Is Coquitlam Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Located in British Columbia, Canada, the West Coast city of Coquitlam is much smaller (140,000 residents) than its neighbor–Vancouver (675,000 residents).

As a suburban city of Vancouver, residents can appreciate less crowded streets, more affordable living, and quieter weekends.

However, public transportation and activities encourage travelers from Coquitlam to visit the big city of Vancouver when in town.

First, decide if visiting is in the cards for your next trip with this guide on how safe is Coquitlam, Canada for travel.

Warnings & Dangers in Coquitlam

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There is a low overall risk when traveling to Coquitlam, British Columbia in Canada. Here is a breakdown of the types of risks involved with this city.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

The distance from Coquitlam to Vancouver is 30 kilometers, which takes about 45 minutes to drive in the middle of a weekday. If you are operating a vehicle with proper documentation, you should feel at ease when visiting Coquitlam as a driver. However, if you are taking public transportation and taxis while in town, here is what you need to know. In Coquitlam, the public has access to Uber and Lyft ride-sharing services, as well as traditional taxis. Nearby in Vancouver, the public transportation system of Translink can be accessed from Coquitlam. TransLink includes the SkyTrain, the SeaBus ferry, and several city buses. The overall transport and taxi service has a low risk in Coquitlam and neighboring Vancouver. This is important if you plan to travel from Coquitlam to Vancouver during your visit.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Pickpocketing continues to plague travelers who are from out of town or even the country. If you are carrying large amounts of cash, jewelry, or other fine items, you are more likely to be noticed. Unfortunately, when you are traveling, you are often forced to carry all of your belongings with you at some point. Therefore, you are more likely to be targeted by pickpocketers. However, there are no major threats of mobbing groups or gangs who go after tourists in Coquitlam. Therefore, the risk of pickpocketing is low in this Canadian city.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH

Every year, thousands of earthquakes, from those nearly undetectable to quakes strong enough to be felt, strike the BC coast. Where Coquitlam is located, annually there are about 50 earthquakes that are strong enough to cause damage. As a result of the earthquakes, the area also suffers from flooding. This flooding, along with the human inhabitants and structures on rocky limestone cliffs, has led to mudslides and landslides. There is a high risk of earthquakes, flooding, mudslides, and landslides in Coquitlam, as a result of the coastal location.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

The risk of being mugged is low in Coquitlam. According to data, 13.47 residents in Coquitlam are worried they will be robbed or mugged, which is very low on this chart.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

In Coquitlam, BC, there are no terrorism risks. On the British Columbia coast of Canada, there are fewer major American cities compared to the East Coast and New York City. Seattle, Washington is the biggest city in the Northeast and there are fewer than 734,000 residents. Compare the Seattle population to New York City, where there are 8.4 million residents. Terrorism risks are higher and more common in the East than in BC, placing Coquitlam low for terrorism risk.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Petty crimes like cyber scams and fake goods scams are present in Vancouver. However, these are typical of the waterfront where trade should be avoided. Cyber scams involve computer technology and the internet. Take extra precautions by using your devices instead of public computer terminals when browsing online. Also, avoid writing your passwords on notepads or napkins when on buses, having coffee at cafes, etc. The scam risk for Coquitlam is low, but the risk escalates to medium when visiting nearby Vancouver. Another scam recognized by the locals in Coquitlam is signing street petitions. Avoid signing petitions with your personal information, especially if carrying luggage or shopping bags.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women travelers should feel safe when visiting Coquitlam, as well as Vancouver. Reports show no hate crimes against women or indications that female travelers should feel uneasy. Therefore, women travelers’ risk is low for Coquitlam, BC.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The tap water risk for Coquitlam, Canada is low. The city’s public water is tested for purity regularly. If you stay in a hotel or eat at a restaurant in Coquitlam while traveling from abroad or elsewhere in Canada, you can safely drink the water from the tap.

Safest Places to Visit in Coquitlam

Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau, as well as the northern neighborhoods, are safest in Coquitlam.

Look for local bed and breakfasts, inns, or hotels and feel confident that you will be unharmed.

Places to Avoid in Coquitlam

North Road and Austin Avenue are considered to be the more dangerous neighborhoods in Coquitlam.

If you find yourself on one of these streets, be on high alert.

Lock your car doors.

Try to avoid staying in accommodation in these neighborhoods.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Coquitlam

