Violent crime is extremely uncommon in Tortuguero, but visitors should still play it safe while traveling in Costa Rica. The country is an extremely popular tourist destination, and violent crime against tourist is very rare, but petty crime is all too common. The most common type of crime is a wallet or purse being nabbed while left unguarded at a beach. Women can safely travel in the resort areas of Tortuguero without much fear, but should still be cautious when venturing out after dark. Still it is best to keep a low profile and don’t flash large sums of money or expensive items. The best advice is to be on guard with your possessions. This is also true when leaving items on the beach, as valuables left unattended have a habit of disappearing. Photocopies of travel documents and credit cards should be kept separate from the originals and key telephone numbers maintained to contact banks if credit cards are stolen or lost.

Also, be cautious of some of the “adventure travel” tours in Tortuguero. There are many “fly by night” operations that are semi-legal, or operate without a license.

The government of Costa Rica does regulate and monitor the safety of adventure tourism companies, and visitors should make sure that the company has the proper permits to meet the safety standards, as well as insurance coverage.