Costa Rica is all about its culture of “pura vida” (pure life). With incredible cloud forests, volcanic landscapes, exotic wildlife, and lush national parks, it is the perfect destination for nature lovers and thrill-seekers who crave adventure far away from crowded cities and indoor places. The good news is that the country has opened up for tourism and eased restrictions for all travelers. Here, we answer the important question: “Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica right now?” Read on to learn about Costa Rica’s updated entry conditions and what you can expect on arrival.
This article has been updated based on information available as of November 11, 2021.
⚠️ Due to the evolving nature of the pandemic situation, safety regulations may change without warning. This article should not be treated as legal advice — we recommend that readers check with local authorities for updates on COVID-19 protocols prior to making travel arrangements.
Border reopening: Who can travel to Costa Rica for leisure?
Costa Rica is open to all travelers — no tests, no quarantine!
It’s exciting news that all travelers, including tourists, are now allowed to enter Costa Rica from any country! To make things easier, travelers no longer need to undergo COVID-19 testing or quarantine upon arrival.
Travel entry requirements: Everything to know
Other than meeting standard visa requirements (click here to find out if you need a visa to get into Costa Rica), here’s what you need to know before you fly:
- You must fill out the digital Health Pass form online.
- This must be completed within 72 hours of arriving in the country.
- A specific QR code will be provided after your application has been reviewed and approved.
- You must have a return flight ticket when entering Costa Rica.
- You will be asked for proof of your return flight upon your arrival at immigration.
- You will be asked for proof of your return flight upon your arrival at immigration.
- If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you do not need travel insurance to enter Costa Rica.
- To qualify, you must have received an approved vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson).
- Your last dose must have been administered at least 14 days before entering Costa Rica.
- Your vaccination certificate/card must be attached to your Health Pass. The document must contain at least the following information: (1) your full name, (2) the date of each dose, and (3) the pharmaceutical house.
- US travelers may use their “COVID-19 vaccination record card” as proof.
- Unvaccinated tourists 18 years and older must purchase a travel policy that covers COVID-19 medical and quarantine expenses (see below for more details on insurance policy types).
- Note: From January 8, 2022, unvaccinated tourists 12 years and older will not be allowed to enter commercial establishments. This includes hotels and restaurants.
I’m unvaccinated, how much travel insurance coverage must I purchase?
The type of travel insurance you buy matters. If you buy from a Costa Rican insurance company, you will only need to cover medical insurance of up to USD 20,000. For international policies, the requirement is set at USD 50,000. However, travelers may find it easier to purchase international insurance. We outline all requirements and differences below, with some recommendations for insurance options.
International insurance policies
International insurance policies must meet the following requirements:
1. Policy must be valid for your entire trip duration in Costa Rica — it should match the dates of your plane tickets into and out of Costa Rica
2. Policy must cover a minimum of USD 50,000 for COVID-19 medical expenses
3. Policy must cover a minimum of USD 2,000 for quarantine lodging expenses
You will need to obtain a certificate or letter from the insurance company (either in English or Spanish) that confirms the above details. You will need to upload this document when registering online for your Health Pass. Insurance cards are not accepted.
Recommendations for international insurance plans
Buying an international insurance plan can end up being easier and cheaper than buying Costa Rican travel insurance. Here is a list of insurance plans that are well-reviewed and specifically meet Costa Rica’s travel insurance requirements.
Trawick International Safe Travels Voyager plan. This plan is available to US citizens and US residents. It can be purchased for trip costs up to USD 100,000 and includes USD 250,000 of primary medical coverage and USD 2,000 minimum coverage for potential lodging expenses. The policy meets Costa Rica’s travel insurance requirements and you will also receive a visa letter upon purchase that you can upload directly to Costa Rica’s Health Pass website. Trawick also offers the Safe Travels International plan and Safe Travels International Cost Saver plan for non-US travelers.
Insubuy also has several US-based products that meet Costa Rica’s travel insurance requirements, including the Safe Travels Explorer plan, which provides basic travel insurance including USD 50,000 in secondary medical coverage that covers COVID-19, and USD 2,000 in quarantine lodging expenses coverage. You can also look at the company’s list of policies that comply with Costa Rica’s travel insurance requirements to compare quotes. All plans purchased will come with a downloadable visa letter that can be uploaded to Costa Rica’s Health Pass website.
Can I check if a policy meets Costa Rica’s requirements?
If you are unsure of the validity of the international policy you plan to purchase, you can email the Costa Rica Tourism Board at seguros@ict.go.cr to confirm if it meets the country’s requirements for entry.
Costa Rican insurance policies
The minimum medical insurance coverage required for Costa Rican insurance holders is USD 20,000. There are currently three insurance companies approved to offer COVID-19 travel insurance that meet entry requirements. These are:
– INS
– Sagicor
– BlueCross BlueShield
INS is a government insurance company, Sagicor and BlueCross BlueShield are both private companies.