Use ATMs to Withdraw in Local Currency. Instead of trying to exchange cash and traveling with large sums of your home currency, use ATMs when you arrive in Coquitlam. Better yet, only make purchases with your debit card and ask for cash back. This way, criminals scoping out traveler’s exchange bureaus will not see you.
Have Enough Money to Survive in Coquitlam. You will be required to verify that you have enough financial resources to stay in Coquitlam comfortably during your visit. This financial information will be verified while you apply for a temporary visa sticker. However, you do need more money to help you get out of tight spots, such as if you have a medical emergency or a car accident. If you run out of money, you become prey to local scam artists and pimps who promise big returns for shady activities.
Make Photocopies of Your Travel Itineraries and Documents. Before you leave, as soon as you have travel information on hand, such as your passport or airline tickets, print out two photocopies of everything. Leave a copy of all your travel documents back at home for someone to safeguard in case of an emergency. Then, take another copy with you in case your belongings are stolen, lost, or damaged.
Bring Empty Bottles for Drinking. Tap water is safe to drink in Coquitlam. Avoid using too much of your money to purchase beverages and showing up at the stores too often. Instead, drink tap water. Add fruit, such as sliced lemon, and sweeteners, to make instant lemonade. Hotels often have sugar packets with coffee to help you save on trips to the store.
Stick to Big Store Brands and Businesses. Avoid local places and small businesses. Where the locals tend to hang out, such as gas stations or mom-and-pop corner shops, may also harbor more gang activity. Even in Coquitlam, and nearby Vancouver, there is the opportunity for criminals to take over when the business is small and unpronounced. Protect your identity and your safety by choosing box stores, major businesses, and brands you have heard of when shopping in Coquitlam.
Update Your Computer Security. The security on your smartphone, laptop, and e-reader, as well as a digital camera, should be a top priority when traveling to Coquitlam. Whatever devices you plan on bringing, double-check the internet security and web browser settings and firewalls.
Pack Minimally Especially With High-Priced Gear. As a traveler to Coquitlam, you most likely have a lot of gear you want or need to bring. Tourists most often take videos and photos for family albums, but these days, you might also work remotely by recording content for YouTube, for example. Make sure everything will work when you arrive in Canada, and do not bring devices that are not compatible with Coquitlam services. This will minimize the risk of stolen computers and devices when traveling. Also, leave the circle lights, excess memory cards, and broken lenses at home.
Understand the Transportation System and Mapping. When you arrive from the airport or by car in the city of Coquitlam, you should already know how to navigate the streets. Be aware of major road names and have a basic understanding of the layout of the city. This will protect you from getting lost even when taking public transportation. Also, print and take a local city street map, and have a larger map of Canada.
Have a Detailed Itinerary. Become your favorite travel planner–or hire a professional travel agent. However you plan your trip, a detailed itinerary is a necessity. Along with needing this information when applying for a temporary visa sticker, a detailed travel plan will keep you out of trouble. You always have somewhere to be and someone expecting you.
Do Your Travel Research. Along with researching the cities of Coquitlam and Vancouver and the province of British Columbia, find out more about how to travel safely. For example, the US Embassy has the SMART Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is provided for Americans who are traveling anywhere. When going to Coquitlam from the US, citizens can receive information about local concerns in this city, and receive vital news from back home. Find other such programs, such as with local organizations, churches, or civic groups, that connect you with secure resources as a traveler to Canada. They may be able to provide protection, such as name recognition or financial support when traveling to Coquitlam.

So... How Safe Is Coquitlam Really?

Coquitlam, Canada, on the West Coast of British Columbia, is a quiet suburban city of Vancouver.

While Vancouver has five times more residents, Coquitlam has less crime at a rate of 47 compared to 58.43 in Vancouver.

If you are looking to feel safer, Coquitlam is the right choice for a BC city to visit.

However, the cost of living is higher in Coquitlam compared to Vancouver, which is why Vancouver is more popular for tourists on a budget.

How Does Coquitlam Compare?

City	Safety Index
Coquitlam	86
Niagara Falls	87
Montreal	81
Toronto	81
Vancouver	82
Calgary	82
Quebec City	85
Vienna (Austria)	88
Manama (Bahrain)	54
Brussels (Belgium)	60
Belize City (Belize)	37
La Paz (Bolivia)	52
Sao Paulo (Brazil)	45

Useful Information

Visas

To visit Canada and Coquitlam, you will need to obtain a special sticker for your passport book. This is a temporary visa provided for travelers in Coquitlam for less than six months. You must apply in advance and provide detailed records, including proof of finances, about your upcoming visit to Canada.

Currency

In Canada, the local currency for Coquitlam is the Canadian dollar. You can exchange money either in your home country before traveling to Coquitlam or at local money exchange vendors in Canada.

Weather

Coquitlam is on the West Coast near the Pacific Ocean. Earthquakes are the most common, as well as heavy rains and winds that accompany these storms. Snow is rare in the climate where the temperatures do not dip to freezing or go about 87 most days of the year.

Airports

The city of Coquitlam is served by several regional and international airports. These include Pitt Meadows Regional Airport, Langley Regional Airport, and Nanaimo Airport, as well as Vancouver and Abbotsford international airports.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is advised for anyone applying for a temporary visa sticker to enter Canada. This insurance is protection against unexpected travel dilemmas, as well as financial security for your trip. Usually, when booking an airplane flight, hotel accommodation, or car rental, you will be asked to sign up for travel insurance to cover that experience. Doing so can save you time and money, and secure your adventures from unwanted delays.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Coquitlam Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 3° C

Feb 5° C

Mar 7° C

Apr 10° C

May 13° C

Jun 16° C

Jul 18° C

Aug 19° C

Sep 16° C

Oct 11° C

Nov 6° C

Dec 4° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	6	8	11	15	18	21	24	25	21	15	9	6
Low °C	-1	1	2	4	8	11	12	13	10	6	2	1
High °F	43	46	52	59	64	70	75	77	70	59	48	43
Low °F	30	34	36	39	46	52	54	55	50	43	36	34

Canada - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Abbotsford	83
Brampton	82
Burnaby	65
Calgary	82
Coquitlam	86
Edmonton	86
Halifax	79
Hamilton	76
Kelowna	76
Kitchener	75
Mississauga	85
Montreal	81
Nanaimo	32
Niagara Falls	87
Oshawa	42
Ottawa	83
Quebec City	85
Red Deer	32
Regina	74
Saskatoon	73
Thunder Bay	65
Toronto	81
Vancouver	82
Victoria	82
Windsor	81
Winnipeg	77

Is Coquitlam Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Canada : Safety by City