Is Nicaragua Safe To Travel To?
FAQs – Safety, Comfort & Peace of Mind at Costa Dulce
Is Nicaragua Safe? Some Facts About Safety:
We understand safety is a top priority when choosing a destination. Despite outdated perceptions, Nicaragua is statistically safer than many popular tourist destinations—even within Central America and the U.S. Here are the facts:
🔹 Nicaragua’s theft rate is less than 1/4 the global average and 1/3 the rate of Costa Rica.
🔹 Nicaragua’s homicide rate (6.2 per 100,000) is lower than half of all U.S. states—including California, Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina.
🔹 Costa Rica’s homicide rate is nearly 3x higher than Nicaragua’s, Panama’s is double, and Mexico’s is nearly 5x higher.
🔹 Nicaragua has fewer overall reported crimes per capita than Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico.
🔹 Petty theft is far less common in Nicaragua than in popular Latin American tourist hubs like San José, Cancun, or Panama City.
🔹 Nicaragua does not have widespread issues with organized crime or cartel violence found in other parts of the region.
🔹 Violent crimes against tourists in Nicaragua are extremely rare; most visitors report feeling safe and welcomed.
Is Costa Dulce a safe place to visit?
Yes — Costa Dulce is widely regarded as a very safe destination, especially for solo travelers, families, and retreat groups. It’s located in a peaceful, close-knit community on Nicaragua’s southern Pacific coast, far from urban unrest. That said, like any travel experience there are inherent risks involved in adventure and exploration. We encourage all guests to travel mindfully, use common sense, and embrace the journey with awareness. Most of our visitors describe feeling safer here than back home.
Should I be concerned about travel advisories for Nicaragua?
We understand that U.S. travel advisories can raise concerns — but it’s important to look deeper. Nicaragua’s southern coast, where Costa Dulce is located, has remained peaceful, safe, and welcoming for travelers for years. While political tensions between Nicaragua and the U.S. can sometimes affect official advisories, these don’t reflect the on-the-ground experience of the overwhelming number of visitors. In fact, many guests tell us they felt safer here than in many other popular tourist destinations, and even there own cities. Our team lives here, our families live here — and we wouldn’t invite you if we didn’t fully trust in the safety of your experience.
Is Costa Dulce a good place for solo travelers?
Absolutely. In fact, many of our guests (50%) come alone and leave with lifelong friends. With communal meals, daily group activities, and a supportive, like-minded community, Costa Dulce is a perfect place to travel solo while still feeling connected, safe, and supported.
How do border transfers work if I'm arriving through Costa Rica?
We offer professional, safe, and reliable transportation from both the Liberia (CR) and Managua (NI) airports. If you’re crossing the border from Costa Rica, our team will guide you through the process, including a step-by-step border crossing guide — making it as smooth and stress-free as possible.
What if I need medical attention during my stay?
You’re in good hands. The newly built, modern hospital in San Juan del Sur is less than 30 minutes away, and we recently donated land to the municipality on which they’ve built a health center. We also have a trained staff team on-site to assist with any immediate needs.
How secure are the accommodations and facilities?
Costa Dulce is designed like a peaceful village interwoven into the beachfront jungle (many rooms and structure have trees literally growing through them) — a walkable, welcoming environment surrounded by nature and community. While our gated neighborhood, carefully-staffed team, and surrounding community/towns/villages are inherently safe, each private room comes equipped with a secure lockbox for added peace of mind.
Is the water safe to drink? What about food hygiene?
Yes. All drinking water at Costa Dulce goes through a 6-phase purification and re-mineralization process on-site. Each of our meals are prepared fresh from scratch — nothing sits around in storage for more than a few days, and leftovers are composted. We prioritize local, organic ingredients and high food safety standards to keep you nourished and healthy.
Will I encounter bugs or wild animals?
As an ecolodge in a tropical environment, you’ll share space with nature — but our rooms are fully screened to keep bugs out, and we provide mosquito nets as an added protection if requested (though most guests find they don’t need them). You may see monkeys, crabs, or even baby turtles — but they’re part of the magic, not a nuisance. You will experience more wildlife during the green season (May thru October), including more insects, but mainly during the night. Considering the spectacular beauty this season has to offer, we are confident you will be thrilled with your choice to stay at Costa Dulce nonetheless.
Is surfing safe for beginners?
Surfing is a powerful and exhilarating sport that requires care, safety and a humble respect for the ocean — and our local surf instructors are here to ensure it’s safe and enjoyable for all levels. Beginners will be guided through foundational skills, ocean awareness, surf etiquette and personal safety protocols before hitting the waves. Surfing alone during the Green Season (May thru October)
What if I want to go out at night?