Which is better?
Pros of buying an international insurance plan
– International insurance plans tend to cover more for less money
– Some Costa Rican insurance policies may only be available in Spanish, which might difficult to translate for accuracy
Pros of buying a Costa Rican insurance plan
– Should you need to file a claim, medical facilities tend to accept Costa Rican insurance more readily
– With international insurance, you will most likely need to pay upfront and then be reimbursed later on
For more information, visit the Costa Rica Tourism Board website.
Flying into Costa Rica: Safety at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose
Most tourists who travel into Costa Rica fly into the bustling capital, San Jose. This means arriving through Juan Santamaria International Airport, the city’s primary airport. Juan Santamaria International Airport hosts direct flights to North America, Central America, and Europe. It also serves cities in South America and the Caribbean.
The airport has gone the extra mile to ensure visitors feel safe and comfortable. This includes:
- Providing hand-washing and sanitation stations in all common areas
- Using thermal cameras for temperature checks
- Increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting, especially in high-traffic areas
- Limiting entrance into the airport to traveling passengers only
- Limiting capacity in shops and boarding lounges
- Ensuring travelers are wearing face masks within the airport
- Encouraging social distancing of 1.8 meters between passengers
Around Costa Rica: General health and safety measures
Life in Costa Rica is slowly returning to a relative normal. However, it is important to note that the country is gearing up to make things much safer for everyone by streamlining entry requirements into commercial establishments.
From January 8, 2022, all commercial establishments including hotels, bars, restaurants casinos, shops, museums, and tourist attractions may only admit visitors that are fully vaccinated.
Movement restrictions and reduced business hours
As of November 1, 2021: The ongoing nightly curfew has eased slightly — movement and business operations may now take place between 5 am – 11 pm.
Capacity limits
Starting December 1, 2021: All businesses will be allowed to open without capacity limits provided they have chosen to accept only customers that are fully vaccinated. Businesses that choose not to verify vaccine certificates may open at 50 percent capacity.
Starting January 8, 2022: All businesses may only accept customers if they are fully vaccinated.
Use of face masks
It is mandatory to wear face masks in all indoor public areas or while using public transportation.
Visiting popular attractions
The majority of Costa Rica’s most scenic attractions are found in the great outdoors, meaning there is less of a need to worry about social distancing and mask-wearing requirements. In this section, we cover some of the country’s popular attractions and activities, and provide examples of some safety protocols in place at these locations.
Museums in San Jose
San Jose is a beautiful city with plenty of stunning architecture, public art galleries, and museums. One of the best museums you can visit when you’re in San Jose is the National Museum of Costa Rica. Here, you can learn about the natural history, archeology, and culture of Costa Rica stretching all the way back to pre-Columbian times.
The museum takes health and safety seriously — the following measures have been implemented:
- Visitor capacity is capped at 50 percent, both within individual exhibition rooms and within the building as a whole
- Visitors are encouraged to respect physical distancing rules
- Visitors are required to wear face masks and have their temperature checked upon entry
- Soap, hand sanitizers, and towels are placed in strategic areas
- Frequent cleaning and disinfecting at high-traffic spaces
- Temporary suspension of cloakroom services
Other museums around the city have also implemented similar health protocols to ensure visitors feel safe and comfortable. Another popular museum we recommend visiting while in San Jose is the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of gold artifacts in Latin America.
National parks
Costa Rica may not be a large country, but it holds an incredible five percent of the world’s biodiversity across its vast forests, volcanic areas, and Pacific and Caribbean beaches. About a quarter of the national territory is protected and preserved by the National System of Conservation Areas. Visitors can admire the biodiversity of Costa Rica through the many national parks in the country.
These parks remain open at a 50 percent capacity. Outdoor activities mean visitors will not have to wear masks.
For anyone wanting to check out the geothermal wonders of Costa Rica, it’s worth visiting the Tenorio Volcano National Park, which sits in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range. It is a lush treasure trove of cloud forests, lagoons, waterfalls, hot springs, and plenty of volcanic activity zones.
If you’d like to discover other national parks around the world, check out our article about Sri Lanka’s best national parks for wildlife encounters and our guide on five epic US national park road trips.
Beaches
Costa Rica is also famous for its golden sand beaches. You’ll find the best of these in the northwest regions of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula, and in the southern Caribbean in Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. These beaches offer warm tropical waters and great opportunities for surfing.
Curfew hours for businesses that operate in and around these beaches may currently be in effect. See the above section under “Movement restrictions and reduced business hours”.
Is Costa Rica on your travel bucket list? Check out our two-minute guide “Why travel to Costa Rica?” to discover the country’s best highlights! Do other parts of Central America intrigue you as well? We’ve got a guide to Belize, too!
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