Central America might not be exactly known for its safety record in national media, but don’t let that fool you.Despite the existence of some unsafe areas, Central America does have great countries that are safe to visit. If you’re looking to plan your trip to Central America, let us help you out. We know how important safety is to you—that’s why we’ve compiled a list of the five safest countries in Central America to visit.
Before we get to our list of the safest countries, however, let’s look over some of the most commonly-asked questions about Central America. Once we’ve got this information in mind, we’ll take a look at which countries you should visit if safety is a high priority for you while traveling.
Is Central America a Continent?
Is Central America a continent? A country? A region? How, exactly, should it be classified?
You probably already know that North and South America are their own distinct continents. But what about Central America? Despite its name, Central America is not a continent. Instead, this region that lies between what we generally perceive as North and South Americas, is an extension of North America.
Where is Central America?
Central America is roughly the size of Texas and lies at the bottom of North America. Central America is bordered by Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.
Is Central America Part of North America?
Yes, Central America is considered part of North America. Though not officially a continent of its own, Central America is sometimes referred to as a subcontinent.
Smallest Country in Central America
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. At only 13,000 miles2, El Salvador ranks among the smallest countries in all of North America.
Best Places to Visit in Central America
Central America has a reputation for being one of the more unsafe travel destinations. With some countries in Central America having high crime rates, it comes as no surprise that many tourists are wary of the area. However, some of the countries in Central America have low crime rates that make them perfect for travel. If you’re looking to find the safest countries in Central America, look no further.
Below, we’ll tell you what you need to know to determine which country is the safest in the region.
Safest Latin American Countries
1. Panama
Panama is by far one of the safest countries in Central America. With a ranking of just 64/128 on a recent Global Finance report of the safest countries in the world, Panama broke dead even. Though popular for its famed Panama City in Central America, Panama is far outranked on the safest countries lists by other Western neighbors but because the country is so prone to natural disasters, it suffers from a lower ranking. The crime rate is generally much higher than in some other countries in Central America but tourists can enjoy a safe trip if they plan accordingly.
2. Costa Rica
Costa Rica fell at number 97 on the Global Finance list, and even though that seems low, it is one of the safest countries in Central America. Costa Rica suffers not only because of the region’s propensity to be hit by devastating national disasters—but also because it does have it share of petty crime, like most other countries. Though it’s rare for tourists to be the subject of violent crimes in Costa Rica, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Safety has issued a warning to travelers to the area.
3. Nicaragua
Nicaragua ranked just behind Costa Rica at number 98. The homicide rate in Nicaragua is 8 out of 100,000, and many tourists complain of theft and other petty crimes. If you do choose to go to Nicaragua, make sure that you’re never traveling alone.
4. Honduras
Honduras came in at number 114/128 countries This low ranking came in part because of the country’s high crime rate. Evidence suggests, however, that the crime rate in tourist destination areas of the country is much lower, meaning that it’s probably safe to travel if you don’t go wandering off.
5. El Salvador
Capping off our list of the safest countries to visit in Central America is El Salvador.While some of El Salvador’s 125/128 ranking can be explained by high crime rates, much of it’s due to the extreme likelihood that the nation will be subject to natural disasters—and the fact that the government is too poor to adequately deal with them. So go to El Salvador but take precautions to make sure you’re safe at all times.
The Bottom Line
Central America might not rank too well among the world’s safest countries, but Panama and Costa Rica, in particular, are one of the safest Latin American countries. Be vigilant like you would when visiting any other country in the world and you will be okay. We hope this list helps you chose your next Central American destination!