Costa Dulce is primarily about reconnecting with nature and yourself, but we get it — sometimes you want a little nightlife. Younger members of our team occasionally go into town and would be happy to accompany you if you’d like to experience the local scene in a safe and fun way.
Guest Reviews Raving About Feeling Safe
Other Health and Safety Questions
What are the safety features of your property?
Is Costa Dulce a safe place for a Single woman to visit?
Is Costa Dulce safe?
Yes — and, like any ocean-front ecolodge, it comes with a few natural realities worth knowing:
- Ocean conditions: Our beach is stunning but can experience strong currents and powerful waves at certain times of the year. We post daily surf and tide reports, offer red-flag warnings when rips are likely, and encourage guests to swim or surf only during lifeguard or instructor hours.
- Wildlife: Living in the jungle means sharing space with monkeys, iguanas, sea turtles, and the occasional curious critter. Rooms are fully screened, mosquito nets are available, and our team gives a short “wildlife etiquette” briefing on arrival (look, don’t touch, keep food sealed, shoes on at night).
- Village layout & security: The retreat is designed like a small, walkable hamlet; staff are on-site 24/7, each room has a personal lockbox, and outside visitors are monitored at the gate.
- Medical backup: A modern hospital in San Juan del Sur is less than 30 minutes away, a local clinic is closer, and several team members hold first-aid and water-rescue certifications.
In short, Costa Dulce balances adventure with sensible precautions, so you can relax into nature knowing you’re supported and informed.
Is Nicaragua a safe place?
Yes, Nicaragua is safe to travel. Statistically, it is the safest country in Central America. Nicaragua is a peaceful and safe country; however, theft and other occasional criminal activity can occur. We always remind visitors to use good judgment to prevent unfortunate situations.
Simple things to avoid include riding with an unknown taxi driver (best to set up private transportation or rent your own vehicle), walking alone on isolated beaches, leaving valuables unattended in a vehicle (especially computers, smartphones, tablets, etc), leaving doors unlocked, leaving belongings outside at night, etc.
Nicaragua has come a long way in the last several decades. Since the Nicaraguan Revolution of 1978-1979, it has become the safest country in the region, outdoing both Costa Rica and Panama on this front. Although this developing nation is one of the poorest in the Western hemisphere, it is a beautifully diverse and culturally rich country that is remarkably safe, with low crime rates. Tourists should use normal, common sense when traveling around Nicaragua.
Should I take anti-malaria meds?
Mosquitos and other insects are present within Nicaragua but are not much of an issue in our area. The entire Southern Pacific side of Nicaragua where we are located has no malaria transmission. Since we are in this no-risk area, we do not provide bed-nets. For more information about recommended vaccines and medications, please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov.
Do I need insurance?
Cancel within 24 hours of making your booking to receive a 100% refund. (minus 3% to 5% payment processing fee if applicable)
After that, we offer a 50% credit for the amount paid to the date. Transferable amount will be held as credit on account.
Credit can only be applied to full priced items only. Credit is not combinable with other offers or specials and cannot be used for deposits, but can be transferred to a friend or family member.
We only offer credit if the payments are up to date.
We strongly recommend you look into travel insurance policies to cover any expenses you may incur if forced to cancel your trip.
Note: Being a social enterprise we do not keep a large cash reserve and therefor we can not offer cash refunds.
Nicaragua Safety Facts:
We understand safety is a top priority when choosing a destination. Despite outdated perceptions, Nicaragua is statistically safer than many popular tourist destinations—even within Central America and the U.S. Here are the facts:
🔹 Nicaragua’s theft rate is less than 1/4 the global average and 1/3 the rate of Costa Rica.
🔹 Nicaragua’s homicide rate (6.2 per 100,000) is lower than half of all U.S. states—including California, Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina.
🔹 Costa Rica’s homicide rate is nearly 3x higher than Nicaragua’s, Panama’s is double, and Mexico’s is nearly 5x higher.
🔹 Nicaragua has fewer overall reported crimes per capita than Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico.
🔹 Petty theft is far less common in Nicaragua than in popular Latin American tourist hubs like San José, Cancun, or Panama City.
🔹 Nicaragua does not have widespread issues with organized crime or cartel violence found in other parts of the region.
🔹 Violent crimes against tourists in Nicaragua are extremely rare; most visitors report feeling safe and welcomed.