- Abortion legal status
- Illegal
- Emergency contraception
- Over the counter
- Emergency number
- 911
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: hersafevoyage.com, blueosa.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- You can buy regular birth control pills and emergency contraception over the counter at almost any pharmacy in San José without a prescription — handy if you run out while traveling.
- If you experience an assault, you can get free emergency contraception and HIV PEP at any public hospital or medical center, even if you don't want to file a police report — but timing matters (72 hours for EC, ideally 6–8 hours for PEP).
- Most official assault-support contacts (OIJ, Victim Assistance Office) operate in Spanish during standard business hours; if you don't speak Spanish, your embassy can help you navigate the process.
- IUDs and implants are legal but less commonly used locally than the pill, so you may need to specifically seek out a private gynecologist experienced with them.
- Public system (CAJA) contraception is free but generally requires enrollment/residency status, so most short-term nomads will end up paying out of pocket at private pharmacies or clinics.
- Elective abortion is not accessible in San José or anywhere in Costa Rica; legal abortion is limited to a narrow 'therapeutic' exception to save the mother's life or physical health, decided by a hospital medical panel.
- If you may need abortion care while in Costa Rica, plan in advance for the possibility of traveling to another country — don't count on local access, even in an emergency-adjacent situation like fetal anomaly or rape.
- Routine gynecological and obstetric care (check-ups, prenatal care, contraception, minor gynecological surgery) is widely available and generally high quality through San José's private hospital system (CIMA, Clínica Bíblica, Hospital Metropolitano), which is popular with expats and medical tourists.
- Many OB/GYNs at these private hospitals speak English and are used to treating international patients — worth confirming language and appointment availability directly when booking.
- Escazú (a common nomad/expat base near San José) has its own cluster of private gynecology clinics, so you don't need to go into the city center for routine women's health care.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Catcalling is common in San José and most women describe it as verbal only — comments like "mi reina" or "que linda" rather than physical escalation. Local safety guides note that most people ignore it and keep walking, and that it rarely escalates beyond words, though some travelers describe it as near-constant on central streets. A few reports also describe more serious incidents of being followed or physically grabbed, so it is worth staying alert rather than assuming it is always harmless.
Walking Alone at Night
Neighborhoods such as Barrio Escalante, Los Yoses, Escazú, Santa Ana and Sabana Norte are generally considered the safer, more walkable areas for solo women, including in the evening for dining. Guides advise avoiding El Carpio, La Carpio and parts of downtown on foot after dark, since these areas have higher crime rates. Streets in San José also tend to empty out earlier after dark than in some other Latin American capitals, so even in nicer neighborhoods it's recommended to switch to a ride rather than walk once the sun sets.
Sexual Assault Risk
Canada's official government travel advisory specifically flags that incidents of sexual assault against foreigners at beach resorts and by taxi drivers in San José have occurred, and notes that women traveling alone may face harassment or verbal abuse. This is a documented risk tied specifically to unofficial or unmarked taxi situations rather than the city generally.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Official red taxis (with a yellow triangle on the door and a working meter called a "María") are the legally regulated option, while unmarked "pirate" taxis are consistently flagged as a safety risk to avoid, especially in San José. Ride-hailing apps including Uber, DiDi and Bolt operate in the San José metro area and are generally described by solo female travelers as a comfortable, trackable option, even though Uber sits in a legal grey area in Costa Rica. Sharing your live trip status with someone when riding at night is a commonly recommended extra precaution.
Practical Precautions
Keeping valuables out of sight is a repeated recommendation — avoiding flashy jewelry, keeping phones in a pocket rather than out in hand on downtown streets and around the Mercado Central, and carrying a bag that can be secured or locked on public transport. Having small bills ready for taxis is also advised, since drivers claiming they have no change for a large note is a known tactic to overcharge. Asking your hotel which specific streets nearby are safe to walk is suggested as a reliable, locally current source of guidance.
