In short: Costa Rica is one of the most relaxed destinations in Latin America for families and groups, as long as you take the usual travel precautions. And within the country, Playa Junquillal in Guanacaste is one of the safest places we know: a small village with no nightlife, where everyone knows each other. At our villas, the houses also have their own security, and the team that looks after them lives right across the street.
It is one of the questions we hear most before people book, especially from families with children and groups visiting for the first time: is Costa Rica safe? Here is our honest answer, because we live here.
Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica?
Yes, with common sense. Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and has built its reputation on stability, democracy and tourism ever since. Millions of travelers visit every year without any trouble.
That does not mean crime doesn't exist. The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica at Level 2 of its advisory scale ("exercise increased caution") due to crime. As in any tourist destination in the world, what you mostly hear about is small opportunistic theft in busy places, and everyday common sense is enough. More serious crime is concentrated mainly in specific urban areas, far from the quiet Guanacaste coast where we are.
Why is Junquillal one of the safest places in the country?
Because it is the opposite of a mass-tourism destination. Junquillal is a long, barely developed beach in the canton of Santa Cruz, with a small village five minutes away and little else. No strip, no clubs, no stream of day-trippers. What causes trouble elsewhere — crowds, late nights, people coming and going — simply isn't here.
- A small community: neighbors know each other, local ticos greet you by name, and a new face does not go unnoticed.
- No nightlife: the loudest thing at night is the ocean. Dinners out in Tamarindo or Avellanas are done with private transport.
- A quiet beach: you share the sunset with very few people, and during nesting season the beach is protected as a turtle site, walked by volunteers and guides.
- Far from the cities: you are an hour and a quarter from Liberia airport and far from the places where crime concentrates.
Our villas: their own security, and the team across the street
For us, peace of mind is not only about the location. Villa Diosa del Mar and Villa Hermes have their own security, and the staff who look after the houses live literally across the street. It is not an emergency number on a sheet of paper: it is people who know every corner of the property, who are close by day and night, and who can be there in a minute if you need anything, from a question about the pool to something more serious.
That is what families and large groups value most: kids can run from the garden to the pool to the sand, adults can fall asleep with the doors open to the sea, and someone you trust is always a few steps away. Together with the concierge, the team also arranges transfers, a private chef and outings, so nobody has to drive unfamiliar roads at night.
To plan the rest, see our Liberia airport transfer guide and Junquillal vs Tamarindo.
Where to stay
- Villa Diosa del Mar — beachfront art retreat →
- Villa Hermes — beachfront architecture villa →
- Both villas together: Odisea, 10 bedrooms →
Frequently asked questions
Is Costa Rica safe for families with children?
Yes. It is one of the most popular family destinations in the region. With the common sense of any trip and respect for the ocean, stays are usually very relaxed, even more so in a private villa on a beach like Junquillal.
Is Playa Junquillal safe?
It is one of the quietest areas of Guanacaste: a small community, little development, no nightlife and very few passers-by.
Do the villas have security?
Yes. Villa Diosa del Mar and Villa Hermes have their own security, and the staff who look after the houses live across the street, so someone you can trust is always close, day and night.
What is the biggest real risk at the beach?
The ocean. Pacific currents can be strong depending on the tide and season. Before swimming, especially with children, ask the team or the concierge about that day's conditions.
