all foreign visitors during that period.

In 2024, the United States remained Costa Rica’s top tourism source, with roughly 1.5 million American visitors.