Abortion Law And OB-GYN
Abortion Law
- Legal Summary
- Abortion is a criminal offense under Costa Rica's 1970 Penal Code (Articles 118–122). The one narrow exception is Article 121's 'therapeutic abortion,' which is not punishable when performed by a licensed physician with the woman's consent to avoid danger to her life or physical health, and only when no other medical alternative exists.
- Regulatory Status
- illegal
- Exceptions Allowed
- Only to preserve the life or physical health of the pregnant woman. Rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies, and the woman's own request are NOT legal grounds for abortion in Costa Rica.
- Abortion Time Limits
- No specific pregnancy cutoff is written into Article 121 itself, but a 2019 'Technical Norm' issued by presidential decree clarified that where the mother's life or health is in danger, a hospital-based therapeutic abortion can be performed up to 6 months (24 weeks) of pregnancy. Penalties under the Penal Code also increase if the fetus has passed six months of development, whether the abortion was consensual or not.
- Mental Health Ambiguity
- It remains legally ambiguous whether risk to a woman's mental health qualifies under the 'health' exception; some UN reporting suggests it is covered, but Costa Rican courts and hospitals have not applied it consistently.
- Nomad Practical Takeaway
- There is no accessible legal path to elective abortion in San José. Anyone needing abortion care beyond the narrow life-threatening exception should expect to travel outside Costa Rica (e.g., to a country with less restrictive law) rather than seek care locally.
- Practical Access Reality
- Even in cases that legally qualify, implementation is severely limited in practice because of unclear clinical protocols and institutional resistance; many hospitals decline to perform the procedure at all due to fear of prosecution.
- Current Political Climate
- In January 2025 the national government introduced a bill to substantially increase criminal penalties for abortion (up to several years' imprisonment for the woman and longer for providers), reflecting a restrictive political environment; this was a proposal, not yet confirmed as enacted law at last check.
- Access Route Public System
- Where a therapeutic abortion is legally justified, it must occur through the public health system (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) and, per the 2019 Technical Norm, requires evaluation and consent processes involving multiple medical professionals plus the patient before it can proceed without criminal liability.
- Self Managed Abortion Legal Risk
- Self-inducing or consenting to one's own abortion outside the narrow legal exception is a criminal offense under Article 119, carrying potential prison time. Doctors who suspect a patient has had an abortion are legally obligated to report it to judicial investigators.
- Harm Reduction Note
- Unregulated online sources advertising abortion medication to Costa Rica exist, but purchasing prescription medication this way carries real legal exposure and product-safety risk since quality and dosage cannot be verified.
OB-GYN Options In San Jose
Hospital CIMA San José
- Type
- Private JCI-accredited hospital with multiple in-house OB/GYN specialists
- Location
- Próspero Fernández Highway, San Rafael de Escazú
- Notes
- Large private hospital frequently used by expats; hosts numerous independent OB/GYN consultorios (e.g., Torre 1 and Torre 2 medical towers).
Hospital Clínica Bíblica
- Type
- Private JCI-accredited hospital, downtown San José
- Location
- Calle Central, Avenidas 14–16, San José centro
- Notes
- Central-San-José private hospital with an OB/GYN department (Torre Médica Omega) and several independent gynecology consultorios on site.
Hospital Metropolitano San José
- Type
- Private hospital
- Location
- 300m south/west of Parque La Merced, San José centro
- Notes
- Houses CLINICA OBYGIN and other gynecology practices; centrally located.
Clínica De Especialidades Ginecológicas FEMSALUD
- Type
- Private specialty gynecology clinic
- Location
- Torres Paseo Colón, San José
- Notes
- Dedicated gynecology-only clinic in the Paseo Colón corridor, close to downtown.
Clínica Americana
- Type
- Private clinic
- Location
- 14th Avenue, between 1st and Central Street, San José centro, next to Clínica Bíblica
- Notes
- General/gynecology clinic in the same medical district as Clínica Bíblica.
Dr. Isaac Castrillo Acuña – OBGYN
- Type
- Independent OB/GYN physician
- Location
- Escazú (consultations), operates/performs surgery at Hospital Clínica Bíblica and Hospital CIMA
- Notes
- Frequently listed for consultations, diagnostics, and gynecological surgery; works across both major private hospital networks.
