Destination Comparison
San José vs San Juan del Sur
Which destination has more documented tourist scam activity? Side-by-side comparison based on verified reports.
26
Total scams compared
San José
13 warnings
San Juan del Sur
13 warnings
Overall Risk Assessment
San José
Higher documented risk
San Juan del Sur has a lower overall scam risk score. Based on weighted frequency scoring across 26 documented reports. Both destinations are safe with preparation.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
San José
Higher riskCosta Rica · Central America
Total documented scams13
Severity
High
2
Medium
7
Low
4
Scam types
Top scams
- Fake Police Officer Currency Check Scam
- Express Kidnapping by Taxi
- Airport Taxi Overcharge from Juan Santamaría
- Pickpockets in Central Market
San Juan del Sur
Lower riskNicaragua · Central America
Total documented scams13
Severity
High
2
Medium
8
Low
3
Scam types
Top scams
- Drink Spiking at Beach Bars
- Drug Entrapment by Corrupt Police or Informants
- Sunday Funday Bar Crawl Pickpocketing
- Hostel Theft from Shared Dorms
Overlapping Risk
Scam Types Found in Both Destinations
These categories appear in both San José and San Juan del Sur. If you're visiting both on the same trip, these are the patterns to study first.
Taxi & Transport
See all Taxi & Transport Scams worldwide →San José3 reportsSan Juan del Sur1 reports
Street Scams
See all Street Scams worldwide →San José2 reportsSan Juan del Sur3 reports
Restaurant Scams
See all Restaurant Scams worldwide →San José1 reportsSan Juan del Sur1 reports
Accommodation Scams
See all Accommodation Scams worldwide →San José1 reportsSan Juan del Sur2 reports
Online Scams
See all Online Scams worldwide →San José1 reportsSan Juan del Sur1 reports
Tour & Activities
See all Tour & Activity Scams worldwide →San José2 reportsSan Juan del Sur2 reports
Money & ATM Scams
See all Money & ATM Scams worldwide →San José2 reportsSan Juan del Sur2 reports
Other Scams
See all Other Tourist Scams worldwide →San José1 reportsSan Juan del Sur1 reports
Common Questions
San José vs San Juan del Sur — Common Questions
Is San José or San Juan del Sur safer for tourists?
Based on documented scam data, San Juan del Sur has a lower overall risk score. San José has 13 documented warnings (2 high severity) vs 13 in San Juan del Sur (2 high severity). Both are popular tourist destinations visited safely by millions each year — preparation matters more than the destination itself.
What scams should I watch for in both San José and San Juan del Sur?
Both cities have documented activity in: Taxi & Transport, Street Scams, Restaurant Scams, Accommodation Scams, Online Scams, Tour & Activities, Money & ATM Scams, Other Scams. If you're visiting both, these are the scam types to review first since the same tactics are used in each city.
Which city has more high-severity tourist scams?
San José has 2 high-severity documented scams vs 2 in San Juan del Sur. High-severity scams carry significant financial or safety risk and should be reviewed carefully before travel regardless of which destination you choose.