Consultorio Dra. Vallejo
- Type
- Independent gynecology practice
- Location
- Plaza Maynard, San Rafael de Escazú
- Notes
- Gynecology-focused private practice in the Escazú nomad/expat hub.
Assault Resources
- Embassy Support Note
- Foreign embassies (e.g., the UK and others) in San José can provide non-judgmental guidance on local police and medical procedures after an assault, and can liaise with family if requested; contact your own country's embassy for this kind of support.
- Medical And Evidence Notes
- Emergency medical care for assault victims is covered by the state and treatment is generally free, even if the victim decides not to file a formal complaint. HIV PEP and emergency contraception need to be started within 72 hours (PEP ideally within 6–8 hours) to be effective.
Emergency Number
- Number
- 911
- Description
- National emergency line covering police, fire, and ambulance. English-speaking operators are usually available, which is helpful for foreign nomads.
Hotlines And Support Services
OIJ (Judicial Investigation Police) – Unidad Regional Central, San José
- Phone
- 2527-1922
- Address
- Calle 17, González Lahmann, San José
- Description
- Investigative police unit that handles formal reporting of sexual assault and other crimes in the San José area, roughly equivalent to a criminal investigations unit.
Oficina De Atención a La Víctima (Victim Assistance Office, Poder Judicial)
- Phone
- 2295-3000
- victimadelito@poder-judicial.go.cr
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, approx. 7:30am–11:30am and 1:00pm–4:30pm
- Description
- Judiciary office that assists and protects victims and witnesses in criminal cases. Can assist with or without a formal complaint, provides free and confidential support, and aims to minimize re-victimization.
Consultorios Jurídicos, Facultad De Derecho, Universidad De Costa Rica
- Phone
- 2511-1521
- consultoriosjuridicos.fd@ucr.ac.cr
- Hours
- Mondays and Thursdays, 1:00pm–4:30pm
- Address
- Sede Rodrigo Facio Brenes, San Pedro (Montes de Oca), near San José
- Description
- Free legal representation clinic run by the university's law faculty for people who cannot afford a private lawyer; useful for assault-related legal cases.
Contraception Access
- Overview
- Female-controlled hormonal contraception (the pill, IUDs, implants) and dedicated emergency contraception are all legal and available in Costa Rica. Oral contraceptives can be bought over the counter without a prescription. The morning-after pill (levonorgestrel) was approved for non-prescription pharmacy sale in 2019 and was later added to the public health system's family-planning offerings.
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
Methods
IUD
- Availability
- Hormonal IUDs (Mirena, levonorgestrel-releasing) are available through private gynecologists and clinics; also obtainable through the public system in some cases.
- Typical Cost Device And Placement
- CRC 136,500
- Notes
- Figure reflects one traveler's reported total cost (device plus insertion) at a private provider; public-system cost would be free or minimal for enrolled patients but wait times can be longer.
Implant
- Availability
- Contraceptive implants (e.g., levonorgestrel-based products) are legally available but reported to be uncommonly used by women in Costa Rica compared to the pill or IUD.
- Notes
- No reliable current price data found for the implant specifically in San José; expect to need a private gynecologist, as it is a less mainstream option locally.
Emergency Contraception
- Availability
- Dedicated levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception (brand names such as Posterga) is sold over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription, and is also available free of charge at public hospitals and clinics without a police report or referral.
- Typical Pharmacy Cost
- CRC 18,000
- Notes
- Must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex for best effectiveness. The pharmacy price cited here is from the medication's original 2019 market launch and may have changed; free access at any public hospital/clinic is the most reliably current option.
Oral Contraceptive Pill
- Availability
- Sold over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription; also available for free through the public health system (CAJA) if enrolled.
- Notes
- Reported real-world example: about $20/month (roughly 9,100 CRC) for a brand like Qlaira at a private pharmacy; exact price depends on brand and pharmacy.
Typical Monthly Cost Range
CRC
CRC
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About San José
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.